What Will Change in My Life Following Weight Loss Surgery?
Weight loss surgery is a life-changing experience as it can help you lose a significant amount of weight. Many of our patients come to us with no hope, saying nothing they’ve tried has worked. Bariatric weight loss surgery offers a variety of benefits, most importantly a reduced appetite which leads to a limited absorption of calories. Of course, surgery alone is not enough for this. In order to get the maximum possible benefit out of bariatric weight loss surgery, you must make certain changes in your lifestyle afterwards. When we say change, we are talking about physical activities, diet, general habits and mindset.
Adapt Your Lifestyle Into a Healthy One
Don’t think that the benefits of weight loss surgery are just a change in the number that shows up on your scale. When the procedure is completed, you are supposed to regulate your entire lifestyle. Consider bariatric surgery as the first step in a long journey. To achieve complete success after weight loss surgery, you must be committed to changing many aspects of life.
What are these changes? Let’s make a brief list:
Diet
It is important for weight control to make healthy eating a life standard after obesity surgery. In order not to tire your stomach, which becomes as sensitive as a baby’s stomach after the surgery, we slowly prepare it to switch to a normal diet. For this reason, it is very important to comply with the gastric protective diet for the first five weeks.
- The most important thing after having bariatric surgery is to stay hydrated. We advise drink around 65-70 ounces of water.
- Make sure to take 60-100 grams of protein as a daily supplement.
- Right after bariatric surgery, patients start a liquid diet. In the first week, they continue to be fed with soup and compote. In the second week, they continue their diet with dark liquids, grain-free and acid-free foods. Thus, they do not strain their still sensitive stomachs and do not have difficulty in digestion. In addition to traditional soups, recipes such as oatmeal vegetable soup can be tried this week.
- They continue to be fed with soup and compote in the first week. In the second week, they continue their diet with dark liquids, grain-free and acid-free foods. Thus, they do not strain their still sensitive stomachs and do not have difficulty in digestion. In addition to classic soups, recipes such as oatmeal vegetable soup can be tried this week.
- Our patients can start to consume puree from the fourth week. After the fifth week, eating patterns begin to return to normal. During this period, it is necessary to stay away from all kinds of spices (including black pepper and paprika), all kinds of caffeinated beverages, form tea, detox tea, green tea and white tea.
Vitamins and Minerals
After obesity surgery, patients will need to take over the counter vitamins and minerals for the rest of their lives. Each bariatric surgery program will instruct patients on how much to take depending on several factors. A typical vitamin program includes: a multivitamin, Vitamin B12, Calcium, Vitamin D, and Iron. If a patient can’t tolerate pills, they can take chewable vitamins. Patients who do not take vitamins regularly have a high risk of suffering severely and even developing life-threatening medical problems due to low vitamin and mineral levels.
Medications
Many bariatric patients are already taking several medications because they have morbid obesity. Patients are able to stop some of these drugs or their doses can be reduced after losing a certain amount of weight. Of course, this decision will definitely be made together with the patient’s individual doctor and surgeon. At this stage, you may be expected to quit the medications you are on and switch to another one. If changes are made from pill use, such as liquid or chewable medicines, these should be done under the supervision of a doctor or pharmacist. Many patients will take some type of antacid medication for some time after surgery.
Exercise
Patients who have trouble exercising before weight loss surgery feel they have more energy after surgery. As a result, they find the strength to exercise.
As a first exercise, walking occasionally for a few hours after the surgery helps patients recover faster. Because each patient’s recovery process is different, they should consult their surgeon before starting intense exercise. According to the program determined by your doctor, you can do an average of 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Remember that exercise will also help prevent weight loss when it becomes a habit. In addition, exercise allows for a slightly better recovery of saggy skin. For a permanent solution to excessive skin, we recommend our patients to have abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) 12-18 months after bariatric surgery.
Smoking and Alcohol
Bariatric surgeons require their patients to quit smoking at least 2 weeks prior to weight loss surgery. Most of them will ask you to stop smoking for the rest of your life as it carries many risks. Remember that you have chosen to be healthier by undergoing obesity surgery.
Also, alcohol use after weight loss surgery might cause serious problems. Alcohol is absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream after surgery. This can lead to an increased risk of alcoholism in bariatric surgery patients. Therefore you will need to limit alcohol consumption.
Bariatric Surgery in Turkey
If you are considering having bariatric surgery abroad, Turkey is one of the most affordable and logical options. Our country has come to the forefront with health tourism in the last ten years. Especially bariatric surgery in Istanbul, options are quite high in terms of both hospitals and surgeons. If you are interested, you can get detailed information about bariatric surgery in Turkey by contacting us right now via the WhatsApp line.