1. HowiIt Works
Gastric bypass surgery has a significant impact on helping obese people lose the weight they need to in order to live healthier lives. Normally food goes through your stomach and into the small intestine, where calories and nutrients are absorbed. In gastric bypass surgery, your doctor creates a small pouch at the top of your stomach with staples or a band. Your stomach is smaller and causes food to bypass a section of your small intestine. You eat a lot less because you feel fuller much faster. On top of that, as food bypasses part of the small intestine, your body absorbs fewer calories. This results in weight loss.
2. One Mile at a Time
Following gastric bypass surgery, you'll stay in the hospital for four to six days. You will have to walk one mile within two hours of surgery as often as possible. You will also remain sitting up for 12 hours a day. It sounds easy, but it really isn't because of the location of the incision. Once you get through the hospital stay, it will take you three to five weeks to return to your normal schedule. You will start losing weight, pretty much immediately, but you'll also experience some negative side effects during the first three to six months. You'll feel achy and tired, cold, your skin will be flaky and dry, your mood will shift and your hair will thin.
3. Prepare to Fast
Right after the surgery, you won't be able to eat for a few days to give your stomach time to heal. Your doctor will then put you on a very specific diet for about three months. You'll eat only liquids at first, then pureed and soft food, followed by regular food. Since your stomach is the size of a walnut, you'll eat tiny meals. Eating too much in the first six months will cause a physical reaction. You may vomit and feel sharp pains in your chest. You'll slowly add more food into your diet, but it's important for you to realize that you'll never eat what you ate before the surgery.
4. New Diet
Stay away from sugary, fatty and greasy foods--they are not your friend. That also goes for alcohol, caffeinated and carbonated drinks. You'll be allowed to eat about three ounces of food per sitting. If you don't follow your eating plan or eat too fast, you'll get really sick, a syndrome called Dumping Syndrome. If food moves too fast through your stomach and intestines, you'll feel weak, nauseous, faint, sweaty and maybe even have diarrhea. If you eat high-calorie simple carbs, it'll only be worse. You may need to lie down until you feel better. Give yourself time to get used to your body's reaction to food. You'll learn just how much it can handle. You won't feel hungry again, but may get dizzy if you forget to eat.
5. Watch as Weight Falls off
You'll start losing weight immediately after the gastric bypass surgery. Expect to lose 30 to 60 pounds during the first month. Weight loss after that depends on the person, but you can expect to lose 20 pounds per month for up to a year until you hit what's considered your body's healthy weight.
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