Nutrition and Obesity: Foods to Avoid and Tips for Eating and Staying Healthy After Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery is a major life decision that can have a positive impact on your health. But even after you’ve had the surgery, it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating the right foods is essential for maintaining your weight loss and keeping your body healthy. Here are some tips for eating healthy after weight loss surgery, as well as some foods to avoid.
First, it’s important to understand how food affects your body after weight loss surgery. Your stomach will be much smaller than before, so you won’t be able to eat as much in one sitting. You also may not be able to tolerate certain types of food, such as fried or fatty foods. It’s important to listen to your body and take small bites of food at a time so that you don’t overfill your stomach or cause discomfort.
When it comes to choosing the right foods after weight loss surgery, once you’ve completed your post-op diets phase 1 and 2 and you are ready to transition to a normal routine, there are some general guidelines you should follow:
- Eat lean proteins like fish, chicken, turkey, beans and legumes
- Choose whole grains over refined grains
- Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet
- Limit sugary drinks like soda and juice
- Avoid processed foods high in fat and sugar
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Eat slowly and chew each bite thoroughly
There are certain foods that you should avoid after weight loss surgery. These include fried or fatty foods like French fries or fast-food burgers; sugary snacks like candy bars; processed meats such as hot dogs or bacon; high-fat dairy products like ice cream; alcohol; carbonated beverages; caffeine; artificial sweeteners; and large amounts of sugar or salt. Eating these types of food can cause discomfort due to their high fat content or because they can stretch out the stomach pouch created during the procedure. It’s best to avoid these types of food altogether if possible.
In addition to eating healthy, it is also important to create an exercise plan that fits into your lifestyle after weight loss surgery. Exercise helps burn calories while strengthening muscles which can help maintain your new body shape. Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity per day – this could include walking around the block, taking a yoga class at home, riding a bike around town or swimming laps at the pool – whatever works best for you! Also try incorporating strength training exercises into your routine two times per week to build muscle mass which will help boost metabolism and burn more calories overall throughout the day.
Finally, make sure that you get enough sleep each night as this is essential for maintaining good health overall as well as aiding in successful weight maintenance post-surgery. A lack of sleep has been linked with higher levels of hunger hormones in the body which can lead to overeating if left unchecked. Try going to bed at least seven hours each night if possible – this will help ensure that all systems are functioning properly so that you can stay on track with all aspects of maintaining successful post-surgery weight management goals.
Following these tips for eating healthy after weight loss surgery – combined with regular exercise and enough rest – will help ensure long-term success with maintaining your new healthy lifestyle habits. With dedication and commitment from yourself, and support from family/friends, achieving lasting results from weight loss surgery is possible!
About Author
One of the most experienced weight loss surgeons in the country – Dr. Nick Nicholson – along with a full staff of surgeons, physician assistants, and other experienced clinicians, help patients reverse obesity with Sleeve Gastrectomy, Gastric Bypass, Duodenal Switch, Gastric Balloon and Revisions.
