Are you considering bariatric surgery for weight loss? Bariatric patients lose an average of 60-80% excess weight within a year. Obesity is a complex condition that needs a comprehensive approach beyond temporary solutions like crash diets or surgeries. Patients will also need to change their lifestyles, adding healthy eating habits, physical activity, and consistent medical oversight to manage obesity successfully and prevent weight gain and health complications.
If you’re wondering how this works and whether you’ll be able to lose weight, there are a few different factors to consider, such as candidacy and pre-surgery conditions, as well as what to do to reach a healthy weight. At Orlando Minimally Invasive Surgery, we specialize in bariatric surgery and helping patients reach a healthy weight. Here is a look at this procedure and what to expect.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
When traditional methods like diet and exercise prove ineffective or when weight-related health issues become severe, bariatric surgery becomes a viable option. Various procedures aim to limit food intake or reduce the body’s absorption of fat and calories, sometimes employing both approaches.
Though bariatric surgery presents potential benefits, these procedures have inherent risks and potential side effects. Patients must also commit to permanent lifestyle changes for successful long-term recovery and healthy weight loss.
At Orlando Minimally Invasive Surgery, we provide patients with a full diet and exercise regimen to ensure their weight loss is successful and safe. These plans include everything patients can eat and what exercises to start with to build muscle and strength.
How Does Life Change After Bariatric Surgery?
You might be in the initial stages of considering weight-loss surgery, or you’ve already resolved to undergo the procedure. Weight-loss surgery offers several potential benefits:
- Weight reduction
- Improvement or resolution of various health issues
- Enhanced quality of life
- Extended lifespan
It’s important to note that weight-loss surgery requires significant lifestyle changes, including dietary habits, meal timing, and self-perception.
Weight-loss surgery isn’t a shortcut. It necessitates dedication to maintaining a balanced diet, managing portion sizes, and incorporating exercise into your routine.
Diet Changes
Dietary recommendations aim to deliver balanced meals while controlling calorie intake to ensure adequate nutrition and preserve muscle mass. Since each patient responds differently to foods, individual tolerance should be considered when implementing dietary suggestions.
During the initial 12 months following surgery, your daily caloric consumption should range between 500 and 700 calories, with a maximum limit of 1,000 calories per day. Embrace a well-structured diet rich in protein and vegetables while minimizing carbohydrates and sugars.
Aim to achieve a protein intake of 60 to 80 grams daily, sourcing protein from foods like eggs, meats, seafood, poultry, tofu, dairy products, and legumes. It may take six to eight weeks post-surgery before consistently meeting your protein target.
Success hinges on maintaining a daily log of portions and calories and scheduling regular consultations with a dietitian. Here are some practical tips to support your dietary journey:
- Eat slowly, taking small bites and thoroughly chewing your food.
- Steer clear of challenging-to-digest foods such as rice, bread, raw vegetables, and tough meats like pork and steak. Ground meat may be more tolerable.
- Opt for balanced meals with modest portions, especially during the initial recovery period when you may only tolerate small amounts of food at a time.
- Avoid using straws, carbonated beverages, chewing gum, and ice, as these can introduce excess air into your surgically modified pouch and cause discomfort.
- Minimize consumption of sugar, sugary foods, beverages, and fruit juices.
- Gradually diversify your diet over time, reintroducing foods that may have been poorly tolerated initially, such as red meats, chicken, bread, and high-fiber fruits and vegetables.
- Unless medical conditions prohibit it, drink 1.5 to 2 liters daily to ensure adequate hydration.
It’s important to note that alcoholic beverages may have a more pronounced effect post-surgery and should be approached with caution. Discuss any alcohol consumption with your bariatric surgery team before making any decisions.
Vitamins and Minerals
To maintain proper nutrient levels, individuals who undergo bariatric surgery should incorporate the following vitamin and mineral supplements into their daily routine:
Multivitamins: Following surgery, a daily intake of bariatric-specific multivitamins is essential to address potential nutrient deficiencies. These specialized multivitamins contain elevated levels of all essential micronutrients, streamlining the postoperative supplement regimen. The ProCare Health bariatric multivitamin is readily available for purchase online without the need for a prescription.
Calcium: To prevent calcium deficiency and promote bone health, consuming 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium daily is recommended. Calcium citrate is the preferred form due to its superior absorption. Divide the daily dosage into two or three smaller doses to optimize absorption. For instance, consider taking a 500-milligram chewable or capsule supplement two to three times daily.
Vitamin D3: Both the multivitamin and calcium supplements recommended post-surgery contain vitamin D3. The ProCare Health bariatric multivitamin provides 3,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3, while the Celebrate calcium supplement offers an additional 500 IU per chewable or capsule. Consequently, individuals receive approximately 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily from these combined sources.
Exercise
Strive to engage in physical activity for 30 to 45 minutes daily, incorporating aerobic exercises (or “cardio”) three to five times weekly. Begin by taking short walks for five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the afternoon. Gradually extend these durations by five-minute increments as your endurance improves, aiming to walk at least 15 minutes twice daily. Once you’ve achieved this milestone, diversify your exercise routine with activities like light jogging, swimming, or using a stationary bike.
If you find yourself hitting a plateau, adjust your exercise regimen by exploring new activities, incorporating more challenging exercises, or extending the duration of your workouts. Breaking up your routine with intervals of walking and jogging for two to five minutes each can help overcome plateaus and enhance fat burning. For an added challenge, consider alternating between jogging and sprinting.
Incorporating resistance training into your regimen is also beneficial for building muscle and burning calories, aiding in weight loss maintenance. Begin with light weights, typically two to five pounds, and perform three sets of 10 repetitions for each exercise. As you progress and your strength increases, gradually increase the weight to continue challenging your muscles.
Medications
Following weight loss surgery, many patients experience reductions or discontinuations of their medications under the guidance of their healthcare provider. This may involve temporarily transitioning certain medications to liquid or chewable forms.
Given that numerous bariatric patients are managing multiple medical conditions with various medications, adjustments post-surgery are common. Whether decreasing dosages or changing formulations, these adjustments are typically determined by the patient’s primary doctor and surgeon. Patients taking extended-release medications may require alternative formulations, while dosage adjustments may be necessary soon after surgery. A healthcare professional, such as a doctor or pharmacist, should oversee any changes, including switching to liquid or chewable medications.
Additionally, many patients may require antacid medications for a period following surgery to manage gastrointestinal symptoms.
Pregnancy
Women should refrain from becoming pregnant for 12 to 18 months after undergoing weight loss surgery. Although weight loss surgery can increase fertility, female patients need to prioritize their health and weight stabilization before considering pregnancy.
Before surgery, female patients should establish a birth control plan to prevent unintended pregnancy during the initial recovery period. This allows them to achieve their lowest possible weight and ensure optimal nutrition if they pursue pregnancy later.
Furthermore, women who previously faced difficulties conceiving may find that weight loss surgery improves their chances of getting pregnant. This positive outcome can occur even in women who experienced irregular menstrual cycles or infertility before undergoing surgery.
Lifestyle
You’ve taken a significant step towards a healthier body weight by choosing to undergo major surgery for weight loss. However, to achieve long-term results, adopting a new lifestyle and committing to lasting changes is essential. Our goal is to help you establish habits like monitoring your calorie intake and staying active, which will become a part of your daily routine.
Every day presents an opportunity to prioritize your health and well-being. Celebrate every step you take towards maintaining your commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Success lies in engaging in activities, behaviors, and communities that support your health goals and help you sustain your new lifestyle. Keep yourself active in your interests, hobbies, and social circles. Also, attending local weight-loss or bariatric support groups can be an excellent way to stay motivated and make progress.
Struggles with Weight Loss and Long-Term Follow-Up
Obesity is a chronic condition; ongoing follow-up is important even after surgery. In the initial post-operative period, patients typically have follow-up appointments every few months throughout the first year. Subsequently, it’s recommended to have annual visits with a bariatric specialist for life.
These regular check-ups are significant because obesity remains a persistent condition, and there’s a possibility of its recurrence even after surgery. Long-term follow-up may involve additional treatments such as weight loss medications, guidance on lifestyle modifications, or even further surgical interventions if necessary.
Next Steps for Weight Loss Surgery
Life after bariatric surgery requires dedication, support, and guidance. At Orlando Minimally Invasive Surgery, we’re committed to helping you confidently navigate this journey and achieve your weight loss goals.
If you’re struggling to lose weight and considering bariatric surgery, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our top-rated surgeons. Through innovative minimally invasive bariatric surgery, we’ve helped many people in Central Florida who were unable to lose weight. Start your health transformation today.