Tips To Optimize Weight Loss after a Bariatric Surgery
When you decide to have bariatric surgery done as a treatment for your obesity, it is important to know that your extra weight won’t just disappear in an instant. Many patients often get disappointed because they opt for surgery with unrealistic expectations. You need to optimize weight loss after a bariatric procedure. There are no miracles.
If you opt for Weight loss surgical procedures like the gastric bypass or the gastric sleeve surgery, you can expect to lose the weight within 12 to 18 months. During this period, you just have to be patient and stay active. The weight loss will occur rapidly within the first few weeks and months after surgery, then plateau (a period when no weight loss occurs).
Some patients even add back a little percentage of the weight lost (just about 5%). You may see no weight loss in a week then the next week some weight is lost. Of course, the weight loss process will be different for different patients.
Understand that this is normal and stay positive. You will still lose the weight in time. No one truly understands what happens during this period. Bariatric experts think that this occurs because the body is undergoing a lot of metabolic changes to adjust to the surgery.
So what can you do to maximize your weight loss during this period?
Dr. Jean Nagi Safa gives you a few tips below to help you stay positive and make sure you are losing weight even when you think the weight loss is stalling.
Create a Daily Schedule
Perhaps you were used to waking up, taking meals and exercising at different times every day. Our chief bariatric surgeon, Dr. Safa recommends creating a daily schedule to help you be consistent and on top of your meals and exercise game.
Well this might be had at first but if you are committed to your weight loss journey, you will easily find it routine. Taking meals and exercising at the same time each day will help you stay organized and optimize weight loss.
Plan Meals in Advance
In the spirit of sticking to the recommended diet and eating healthy, Dr. Safa recommends preparing your meals ahead of time. Please don’t wait until the morning before work to think about your lunch and don’t wait until you are heading home to think about what to eat for dinner.
This leaves a lot of room for you to make unhealthy eating decisions that will just slow down your weight loss process.
Talk to your bariatric surgeon and your nutritionist about the best food to buy. This will save you money and help you avoid fast food temptations. Get food storage containers and label the food you want to eat at what day and time.
Find a Weight Loss Partner
It is always easier to stay on track if you have someone you can be accountable to. Find a weight loss partner you see often so that he or she can motivate you to do the best you can. It will be easier to resist the temptation on those days you just don’t feel like exercising.
Keep Track of Your Exercises and Calorie Intake
Keeping a journal or diary of your daily exercises and calorie intake will help you know if you have reached your daily goals or not. It will also help you stay organized and always be on top of your weight loss process.
You can get a fitness tracker or if you cannot afford it, you can opt to download free Apps on your smart phone. It will work just fine.
Find a Weight-loss Support Group
Well losing weight is an emotional journey as well as it is a physical one. There will be days when you won’t feel like you are making any progress. There are other days when you will feel depressed and just not on top of your weight loss journey. That’s okay.
As long as you are committed and consistent, you will make progress in time.
Dr. Nagi Safa, chief bariatric surgeon at Advanced BMI, Lebanon recommends that patients join a support group comprising other weight loss patients and counselors. It is always easier when you can talk to people who are experiencing the same issues as you are because they can understand you, motivate you and keep you on track.
You may be surprised how much support groups can help keep you balanced and motivated. You may even find more tips on what to do and what not to do to get even better results.
However, it is very important to know that different weight loss patients respond to bariatric surgery differently. Do not expect to lose weight at the same rate as another person you know after your bariatric surgery.
Be patient, exercise and stick to the recommended diet to optimize weight loss. You will see results in due time.
For more information about obesity, weight loss or bariatric surgery, contact us today. Feel free to ask any questions.
At Advanced BMI, we are always excited to help you in your path to a lighter more confident you and a healthier life.
