Chances are, if you're considering weight loss surgery, you've had little consistent success with traditional weight management habits. It might sound contradictory to dial in your diet and exercise before undergoing bariatric surgery but it's beneficial. Making small changes to your daily lifestyle before surgery can help you transition more aptly after your procedure. Dr. Jacob can discuss his recommendations related to your daily caloric intake and activity level, but some general tips for preparing for surgery include:
Begin eating as you will eat after surgery. In this way, we mean to slow down when you eat and chew your food more than you are used to. After bariatric surgery, your digestion will be quite different because you'll have fewer digestive enzymes and less gastric acid working to break down your food. Without them, your chewing becomes immensely important to your digestive process.
Develop an eating schedule before surgery. After your procedure, you may be advised to eat a small meal every three to four hours. If your current eating habits are to snack frequently or eat fewer, bigger meals, your transition could be difficult. It's beneficial to ease yourself into it starting before surgery. Because you'll need to eat every few hours, it's also helpful to plan ahead. You'll need to have healthy food options with you at all times to prevent unnecessary hunger and stress.
Begin building a list of ways that you can cope with stress that do not include food. Many of the reasons people overeat relate more to emotional comfort or boredom. It can help to work with a qualified therapist to identify other ways to manage the factors that can lead to overeating.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! After surgery, you'll be limited in the amount of fluid you can take in at one time. To prevent discomfort, you'll sip water all day long. It can take time to develop this habit of sipping water several times every hour, and we mean every hour. Going an hour without drinking after surgery can quickly lead to dehydration, which we want to avoid.
Don't drink when you eat. Your prime real estate in your tummy will be extremely limited after surgery and it's important to give priority to protein. To avoid reducing your already-limited stomach space, keep all meals food-focused, not beverage-focused.