The American Society of Bariatric Surgeons estimates that more than 330,000 Americans underwent bariatric surgery in 2014. This number is only growing as the obesity epidemic continues to worsen. A common misconception about weight loss surgery is that it will solve all of your problems and keep you thin forever. That’s not always the case; in fact, many people struggle with maintaining a healthy weight after bariatric surgery. 

In this blog post, we’re going to talk about how to recover and maintain a healthy weight after undergoing bariatric surgery. We’ll mention the food that you need to take, what to avoid, etc. We’ll also mention the importance of vitamins, and maybe you’ll want to consider taking the bariatric advantage vitamins, which are easily resorbable and great for weight-loss patients since they don’t irritate the stomach and help the body function properly. The last thing you want post-op is stomach pain or micronutrients deficiency. So, let’s take a look at several important things you need to keep in mind in order to stay happy and healthy!

“Copyright: Unsplash | CC0 Public Domain”

Recovering after weight-loss surgery

Like any post-op recovery, weight-loss surgery recovery can be long and exhausting. Your body went through a lot during the operation, so now it needs to rest and regain strength. The surgery is just a small step to the great journey ahead of you. You’ll have many temptations regarding diet and exercise, and sometimes you’ll feel extremely lazy to work out or prepare some healthy food. That shouldn’t throw you off guard. It’s completely OK to not do those things some days. What matters more is for you to get yourself together quickly after that. 

After surgery, your doctor will give you all the important info, about your recovery, and all that comes next. He will talk to you about your diet, healthy meals, and how long you should exercise. Another thing that is really important is vitamins. Your doctor will tell you what vitamins to take and what to avoid. Shortly, you need to include vitamins C, D, A, and supplements such as magnesium and iron. You need to avoid blood thinners, such as aspirin shortly after surgery.

Why do people gain weight after weight loss surgery? 

It can be difficult for most people who have undergone any type of surgical procedure to rebound from the trauma and return to a normal diet following their operation. This is especially true when one has had weight loss surgery. It completely changes the metabolism and the amount of food that your stomach can tolerate. 

After the surgery, you’ll only be able to consume small meals throughout the day. You will really stick to the diet and all the recommendations that your doctor gave you. You will eat small, but healthy and well-balanced meals. The workout will be on your to-do list every day. After a while, your body will become used to this and you’ll be able to tolerate more food. You find yourself eating more and exercising less. This will most probably lead to weight gain. The meals you have won’t be healthy, nor well-balanced. That is why it’s extremely important to motivate yourself every day and to keep yourself from falling off track.

The most probable causes of weight gain

Weight gain is usually caused by: 

• Over-eating 
• Eating unhealthy food
• Binge eating
• Eating all-day
• Snacking 

Each and every cause is easily preventable. You just need to have a strong will to change yourself for the better. Your main goal before surgery was to become a healthier version of yourself, and you need to be consistent in what you do. 

How to prevent weight gain post-op?

To prevent weight gain, you need to recognize the problem. Once you find the reason for your weight gain, you try to eliminate it. For example, if you snack a lot throughout the day, try to limit yourself to two, healthy snacks per day. If previously you were munching on a pack of chips, try protein bars or some fruit. It will keep you full and satisfied, without all the extra empty calories. Try to limit your meals to three main, bigger meals, and two smaller snacks a day. Drink lots of water, and try to stay away from refined sweets and over-processed food. 

Every diet consists of 80% healthy meals and 20% exercise. If you have a balanced diet, then you’ve solved 80% of the problem. Now, onto the exercise. Cardio is a great way to burn extra calories. You can also walk or jog. If that’s not your thing, then try to find videos on YouTube with exercises that you like doing. Remember, always consult with your doctor and dietitian, no matter what diet or exercise you want to implement in your life. They might give you some important advice that you won’t find out here on the Internet.