Gastric Bypass Surgery: The Importance Of Diet And Exercise

Specialists in the field of gastric bypass surgery recommend initiating fitness and diet regime much before the surgery itself takes place. This is likely to increase the benefits of the procedure and ensure that recovery is smooth.

When do you start preparing?

You will need to start a planned diet and exercise regime before the surgery takes place and carry it on in the post surgery period. This regime will prepare your body for the changes that it will experience in the coming months and make it easier to handle post operative healing.

Getting advice from a dietitian and a fitness expert would be useful at this point.

How can a dietitian help?

A dietitian can advise you on an appropriate nutrition plan taking into consideration your specific nutritional needs and caloric requirements. Factors like your lifestyle, eating habits and budget will also play a part in charting out an individualized diet plan. Regular meetings with the dietician will ensure that your diet can be gradually modified from the period before the surgery to that which will follow it.

How can a fitness regime help?

A fitness plan based on your individual needs and lifestyle needs to be chalked out well in advance. This is a very important aspect of obesity surgery as exercise increases flexibility and range of motion. It helps the body cope more effectively with the physical changes post surgery. The risk of injury or soreness is also significantly decreased.

In the post surgery period exercise assumes a crucial role in recovery. You will be consuming less food immediately after the operation and this implies a reduced calorie intake. Quite often the body may react to these changes in diet as if it were starving! It then starts to burn muscle rather than fat to provide energy . Exercise helps greatly in controlling the body's metabolism and ensures that this does not happen. Of course, exercise also speeds up the weight loss process.

It is best to work out a fitness regime with the help of your doctor. Regular supervision will not only help you stick to the plan but also allow the doctor to modify it according to your progress.

Some tips for fitness:

· Initiate a walking program if you can. 15 minutes of walking every day can be highly beneficial. · Avoid lifting heavy weights and carrying items that are over 10 pounds in weight. · Do not smoke from at least eight weeks before the surgery.

Some tips for nutrition:

· Foods that are high in sugar and caffeine are best avoided. They can be substituted with sugar free alternatives. · Since your food intake will be less, the body will be depending heavily on whatever food you eat to make up its calorie requirements. Thus avoid having liquids during meal time as it will mean that you will eat less. You can sip liquids between meals. · Protein drinks can be beneficial. · Multi vitamins and calcium supplements are recommended.