Six Success Habits for Weight Loss Surgery

These 6 habits will help encourage appropriate behaviors to increase the likelihood of a long term weight loss success.

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY

• Measuring and recording weight on a regular basis (Use the journal provided at your preop appt or come by our office to pick up one for FREE)
• Setting appropriate weight loss goals

PORTION CONTROL

• Stomach size changes
• Recognizing satiety
• Adopting good eating habits
• The dangers of grazing

NUTRITION

• The power of protein
• The value of veggies
• Understanding carbohydrates
• The skinny on fat

FLUID INTAKE

• Eating and drinking at the same time
• Guidelines around alcohol consumptions
• The importance of water
• The dangers of dehydration
• The dangers of carbonation

REGULAR EXERCISE

• Target heart rate
• Exercise frequency
• Exercise for what ails you

VITAMINS & MINERALS

• Vitamins (Check out Medical Park Pharmacy for our list of vitamins recommended)
• Understanding the need for calcium
• The importance of B12
• Annual check up and bloodwork

As always making sure you can make wise decisions on what is best for your body and individual situation with weight loss will affect your success. You are the one who controls how successful you will be! Happy weekend!

Write It Down!

Most patients ask our office what is the best way to make sure I eat what I'm suppose to and get the right nutrients to ensure I am successful in my weight loss after surgery.  One option that we recommend to patients is using a journal....which our office can provide you free of charge!  Studies show that journaling along with a healthy diet, daily exercises, and support group meetings can double weight loss over those who don't journal. 

So What Do I Journal? 

• Write down your daily intake of food and you can also use this tool as a meal planner.  Planning ahead can help you to stay on track with eating more healthy choices than having to come up with something on a whim and risk eating something that you know you will regret later. 
• Writing down your weight and measurements so you are able to visually see your progress as you loss weight or if you have reached a plateau in your weight loss you can see what you ate and what worked when you were losing weight.
• Write down your goals for yourself and rewards for each milestone you reach in your weight loss journey.
• Write down exercises you enjoy and that have been beneficial in losing weight, and it also helps you keep up with the ones that did not work so great!

Other options for individuals who prefer to use an online journal can access this through the Realize mySUCCESS website discussed in the patient education class or other online options are websites such as FitDay and Calorie Counter by EveryDay Health. These are all excellent resources for online journaling that are easy for anyone to use and also the best part is that they are FREE!!  Feel free to come by our office in the East Entrance of Physicians East on Arlington Blvd to pick up your free copy of a journal.