When you make the decision to get weight loss surgery, you are not looking at a temporary diet solution to help you lose a few quick pounds. Weight loss surgery is a life-changing event—one that can deliver a collection of benefits to your physical and mental health, your social life and even your career.
Weight loss surgery fundamentally alters your stomach and often your digestive tract, altering the amount of food you can eat comfortably at one time, and sometimes the way your body processes food once it is consumed. To accompany this physical change, it is recommended that you make a series of lifestyle changes.
What is a Lifestyle Change?
A lifestyle change is a transition to your everyday habits and behaviors—often for the sake of personal improvement. The type of car that you drive, the clothing you wear, the friends you interact with and the career choices you make all help to define your lifestyle. In addition to these more evident aspects of your lifestyle, there are a collection of subtle tendencies that have the potential to greatly impact your health.
This includes:
- How often you eat out
- The restaurants you choose to dine at
- How often you exercise
- The way you choose to spend your free time
- Your snacking habits
- How you spend time with your family
- Your attitude towards your personal health
- The amount of activity you engage in at work
A series of seemingly small choices that you make throughout the day can have a large impact on your overall way of life. Together, this is looked at as your lifestyle.
Making Healthier Lifestyle Choices after Weight Loss Surgery
Getting weight loss surgery doesn’t mean you have to change what car you drive or where you work. However, it might mean making some smaller behavioral changes in regards to the habits you engage in—such as how frequently you drive short distances, and what you eat for lunch daily at work.
One thing that most people who undergo weight loss surgery have in common is a previous unsuccessful experience with a weight loss program. One of the most common reasons people are unsuccessful with weight loss attempts is because they do not make fundamental changes to their habits.
Here are a few of the lifestyle habits you’ll be encouraged to make after weight loss surgery:
- Eat small, nutritionally-dense meals, and only when you are hungry
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar, especially fried foods
- Keep a weight loss journal to log the foods you eat and how much exercise you engage in
- Sleep eight hours every night
- Eliminate high-calorie and carbonated beverages from your diet, including juice and soda
- Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes five days a week
- Increase activity throughout the day by standing more often and walking places when possible
Diets are often looked at as temporary phases of life. Once the weight comes off, old habits often return; and this encourages weight re-gain. Weight loss surgery is not a temporary solution. Your bariatric procedure will help your weight come off, but the lifestyle changes you make along the way will help you keep your weight off long-term.