If you have been qualified for the weight-loss surgeries, health care team gives you the instructions on how to prepare for a specific type of surgery. You may need to have different lab tests & exams before performing the surgery. You may have restrictions on eating & drinking & which medications you can use after the surgery. You need to start routine physical activity programs & need to stop any tobacco usage in future.
You may also need to prepare and plan ahead for the recovery after the surgery.
- Smoking & use of tobacco & nicotine products are been proven to be gradually increases the risk of the complications during & after the bariatric surgery. We also require our patients to be free from tobacco as well as to stop all the nicotine products for minimum of 3 months prior to the beginning of pre-surgery education.
- Try to consume 3 regular meals & 1 - 2 small snacks per a day. When planning meals, be sure that to include breakfast & try to avoid having food within 4 hours before the bedtime. Focus on the increasing intake of protein & fresh fruits & vegetables, while reducing or even eliminate the usage of sugar & high-fatty foods, as well as fast-food & outside or restaurant meals.
- Recording the eating & drinking habits will uncover the valuable information & also helps you to identify the opportunities for better improvement.
- Follow the body's thirst signals. Adults need at consume atleast 64 ounces of water per day. Identify & limit or even eliminate the sources of liquid calories, such as juice, alcohol, soda, energy drinks & coffee with the cream or sugar. Get rid of caffeinated & carbonated beverages. Stop drinking liquids along with the meals & wait for 30 minutes after each meal before drinking the water.
- If you are not presently doing exercises, start small & create a consistent physical activity plan which fits the ability - short walks, painless exercises & small increases in the daily activity will makes a difference. Find the activity which enjoy & focus on the frequency rather than increasing the intensity. Gradually build up the exercise time by adding some extra minutes of the activity every day.
- It was very important that not to gain weight while preparing for the surgery. Avoid "last suppering" & overeating in the anticipation of making diet & lifestyle changes later on. Our team of health care providers will discuss with you about additional pre-surgery weight loss goals.