By: Dr. Scott Perryman
Have you recently scheduled a weight loss surgery or experienced significant weight loss? Recovering can be a difficult process as you adjust to your new body and lifestyle.
At Whole Health Weight Loss Institute, Dr. Crystine Lee and Dr. Scott V. Perryman have provided their patients with not only dramatic weight loss solutions but also opportunities for them to learn more about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What to Expect After Your Surgery
There are many surgeries available for patients to receive that will drastically reduce their weight. Recovery will depend on what surgery is performed.
ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BAND
It is recommended that you have someone drive you home after the procedure. Most patients are able to return home the same day the surgery is performed.
An adjustable gastric band procedure involves minimal downtime and will allow most patients to get up and walk the same day their procedure is performed. Brief walks are encouraged because they can help your blood flow, thus helping your healing process.
Soreness in the abdomen is common, however, prescription pain medication is available to help manage any discomfort. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise will need to be avoided for the first few weeks. Patients often return to work after a week.
A liquid diet will be necessary for the first week. In the following two weeks, the patient will be able to switch to a soft food diet. This will allow the stomach to adjust to its new size and for you to become conscious of your new eating limits.
INTRAGASTRIC BALLOON
This procedure does not require incisions or abdominal intrusions and is overall a moderately invasive procedure.
A common symptom of this procedure is postoperative nausea that typically diminishes within a few days.
Patients will be on a liquid diet for at least one week before switching to soft foods for about two weeks. Regular, solid foods can be consumed around week three. Patients can expect to return to work after a day or two.
VERTICAL SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY
Patients may be required to spend a few nights in the hospital after this procedure to ensure an initial healthy recovery. Your abdomen will be sore and for the next week, you will only be able to consume liquids. Pain medication should help diminish any discomfort that is experienced.
Exercise and lifting should be avoided for a few weeks as your body adjusts and heals.
Some patients return to work after a week and begin eating soft foods around this time. After two to four weeks of soft food, solid foods can be introduced.
ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS
Patients will follow a liquid diet for one week, soft food diet for two to three weeks and return to regular foods around week four.
You should expect to spend about two to three nights in the hospital after this procedure. This will allow your physician to monitor your recovery. Patients often take about one to two weeks off from work for this surgery. A Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass requires only very small incisions to perform, reducing the need for pain medication to only three to five days after surgery. Lifting and exercise should be avoided to help the healing process.
Follow-up appointments will be necessary for all of these surgeries. At these appointments, your doctor may adjust surgical materials or inform you on when you can return to regular activities such as exercise. These check-ups will allow your physician to monitor your health, discuss your progress and ensure you are recovering well.
Weight Loss Procedure Results
When you are treating obesity, the ultimate goal is to reach and maintain a healthy weight. There are many mental and physical benefits to receiving one of the procedures listed above, such as:
- You will experience a change in your food portions as your stomach adjusts to the surgery and how much food it can now intake.
- Depending on the procedure, you can expect to lose twenty-five to seventy-five percent of excess body weight within one year.
- You significantly reduce or eliminate your risks of obesity-related health issues.
If you have a BMI greater than 30, you may qualify for one of the listed above weight loss procedures. Start living your best life today!
MENTAL ADJUSTMENTS
Undergoing significant weight loss not only affects you physically, but also offers psychological transformation. It is important to approach weight loss as a part of a greater recovery effort from obesity and an intention of creating a healthy lifestyle for yourself.
There are many things to look forward to when expecting weight loss, such as new clothes and feeling more confident in your body and your abilities.
There are some easy first steps you can take to ensure you maintain a healthy weight and live a healthy lifestyle. Whole Health Weight Loss Institute offers opportunities for their patients to help them adjust their outlook on health and maintain their best life. These opportunities include:
INFORMATIONAL SEMINARS
Patients are encouraged to bring their families so everyone can be informed on what a bariatric surgery can do.
These seminars are offered to patients who are interested in weight loss surgeries. Meeting once a month, these seminars are held by Dr. Perryman and his expert staff.
Here, prospective patients will find support and information regarding the surgeries and their transformational effects.
SUPPORT GROUPS
These are available for patients who have undergone a weight loss procedure. These groups meet once a month to support each other in the community. Patients will learn about each other and will discuss helpful topics such as “Mindful Eating.”
NUTRITION SERVICES
Before surgery occurs, you will be paired with a nutritionist who will educate you on diet and who will work with you to create a healthy eating plan.
CULINARY PROGRAM
Once a month, patients meet to learn how to create healthy, fresh meals for themselves or the whole family. These culinary events are taught by an expert chef and will leave you feeling full and happy in your eating choices.
Participating in opportunities like these for up to a year after your procedure will help you gain knowledge of healthy food options and receive support from family and other patients with similar experiences.
How to Approach a Healthy Lifestyle
Now that you are on your way to losing weight, or have already lost it, you will need to adjust your lifestyle. It is important to approach a healthy lifestyle with a positive outlook. By making small adjustments and remaining consistent, you can transform the way you live. There are a few changes you can make that will help you feel good about yourself and keep you healthy.
EXERCISE REGULARLY
The average person needs two-and-a-half to five hours per week of rigorous physical activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
You can choose an activity that you enjoy, like fast walking or swimming and then perform at least a half hour of that activity five days a week. As your strength and endurance grow, you will need to increase the amount of exercise or your work out difficulty in order to maintain consistent improvements.
Using a step-tracker may help you keep moving and remain active. Simple changes like parking farther away, gardening and taking brisk walks are easy, simple methods to include extra physical activity throughout your day.
HEALTHY EATING
Approach food with a healthy understanding of “moderation.” For the majority of your meals, you should focus on low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods. Saturated fats, sweets, and alcohol should be limited but not completely avoided. These foods should be eaten in small quantities and infrequently.
Diet is crucial to overcoming obesity.
You should approach your diet with a personalized approach. Fad diets will not benefit you as much a diet tailored to the way your body works. The best plans includes the healthy foods you enjoy and can be sustained easily for the long-term.
There are a number of steps you can take to help yourself eat healthily and consciously, such as:
LOW-CALORIE MEALS
Maintain your new weight with low caloric intake. With the dietician assigned to you, you can discuss your eating and drinking habits and track your average calorie intake. Once that is established you can pinpoint what areas of your diet to cut back. Everyone has a different body, metabolism and dietary needs.
You and your dietician will discuss how many calories you should be consuming on a daily basis.
SATISFYING FOODS
Eating foods that are low in energy density can help you feel satiated longer. Some foods, like desserts, candies, fats, and processed foods are high in energy density. A small amount of your favorite dessert has a large number of calories.
However, foods like fruits and vegetables have a lower energy density and, therefore, have fewer calories. You can have larger portion sizes of these foods, reduce your hunger, and take in a smaller number of calories.
Eating strategies like these can help you feel fuller longer and feel good about your meal choices.
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES
Staying vigilant about your daily salt and added sugar intake will help you curb sugar cravings.
Focus on including more plant-based foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your regular diet. Protein is also an important part of your diet as it will help boost your energy levels. Leans proteins such as beans, lentils, soy and lean meats (like fish) should be your primary focus.
Salt and added sugars are in many products and you might be consuming them more than you realize. Healthy fats such as olive oil and nut oils are calorie dense but are healthy alternatives to hydrogenated fats. These fats should be used in small amounts.
Lastly, choose low-fat dairy products or alternative dairy products to replace fattier options. These healthier alternatives include almond or soy milk.
LIMIT UNHEALTHY FOODS
With your dietician, you will determine which specific foods to cut from your regular diet. For example, many people begin by cutting out soda, which is a common source of empty calories. Completely eliminating certain foods may be unrealistic, as this strategy tends to fail in the long run.
MONITOR YOUR WEIGHT REGULARLY
Checking your weight once a week will help you be more aware of your body’s fluctuations as well as keep you accountable to your health. Monitoring your weight will also show you how your efforts are affecting your body and what tactics may work better than others.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Addressing your lifestyle and what habits contribute to your weight gain can help you better understand yourself and how to avoid those behaviors in the future. The Whole Health Weight Loss Institute offers their patients support groups to help them find camaraderie, process their weight loss journey and find support in the struggles of maintaining their health.
Counseling may also benefit you as you adjust to your new weight and shift your lifestyle. Counseling offers guidance on which negative behaviors and perspectives contributed to your weight gain and can help you better prepare for your future and how to approach your health.
Take your new lifestyle one day at a time. Be sure to find supportive resources and people that will help build your confidence and reassure you. Most importantly, find what works best for you so you can commit to your health for years to come.
