Weight loss surgery can be a risky method; especially if the patient nurses some fear about the procedure. In spite of this fact, it is pertinent to note that the feeling of insecurity is a normal occurrence.
First, patients are literally new to the procedure. The inefficiency of traditional approaches (exercises and diets) prompts the quest to pass through the knife. On the other hand, hearsays can trigger their anxiety. The fact remains that bariatric surgery is the best option out there for obese individuals. On the contrary, there are other hurdles to scale after the operation.
Out of the numerous options for surgical weight loss, the gastric sleeve surgery tops the chart. The efficiency, reduced risk, and facilitated timeframe are factors that trigger patients’ interest in the procedure.
Weight Loss Riga's Patient Community on Facebook is a great place to engage with others who have had gastric sleeve surgery or other bariatric
Post-Operation Milestone: Launching into a New Life
It is an established fact that weight loss surgery is a life contouring process. Patients tend to live the rest of their lives on nutritional supplements. There is also the need to stick to the dietary guidelines. Patients should also consider cosmetic surgery after bariatric surgery. We recommend Cosmetic Surgery Riga for all cosmetic procedures after weight loss surgery.
After the surgery, it is a new lease of life for erstwhile obese individuals. First, they have to make adaptations in their lifestyles. Friends might become foes and family can become strangers. All these are stages they have to pass through in order to stabilize their new weight.
This brings to mind the story of Ruth. She was one of the patients that successfully went through the gastric sleeve surgery in our clinic. Before settling for weight loss surgery, regular exercise was her favorite.
However, after enduring jeers from friends, she felt it was time to take the leap. After enrolling for the procedure in our clinic, it was evident that her weight was still on the high side. The best option was to reduce her size before the actual surgery. This was essential for a hitch-free surgical operation.
With the coaching of the doctor and regular supervision, she dropped a significant amount from her weight. The joy that spread across Ruth’s face after the surgery was unexplainable. She couldn’t contain her joy and was moving about the clinic a few days after the surgery.
Many months later, during her follow-up visits, we were pleased to find out that she was keeping up with her weight loss goal. When asked how she was able to come that far, “exercise” was her reply.
From her narrative, it became clear to us that Ruth continued with exercises after leaving our facility. Her dexterity and quest to lose weight faster urged her on. Today, she has dropped many kilos of flesh, and this will continue for the next couple of months until she attains her desired weight.
Do you realize that regular exercises combined with healthy dieting and intake of nutritional supplements will facilitate your weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery? Do you want to be like Ruth? Then, join us as we give you the 13 tips to keep up your workouts after bariatric surgery.
1. Walk as soon as you are able
We understand that most patients dread the thoughts of exercises after bariatric surgery. You are not alone in this. The feeling is not a bad one, as the motivation to continue might not be there. Several factors botch this plan. There is the pain that comes with working for a distance and the fatigue that comes at the end.
The first step to staying motivated after gastric sleeve surgery is starting your work out in earnest. Do not give in to the thoughts of staying put to the bed. Have in mind that diets alone cannot sustain you for long. Get up and start working your way to immediate weight loss.
2. Take it Slowly
There is where the red lights turn up and you have to be careful not to fall into the traps. It is true that bariatric surgery demands physical activity to sustain weight loss. However, do not take a swipe at it with force.
First, work out in tandem with your doctor’s advice. It will be a bad idea to get all greedy and want to cover many distances in a day. Start with a few minutes’ walk. Your house can suffice or this (though you learn to practice this at the clinic soon after the procedure).
3. Draw up a Calendar
Most times, patients might not be in the mood to continue with their weight loss goals. The feeling of despair that comes with “rejection” by friends and the agonizing pain as a result of the surgery can be overbearing.
Staying put in the bedroom or within the confines of the home becomes the last resort. At this point, keeping a date with workouts goes out of the picture. If you must keep up the task and get over the challenges that come with this, it is pertinent to draw up a calendar.
The same way you stick to your aftercare services with the doctor is what is expected of you here. There are more chances of keeping up with daily exercises when the alarm is there to notify you. So, draw up a calendar today, and let the alarm set you running down the miles every day.
4. Increase the Pace
Do not get stuck in the traditional “5-minute per day” work out plan. Step up the game – of course, with the doctor’s consent. As you stabilize in your short walks, it is time to take a shot at the bigger picture.
Six weeks after the surgery, you tend to be stable. Now, your endurance rate must have come up, and to keep up with the tempo, it is important to increase your pace. At this stage, 20-30 minutes each day will be enough to keep up with your weight loss plan.
5. Focus on Your Interests
Every individual has areas of interest, and bariatric patients are not an exception. In the bid to get the necessary motivation, try and find out exercises that you have interest in. Everyone cannot lift weights in the early stages after the surgery. In the same way, every patient might find it distasteful to cover specific distances every day.
In this aspect, your motivation does not come from external sources. It is not something you can adapt to or force your way into. It lives in you! The secret to achieving this is finding the exercise that makes you happy. Do not get stuck in the “gym mentality”. Brainstorm and find physical activities that appeal to you. The phrase that governs this is “if you feel happy doing it, you won’t get bored”.
6. Do not be desperate
If bariatric patients had their way, they would choose to lose weight in a matter of weeks. The desperation is based on the enthusiasm that their “hour-glass figure” will be immediate. However, it does not work as quickly as anticipated.
The success of the post-operation exercises is dependent on the patients’ dedication to physical activity. Do not exercise as a teenager. You don’t have to be a Usain Bolt to cover the required miles. You stand the risk of increasing your heart beat rate when you exercise beyond certain limits. Consistency is the key. While at it, exercise within the confines of your strength. Moreover, consult your doctor at intervals to make the activity worthwhile.
7. Walk with Music
Good lyrics have a way of inspiring you during workouts. It will be a nice idea to create a playlist with favorite songs. Alternatively, you can settle for motivational songs. This “antidote” works best when you don’t have a partner. Even when you do, the beat of the music will certainly give you the right spirit to continue with the exercise.
8. Play a Mind Trick
Can you wake up and hit the road in the early dew of the morning? Many people will find this hard. For bariatric patients, it is a herculean task. As we pointed out in the first and third hints, staying at home is usually what many patients have on their minds.
If are already caught up with this, the best thing to do is hatching a mind trick. This is essential when you are overwhelmed by the thoughts of covering large distances. To pull this off, start by taking simpler tasks. It can be walking a short distance. From there it graduates into a jog. Before you can make the next assertion, you will be running down the selected distance.
9. Define Your Motivation
Many bariatric patients take to exercises because the doctor specified it. Others do so because it is a must-do for the successful completion of their weight loss journey. However, only a few of the lot engage in physical activities because of their personal conviction about it.
A great motivator is collaborating with others who are going for the same goal as you are. Weight Loss Riga's Facebook Patient Community is a great place to engage with other patients of bariatric surgery who have similar goals as you do! Join today!
Have you taken time to find out another importance of exercises to you? It is pertinent to take to it because it motivates you. Here’s a clue – it can be a means to reduce stress or attain better health.
The silver lining in this approach is the tendency that you will find another reason not to miss your daily exercises. When you realize that the prescribed physical activity can help you reduce stress, you will begin to love it. Also, have in mind that doing what you love is a nice way to maintain focus while exercising.
10. Vary the Approach
To achieve maximum success in your weight loss journey (using exercise as a tool), it is important to diversify the activities. There is a tendency that you will have a soft spot for a particular exercise. On the contrary, such centralization won’t do you any good. Learn to diversify.
There are many physical activities that can be convenient for you. There is yoga, running, walking, and weight-lifting. However, engage in the latter (weight-lifting) after your doctor gives you the nod.
What you have to note is that while diversifying, your concentration should be on low impact exercises. As you progress up the ladder, integrate other activities that require more strength.
11. Always Warm Up
Your body might not be ready to hit the tracks. The best thing to do here is to warm up. The efficacy of this approach helps in regulating the heart rate. As the heart rate builds up and gets ready for the task ahead, the muscle loosens.
The positive impact of warm up before the actual exercise is never in doubt. Just as it maximizes your work out, it also regulates the body system. It does not stop at the initial stage. After exercising, it plays a vital role in stabilizing the heart rate, which is a nice way to prevent fatigue and subsequent dizziness.
12. Seek Company
You can choose to work out alone or with friends. The choice is yours. However, it is a good idea to engage in a group activity. Join an exercise support group to get started. The group functions the same way as bariatric support groups. Weight Loss Riga's Patient Community on Facebook is a great place to meet bariatric surgery patients who have the same goals as you do. Join today!
It will be a boost if the other participant(s) are bariatric patients that underwent gastric sleeve surgery. In this case, it will be a “community of like minds” working together to achieve specific weight loss goals.
If you are not successful at this, you can get a friend to tag along with you. Whichever way the options tilt, the point is that you need to have company as you slug it out with the extra kilos of flesh.
13. A Good Shoe Maximizes Comfort
While putting other factors into consideration, also give thoughts to your pair of shoes. It is important to get your hands on a good shoe that is comfortable on the foot. Always make sure the size is perfect for you. With a nice pair on your feet and the willingness to proceed with the exercise, it is certain that you will have no lags in your quest to lose weight.
Walk out of Obesity
The journey to losing weight after weight loss surgery is bumpy. With your determination and the commitment of our medical team, you will certainly attain the hour-glass figure you seek.
First, patients are literally new to the procedure. The inefficiency of traditional approaches (exercises and diets) prompts the quest to pass through the knife. On the other hand, hearsays can trigger their anxiety. The fact remains that bariatric surgery is the best option out there for obese individuals. On the contrary, there are other hurdles to scale after the operation.
Out of the numerous options for surgical weight loss, the gastric sleeve surgery tops the chart. The efficiency, reduced risk, and facilitated timeframe are factors that trigger patients’ interest in the procedure. Contact Weight Loss Riga for more information on weight loss procedures today!
