For many people, the focus of any vacation is food. They look forward to eating out at restaurants, sipping on fruity drinks, and snacking all day. Food becomes the activity instead of healthy fuel for active experiences and fun.

While we do think that food should be fun on vacation, it shouldn’t be the main focus, especially if you are trying to lose weight, preparing to have weight loss surgery, or if you’ve already had weight loss surgery. This change in mindset might mean planning a slightly different vacation than what you’re used to, but it’s possible to plan activities and experiences that will be enjoyable for everyone in your family, including you.

Tips for Having a Healthy Vacation This Summer

First, let’s talk about making sure your active vacation is appropriate for where you are in your weight loss journey. A more restful trip will be better if you’ve had weight loss surgery recently and are still recovering. Your body needs plenty of time to heal and adjust before you start making huge changes. 

But for those who are several months or years out from surgery, you may be ready for a much more active option. If you aren’t sure what you’re ready to handle yet, please let us know, and our surgeon Dr. Long will be happy to offer advice.

Here are a few questions to think about to help you focus on more than food so that you can enjoy your time away while also sticking to your healthy lifestyle. 

Where will you vacation? 

Before booking, consider where you will go carefully. A cruise might be restful, but the never-ending buffets are probably not the best dining option. There are plenty of other vacations that can offer peace and quiet, in addition to opportunities for exploring and trying lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Have you done your research? 

Preparing for your trip is key, especially when it comes to planning fun activities. When it comes to food, you will need to give it some thought, but doing this ahead of time will mean that you can focus on it less later.

Here are some things you may want to research:

• Healthy dining options at your hotel or condo and in the area
• Activities at your resort or hotel and in the area
• Activities that may require reservations
• Age restrictions on any activities you are considering
• Seasonal fruits and vegetables you may find locally
• Easy meals and snacks you may be able to take with you when out exploring or participating in activities
• Grocery stores or markets that are close by

What’s your plan?

While some people are very opposed to planning out a vacation, for those who are committed to their diet and exercise routine, a plan will be essential. Take all of your research and think about what you want out of your days. If you plan to be out and about, know ahead of time if you will take a picnic or stop by a restaurant. If you have a particularly active day, you may want to focus more on breakfast so that everyone has plenty of energy.

Also, plan ahead to make sure you have plenty of water and healthy snacks for spending time at the beach or pool and while doing other activities, such as hiking. Do you have a reusable water bottle, and do you have a backpack or bag where you can keep everything? These are the details to think about. 

Can you take healthy staples with you?

This will depend on your exact travel details, but in many cases, you can take non-perishable items with you. Staples like raw nuts or tuna packets will probably work for any trip, and if you can take a cooler along, fresh fruits, vegetables, and other options may work as well. 

How can you make sure you drink enough water?

Drinking enough water every day is always very important, but it becomes even more crucial after weight loss surgery. You will feel better and find it easier to stick to your healthy habits if you drink enough water each day on vacation and while traveling. Remember that we often recommend that our patients do not drink while eating meals, so factor that into your plan.

What level of activity do you want on your trip?

If you are far enough along in your recovery, you can focus your trip on all kinds of activities. This might simply mean exploring your vacation destination on foot as much as possible and swimming at the resort’s pool. It might also mean hiking, zip-lining, biking, snorkeling, and much more. Take advantage of the fact that you can do all of these things now!

Contact Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery to Get Started on Your Weight Loss Journey

Remember that being able to go on vacation is part of what weight loss surgery is all about! At Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we want to help you get to a place where you can be more active and enjoy life to the fullest. This is our hope for all of our patients, and we want you to enjoy your trip without stress or anxiety, especially when it comes to food.

Planning and research will go a long way, and you’ll be thankful you took that time beforehand when you’re faced with decisions on your trip. If you need any help in your preparations or have any questions about what will be appropriate for you, please let us know!

Learn more about weight loss options at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery

The caring group of professionals at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery will help you get started on your weight loss journey and stay with you every step along the way. Dr. Long and his team specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass, and the LAP-BAND. Visit us today or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding weight loss surgery, and one of those is that if you have a bariatric procedure, your weight-related problems are solved. The surgery alone will allow you to lose weight and keep it off. No more worrying about eating healthy or working out. 

This idea is wrong on both counts, and in this article we will discuss why it’s important to exercise after weight loss surgery

Why Exercise Is Important After Weight Loss Surgery

We do want to recognize that having gastric sleeve surgery or another procedure at Birmingham Minimally Invasive is a huge step! But it’s your first step in your journey of weight loss and becoming healthier. The work does not stop once your procedure is complete.

Regular exercise will help you recover faster, reach your weight loss goals, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Exercise can help you lose more weight and keep it off after surgery. According to several studies by the National Institutes of Health, those who exercised after weight loss surgery saw their body mass index (BMI) decrease 4.2% more than those who did not.

It’s also important that you lose weight the right way. When you lose weight, your body will naturally eliminate both fat and muscle. Exercise will help you preserve the lean muscle that we want to help you stay healthy.

Here are some additional benefits of exercise after weight loss surgery:

• Maintain weight loss
• Improve circulation
• Strengthen your heart and bones
• Increase your metabolic rate
• Develop muscle strength and endurance
• Improve immune system
• Improve blood sugar control
• Relieve stress
• Improve your mood 
• Make it easier to complete everyday tasks and activities

Exercise can also help you have more energy and feel better, which is especially important after undergoing such a life-changing event. Exercise produces endorphins that help you combat anxiety and depression. The time after surgery can be tough for many patients for a lot of different reasons, and exercise can help you deal with stress, anxiety, and depression.

Tips for Exercising After Weight Loss Surgery

BMI Surgery will provide you with guidelines regarding exercise after your surgery. You will be somewhat restricted initially, then you will gradually be able to build up your activity level.

After surgery, there are three key areas you should focus on when it comes to exercise:

1. Cardio – Regular cardio aerobic exercise will burn calories and give you more energy. Getting your blood pumping through cardio can boost your metabolism, help you work through anxiety, and help you sleep better. 
2. Strength training – Strength training will help you maintain lean muscle mass, which will also help maintain your body’s calorie burning engine. It will help keep your bones strong as well. Strength training is great for toning and building muscle so that you can be more active.
3. Flexibility – Flexibility training is important to help you avoid injuring yourself. If you feel sore or tight after your workout, flexibility training can help. It can also help you avoid straining yourself when you’re running or lifting weights.

While there are many benefits of exercise after weight loss surgery, we know that it can be challenging, especially for those who have been very inactive prior to their procedure. But you are not alone. Many others have been through this process and come to love exercise. We’ve found that patients who seek out support, follow an exercise routine, and stick to a healthy diet are far more likely to lose the weight and keep it off.

Contact Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery to Get Started on Your Weight Loss Journey

The caring group of professionals at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery will help you get started on your weight loss journey and stay with you every step along the way. Dr. Long and his team specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass, and the LAP-BAND. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

At Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we want you to be successful with your weight loss. Learning about the process and preparing is absolutely key, which is why we require all weight loss surgery patients to take an online nutrition/prep class before your surgery. 

While you will learn much more in the class, in this article we will cover some of the basics about what to expect from the class.

Nutrition/Prep Class at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery

Our class is led by our bariatric coordinator and bariatric nutritionist. While already very knowledgeable in these areas, she brings a much more personable and relatable quality to the class because she had gastric bypass surgery herself. When she shares information, she’s coming from a very personal place of having gone through this process, including the emotions.

The class is required for both private pay patients and those paying with insurance. You will have a chance to ask questions and bring up concerns while learning about pre-op nutrition, post-op nutrition, and everything else you’ll need to know about the surgery, such as tips to help you prepare mentally. You will attend the nutrition/prep class one to three weeks prior to your surgery. 

We will talk to you about our recommendations for prepping your home life in order to make things easier on yourself after surgery. Along with having a friend or family member come stay with you, especially if you have children, we encourage you to have your pantry and refrigerator stocked full of easily-accessible foods and liquids that fit in with your diet plan. We will also talk more about the medications we prescribe after surgery and recommend that you have those filled prior to surgery.

In the class, we will also prepare you more for what to expect after surgery. Most insurance companies require a one-night stay in the hospital, but if you’re not paying with insurance, surgery will be performed in our outpatient surgery center, and you’ll typically go home the same day. We’ll talk a lot about what you’ll eat right after surgery and how that diet progresses over the coming weeks. The class also includes information about when it’s safe to start exercising again and how that process should progress.

There is a lot to learn in the nutrition/prep class, but it’s crucial to know it all in order to be successful. The patients that take their medications as prescribed and actually stick with the diet after surgery are the ones we’ve seen be the most successful. We’ve also found that patients who seek out support are more likely to lose the weight and keep it off. 

Contact Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery to Get Started on Your Weight Loss Journey

The caring group of professionals at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery will help you get started on your weight loss journey and stay with you every step along the way. Dr. Long and his team specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass, and the LAP-BAND. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

When first consulting, preparing for, and during the early recovery phase after weight loss surgery, most people are focused mostly on doing everything they need to do in order to lose weight and become healthier. And that’s where your focus should be!

Sometimes, even with very successful weight loss, there can be unexpected things that come up that maybe you weren’t prepared for or hadn’t thought about. One such issue that can occur is excess or loose skin after significant weight loss. 

Since we want to be totally open and honest about all things related to weight loss surgery at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we will tackle this subject in this article. The possibility of excess or loose skin is nothing to fear!

What Causes Excess or Loose Skin After Weight Loss Surgery?

When you gain weight, your skin expands around the new mass that your body is adding. When you lose weight, your skin may not have enough elasticity to shrink back down. Therefore, excess, loose, or sagging skin can be a result of losing such a significant amount of weight after weight loss surgery, such as gastric sleeve. It does happen to some people, but not everyone.

For those who do have to deal with it, there are solutions and things to know that will hopefully relieve any fears you may have about excess skin after weight loss surgery.

When it comes to how much excess skin you will have, each person is different. The amount of loose skin present after weight loss surgery depends on several factors, such as your weight before surgery, age, smoking history, and genetics. 

To what extent excess skin bothers each person varies as well. It’s totally normal for it to be a big issue for some, while others aren’t bothered by it much at all. A common concern is that saggy skin increases the appearance of premature aging.

The problems that arise from excess skin are not always simply cosmetic though. Excess skin may cause chafing and rashes, especially when it rubs against other folds of skin or when it stays moist. With saggy skin, folds often rub against themselves, and these folds may be harder to keep clean. Over time, the top layer of skin (epidermis) can tear, creating irritation from chafing. This chafing can lead to infections.

Addressing Excess Skin After Weight Loss Surgery

If you’re worried about loose skin after weight loss surgery, whether for health reasons or because you’re concerned about how it may look, there are several ways to minimize sagging skin after surgery. Here are some strategies to think about:

• Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water — This is crucial after weight loss surgery anyway. A balanced diet with plenty of protein and vitamins can help you keep the weight off and retain lean muscle. This diet may also help minimize loose or excess skin to some degree. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water, which will help keep your skin healthier and may improve elasticity. 
• Exercise — Exercise can prevent loose skin after weight loss surgery. When you lose lean muscle mass, you may increase the looseness of your skin. When you build muscle, you actually fill out your skin more.
• Treat your skin well — Your skin is an organ, and if you want to avoid loose skin after weight loss, taking care of it can help. This includes using sunscreen regularly when outdoors, using moisturizers, and drinking plenty of water to keep your whole body hydrated.

If the above strategies aren’t enough, cosmetic surgery is also an option. After losing 100 or 150 pounds, it is realistic to expect that you may still have some excess skin. Cosmetic surgery removes excess skin and fat from the body. A tummy tuck after weight loss surgery is one of the more common procedures. If you’re looking at this option, it’s important to work with a reputable plastic surgeon. The American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons is a good place to start, and we will be happy to make a recommendation as well.

Contact Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery to Get Started on Your Weight Loss Journey

The caring group of professionals at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery will help you get started on your weight loss journey and stay with you every step along the way. Dr. Long and his team specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass, and the LAP-BAND. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907.