Following Bariatric Surgery, patients are often very impressed and excited by the dramatic rapid weight loss that typically occurs. While most patients do lose between 30 and 60 pounds in the first month alone after bariatric surgery, the patient will need to work at the weight loss and make some changes in eating habits to lose the full amount of weight needed.
Many bariatric surgery patients will lose most of the weight that needs to be shed in the first year following the surgery. For many of the morbidly obese patients who undergo bariatric surgery, this can amount to as much as 80 percent of their total body weight. However, the weight does not stay off unless the patient puts a concerted effort into maintaining weight loss. These 3 tips will detail the most effective ways to maintain weight loss after bariatric surgery.
1. Proper Food Selection
Most bariatric surgery patients will be on a liquid diet, followed by a diet of mashed or pureed foods, for at least 2 months after their surgery. After that period, the doctor will usually give the patient permission to begin eating regular foods again, although the foods may still need to be prepared differently. Most bariatric surgery patients will try to eat very finely chopped foods and foods with a smoother consistency, as these tend to digest better. Even when patients begin to eat a wide range of foods again, it is important that the food is chosen with care. Foods that are fried, greasy, or high in sugar or fat tend to have a negative effect on the digestion process and may make bariatric surgery patients quite ill.
Carbonated drinks may have the same effect. Proper food selection is important to maintaining weight loss because a patient who begins to lapse back into old eating habits will eventually begin to gain the weight back. A diet that is high in protein, such as lean meats, is good for bariatric surgery patients. Selecting foods high in protein allows the patient to feel full and will not allow the weight to come back.
2. Portion Control
Since the stomach of a bariatric surgery patient is considerably smaller than it was pre-surgery, many patients assume that they will not be able to gain the weight back since their stomach now holds so much less. Actually, it is possible to stretch out the stomach if proper portion control is not practiced, and this can lead to regaining all of the weight lost. The typical portion size is about 2 to 6 ounces per serving and this should not be exceeded. Portion control, when properly used, will insure that the patient feels full but not overly full. Since portions are small, bariatric surgery patients will often be told to eat more often, such as 6 small meals throughout the day.
3. Exercise
Eating properly is important, but exercise is equally vital in maintaining bariatric surgery weight loss. Patients should make a commitment to regular exercise, even in the time immediately following surgery. Walking at a brisk pace is the most often recommended type of exercise. Patients who exercise for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week will find it much easier to maintain weight loss than those who do not exercise at all.
