This article provides guidelines for recovering from weight loss surgery and tips for successful weight loss.
Know When to Call Your Surgeon
In the weeks after surgery, you should call your surgeon if:
Don’t Drink Calories
Avoid Sugar
What to Do for Dumping Syndrome
Avoid Carbonated Drinks
The bubbly nature of carbonated drinks such as soda can cause gas pain and increase the pressure in your stomach, which can be harmful to staples andsutures, especially in the months immediately after surgery.Avoid soda—even diet sodas, which can increase sugar cravings—after surgery.
Watch Fluid Intake When Eating
Don’t drink fluids immediately before, during, or after your meal. It is essential that you reserve the small amount of space you have in your stomach for high-quality, nutrient-rich food.
After surgery, your progress will be closely monitored.Skipping appointments may mean that a nutritional deficiency,surgical complication, or other issues may not be discovered promptly. Also, appointments are a good motivator for staying on track with your goals.
Keep Taking Medications
Don’t stop taking any medications without your surgeon’s approval. Many diseases can improve with surgery and weight loss, but that doesn’t mean you should stop taking your medication.
Talk to your healthcare provider before stopping any medications. By the same token, don’t start medications without your surgeon’s approval, especially in the weeks following surgery.
Don’t Snack
Snacking is a habit that can slow your progress and hurt your long-term success.Stick to high-quality meals and avoid highly processed foods. If you are hungry, have a meal, but it’s important to not snack between meals.
Eat Protein
Protein should be your primary focus when sitting down for a meal. Not only will it help you maintain your muscle mass while losing fat, but it will also help you feel full longer after your meals. If you feel full quickly and unable to finish your meals, start with protein to make sure you are taking in enough.
How Much Protein Should a Person With Diabetes Eat?
Skip Alcohol
Alcohol is full of empty calories that provide no nutritional value. It can also contribute to stomach ulcers, which you are already at risk for because of your surgery. Weight-loss surgery also makes you more sensitive to alcohol than you were before, so a little goes a long way.
Chew Your Food
Chewing your food thoroughly is essential to preventing nausea and vomiting during and after your meal. Large chunks of food can have trouble passing through the digestive tract after surgery, and food that gets stuck along the way can cause pain.
Avoid Pregnancy
If you are sexually active, use a reliable method of birth control, and consult your surgeon before attempting to become pregnant.
Find a Support Group
More than 140,000 people have weight-loss surgery each year, so it’s not hard to find a support group. Not only do support groups offer emotional support, but they can also provide advice on the wide range of changes you are facing as you lose weight.
Support groups can be found in most areas that have a bariatric surgeon and are available as an online resource, too.
Don’t Take OTC Drugs Without Approval
Over-the-counter drugs can pose risks after surgery that were not a concern before surgery. Pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen increase the likelihood that you will develop an ulcer.
Remedies forconstipationshouldn’t be taken without healthcare provider approval, as constipation can be a sign of complications or a need for a change in diet.
Listen to Your Body
Try to eat only when you’re hungry.Learn to listen to your smaller stomach and only eat when your body is giving you true hunger cues.
Avoid Simple Carbs
Simple carbohydrates are highly processed foods such as white bread, pasta, sugar, and white rice. The rule of thumb is that white foods are usually simple carbs. Simple carbohydrates are low in nutrients and also elevate blood glucose levels, triggering hunger pangs and cravings.
Instead of eating simple carbs, look for whole grains, which contain fiber and additional nutrients that may be stripped from processed grains.
Exercise
Regular walking immediately after surgery also helps prevent serious complications, such as pulmonary embolus and blood clots.
Eat Mindfully
Stay Hydrated
Drink lots of water apart from meals. Staying hydrated will help you feel more energetic, and it will prevent you from mistaking hunger for thirst. Many adults confuse the two sensations, so if you are well-hydrated, you won’t have to wonder if you are truly hungry.
Caffeine is the most-used drug in the world, and it is a drug. Caffeine alters your mood, increases your heart rate and is a diuretic. If you drink caffeine, you will be working against your efforts to stay well-hydrated and increase your risk of a stomach ulcer.
Find Healthful Coping Skills
Healthy coping mechanisms are an important tool to have in your toolbox.Gentle exercise, reading, meditation, and quality time with friends are excellent ways to check in and make time for yourself when you’re stressed or anxious.
Watch Out for Lactose Intolerance
Be aware that many weight-loss surgery patients develop lactose intolerance after surgery, even if they didn’t have it before. Go easy on dairy products until you know how your body will handle them. Consider low-fat dairy products to increase the protein you get without too much fat.
What Is Lactose Intolerance?
Plan for Portion Control When Eating Out
Portion controlis an important way to maintain weight loss after surgery.Restaurant portions are massive in comparison to what you need after surgery.
Plan on taking food home or ordering a child’s portion. If you aren’t sure you can resist cleaning your plate, divide an acceptable portion away from the meal and have the server pack up the rest before temptation sets in.
Stop Using Straws
When drinking, don’t use a straw. Straws allow you to drink too quickly, so you may end up with an uncomfortably full stomach. They also increase air in the stomach, which can cause serious discomfort.
Focus on Whole Foods
Add minimally processed foods, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and protein to your diet as much as possible.Avoid processed foods such as packaged and boxed items if a fresh alternative is available.
Take Supplements If Recommended
Many weight loss surgery patients become low in essential nutrients such as iron, potassium, and calcium. If your healthcare provider recommends an over-the-counter or prescription supplement, be sure to follow their instructions.
Summary
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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