The 3 Habits To Take On When You’ve Had Bariatric Surgery
Weight loss is a difficult thing. This is especially true for those who are obese and have struggled with their weight for years. Those who qualify for bariatric surgery to lose weight often find themselves with a dramatically different outlook on life and weight loss. Quality of life improves across the board and they enjoy more energy as well as better health.
It does require a serious change in lifestyle and behavior for the weight loss to be permanent. Many people often fall into old habits and gain much of the weight back even though they can only eat small portions. Discipline is still necessary to keep your weight in check and enjoy the health benefits. In this article, we will go over what habits you will need to take on after your surgery.
1. Cook balanced meals
Unfortunately, having bariatric surgery doesn’t mean that you can eat anything you want as long as the portions are small. Some foods are going to cause problems due to having a smaller stomach. The way to get around this is to make sure to eat a balanced diet.
You’ll need to start cooking for yourself and follow the diet plan your doctors have given you to make sure that you are eating exactly what you are supposed to. The easiest way to do this is to get some of the best bariatric cookbooks. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of cooking so you can be sure that your diet is balanced and healthy. The idea is to eat lots of whole foods and reduce the processed foods to almost zero. Getting rid of sugar is also essential as is eating the right kinds of meats.
2. Drink lots of water
Since your stomach is now smaller, it is very easy to get dehydrated. It can only hold so much water so what you drink gets rapidly absorbed. You’ll need to be very diligent about drinking water all throughout the day. It isn’t enough to drink a big glass of water here and there. If you don’t drink enough water and get dehydrated, it can literally put you in the hospital. Use an alarm clock if you need to be reminded to drink even if you aren’t thirsty.
3. Be mindful
Contrary to popular belief, you can still overeat when you have bariatric surgery. Not only that, but eating the wrong foods is going to cause weight gain. This means that you have to pay special attention to what and how you eat. Be mindful about your eating. Take the time to make a meal plan that is balanced, healthy, and portioned correctly. Make sure to weigh your food so you aren’t going to misjudge the portion.
When it comes time to eat, make sure to eat slowly and to chew your food really well. Properly chewed food is easier to digest and easier on your stomach. Don’t eat in a rush since it takes a while for your stomach to signal that you’re full.
