After weight loss surgery, what next?
Summary: Now, you have had one of the surgeries to help you manage your weight. It is going to be a little eerie the first few weeks after surgery as you will have to adjust to some lifestyle changes. You will also discover that you get full quite easily after eating just a little food.
This occurs because your new stomach pouch has been reduced and can take only about one-quarter of normal stomach capacity. As far as eating is concerned, you will have to chew your food thoroughly before swallowing as blockages on the small stomach opening may lead to vomiting.
However, as you follow the advice given by your doctor on recovery, establish a healthy eating pattern, and your weight stabilizes, you will begin to feel more confident and self assured.
Exercise is a very important factor in living right. Establish an exercise routine as advised by your doctor so as to keep and stay fit. Weight loss surgery is not meant to magically remove excess fat, it is meant to help you take charge of your weight management by deciding to eat right and engage in the right exercises.
It is pertinent to note that your personality will still be intact as normal feelings before surgery will still “plague” you. You may miss the feeling of eating high-charged, high calorie meals just like before, you may miss eating out with friends, you may expect family and friends to treat you differently, and the food battles you engaged in before surgery and lots more. For most people, their image of you which has been imprinted on their minds does not easily go away. So, as you are adjusting to your new weight and lifestyle choices, they are also adjusting to their perception of the new you and this takes time.
Having considered the above, here are a few rules that must be followed to make your recovery and new lease of life a blast:
- Eat a meal for at least 30 minutes, chewing all food before swallowing. Some food have been known to cause pain if not well chewed: pasta, rice, bread, raw vegetables, meats and any dry/sticky or stringy foods are major culprits.
- Avoid snacking between meals.
- Eat 6 small meals instead of 6 big ones as has become the habit in most places.
- Drink between 7-9 glasses of non-calorie liquid, most preferably, water every day.
- Do not drink while eating as this may wash off your food and make you hungrier.
- Do not gulp liquids, but sip them.
- Do not use straws since they bring air into your stomach, causing bloating.
- Do not drink carbonated, fizzy drinks or alcohol.
- Do not eat foods high in fats, sugars and carbohydrates.
- Make sure you talk to your doctor/dietitian on your food choices and stick with them. Do not forget to also follow doctor’s orders on vitamins and mineral supplements needed by your body.
When all these steps are followed, you can be sure that you will be able to enjoy life even more than before.
