Bariatric surgery is a great option if you are struggling to lose weight, but you’ll need to be ready to put the work in both before and after your procedure in order to reap the most benefits. Whether you’re having a gastric band, sleeve, gastric bypass or a lap band fitted, your doctor will expect you to demonstrate that you are able to commit to losing weight and improving your lifestyle before you begin. Often, patients are asked to lose some weight before they can be eligible for the surgery. Here are some simple lifestyle changes to make to help you achieve the figure you want and kick-start your weight loss.
Cut Down on Carbs:
Eating too many carbohydrates can cause you to pile on weight quickly, especially if you are not doing enough exercise to burn it all off. Since starchy carbs such as bread, pasta and potatoes are turned into sugars if not burned up, what may seem like a healthy meal could actually be causing you to gain weight. Instead, fill up with protein-rich foods and lots of vegetables.
Eat Healthy Fats:
Contrary to popular belief, healthy fats found in foods such as avocado, olive oil and even some nuts and seeds are actually good for your health and will help you to lose weight. These kinds of fats work by helping to keep you feeling fuller for longer, so that you will eat less and avoid weight gain. Although they may seem tempting, anything ‘low fat’ is actually not good for your weight loss. You should always avoid heavily processed and saturated fats.
Move More:
When paired with a healthy diet, you can start to see some excellent results quite quickly with regular physical activity, and gentle exercise in the run-up to surgery will be encourage by your Fairfield weight loss doctor. Going to the gym for just half an hour per day, for example, can quickly help you to gain strength and become fitter overall. Plus, as you lose weight, exercise will help improve your figure by toning you up. If the gym isn’t for you, there are so many options that you can choose from – walking, cycling, swimming, Zumba, team sports and aerobics are all great places to start and you don’t have to be a pro to get the benefits.
Stay Hydrated:
Did you know that many of the times that you feel hungry, you are actually thirsty? If your body is getting dehydrated, then you could mistake your thirst for hunger and end up eating more than you really need. Or, quenching your thirst with drinks such as soda, juice or even coffee might work momentarily, but won’t be as effective as water for rehydrating you and keeping you feeling full. So, for the best results, you should always aim to drink around 2 liters, or about 6-8 glasses per day of pure water. Not only will this help you to lose weight, but it’ll also improve the condition of your skin, hair and nails.
Bariatric surgery is a great way to lose weight if you are struggling, but you’ll need to be ready for a lifestyle change in order to get the best results.