How to Maintain Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery
Most weight loss surgery patients see rapid weight loss after going through their operation. However, it is difficult to maintain weight loss as the same rate after a few months. That can be discouraging, but consistency and support can help you keep moving forward.
Weight Loss Challenges after Surgery
First, it helps to know why weight loss will plateau after a while. One reason is that as you exercise, fat will be replaced with muscle, which is more dense. In addition, as you get closer to your target weight, it typically takes more work to shed the pounds.
Keeping the weight off after losing it is also challenging because it requires a long-term change in lifestyle. This can be difficult for many people, and for that reason, it’s tough to stay consistent.
Tips to Maintain Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery
Fortunately, there are many ways to maintain weight loss after undergoing bariatric surgery. Try these strategies to keep your weight moving in the right direction:
1. Focus on Nutrients
Bariatric surgeries, such as gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, are designed to support the dietary changes you’ll need to make in order to lose weight. They restrict the amount of food that will fit in your stomach, and in the case of gastric bypass, reduce the number of calories your body absorbs from each meal.
For that reason, it’s best to plan your meals around protein and nutrients. Lean meats, nuts, and fish can provide protein and help you feel full, while vegetables will offer additional nutrients your body needs.
2. Cut the Junk
As you focus on nutrients when eating, you’ll want to cut most of the junk food out of your diet as well. Empty calories from sweets and fatty foods should be replaced with nutrient-rich options. Doing so will not only make each meal more satisfying, but it will also help you lose weight faster.
3. Stay active
Along with diet, exercise is vital to prolonged weight loss. Get in the habit of working out every day, whether that’s walking, swimming, dancing, playing sports, hiking, or anything else that gets your heart rate up. It helps to choose activities you enjoy—with so many options to choose from, there’s little point torturing yourself with exercises that you hate.
4. Get support
Above all else, don’t try to maintain weight loss alone. Involve your family and friends, join a support group, or work with a dietitian to support your weight loss efforts. The key is to get moral support and give yourself some accountability.
Finding Support for Your Weight Loss Journey
Support groups, physical trainers, dietitians, psychiatrists, friends, family, and your own bariatric surgeon can all help you throughout your weight loss journey. At Malladi Bariatrics and Advanced Surgery, we provide many of these lines of support. To learn more about how we can help you reach your weight loss goals, contact Dr. Malladi today.
