Weight Loss and Lifestyle Changes

Bariatric surgery requires commitment and dedication for a life-changing process. The operation itself is just one step in your transformation. Bariatric surgery requires a change in the way that you think about food, dieting and exercise.

Lifestyle Choices are Required for Weight Loss Success after Bariatric Surgery

Although there are definite physiological changes that occur after surgery and that will help you lose weight, it is important that you realize the need to change your environment and some of your previous lifestyle choices.

 

Calm and Introspection

Summer tomatoes in a basket
Success after bariatric surgery requires you to redefine your relationship with food. This means looking inside to identify problematic habits with food choices and identifying the triggers and poor eating habits that caused your own condition of obesity.

Bariatric surgery can help normalize feelings of satiety and food cravings. Although the operations change the way in which your body processes food, some of these changes are only temporary. It is important that you start life-affirming habits that will help you succeed. Healthy habits don’t just happen. Do not rely on your operation to force you into healthy habits. These lifestyle changes take know-how, time, and commitment and often support from family and friends. If you’re ready to commit, you need to research the knowledge and tools to develop healthy habits. There are challenges that wait and you will need help to cope with social situations, cravings and emotional eating.

Steps to Developing Healthy Habits

Bariatric surgery is a tool that can help patients can use to take control of their health. In addition to surgery, goal-setting skills are important tools that can help you achieve healthy habits.

Redefine balance in your life

Almost all patients describe many years of unsuccessful Yo-Yo dieting. The diet after bariatric surgery requires a constant commitment and not a diet that can be quit and restarted once goals have been met. Speak about that commitment with your family and friends before considering surgery.

While the most important steps include your own research and support from your loved ones, the following suggestions can help you set yourself up for success.

Theory and Preparation

Lifelong habits start with information and knowing yourself. Spend some time researching online and speaking to someone whose diet and fitness habits you admire. Find out why they enjoy their habits and what keeps them going.

Acting on your Positive Choices

Once you’ve defined some objectives, it’s time to create an action plan. A plan plots your short- and long-term goals on a timeline. A plan should be specific so that you have realistic, but flexible, goals you can attain.

Maintaining Healthy Choices

Developing a habit takes practice. For the first few months, you will be stress-testing your plan. Whenever you start a new habit, you are likely to encounter some challenges. When you do encounter a challenge, you will need to figure out a way to work through it.

Some minor changes in lifestyle and philosophy

There are many psychological changes and challenges that occur after metabolic surgery. While the operations do most likely involve some hormonal changes, do not rely on any operation to make you happy or to solve problems at home.
There are many psychological changes and challenges that occur after metabolic surgery. While the operations do most likely involve some hormonal changes, do not rely on any operation to make you happy or to solve problems at home.

How Does Bariatric Surgery Help Weight-Loss?

Bariatric surgery works by helping you restrict the number of calories that you consume. A healthy restrictive diet is very important and must be followed even after the operation. To lose weight, your body must burn more calories than you eat and/or drink. A diet plan should be based on your health and lifestyle needs, and would include reducing the number of calories you take in.

Is Diet or Exercise More Important for Weight-Loss?

Dietary restriction is likely more important for weight-loss than burning calories with exercise. Frequent and regular physical activity is beneficial to most anyone—whether they are pre- or post-surgery. Generally, an exercise program includes cardiovascular exercise such as walking, swimming, or cycling, strength training using resistance bands, weights, or machines, and stretching. Speak with your primary care physician before beginning any physical activity.

Exercise comes in many forms

Resistance band exercises are low-impact and strengthen the core and extremities.
Exercise and an active lifestyle are both important elements of maintaining a healthy weight. At the beginning be sure to choose low impact activities that protect your joints. You will find that as the pounds start to come off, exercise will become more enjoyable and fulfilling.