Lifestyle Habits to Change Before Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric surgery is an excellent
weapon in the fight against obesity but it is not, unfortunately, a
panacea. Surgery alone does not guarantee success, and surgery
candidates who fail to make lifestyle changes are at risk for losing
weight after surgery only to gain it back later. When possible, it is
best to implement and commit to lifestyle changes before your weight
loss surgery so that you are not trying to learn new habits while
focusing on recovery. Any improvement you make before your surgery
also makes you healthier and your body better able to endure and
recover quickly from the surgical process. Try implementing these
four lifestyle changes before your surgery to improve your odds of
long-term weight loss success.
1. Take vitamins and mineral
supplements. Your stomach will be smaller after your surgery and able
to hold less food. As a result, you may not absorb enough vitamins
and minerals during the digestive process. To combat this, take a
multivitamin that contains iron, folic acid, copper, zinc and
selenium every day. Supplement your intake of calcium, vitamin D and
vitamin B12 as well.
2. Drink 8 cups of liquid every day. Not
all of this liquid has to be water, but avoid high-calorie drinks,
those that contain a lot of sugar and carbonated beverages. Try not
to drink while you are eating. After surgery, liquid in your stomach
may make you feel full even if you haven't taken in enough food.
Liquids consumed alongside food also contribute to dumping syndrome,
which is even less pleasant than it sounds.
3. Eat more foods
rich in protein like eggs, chicken and fish. Try eating several small
meals throughout the day rather than two or three larger meals. You
will need to eat this way after surgery as your stomach will hold
only about one cup of food at a time.
4. Exercise 30 to 45 minutes a day. If this is too much for you, simply start by going as long as you can - some exercise is better than no exercise. You can add time to your workout as your stamina builds. Participate in cardio or aerobic exercises three to five times during the week. Work on strength training the other days as this builds muscle and helps maintain weight loss.
