People who experience severe obesity often have no choice for a cure other than bariatric surgery in Atlanta. While weight loss surgery is a good option for long-term treatment, it requires major lifestyle changes afterward. Patients are highly concerned about living a healthy life after bariatric surgery, and they may often wonder
Can I live a normal life after my surgery?
Can I live longer after this surgery?
Will I be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle after surgery?
And many more questions like this.
Here’s a complete guide to tackle thoughts like this and tips on living a healthy life after bariatric surgery.
THE CONCEPT OF LIVING A HEALTHY LIFE AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY
When someone goes through a surgical process, they undergo physical as well as mental changes. Both of these are highly concerned as they equally affect our health. Following proper post-surgery care can help a lot to live a healthy life. It covers all different aspects including dietary changes, physical activity, mental health support, and weight maintenance. Let’s discuss them in detail.
1. DIETARY GUIDELINES
After a bariatric or metabolic surgery, the patient’s food intake capacity is changed. So keeping that in mind, your diet should not exceed the level of calories you can take. The ideal limit for calorie intake after a bariatric surgery is 5oo and 700 and it should not exceed 1000 calories.
Major dietary guidelines include eating food high in protein and low in carbohydrates and sugars. High protein foods include eggs, fish (Tuna), tofu, meat, milk, cottage cheese, and other soy products. Some other tips for nutrition after bariatric surgery include:
- Start from soft food first then transition to solid food. Such as drinking fluids during the early post-operative period then soft food and then solid food.
- Portion control is necessary depending on your intake capacity.
- Hydration is important but you should avoid taking drinks with meals to avoid the stretching of your stomach pouch.
- You should eat slowly and take small bites to ease the digestion process.
2. EXERCISE ROUTINE
You need to make some changes in your exercise after bariatric surgery. Aim to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. It includes starting by walking for 5 minutes and then slowly increasing these intervals. You can also perform cardio at least 3 times a week if tolerated.
Exercise not only helps you stay physically active but it also helps you to burn calories. But in turn, prevents the accumulation of body fat.
You can seek expert guidance about your exercise intensity to avoid complications and live a healthy life after bariatric surgery.
3. MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Patients experience different emotions before and after their surgery. It is important to regulate those emotions for a healthy experience. If you undergo bariatric surgery or any other surgery, you should join different support groups where other people with the same experience share their daily challenges and improvements.
4. PREGNANCY AND OTHER LIFESTYLE CHANGES
It’s a big decision to choose surgery if you want to lose weight. A successful surgery brings major precautionary measures along with weight loss. And you as a person who went through the surgical process need to adhere to those changes. It is very important to live a healthy life after bariatric surgery.
If you are a woman, we suggest you take effective birth control in the early postoperative period. It counts as the 12 to 18 months following your surgery. It is because in that period you have several diet restrictions and medications that can affect the fetus. Moreover, it can also compromise the nutrition of the little one. So it is recommended to take effective birth control such as an Intrauterine device (IUD) for uncompromised nutrition after bariatric surgery.
Furthermore, maintain a proper sleep schedule. Take your vitamins and minerals on time for effective nutrition. Use different stress management techniques such as yoga and meditation for effective behavior management and healthy life after bariatric surgery.
5. POST-OPERATIVE CARE
To live a healthy life after bariatric surgery, you need to follow some post-operative care methods. They include:
- Regular follow-up appointments with the surgeons for monitoring health and other health concerns.
- Proper adherence to medications and other dietary supplements to ensure long-term success and nourishment.
- Proper hygiene maintenance of the incision area with the guidance of your surgeons to reduce the risk of any bacterial harm.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
We understand the complications of bariatric surgery and how it overall affects patients. After a weight loss surgery, you may feel full after a little intake of food. It is because your stomach is altered for restricted food limits. But it does not mean that you should stop eating. With the proper guidance of your healthcare professionals, you can maintain a healthy balance in your diet.
Follow the above-mentioned tips and your surgeon’s advice for living a healthy life after bariatric surgery. If you are looking for professional and experienced bariatric surgery in Atlanta, look no further. At Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgical Institute, we are a team of surgeons performing countless metabolic and weight loss surgeries for years. Let’s get together on your weight loss journey.