Staying Healthy After Weight Loss Surgery

Obesity has become a major disease in the modern world and brings with it many other health risks such as sleep apnoea, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease to name a few. If you are considering weight loss surgery to improve your health, you should be aware of the steps you may need to take for staying healthy after you go home from hospital.

After the operation there is concern for your immediate health, such as recovering from the surgery, pain relief and your diet. Keeping moving is usually important to avoid blood clots after an operation, as is taking prescribed medication to relieve pain.

Post-surgery diets will depend on the type of weight loss surgery you've undergone and your speed of recovery. In general, there are four stages:

1. In the hospital you may be given a clear-liquids diet, such as diluted juice, clear soups and decaffeinated tea or coffee.
2. At discharge, you may be placed on a high-protein full liquids diet for about three weeks, consisting of milk drinks or high-protein shakes or soups.
3. High-protein soft foods including pureed foods and soft cheeses, eggs or yogurt, with drinks taken between meals, may be the next step on your gradual return to solids foods.
4. Gradual easing in of more solid foods is usually the next step.

The smaller size of your stomach means you will not be able to eat as much as you did before the surgery, without feeling unwell or uncomfortable. It's likely you will need to take several small meals in a day, rather than the larger servings you're used to.

It's likely you'll be advised to avoid certain foods including excess carbohydrates and use of alcohol. It may also be the case that you will need to take supplements, to avoid nutritional deficiencies, particularly if you have had bypass surgery.

You will also need to make several follow-up appointments to track your progress and possibly attend counselling for behavioural modification to help you adjust to your new lifestyle. Some people find attending a support group to be helpful and motivating. Taking exercise is important, and it might be advisable to consult an exercise specialist to help you design an individual program suitable for your condition. Your doctor will give you advice on when it's safe to begin exercise after the surgery.

Staying healthy after weight loss surgery is vital. Some patients do gain back weight over time as it is possible for the stomach to stretch to accommodate over-eating. Undergoing any sort of weight-loss surgery is a major step, but is not enough by itself - your cooperation in the process and commitment to success is required, in terms of permanently altering your diet and lifestyle. Staying healthy after weight loss surgery will help ensure that the surgery is beneficial to you in the longer term.

Paul writes for Life Weight Loss who specialise in Weight loss surgery and other obesity treatments.

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