Maintaining weight loss following bariatric surgery necessitates making a variety of major lifestyle changes. Dietary improvements and activity will be stressed in your doctor’s guidelines. Take their advice and think of your surgery as the start of a healthy lifestyle, with a focus on eating well and staying active.
In this article, Dr. Samrat Jankar who is one of the best gastroenterologist in Pune will discuss a few things that you can do to maintain your weight after bariatric surgery.
Change the way you eat.
After the surgery, eating would be a completely different experience. You won’t be able to consume as much, but if you continue to eat high-calorie foods, this limitation will not help you lose weight. To fully benefit from the possible benefits of bariatric surgery, pay careful attention to both what you eat and how you eat.
Dr. Jankar recommends choosing a diet that consists mainly of protein, fruits, a small amount of grain, and very little added sugar for the rest of your life. If you’re not familiar with the foods you’ll need to consume in the future, try introducing new foods one at a time to see how they affect your body.
Anything high in sugar or fat should be avoided.
These will not only lead to weight gain, but they will also possibly cause significant pain after certain forms of bariatric surgery. Restrict your intake of pre-packaged and processed foods, especially those with a long list of ingredients. If you ever buy pre-packaged food, make sure to read the label.
Just consume processed foods with a protein-to-calorie ratio of at least 10-to-one. Don’t eat fried foods, ice cream, or candy bars anymore. If you can’t give up soft drinks and sweetened dairy products, stick to sugar-free alternatives.
Make an effort to consume a high-protein, low-fat diet.
Fish, dairy, poultry, beans, and other legumes should be prioritized. After your surgery, you’ll probably need to ease into a protein-focused diet, starting with softer choices first. Begin consuming meals based on extremely soft protein sources, as directed by your doctor, a few weeks after surgery.
Protein shakes, egg whites, non-fat cottage cheese, and low-fat yogurt are all healthy options. Switch your long-term diet to protein-focused meals that include lean chicken, lean turkey, fish, or tofu until you’re able to consume more solid foods.
Adding fruits & vegetables in regular diet.
Also, eat a lot of new fruits and vegetables! In the short term, stick to your doctor’s instructions, but aim for a long-term diet rich in vegetables. Protein portions should be eaten first at meals.
Potatoes, carrots, green beans, onions, squash, cucumbers, bananas, and avocados are some of the best fruits and vegetables to eat.
Smaller meals are healthier.
Smaller meals will help you lose weight and hold it off for a number of reasons. To begin with, you’re consuming less calories. Second, if you eat less calories, the body can burn them off more quickly.Schedule daily meal times and stop feeding after 8 p.m. You would be able to stop snacking as a result of this. Slow down the chewing. Each bite should be chewed for at least 15 seconds. Baristatic is an app that will assist you in this endeavor!
Enable your stomach to send signals to your brain about your level of satiation by waiting two minutes between bites. Pay attention to the body’s sensations. It’s possible that you won’t feel “complete” until your body has had a chance to realize that you’ve consumed food. Enable yourself and your body to rediscover what it means to be happy.
Make sure to drink plenty of water.
Staying hydrated is linked to a slew of health benefits, particularly after bariatric surgery. To begin, you should drink more water than normal to aid your body’s removal of waste and contaminants that must be flushed from your system during rapid weight loss. Drink at least 64 ounces of water per day.
Drinking water often makes you feel fuller for longer, allowing you to eat less often and stick to a meal schedule. Drink water for at least 30 minutes outside of meal times, as your stomach’s reduced capacity can cause discomfort if you try to drink with your meals.
Make sure you’re getting enough nutrients in your diet.
The decreased ability to consume nutrients is one of the disadvantages of bariatric surgery. Be aware that you’ll need to consume higher-than-recommended vitamin and nutrient dosages.To prevent anemia, which is a common complication after bariatric surgery, pay careful attention to how much iron you’re receiving.
If you have a gastric or intestinal bypass (rather than a gastric banding), you will need to supplement your vitamin B12 and calcium intake heavily. After bariatric surgery, you can take vitamins as directed by your doctor.
