Congratulations! Your weight loss surgery is scheduled, and you’re anxiously anticipating the day you begin losing weight. As you research and attend appointments, there can seem like an endless list of things to do before the highly-awaited day of surgery.
Luckily, the team at BMI Surgery has compiled our top five tips to make life after bariatric surgery hassle-free. We’ll discuss preparing your home and pantry, the importance of making your mental health a priority, and more. With these tips, you’ll feel calm, cool, and collected when the time comes for your surgery!
Prepare Your Home
Your home is your happy place. And while you recover from bariatric surgery, it’ll be more important than ever for your home to be your sanctuary. We recommend stocking your home with plenty of plush, comfortable blankets and pillows so you can truly relax and recuperate during recovery.
If you can, deep clean your home before surgery so when you return home, it’ll be sparkling. Mopping the floors, wiping the counters, and organizing your pantry can make life after bariatric surgery much more manageable and avoid any stress from an unkept home.
Follow Your Exercise Plan
Before your weight loss surgery, we often recommend beginning and maintaining an exercise plan to improve cardiovascular fitness, reduce the risk of complications, and establish healthy routines. At BMI Surgery, we advise 30-45 minutes of exercise per day, like using a treadmill, biking, swimming, or resistance training.
If 30-45 minutes sounds like a lot, don’t worry. You can work up to this time as you prepare for your weight loss surgery. And you’ll have the opportunity to let your hard work shine afterward. Once you get the green light from your surgeon, you’ll begin light exercise, like walking, as soon as a few days after your operation.
Plan Your Meals
We don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but when it comes to weight loss surgery, preparation is key. Another preparation tip is planning your meals, but only to a certain extent. If you’ve been researching bariatric surgery, you may have heard that your taste buds change afterward. This does happen. Some people experience no difference, and others find that they can hardly stand the foods they used to love after bariatric surgery.
So, to avoid a pantry full of food you hate, we recommend getting enough liquids, broths, puddings, and other liquids just for the first two weeks after surgery. For more information about your diet after weight loss surgery, check out this informative post.
Invest in Your Mental Health
As you prepare to make a physical change, we recommend making mental changes too. If you’re undergoing bariatric surgery, you may have a complicated relationship with food. And while weight loss surgery can help you lose weight, it’s important to invest in your mental health to enhance the positive physical changes.
Whether it’s joining a support group, medication, therapy, journaling, or another form of self-love, finding what works for you before your procedure can help make the transition of life after weight loss much easier. At BMI Surgery, we sponsor a support group that meets monthly, so you have a place to share your experiences and gain valuable insights from those on a similar journey.
Take Progress Photos
If you look in the mirror daily, it can be hard to discern any progress you’ve made. If you don’t see improvement during the challenging parts of your journey, you can quickly begin to feel frustrated and unmotivated. That’s why we recommend taking progress photos. Before your surgery, our team will take some pictures, but we recommend taking your own too.
Consider taking before and after photos in your favorite outfit or something you’ve wanted to wear but haven’t felt confident enough in just yet. That way, on the good and bad days, you can tangibly see just how far you’ve come!
Unlock Your True Potential with Weight Loss Surgery
With your surgeon’s pre- and post-operative recommendations and these tips, you’ll be sailing through weight loss recovery. While the list of things to do before bariatric surgery may seem like a lot, you’re not on the journey alone! The team at BMI Surgery is with you every step of the way.
From your initial consultation to annual follow-up appointments, you’re never far from expert advice and knowledgeable recommendations. For more information about weight loss surgery preparation.
Interested in Weight Loss Surgery? Call BMI Surgery Today!
Proudly serving Birmingham, AL & beyond, Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is your ultimate destination for weight loss. Dr. Long performs numerous minimally invasive procedures, including gastric sleeve priority pass, LAP-band, and more. Call us at (205) 833-6907 or contact us online to schedule your consultation!
