By opting for bariatric surgery, you’ve taken an important step for your health. Weight loss surgery isn’t something one does just to look nicer. It’s a serious step towards a longer and healthier life. It’s also not an easy matter. Beyond the surgery itself, you are now on a limited diet. You certainly will lose weight, but you have to be extra careful about what you eat. In this post, we’ll look at some of the important changes you will be making on your journey towards better health.
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1. Take Special Vitamins
Your diet is severely limited in the first months after surgery. Even in the longer-term, high fiber foods are best avoided. The problem with that is that raw fruits and veggies are a top source of vitamins, and even after recovery, they may be poorly-tolerated. During the months after surgery, and possibly even after that, you will need to supplement. But you also can’t use the usual vitamin pills that everyone else uses. Seek out a range of specialized bariatric vitamin supplements to support your wellness.
2. Get Used to Counting Calories
During the most sensitive stages of your recovery, your doctor will prescribe what you can and cannot eat. You’ll start on liquids and work your way up. After that, keeping yourself healthy and comfortable will be up to you. You’ll receive guidance on the types of foods you can eat as well as your daily calorie allowance. “Cheating” will lead to severe discomfort, so you don’t want to make any mistakes. Luckily, counting calories could be easier than you thought. Choose a medically approved calorie counting app. It will save you a lot of head-scratching!
3. Balance Your Food Groups
Your medical team will have given you advice on how to balance your nutrition after surgery. It’s no longer a matter of the simple meat and three veg you learned about when you were in school. For some people, red meat and chicken may cause discomfort even once they are able to start being a little more expansive in their food choices. Fish, eggs and dairy products (unless there are medical reasons why you must avoid them) will likely be your standbys if you aren’t tolerating meat well.
Starches should not be heavily processed and you will have to be careful to keep your intake low, while fatty foods are likely to leave you feeling ill. Opt for low-fat alternatives. As for veggies, well-cooked, skinned veggies will be introduced into your diet during recovery as per doctors’ recommendations. In time, you may be able to eat a greater variety of veg, but do be cautious when testing your limits.
4. Manage Food Cravings
Much of our relationship with food is psychological, and you can expect to experience food cravings. You can help to take your mind off them by being sure you don’t skip any of the meals you’re allowed. While you’re getting used to your healthy diet, avoid situations that trigger cravings. If that means taking a detour instead of driving past a fast food outlet you frequented before, that’s with the effort for you.
Sipping water may also help you to reduce feelings of hunger and take the edge off cravings. In fact, it’s known that the body sometimes misinterprets a need for hydration by sending you a hunger message, so drinking water may even make the hungry feeling go away. Keep the goal in sight. It’s not just losing weight. It’s about enjoying better health even as you age. By opting for weight loss surgery, you’re improving your chances of being there for your loved ones as the next generation grows to adulthood.
5. You Need Support From Friends and Family
Don’t be shy about telling your circle about your surgery and the changes it will bring. Ask them to help you by keeping food temptations out of sight and out of mind. Your closest friends can do even more than that. Choose a supportive person who you can call and talk to when the going gets tough. Just having a sympathetic person who is willing to listen to you can be a huge help when the going gets a little tough. If you know someone else who has had bariatric surgery and who will understand the major adjustment you are undergoing, that’s even better. With friends on our side, we can achieve anything!
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