Maintaining Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery

MAINTAINING WEIGHT LOSS AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY

AN OVERVIEW

The preferred option for weight loss is undeniably adopting a healthy diet and regular exercise. Those affected and wanting to lose weight but unable to attain or sustain significant weight loss in spite of the best of endeavors invariably opt for weight loss gastric bypass surgery - medically termed as Bar iatric Surgery.


THE GASTRIC BYPASS CONCEPT

Maintaining weight loss after gastric bypass surgery depends primarily on the gastric bypass concept. Gastric Bypass is conceptually sectioning of the stomach - creating a smaller stomach, which facilitates intake of smaller and more frequent meals and invariably culminates in a weight loss in the periphery of fifty to sixty percent weight loss over a period of time.

SUSTAINING WEIGHT LOSS AFTER GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY

Sustaining weight loss after gastric bypass surgery is driven by - what kind of food is eaten, the quantum of intake and equally significant being how the food is taken:

* The first two days after surgery are conceptually a period of abstinenence wherein the patient best avoids all kinds of food - considering that the stomach is in a healing phase
* The diet progression phase is primarily the phase of gradual food adaptation of the stomach, which ensures that sustaining weight loss after gastric surgery is attained without compromising on the nutrition status of the individual.

DIET PROGRESSION - THE MANTRA TO SUSTAINING WEIGHT LOSS AFTER GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY


IMMEDIATE PROTOCOL

* LIQUIDS

The first two days are primarily the period of liquid or semi liquid diets of the likes of juices, broths, milk and cereals

* PUREED FOODS

These foods invariably have a smooth paste like consistency best consumed for three to four weeks post surgery

* SOFT FOODS

This class of food being easy to chew and digest is the logical sequel and needs be taken for eight weeks before graduation to a normal diet is attempted.


SUSTAINING WEIGHT LOSS AFTERGASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY - LONG TERM

The approach needs be multifaceted and could well encompass:

* SMALL FREQUENT FEEDS

One feed would optimally be one to one and a half cup and needs be stopped well before the onset of a feeling of fullness - eating beyond the critical amount could well exhibit symptoms of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain

* EAT SLOWLY

The food needs to be well chewed and eaten slowly - an average meal being completed within thirty minutes An endeavor to accelerate would be counterproductive and would also lead to a 'dumping syndrome' with unpleasant symptoms like Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness in most


* FLUID INTAKE

Fluids need to be taken in magnitudes of six to eight cups per day - invariably in between meals rather than with meals - considering that intake with meals would lead to decreased food intake which could well translate into nutritional deficiency

* SUPPLEMENTS

Considering that part of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine is bypassed by surgery there could well be nutritional deficiencies when adequate vitamins and supplements are not taken - making it imperative to supplement


CONCLUSIVE

SUSTAINING THE WEIGH LOSS MANTRA

* Sustaining weight loss could well be a failing proposition if regimes of diet and calorie intake restrictions are not sustained

* Additionally exercise forms an integral part of the weight loss regime and needs a sustained disciplined approach over extended periods of time

* Frequent snacking between meals and reverting to previous eating patterns could well be counterproductive as is the case with those who avoid disciplined exercising.

* The shedding pounds mantra then lies more with post surgery discipline rather than the mere surgery itself - if the sixty percent weight loss phenomenon is to be attained and - most importantly sustained.