Bariatric surgery is a procedure that aids in weight loss. It is often recommended to obese individuals who are having a hard time losing weight through the traditional route (i.e. diet and exercise). The sleeve gastrectomy procedure leads to weight loss as it involves restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold. In other types of bariatric surgery such as Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, weight loss is brought about by combining a restrictive approach with the malabsorption of nutrients.
Changes in the amount of food and/or nutrients the body can take in or absorb call for changes in the diet after the surgery.
Eating slowly is important after the surgery as swallowing food without chewing them well can block the small opening between the new stomach pouch and the intestines.
Those who have undergone bariatric surgery are advised to choose healthy, nutrient packed foods to avoid malnutrition and to maintain weight loss. Incorporating foods high in protein, vitamins, and minerals is important at this stage.
If you had bariatric surgery and have adopted bad habits after the procedure, then today is a good time to start getting back on track. Here are some tips for getting back on track:
- Learn from your experience
You may have adopted some bad habits after the surgery but this doesn’t make you a bad person. Instead of judging yourself and spending useless time feeling guilty, use the experience to create better habits. Many people fall off the wagon for a variety of reasons. If this is you, start by writing down situations that trigger you to eat poorly. By doing this, you can come up with an alternative plan. For instance, if you end up overeating when you’re at family gatherings, then maybe you can pack healthy snacks to take with you or have a filling meal before you go. - Do not punish yourself through diet and exercise
Pushing yourself hard through a rigorous regime of exercise and diet may help you lose weight, but isn’t a sustainable solution. It could even do more harm than good as you may end up having unhealthy relationship with exercise and food. - Remind yourself of what motivates you
Slipping off can be a sign that you’re veering off your motivation. So, remind yourself again why you decided to go down this path. If what motivates you in the past no longer works, then think of new goals to work towards that will keep you motivated and going in the right direction. - Plan ahead
It’s too easy to overeat if you are very hungry. Avoid that happening by planning ahead. You may want to pack healthy snacks to take with you when you know you will be away from home. It can be a pack of nuts, a protein shake, or a piece of fruit. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated or time-consuming. Having these snacks on hand when you get hungry away from homes helps you stay compliant with your diet. - Find an accountability partner
If you’re having a hard time motivating yourself in getting back to healthy eating, then maybe finding an accountability partner who can help. This person can provide you with encouragement for your efforts and can help you stay on track with your goals. Maybe you can
If you’ve gotten off track after surgery, it’s not too late to clean up your lifestyle and start fresh! If you’re considering bariatric surgery, start by registering for a free seminar with the physicians at Foothills Weight Loss Specialists in Knoxville today.
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