After Bariatric Surgery
Avoiding Acid Reflux After Bariatric Surgery
Acid reflux is more than an uncomfortable condition that you have to live with. Instead, it is a testament to how our bodies function and whether we are on the right track. Before bariatric surgery, many patients have moderate to severe acid reflux because of the intra-abdominal pressure placed on their stomachs by excess visceral (belly) fat. This pressure forces stomach juices up through the lower esophageal sphincter and into the esophagus, often leading to the telltale burning sensation. Symptoms […]
Common Nutritional Deficiencies After Bariatric Surgery
One of the most problematic complications we see after bariatric surgery revolves around patients who do not meet their nutritional requirements. Patients lose weight because of a significantly restricted caloric intake, meaning they will be ingesting and using fewer vitamins and minerals. Levels of specific vitamins and minerals are more affected than others. As such, patients must work with their practice to create a supplementation plan based on the procedure performed and the results of their blood panels taken periodically […]
Drinking Alcohol After Your Bariatric Surgery
Many of us enjoy a drink occasionally. Whether it’s a way to unwind after a long day or part of a social routine with friends or family, it is often concerning when you’re told that drinking has to be stopped entirely for the first six months after your bariatric procedure and that there are restrictions on drinking habits longer-term too. Let’s go through what your life will look like with alcohol starting from the day of surgery.
3 Expectations for Your Excess Skin After Bariatric Surgery
Body dysmorphia is one of the most common concerns that patients experience after surgery. Patients can’t see their tremendous progress for one reason or another, and they become discouraged, desponded, or flat-out quit. However, it always helps our patients to understand what to expect from their bodies after surgery so that they don’t have any misconceptions and are not frustrated or surprised by certain outcomes or lack thereof. So, without further ado, we will discuss the concepts you need to […]
Why Counting Calories Should Not Be Your Only Concern After Bariatric Surgery
Calories in calories out are the basis for weight gain and weight loss, but it would be a mistake not to look any deeper and understand what that means. After all, it’s not just how much we eat that counts, but also what we eat, the ingredients we consume, and what we drink. So, let’s understand how you should eat and drink after bariatric surgery. Before we do, however, let’s talk about tracking. Many apps out there track what you […]
The Importance of Vitamin D After Bariatric Surgery, and How to Get It
Vitamin D is one of the most crucial vitamins our bodies need, regardless of whether we’ve had bariatric surgery. It is also a vitamin many if not most, Americans are deficient in. Why? Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (sunlight primarily) allows for the synthesis of Vitamin D. Now, you may spend plenty of time in the sun, but if you use sunscreen/sunblock, your skin will absorb far less UV. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with several possibly problematic issues, including […]
Optimizing Your Walking Habits After Bariatric Surgery
Let’s say you’ve just had bariatric surgery, or you’re well into recovery. You’ll probably remember the staff at the hospital getting you up and about, walking almost immediately after you woke up post-surgery. There’s a good reason: walking improves circulation, lowering the risk of a blood clot or infection after surgery. It’s also the first representation of the new life you must pursue after surgery. It would be great if the pounds melt off after surgery with diet alone, and […]
Will I Stretch My Gastric Sleeve Pouch?
If you are considering the gastric sleeve or have already had one, you may be concerned about whether you can stretch the newly created pouch after your bariatric procedure. You may have even heard of other patients who enjoyed excellent weight loss results only to regain some or all their weight after years or decades, and you may be concerned that you will end up in that same position. First, we should say that you’re asking the right question. You’re […]
Are Weight Loss Medications Like Wegovy the End of Bariatric Surgery?
We’ve covered weight loss medications like Wegovy and diabetes shots like Ozempic and Mounjaro in a previous article. Should you wish to learn more about these drugs currently being used on- and off-label for weight loss, we encourage you to read about them before continuing with this blog. However, if you have done your research and understand a good deal about the weight loss options available to you, this article will explain how we approach weight loss medications and surgery […]
Need To Know – News on Aspartame Artificial Sweetener
Artificial sweeteners are undeniably a part of a bariatric patient’s life. They offer a no or low-calorie option for sweetening foods and drinks that would otherwise seem very bland. However, artificial sweeteners have distinct downsides that should be understood. These synthetic alternatives to sugar have alternately been declared safe and, at times, been considered carcinogenic. This was the case for saccharin, brand name Sweet’N Low (in the pink packets), which was put on a list of carcinogenic chemicals by the […]
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