Maintaining your weight loss after bariatric surgery is important for your long term success after surgery. Lots of our patients have certain expectations of what their lives will be like after their bariatric surgery in Perth with Dr Padovan. They know their intake of food will be restricted and they understand they’ll lose weight and live a happier and healthier life. However, many of our patients also believe that they will never put on weight after bariatric surgery. So, it’s a shock when they get on the scales and see they’ve put on weight.

Why do patients gain weight after bariatric surgery?

Before we can talk about how to maintain your weight loss after bariatric surgery, we need to discuss why some people might gain weight after their surgery.

1. They fall back into unhealthy eating patterns

Many bariatric patients believe that because their stomach is smaller and their food intake is restricted, they can eat and drink whatever they want without putting on weight.

It’s true that for the first 12-18 months after weight loss surgery, patients lose most of their excess weight because of food restrictions. However, the body is a great machine, and will adjust itself to your new stomach and will work alongside it. This means that once you start eating unhealthy foods such as sweets, chips, and greasy food, you will start to put on weight. That’s why we tell our patients to use the window before their surgery, and the first year after their surgery to set healthy eating habits for life.

2. They have an underlying health problem with food

We sometimes let our emotions control our eating habits. We eat when we’re bored, sad, tired, or angry. Failing to address your emotional eating habits before and after bariatric surgery will cause you to regain weight.

3. They lack a support system

Patients who lack a support system such as their friends, family, and bariatric support groups often struggle on their own in their journey. Many turn to food for comfort and that can lead to weight gain.

How to avoid gaining weight after bariatric surgery

You’ve spent lots of money on having bariatric surgery and the last thing you want to do is gain the weight back. So, here are some ways to maintain your weight loss after having the gastric sleeve, bypass or lap band.

Fuel your body

While you won’t be able to consume as much food as you used to before bariatric surgery, you can still gain weight if you eat and drink high calorie foods. Fuelling your body with the right kinds of food is extremely important for weight maintenance after your surgery. Make sure you eat food with high protein content, low carbs and sugar. Prepackaged foods are high in sodium, sugar, and calories, so go with a hearty home cooked meal instead. Don’t forget to take your bariatric vitamins as well.

Don’t drink your calories

Soft drinks contain a high amount of sugar and calories, and are a sure way to gain weight after your surgery. Instead of having a soft drink, try sugar free alternatives, fruit teas, or low- sugar and low-fat cordial. If you’re looking to drink something with zero calories, go for water. As well as having no calories, water is essential for your body’s overall health.

Are you stuck on how to keep hydrated after bariatric surgery. Here are some hydration tips to keep up your fluid needs.

Understand your portion size

Even though bariatric surgery limits your stomach size and food intake, our eyes are still bigger than our stomachs. This means we over-estimate how much food we can eat.

In fact, in a research about portion sizes, researchers discovered that people who use bigger plates eat more than people who use small plates. To avoid over-eating, we recommend using small plates and smaller size cutlery. You may have received two bariatric plates from us during your first appointment at our clinic. If not, you can call us today to get yours for free.

Don’t rush your meal

We live busy lifestyles. So, it’s no surprise that we rush through our meals. When eating, slow down and enjoy your meal. Make sure you chew each bite for at least fifteen seconds. Put down your cutlery between each bite and chew. It takes your brain at least twenty minutes to feel full once you start to eat. However, there’s a delay between when you begin eating and when you start to feel full. So, eating slowly will make you feel fuller faster because you’ll be able to shorten the ‘delay’ between when you eat and when you start to feel full

Stay active

Staying active after bariatric surgery is key to preventing weight gain. Exercise keeps you fit, healthy, and reduces your risk of cardiovascular diseases. You can join the gym, walk around your neighbourhood, take up swimming, and join an exercise class. We recommend getting at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday.

When combined with a healthy diet, you’ll easily maintain your weight after surgery. Make sure you check with your health care practitioner before you try a new exercise program.

Weigh yourself regularly

We don’t mean weigh yourself daily, either. We recommend weighing yourself once a week or every fortnight. This means that you’ll notice as soon as the numbers on your scale begin to creep up. There’s nothing worse than checking your weight after five months to find out that you’ve put on a substantial amount of weight. By weighing yourself regularly, you’ll be able to quickly deal with your weight gain before it gets out of control.

Go to your follow up appointments

Follow up appointments are a way to keep you accountable and on top of your progress after your surgery. If you feel like you’re slipping back into unhealthy habits and are losing track of your weight, our team puts you back on track. Remember, we want to see you succeed, not fail. Find out more about why your long-term followup at Emerge Surgical is important for your weight loss success here.

Join a support group

It’s easy to feel alone in your weight loss journey. Joining a support group helps you feel less alone in your journey because you’ll be surrounded by people who share your experience. Bariatric support groups are safe, friendly, and open. People there are more than happy to share their tips and tricks on how they manage their weight and other aspects of being a bariatric patients. Even better, they are there to lift you up and give you words of advice when you feel down.

Are you looking for a great online support system? We recommend the Facebook group created by our patients: WLS Patients of Dr Gordon Padovan!

Have revision surgery in Perth with Dr Padovan

Have you regained weight after your sleeve gastrectomy? Maybe your type 2 diabetes has been hampering your determination to lose weight. Dr Padovan offers revision surgery in Perth with the SIPS surgery.

SIPS (Stomach Intestinal Pylorus-Sparing) Surgery works by combining the benefits of the sleeve gastrectomy and the gastric bypass to reduce your eating capacity and reduce your absorption of calories. You can read more about SIPS Surgery here.

Gaining weight after bariatric surgery can happen to the best of us

Don’t let your fear or shame hold you back from getting support. Are you struggling to make the right food choices? Maybe you’re thinking of having a revision surgery to give you a fresh start. Contact our clinic today at 9544 5200 to book your appointment with Dr Padovan and our friendly team.