Bariatric surgery can improve your life for the better and is a powerful tool for losing weight. However, the surgery alone isn’t a permanent solution to obesity. It can be a complex process and patients often have many questions about it. The most common questions include:
How much weight will I lose after surgery?
Will my Diabetes go away if I have surgery?
How long does the procedure take?
What will my portions be like after surgery?
Will I be able to eat normally after surgery?
If these questions resonate with you and you would like help in deciding if surgery is right for you, contact me today.
PREPPING FOR SURGERY
Preparing for bariatric surgery is an important step after deciding that weight loss surgery is right for you. You can begin preparing by incorporating healthier habits into your lifestyle such as:
Losing weight and improving your diet
Increasing your activity
Changing behaviours
Losing weight and improving your diet There is a huge amount of evidence to show that pre-operative weight loss can reduce the risk of surgical complications and post-operative pain in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. It has even been shown to result in a faster recovery and also enhanced weight loss after surgery.
Although you are not expected to adopt the post-surgery diet before you have surgery, you can start to adopt certain aspects of the post surgery diet by:
- Reducing your portion sizes - Reducing your intake of fizzy drinks - Improving your protein intake - Staying hydrated
Your Surgeon may also ask you to follow a very low calorie liver shrinking diet prior to your surgery. There a few different versions of these, generally, all of which result in fat loss from around your liver to make surgery safer. If you need support with the pre-op diet, get in touch today.
Increasing your activity Exercise and activity will be an important component to your success after surgery. The recommendations for exercise post surgery are 30 minutes per day, on at least 3-4 days per week. This includes both cardiovascular and strength training exercise. Exercise may be a new prospect for you, but it doesn’t need to be daunting! See my ‘6 steps to successful weight loss’ blog to give you some more practical tips around exercise.
Changing behaviours In addition to changing the foods you eat by making healthier choices, it can also be helpful to start thinking about other habits which you could change which may have hindered your weight loss in the past. These can include:
- Improving your sleeping habits - Keep a food diary - Increasing your fluid intake - Quitting smoking - Monitoring your alcohol consumption
Planning ahead and doing your research are keys to success when it comes to preparing for your weight loss surgery