The road to weight loss after surgeries, such as gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or the LAP-BAND is different for everyone, but after working with thousands of patients in the Birmingham, Alabama, area, we have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t.

At Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we do our best to provide you with all the tools you need to be successful. This includes a pre-op diet plan, post-op diet plan, recovery information, guidance on exercise, and much more. Following these plans is crucial for recovery and weight loss, especially in the long-term. 

Mistakes to Avoid After Weight Loss Surgery

We know it’s a challenge though, and it’s not hard to make little mistakes along the way. Rather than dealing with mistakes after the fact, the best approach is to try and prevent mistakes from occurring in the first place. Being able to do that starts with knowledge of those common mistakes! Here are some of the top ones we see.

Eating too much

Most people know that you won’t eat nearly the same volume of food after undergoing weight loss surgery, but the specifics will vary. In general, you can expect to eat only three or four bites before you feel full. Eating even one bite too many may be too much, and you could feel sick after that extra bite. Remember that you can save your meal and come back to it when you get hungry later.

Not chewing each bite thoroughly enough

This is a new concept for many people, but it’s very important in the early days of recovery. You will need to chew each bite to an applesauce consistency before you swallow. After a while it will get much easier to eat and get things down without any issues, but in the beginning, you need to chew thoroughly and take it slow. By chewing to an applesauce consistency, you’re ensuring that the food goes down more easily and doesn’t get stuck. 

Eating and drinking at the same time

This is also often an adjustment, but important as well. There are two reasons you will want to eat and drink separately. First, as mentioned above, you can only eat three or four bites at a time, so you don’t want to fill up with fluids. Plan on drinking about thirty minutes later, once your food is digested. The second reason is to help avoid dumping syndrome, which you can read more about here. 

Not taking important vitamins 

Depending on which surgery you had, you may need to take particular vitamins and supplements to make sure you are getting complete and proper nutrition. We will also recommend vitamins to help your body recover from surgery and maintain the best health possible. Taking our recommendations that are specific to you and your situation is key.

Not focusing enough on good nutrition

Since your caloric content will be constricted after surgery, it’s vital that you pack your diet with healthy nutrients. Your body won’t function well if you use your calories to only eat potato chips or other foods that have no nutritional value. You may think that a tiny handful of nuts, chips, crackers, or candy won’t affect your diet, but these foods pack a lot of calories in small portions. Also remember that protein is especially important after surgery.

Not drinking enough water

Drinking plenty of water or other healthy liquids is one of the most important things you can do after surgery. Water helps every part of your body function well, and it will help your body heal, provide energy, and aid in weight loss. As mentioned above, you should not drink water with meals, but at separate times throughout the day.

Too much alcohol

While alcohol does not provide any nutritional value, it does contain calories. Each gram of alcohol contains 7 calories that the body has no use for. It is especially important that gastric bypass patients to avoid alcohol, because this surgery causes alcohol to enter the bloodstream at a more rapid rate.

Drinking carbonated beverages

Many carbonated beverages, such as soda, contain high levels of sugar. We do not ever recommend sugar as a source of calories as it can quickly lead to weight gain. Carbonated beverages can also cause dehydration after weight loss surgery, and they can make it difficult to distinguish between gas pain and more serious pain right after surgery. The acid in many of these drinks can also cause gastric erosion over time.

Let BMI Surgery Help You Avoid Mistakes After Weight Loss Surgery

We are always so proud of our patients for deciding to change their lives by having weight loss surgery. It’s the beginning of the journey though, not the end. We will be here every step along the way to help you avoid mistakes and be successful!

Find out more about the weight loss surgery 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 at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

Over the years, we have heard it all at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery. Myths, misconceptions, and rumors abound when it comes to weight loss surgery. In this article, we will clear some of these up and provide you with the truth about what to expect before, during, and after surgery.

Weight Loss Surgery Myths

The first thing we want to make sure everyone understands is that weight loss surgery is just the beginning. It’s the first step of what will be a long journey to better health, and it takes a major commitment on your part to maintain. When you succeed, the reward and feeling of accomplishment is HUGE!

Myth #1: Weight loss surgery is dangerous

Studies have shown that the risk for weight loss surgery is about the same as a routine gallbladder surgery. Every surgery does carry some risks, but recent advances in techniques and technology, including taking a minimally invasive approach, make weight loss surgery a very safe option.

Myth #2: If you diet and exercise, there’s no reason for surgery

Diet and exercise are important, and that is all it takes for some people. However, it’s not enough for others, especially those with other health conditions or those who are extremely obese. The fact is, surgery is an important tool that can help people lose weight, but making healthy choices is necessary to keep that weight off.

Myth 3: Weight loss surgery is a quick, easy fix

Surgery is the first step in a weight loss journey. It is not quick or easy. You will go through a pre-procedure process to prepare, undergo the surgery itself, recover from your surgery, and then you will have a stringent diet and exercise plan to follow for several months. Even after your initial weight loss in the first year or so after surgery, continuing to eat healthy and exercising will continue to be a part of your life in order to maintain your weight loss.

Myth #4: Most people gain the weight back

After weight loss surgery, you may lose anywhere from 50 to 100 pounds in the first year. Long-term studies have shown that 10 years after a procedure, more patients have kept the weight off when compared to patients who have lost weight without surgery. Again, it does take commitment and work, but for those who follow through, regaining weight is not common.

Myth #5: Surgery leads to vitamin and mineral deficiencies

There are different types of weight loss surgery. Some do change the way the body absorbs vitamins and minerals, and deficiencies can happen. This side effect is preventable by using supplements after surgery. In your follow-up care, we will do regular testing to check vitamin and mineral levels to make sure this does not happen.

Myth #6: You can’t have children after weight loss surgery

We do typically advise patients not to get pregnant within the first two years after weight loss surgery, so this is a consideration for some. This is because the intent of surgery is to induce weight loss, while the opposite happens during pregnancy. But the surgery itself does not affect the ability to become pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term at all.

Myth #7: Insurance won’t cover weight loss surgery

In many instances, insurance does cover weight loss surgery. Coverage varies from state to state and company to company. You do need to meet certain requirements for insurance to cover the surgery, and the process may take longer when you must qualify for coverage. Even without insurance, many of our patients find that our surgeries are affordable when paying out of pocket.

Myth 8: Weight loss surgery means a long hospital stay and recovery time

When taking a minimally invasive approach like we do at Birmingham Minimally Invasive, there is no need for long stays in the hospital. Some surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis, or there may be a one or two-night stay required. You will have a much shorter recovery time as well due to our minimally invasive approach. Exact recovery time will depend on your starting weight and other health conditions you may have. 

We hope you will always be open with us in asking questions and confirming myths or rumors you may have heard. Remember, every person and their situation is unique so what a friend or colleague experiences may not be what you will experience. We love working with each individual patient to come up with a plan that’s tailored to specific needs and goals.

After having weight loss surgery, there’s one thing you can definitely expect to hear about when it comes to your recovery, and that’s protein. Eating enough protein is crucial after weight loss surgery. Your body needs additional protein during the period of rapid weight loss to maintain your muscle mass. Protein is also required for a healthy metabolism. If you don’t eat enough protein, your body will take the protein it already has from your muscles, causing you to become weak.

This is why having a strong diet strategy and plan will go a long way to ensure that you know what to eat after weight loss surgery and you make the right choices regarding your nutrient intake. 

Tips for Getting Enough Protein After Weight Loss Surgery

Protein is the building block of muscles and a fundamental aspect of any healthy diet. It affects the human body in many different ways and helps build and maintain muscle mass. It’s also a source of energy. Eating enough protein will help keep your hair, skin, and nails healthy. Holding onto more muscle can help minimize sagging skin that is common after surgery as well.

After weight loss surgery, the number of calories you can eat per sitting and per day will be greatly limited. When you do eat, you need to make the best choices and get maximum nutrient value out of every bite. 

When it comes to protein, this will likely mean looking at your meal a little differently. While you will have your own customized diet plan, your goal will probably be 60 to 80 grams of protein every day is to help minimize muscle loss. 

These are some of the basic strategies we recommend after any type of weight loss surgery:

1. Focus on protein first. When sitting down to a meal or snack, start with protein. Other foods, such as fruits and vegetables, will still be a part of a healthy diet, but your priority should always be protein. For the first few weeks after surgery, you’ll get most of your protein from shakes; then, you will slowly reintroduce solid foods.
2. Fill your plate with high-protein foods. Examples of high protein foods include meat, chicken, fish, tofu, milk, yogurt, eggs, cheese, beans, nuts, and quinoa. Low-fat or non-fat milk, cheeses, and yogurts will help reduce the number of calories and fat in your diet. Choose leaner cuts of meat to save on calories as well.
3. Eat protein with every meal. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack, make sure you always eat protein. Not only will this help you meet your daily requirement, but it will also help keep you full and satisfied.
4. Consider adding protein powder. There may be instances when you can add a high-quality protein powder to foods that do not otherwise contain high amounts of protein. Protein shakes using protein powder are often a favorite of our patients, and you may also consider a protein supplement.

After weight loss surgery at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we don’t send you home to figure all this out on your own. You will work with a team of nutritionists and dieticians who will provide you with a very specific plan. Each person is different, and therefore each plan may be adjusted somewhat. We encourage everyone to follow these guidelines as closely as possible for the absolute best outcome and sustained weight loss over time.

Heart health is always important, especially if you are obese since heart-related comorbidities are more likely to be present. So what exactly does “heart disease” mean? According to the CDC, this refers to several types of heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), which affects the blood flow to the heart. Decreased blood flow can cause a heart attack. About 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year.

However, there are many things you can do to improve your heart health! For those who are obese, this will probably start with losing weight.

Signs, Symptoms, & Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Sometimes heart disease may be “silent” and not diagnosed until you experience signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. When these events happen, symptoms may include:

• Heart attack — Chest pain or discomfort; upper back or neck pain; indigestion; heartburn; nausea or vomiting; extreme fatigue; upper body discomfort; dizziness; and shortness of breath
• Arrhythmia — Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations)
• Heart failure — Shortness of breath; fatigue; or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins

High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking are major risk factors for heart disease. Several other conditions and lifestyle choices can also put you at a higher risk for heart disease, including:

• Diabetes
• Overweight or obese
• Unhealthy diet
• Physical inactivity
• Excessive alcohol use

If you’re obese, you should always be looking for signs of heart failure, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and an irregular heartbeat.

Losing Weight to Improve Heart Health

If you’re extremely obese, losing weight can mean “less heart disease, less diabetes, and less cancer,” according to the American Heart Association. 

Losing weight can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke; improve associated risk factors, and help improve cholesterol levels. Moderate weight loss of even 10% in those who are obese can improve heart health and other conditions. When it comes to your heart, the significant impact of weight loss on the cardiovascular system is decreased stress on the heart, which leads to improvements in its structure and function.

We know that taking action to lose weight and improve your health may seem overwhelming. You may have had trouble losing weight or maintaining weight loss in the past, but there are a few things you can do that are really pretty simple. 

The main areas to focus on include:

Changing your diet. 

It’s simple to say but not always simple to do. On a very basic level, to lose weight, you have to reduce the number of calories you consume. Tracking everything you eat is often helpful in the beginning and can be eye-opening. Reducing calories by 500 per day should help you lose about one pound a week.

Increasing physical activity. 

For those who are extremely obese, a workout routine may not be possible yet. But by increasing daily movement, you will help your body burn more calories and prime it for more activity later. It works well for many to increase physical activity after experiencing about 10% weight loss.

Weight loss surgery. 

Sometimes changing your diet and increasing physical activity isn’t enough, and this is where weight loss surgery comes in. The American Heart Association recommends surgery for those who are healthy enough for the procedure and have been unsuccessful with lifestyle changes and medication. 

This is where Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery comes in to help you determine if weight loss surgery is right for you. Our three most popular options include gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass surgery, and the LAP-BAND. We have seen these surgeries change people’s lives over and over again by improving not only heart health and other conditions but by giving them their quality of life back.

If you’ve been on the fence about scheduling an appointment to talk with us, make it your mission to come to see us soon!

The holiday season and food go hand in hand, and for many of us, it can be a wonderful time of year, even after weight loss surgery. It is absolutely possible to learn new habits and behaviors that you carry with you through festive parties and gatherings so that you continue to feel your best and stay on track with healthy eating and exercise.

But the holidays do often involve temptations that can lead us off track from our healthy habits. A simple indulgence could lead you into an episode of overeating that you really want to avoid. Knowing what to expect and having a plan is crucial!

Tips to Avoid Overeating During the Holidays

Avoiding overeating may not be a huge issue if you’ve had weight loss surgery in the past year or so. During this period of time, your body just won’t let you consume as much food without feeling sick. You learn your lesson pretty quickly, and people are better able to stick with what they know they should do. The challenge will be more for those who have not yet had weight loss surgery or for those who are a few years out from it. 

Here are some healthy tips to help you keep yourself in a positive mindset while handling holiday eating in the best way possible.

Focus on weight maintenance instead of weight loss. Don’t stress yourself out about losing weight during this time. When you let go of this idea, you will hopefully feel more relaxed and handle all of the holiday treats and sweets in a better way. Also remember that one day of splurging will not ruin everything. Commit to making better decisions the next day and move on. 

Start new traditions. Instead of focusing on food-related activities, make holiday crafts that you can give as gifts. Plan to take a walk or play games with relatives instead of having an extended meal that lasts all day. Make a gingerbread house that will be for decoration only. Take a ride around town to see Christmas lights. In general, find new ways of celebrating that do not revolve around food. 

Drink extra water. Even more than 64 ounces during the holidays is a good idea. Weight fluctuations during the holidays may be due to eating a higher amount of salt or carbs which can make you more bloated than usual. Drink extra water to help flush out the extra sodium. 

Never arrive hungry and don’t save your calories. Eat on your normal schedule, which often means smaller meals more frequently after weight loss surgery. It can be tempting to skip meals leading up to a party or dinner, but you are more likely to overeat in the moment if you do this. It’s a strategy that almost always backfires.

Eat the turkey or ham first. People who have had weight loss surgery should always focus on eating protein first, and the holidays are no exception to this rule. Protein is essential for wound healing, preserving lean body mass, enhancing fat-burning metabolism, and minimizing hair loss after weight loss surgery. After you have eaten your protein, take a few, small bites of your favorite dishes.

Think about the foods you know you like the most. A common approach to holiday buffets, cookie exchanges, and potlucks is to try a little bit of everything. After weight loss surgery, this just isn’t possible or a good idea. You will overeat if you try even one bite of all the selections available. Ahead of time, think about those foods that you truly love. Maybe it’s sweet potato pie or eggnog. Enjoy a small amount of those treats, be satisfied, then be done.  

Sit far away from the buffet or kitchen and socialize. It’s a simple fact that if you are enjoying yourself farther away from the food, you are more likely to forget about it. Try to sit somewhere so that the food is not even in sight to avoid mindless nibbling and going back for one more taste. Instead, take the time to really spend quality time with family and friends.

Don’t take home leftovers and give away extras. You can still bake cookies with your kids, but have a plan to deliver the majority of them to family, friends, and neighbors. If attending a dinner, don’t give in to the offer from the host to take home leftovers. Instead, leave any leftovers you might have from the dishes you took for the host or others. You may also be able to donate cookies and other extra goodies to those in need. 

Tweak some of your favorites. It may be possible in many cases to create a healthy version of your favorite dishes or treats that you can enjoy with no concerns. Treat these recipes or recipe changes as you would any other meal or dish. Don’t put these foods up on a pedestal just because of the holidays. 

Here are a few ingredient swaps that may make dishes healthier:

• Use skim milk instead of whole milk in mashed potatoes
• Use fat-free creamed soups in recipes rather than the full-fat versions
• Consider substitutes for sugar, such as unsweetened applesauce or noncaloric sweeteners
• Add flavor with garlic, spices and herbs rather than fats, such as butter and gravy
• Combine 1/4 cup Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup butter to replace 1 cup of butter in a recipe
• When baking your favorite holiday treats, replace each egg with two egg whites, and substitute evaporated skim milk in place of heavy cream

Sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese, and hot chocolate can all be made healthier with a few creative swaps. 

Let BMI Surgery help you get started on the road to weight loss during the holidays or any other time of the year

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.