Your doctor may recommend a weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass surgery, if you are extremely obese. Weight loss surgery is done if you have a weight related health issue, like diabetes, or if you have a body mass index greater than 35, reports MayoClinic.com. You will need to make lifestyle changes after surgery to allow your body to heal and to avoid gaining the weight again.
Diet
Immediately after weight loss surgery, your surgeon may not allow you to eat for a day or two. In the beginning you will only be able to consume fluids. Following a liquid diet allows you to eat broth, gelatin, juice, soda and tea. In some cases, you may only be allowed to consume clear liquids that you can see through. After several days you may be able to eat ground-up or pureed foods. You may have to follow this type of diet for up to 12 weeks, according to MayoClinic.com. As your stomach begins to heal, you can begin eating regular foods. Add foods slowly and eat what you can tolerate. Some foods may irritate your stomach, including nuts, seeds, popcorn, dried fruits, carbonated drinks, raw fruits and vegetables and granola.
Food Portions
Eat several small meals throughout the day. This will allow your body to digest the food you eat without overwhelming your system. You will need about six meals throughout the day. Each meal should include around 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food, says MayoClinic.com. Water and other beverages fill your stomach and may cause you to feel full. Drink your beverages slowly throughout the day to avoid feeling too full during meals.
Dietary Supplements
You will not be able to consume enough food to get all of the nutrients your body needs. In addition to this, if you have gastric bypass surgery, part of your small intestine is bypassed. This is the part of the digestive tract that absorbs many nutrients you would normally get from food. Your doctor may suggest adding dietary supplements to your diet to increase your nutrient intake. Take a daily multivitamin each day, which you may need to take for the rest of your life. According to UCSF Medical Center, your multivitamin should contain at least 400 mcg of folic acid. You may also need a calcium supplement along with vitamin D, to keep your bones strong. Talk with your doctor about which supplements work best for you.
Exercise
Keeping the weight off will require you to increase your physical activity. You should exercise for 30 to 45 minutes a day, three to five times each week. Begin by walking for five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the afternoon. As you heal, increase these intervals by five minutes until you can walk for 15 minutes at a time, suggests the UCSF Medical Center. After this point, you can begin to add strength training and cardio. Check with your doctor before you begin your exercise regime.
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