There are a few dangers after gastric bypass surgery, but many aren’t as apparent as one would assume. Gastric bypass surgery involves some risk, as with any surgical procedure. However, there are dangers that are associated specifically with gastric bypass.

Most of the dangers come from people who don’t follow proper aftercare recommendations from their doctor. After spending lots of money and time having a bariatric procedure done, they end up regaining weight because they don’t stick with their aftercare program. Regaining weight can cause significant psychological and physical stress.

The #1 Mistake after Gastric Bypass Surgery

In order to minimize the dangers after gastric bypass surgery, you need to follow your doctor’s aftercare recommendations precisely. Most doctors’ recommendations will be very similar, with a few specific recommendations. The most important thing to remember is that you need to change your lifestyle and your habits after surgery.

Many people make the mistake of jumping back into their old patterns. They end up thinking that they can go back to eating the way they used to eat. They neglect their bodies’ needs for nourishing food. They procrastinate on developing an exercise routine.

How to Change Your Dietary Habits after Bariatric Surgery

Diet and exercise changes after gastric bypass surgery need to be permanent. Your diet needs a makeover. Sugary snacks, high carbohydrate meals and greasy foods are out of the picture.

Nourishing meals full of whole food ingredients that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates should be the norm. Add in bariatric vitamins that include all of the vital nutrients your body needs for best results.

Don’t Forget to Move That Body!

Exercise needs to become part of your routine after gastric bypass surgery. Many people become intimidated by exercise and think that hard exercise is the only way to go. This can be discouraging and make them want to quit.

You don’t have to run a half marathon in order to be fit. You don’t have to become a body builder. Gently exercising during the day will be enough to help keep your weight in check. Simply standing during activities you’d normally sit down at and walking at a gentle pace are great ways to get your body receptive for more activity.

You can add aerobic exercise, like bike riding or fast walking at your discretion–but only after you are ready and your body has recovered from surgery. These things will help you keep your results after gastric bypass surgery.

You can avoid the dangers after gastric bypass surgery by eating properly and working in gentle exercise. If you do this, you’ll be sure to reap the full benefits of your weight loss surgery.

You’ve had gastric bypass surgery and given yourself a second chance at life. You’re excited for all the new changes ahead, especially fitting into smaller clothes and looking healthy–but have you given much thought to things like exercise, diet change, and bariatric vitamins?

Lifestyle Modification after Bariatric Surgery

You’ve already been told you will be making major changes in the way you eat and live. But has anyone talked to you about your nutrition? 

The first step and the most important step on the journey to getting fit is which bariatric vitamins you will be taking. This may seem like a nonissue but it is something that will keep you alive. Sound dramatic? Read on. 

Your new diet, while healthy and nutritious, will be lacking some things. You’re going on a high protein/low simple carb diet. That may sound like the Atkins diet, but it’s far from it. Your protein is going to come from a variety of sources, not just meat. 

Your carbohydrate intake should be from vegetables and not grain. Water should be used for hydration, not soda pop and sugary drinks. In short, yes it may be a little like the Atkins diet, but you will not be endlessly eating and you won’t be heading into ketosis. Let’s talk vitamins.

The Best Bariatric Vitamins

When it comes to bariatric vitamins, you need to know a few things. First, you need to steer clear of chewable or liquid supplements. Why is this? 

There are unneeded fillers to stabilize the product and give it a nice taste. Usually these are sugars and starches. These additives diminish the effectiveness of the vitamins themselves. That’s right-you are getting less nutrients for more money! 

Choose bariatric vitamins that are in capsule form. Make sure that they dissolve easily; this is an easy thing to test. Any vitamin should dissolve in a glass of water in five minutes. It takes this long for a pill to get through digestion in the stomach and be fully absorbed in the intestinal tract. Any vitamin that doesn’t do this is not worth the money you pay for it.

Life is different after bariatric surgery. As you very well know, things change drastically during the recovery period. Aside from the minor discomfort brought on with any surgical procedure, post-gastric bypass recovery adds another dimension. 

Your diet is now regimented. If you want to maintain your success after bariatric surgery you have to be accountable for the things that you eat. But this isn’t the only thing you’re going to have to watch. 

Simple things, that you took for granted in the past, are now going to become pretty important. Taking a walk or standing while working at the computer will go a long way towards improving your stamina and keeping your metabolism humming. 

Your body was made for movement. If it doesn’t move around regularly it starts to break down. But can developing the “new you” really be as simple as exercising a little and avoiding the dessert cart? 

Well, not quite. But it’s not too complicated, either.

3 Steps to Success After Bariatric Surgery

Tip 1: Keep Moving

You can find simple ways throughout your day to keep moving. At work when you get up to go to the restroom, do some isometrics. When you’re in front of the T.V. you can sort laundry, or better yet, stand. While you read this at the computer you could be tightening your stomach and butt muscles with short intense bursts.

Tip 2: Eat Right

Protein: your body needs it after bariatric surgery. It is essential to recovery and maintaining weight loss success. Why? Because protein builds muscle and muscle burns fat.

A diet high in proteins and low in carbohydrates and fats is the best thing for you. You can find plenty of good things to eat in the bariatric recipes section of this blog.

Tip 3: Take Your Bariatric Vitamins

No matter how much nutrition you get from your food after bariatric surgery you will need supplements. The food grown today, even the organic stuff, is not as nutritionally dense as it was even a decade ago. Bariatric vitamins are key to making sure that you are getting all the nutrition possible. If you are getting all the nutrition without the bulk of unhealthy eating, you will get fit and stay that way forever.

Pineapple, Cottage Cheese, and Jello Salad

We’re in the middle of the summer – well maybe a little toward the end. With the heat index very high in many areas we’re all up for a refreshing treat that is bariatric friendly. This bariatric recipe just might bring back some memories too.

Remember when you were a kid and your mom used to fix Jello salads in the summer? Well Jello is back! This bariatric recipe for a Jello salad is just the right treat for these hot summer days. This is a little more grown up but absolutely delicious.

This recipe is full of nutritious goodies. It looks good and it tastes great. If you like more Jello in between your ingredients feel free to add another box of Jello to make more servings and to have a larger amount. It will make more servings and be fewer calories per serving.

• 1 (3 ounce) package lime sugar-free Jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup drained, crushed pineapple
• 1 cup low or non-fat cottage cheese
• ½ cup slivered almonds (toast them if you like)

Dissolve the Jello in the water and stir till completely dissolved. Chill the Jello till slightly set. Add the pineapple, cottage cheese, and slivered almonds. Turn it into a molded pan or plastic container. Chill for at least four hours. Serve it and remember all the good times you had with your family when you were a kid! J-E-L-L-O!

You can double or triple this recipe to serve large groups. It’s sure to be a hit.