Living with excess weight cannot only impact your confidence levels, but it can also lead to the development of various health issues throughout your lifetime. As a result, you might be considering embarking on bariatric surgery to successfully lose weight and restore your health.
If you are unsure how you can care for your body once the procedure is complete, read the below guide to supporting your health after bariatric surgery.
Eat Small
Once surgery is over, you will only be able to eat pureed or liquefied foods during the first few weeks. Gradually, you can re-introduce soft foods into your diet before fully returning to solids. It is, however, important to bear in mind that your stomach will be smaller in size. For this reason, you will only be able to consume a few mouthfuls of food initially.
Your stomach will eventually expand, but you must only eat small amounts of food to avoid stretching your stomach. It is wise to consume six small meals per day, which you should chew for twenty or thirty minutes at a slow pace to prevent stomach cramps.
Follow a Balanced Diet
To avoid weight gain, you must aim to follow a balanced diet each day, which should consist of:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Low-fat protein (fish, eggs, pork and low-fat dairy)
If, however, you are unsure how to create the right diet plan for your body, you should consult a qualified nutritionist to help you maintain a healthy diet and weight.
Take Prescribed Medications
It is possible you might be prescribed acid-blocking medication following surgery, which will prevent bowel and stomach ulcers. Many patients might also be required to take medication for the first six months to ensure they don’t develop gallstones.
It is important to regularly book check-ups with your dentist when taking any medication, as they will turn to companies such as Kent Express for the best dental supplies to resolve various oral health issues, such as dry mouth.
Embrace Physical Activity Each Day
While it is important to build up to exercise after bariatric surgery, you must eventually aim to incorporate physical activity into your everyday routine. Most doctors will likely recommend walking each day initially before undertaking various aerobic activities, such as cycling or swimming. It’s also possible to increase your metabolism and muscle mass with weight training.
Find Effective Coping Strategies
Many people often turn to food to cope with overwhelming emotions and high stress levels. It might, therefore, feel difficult to adjust to your new lifestyle after surgery at first or you might need a new outlet to manage your negative feelings.
Rather than suffering in silence or overindulging in food, you should look for healthy coping strategies following bariatric surgery. For example, you could benefit from behavioural therapy or you could join a support group. You should lean on your loved ones for emotional support, as they could help you to embrace your brand-new, healthier lifestyle.