One key to losing weight and realizing the “new you” after bariatric surgery is to follow a healthy exercise program.  This won’t just help you lose weight—it will help you feel good about yourself, give you more energy, and even help slough off stress and depression. Here are three different kinds of exercises that many bariatric patients enjoy after gastric bypass surgery.

Disclaimer: We at Bariatricvitamins4life.com and our sponsor site, Vita4life.net, are not medical professionals.  Nothing in this blog should be taken as medical advice.  Consult your doctor before you begin any exercise program.

The First Exercise You Should Do: Walking after Bariatric Surgery 

Some of us were in no danger of overexerting ourselves after our weight loss surgery.  It was hard enough just to get around our living spaces, much less get some exercise! 

Others have an easier recovery, and want to get to the exercise portion of their new life ASAP.  This isn’t always the best idea, though. 

It’s not just about your scar and stitches, either—the heart can have a difficult time after any major surgery.  Many doctors recommend five minutes of cardiovascular exercise (simple walking is usually good enough), five or six times a day, for the first two months after bariatric surgery.

What about Bariatric Yoga? 

While we don’t know of any yoga programs specifically for weight loss surgery patients (although it looks like there is an excellent bariatric exercise program in Austin), there is a small but devoted segment of the bariatric community that chooses yoga as a favorite form of exercise. 

Yoga practitioners report a number of benefits from the exercise; energy level and lowered stress are chief among these.  Yoga’s claims to fame also include muscle toning, improved flexibility, and a calm sense of well-being.

Cardiovascular Exercise after Weight Loss Surgery 

Cardio is the heavy hitter in any weight loss program.  While muscle training can certainly help speed up your metabolism, most trainers will tell you that it’s cardiovascular training that really takes the pounds off. 

As mentioned above, you should consult your physician before beginning any exercise routine.  This is especially true for gastric bypass patients who feel they are ready to get that heart pumping!  

While cardio will give you the most noticeable effects most quickly, it also puts a certain amount of strain on your system.  Ask your doctor if he or she thinks you are ready for heavy cardiovascular exercise, and how much you should start off with.  Your body’s adjusted caloric intake means that your routine may need to start off differently than the average Joe’s or Jane’s.

The first few days on a bariatric diet are tough. Do you find yourself daydreaming about pizza? Have you been tempted to binge on your favorite junk foods? You’re not alone. Some gastric bypass patients still have cravings for the foods they ate pre-bariatric surgery. 

The key to overcoming your food cravings is to take the new diet slowly. Your body is healing and it will need quality nourishment to do so properly. Understanding this point will help aid you in your journey toward better health starting with what you eat.

The Secret to Success on a Bariatric Diet 

Consistency is key when embarking on a bariatric diet. You want to maintain a balance of healthy nutrient-dense foods while avoiding the fatty, greasy food that added the pounds to your old body. The commitment to success requires discipline.  This can be hard at social functions such as family cookouts and office potlucks.

Social gatherings can be a time of worry and self-esteem issues. This is when some quick planning ahead can come in handy. Instead of worrying about what you won’t be able to eat at these outings, you can be proactive and make something delicious to enjoy. Offering to bring a dish that is bariatric diet friendly is a great way to stay on track and even introduce others to your new way of eating.

You Don’t Have to Eat Health Food Cardboard After Gastric Bypass Surgery!

Many people think that those who have had a gastric bypass only eat bland “health store” food, which is a complete fabrication. You can change their minds by cooking something colorful and flavorful that is nutritious and delicious. There is no need to go without on a bariatric diet and you can prove that eating healthy can be fun and enjoyable.

Eating at a restaurant can seem like a tricky proposition but these days it can be quite simple. Make substitutions to existing menu items to make them bariatric diet approved. For example, most people love hamburgers. You can enjoy a burger by ditching the bun and condiments and stocking up on the other goodies in a lettuce wrapper. Once you eat a burger wrap you’ll wonder why you never tried it before.

When it comes to a bariatric diet, you want to get the most nutrition out of your food. This helps to reframe the relationship you have with what you eat. Nourishment is about treating your body with respect and having the discipline to keep it in peak condition.

Although you will be eating healthy foods you will still need to make bariatric supplements part of your daily routine. It is a must with your altered digestion system. Make sure your supplements are healthy ones with no fillers or additives.

Proper nutrition is one of the biggest concerns for overweight people today.  After gastric bypass surgery you should beat the odds and be one of the few who are not overweight. This is great news – you have added years to your life and have raised the quality of your life. You look great and feel better than you have in years.

If you want to maintain this feeling, you need to adjust your bariatric diet to reflect your new lifestyle.

A Weight Loss Diet that Still Offers Proper Nutrients

You may be confused over what to do or how to stay on your bariatric diet. There are hundreds of weight loss diets on the market; even the government’s food pyramid gives guidelines for healthy eating.

A good bariatric diet distinguishes itself from the rest by being medically proven with thousands of first-hand accounts of success. People reliably use this diet after gastric bypass surgery in order to support their body’s new changes and continue the road to their success.

Protein is the cornerstone of this type of diet. More than half of each meal you eat daily will be composed of some sort of lean protein. You should strive for 60 grams each day which can be derived from animal, dairy, or plant proteins.

How Sugar can Harm Your Diet

You will also need to keep carbs at a minimum. This is because of the way the body metabolizes carbohydrates into sugar. Sugar wreaks havoc on your system by making your blood sugar spike erratically, then plummet.

This sudden surge in your blood sugar levels causes the body to go into hunger mode which most people feed with more carbs. This vicious cycle packs on extra calories that, left unburned, turn to fat.

Maintaining a caloric deficit will help you sustain a healthy weight while shedding unhealthy fat. Cutting out sugar and drinking plenty of pure water round out the diet and make for a healthy lifestyle. Even if you don’t have the surgery, you can benefit from going on this type of diet.

Gastric Bypass Vitamins – the Final Ingredient of Weight Loss Nutrition

How do you make sure you’re getting the necessary vitamins when you’re cutting back so much on your food?  That’s another secret that gastric bypass patients have.  What’s the secret?  Gastric bypass vitamins. In fact, that’s what this blog is all about!

Also known as bariatric vitamins, these supplements see to it that your body gets the nutrition it needs–even when you’ve cut way back on the calories.  Taking a good bariatric multi vitamin with no fillers or additives should give you the added nutrition you need.

Bariatric surgery is a life changing experience. Your loss of weight may go quickly but your emotions just might be in turmoil with all the physical and mental changes. Your previous life may have included low self-esteem and low self-confidence.

Body Image Issues

You may have a rather negative image of your body. The good news is that with your life after bariatric surgery this is something that you can overcome. Body image is psychological in nature and may have been influenced by your peers and family. Changing how you’ve thought of yourself for years can be done and your loss of weight is a great incentive.

Take the time to do something nice for yourself. Your body is changing and deserves some pampering. Try some of these ideas to show yourself some love.

1. Schedule monthly massages for yourself.
2. Get a manicure and/or pedicure.
3. Buy some new lotions with a soothing aroma. Use them frequently to feel and smell good.
4. Give yourself a facial. There are some great items you probably have in your kitchen to use. Egg whites smoothed on your face and rinsed when dry is a great one.
5. Take a long hot bath by candlelight.
6. Get a new haircut. Go out on a limb and try something totally different.
7. Give someone a hug or tell someone you need a hug.
8. Make a top ten list of what is great about you.
9. Do something by yourself like going to a movie or out to lunch. You may surprise yourself about how much fun you can have.
10. Celebrate your journey. While you are losing weight and still not at your goal weight always remember that your journey is now and needs to be treasured.

If you notice yourself having thoughts of negativity about yourself pinpoint those moments. Think about what situation triggered it. Sometimes it helps to hear another person’s take on the situation. You may have misinterpreted what was really meant. Your friends and family can help you see that you are a great and beautiful person.

You may be struggling with your body changes but you have a right to feel good about yourself. Your emotions will catch up with your new body. Soon you will be on track to enjoy the rest of your life feeling healthy and confident.