Written by Dr. Alapati
Gastric bypass surgery is a very helpful mean to help a person to have major and lasting weight loss. Generally the success of the weight loss will be based on the full dedication to lifestyle modifications such as eating healthy food in smaller portions and exercising daily.
After gastric bypass surgery, you are unable to eat too many straightaway. The diet will progress from liquids to soft foods within the first 3 months before you can begin to eat solid foods again. This gradual progression is important for good recovery after the gastric bypass, particularly at the surgical areas and to permit your body to get acquainted with your new eating habits.
The first few days will be restricted to drink small quantities of liquids. Liquids like water, juice, broth and milk. After a few days, you can slowly eat pureed foods. The following pureed foods like clear broths, soups, Jell-O, low-fat yogurt and any blended foods without any evident food pieces can be eaten at this stage which can last for a minimum of few weeks.
Your physician will observe your healing and tell you when your body is prepared to eat soft foods. Soft food diet can include foods like canned or fresh fruits that are soft and without skin, vegetables that are well-cooked and tender, ground meat or finely-diced meat, scrambled eggs and any foods that are tender and easy to chew. Soft diet usually lasts more or less 8 weeks before the physician tells you that it is all right to start eating solid foods again.
- Recovery Time
The time it will take to continue your previous daily and normal activities after the surgery will defer depending on the person’s condition, nature of the activity and the type of surgery performed. The majority of the patients recover in 6 to 8 weeks after their gastric bypass surgery, whereas it may only be several weeks for patients who undergo a less invasive type of gastric bypass operation.
- Pregnancy
Pregnancy adds stress on your body and there is a possibility for fetal damage if there will be pregnancy immediately following gastric bypass surgery. It is highly recommended that women avoid getting pregnant and to use oral contraceptive pills or other birth control for the first 2 years following the gastric bypass if they are sexually active and of childbearing age.
The majority of the long-term effects of gastric bypass on nutrition and body are still yet to be discovered. The effects of lack of nutrition that happen as time goes by is unknown. Regular tests will need to be performed to assess for anemia and to check the folate, vitamin B12 and iron levels in the blood. Follow-up examinations are typically scheduled every 3 to 6 months or as necessary, and then every 1 to 2 years.
- Counseling
The majority of the surgeons will recommend both nutritional and psychological counseling to their patients. The counseling will be a part of the weight loss management. It is necessary for the patient to know new and healthier eating ways and to exercise regularly as a part of their healthy lifestyle. Passing a psych test is also one of the qualifications of gastric bypass surgery. Support groups are another great way for finding aid with the weight loss treatment following surgery. For the reason that the surgery cannot remove the emotional suffering brought about by being obese, a lot of surgeons will recommend participation in psychological counseling to aid in the emotional problems that the patient has. Patients who have support after the surgery, has a greater chances of success with weight loss and the gastric bypass recovery.
- Exercise
Exercise will be a vital part of the weight loss management following the operation. As soon as possible, your doctor will advise you to walk and move after the surgery. You will begin gradually and then slowly increase the number and intensity of your exercises.
Exercise will help you burn calories and develops and maintains muscle tissue. For the reason that you are eating less and losing weight fast, your body will burn the energy reserves in the body to be able to function properly. You need to exercise so that the body will burn the fat tissue than the muscle tissue to function. Exercise will preserve muscle tissues and burn fat tissues instead. Additionally, if you do not exercise you will need to eat less and less as time goes by. The doctor recommends 30 minutes of walking daily and 30 minutes of muscle training every week.