Ways to Minimize Weight Gain After Weight Loss Surgery

The last thing you want to happen after going through weight loss surgery, recovery and the first stages of rapid weight loss, is to gain some of that weight back. Unfortunately it does happen in some patients, and it can be very frustrating. Not only can weight gain be caused by a surgery that was simply unsuccessful, but also due to other factors, like lack of proper dieting, or not keeping up with your exercise. Here are some of the most helpful ways to prevent weight gain after going through weight loss surgery.

Change Habits Before Surgery

With all the changes after bariatric surgery, it makes sense that you begin some of them before. This makes for a much smoother transition, but also helps minimize how much weight you gain further down the line. For one thing, if you have a habit of binge eating, try to stop doing this before your surgery. It keeps you from being tempted a few years after having your weight loss surgery.

Eat When You’re Hungry

There are two ways to do this after surgery: Only eat when you are actually hungry, and stop eating once you are full. Much of weight gain with or without bariatric surgery comes from eating more than necessary. This might be eating meals that are too large and continuing to eat even after you are full. Another way is by eating when you are bored, instead of when you are actually hungry. If you can learn the difference, it helps prevent weight gain.

Deal with Substance Abuse Problems

A major risk factor in people who are obese and who gain weight several years after having weight loss surgery, is those dealing with substance abuse. This type of abuse causes you to turn back to food as a way of feeding into your addiction. The addictive personality you have only gets in the way of losing weight and keeping it off. Be sure you get proper help for substance abuse problems before and after your surgery.

Deal with Other Mental Problems

If you have other mental issues in your life, such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression, or low self esteem, you need proper support for dealing with them. Most likely, you gained weight as a result of these issues. Seeking counseling before and after weight loss surgery can help you prevent unnecessary weight gain.

Get Nutritional Counseling

The diet plan you were originally put on after surgery is not short-term and not meant only until you start losing weight. This is a long-term plan meant to change the way you eat, and the way you think about food. If your nutritionist put you on a low-fat or gluten-free diet, there is a reason for it. It is important to keep going with this nutritional plan, and continue seeing your nutritionist even years after surgery and weight loss success.

Many times, people gain back the weight they lost because they feel like they no longer have to limit what they eat, or work out as much. These habits are your new lifestyle, and it is important to keep up with them no matter how long it has been since your surgery.