Slow and steady wins the race. You may have heard this adage before and brushed it off as a funny saying, but it couldn’t be more true for weight loss. If you’ve tried losing weight with no success, you already know how hard it can be. Many weight loss gimmicks, like fad diets and juice cleanses, boast a drastic drop in weight, only for participants to put it back on right after the program ends.
Fortunately, weight loss surgery is an effective and safe method for lasting weight loss success. However, for the results to last, you must make steady, consistently healthy choices after surgery. Learn more about the importance of maintenance after gastric sleeve surgery from the experts at BMI Surgery.
Is Gastric Sleeve Permanent?
During gastric sleeve surgery, your surgeon removes up to two-thirds of your stomach, reducing your overall stomach capacity and calorie intake. The part of the stomach removed produces the hunger hormone called ghrelin, so many patients find they’re much less hungry after surgery too. Compared to other weight loss surgeries like LAP-BAND, gastric sleeve is permanent and cannot be reversed.
Importance of Maintenance
Patients with proper aftercare lose up to 70% of excess weight throughout the first one to two years. Not only is maintenance essential to steady weight loss but also for your health. Since your stomach will be much smaller than it once was, supplementation is vital for your nutrition. Let’s look deeper at diet, medication, exercise, and other lifestyle changes you can expect to adopt to live a healthier, happier life.
Diet
Before surgery, you and your weight loss team will discuss your diet, usually a liquid diet, for the first few weeks. However, once cleared by your surgeon, protein intake is essential to promote continued weight loss. We recommend 60 to 80 grams of protein daily, but it may be more or less depending on your individual needs.
Check out this blog for more information about preparing for your postoperative diet.
Supplements
You can expect to take a multivitamin and calcium supplement daily to prevent nutritional deficiencies. A multivitamin is an easy, hassle-free way to ensure you’re meeting your nutritional needs every day.
Calcium supports bone health, and as your body changes from surgery (and weight loss), a supplement ensures your body stays strong. You may take other supplements like Vitamin D3 or B12, but your doctor will go over your supplements in-depth with you before surgery.
Exercise
Exercise after bariatric surgery strengthens your bones and joints, promotes heart and lung health, boosts your metabolic rate, and much more. Right after surgery, you’ll get up and moving, and your surgeon will discuss a routine for the weeks following recovery. In the interest of maximizing long-term results, and per CDC recommendations, we advise 150 minutes of intense physical activity coupled with two days of muscle-strengthening training per week.
Support
After weight loss surgery, and every day for that matter, you should be proud of yourself! Even if some days are more challenging than others, you can rest assured you’re showing up for yourself. We offer support groups at BMI Surgery for those who’ve undergone weight loss surgery. Sharing triumphs and tribulations with like-minded peers can support your emotional well-being amidst drastic physical changes.
Discover a Life-Long Weight Loss Transformation
At BMI Surgery, we’re not offering a quick fix but a complete transformation that’ll last a lifetime. With years of experience, you can count on our team for comprehensive, effective, and personalized weight-loss solutions. And it doesn’t stop there. From nutritional counseling and support groups to follow-up appointments, Dr. Long and his team are with you every step of the way.
Interested in Learning More About Gastric Sleeve Surgery? Call Today!
Proudly serving Birmingham, AL, BMI Surgery is your ultimate destination for permanent weight loss. Our board-certified weight loss surgeon, Dr. Long, is experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate, creating personalized weight loss plans for each patient. Call us at (205) 833-6907 or schedule your consultation online to learn more about priority pass gastric sleeve surgery!
