Ten Ways to Prepare for Gastric Bypass Surgery

If you’ve been struggling with 100 pounds or more of excess weight that just won’t come off (despite multiple diet and exercise programs), then your primary care doctor may refer you to a weight loss surgeon for gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass surgery helps you lose weight by changing how your stomach and small intestines process the food you eat. After surgery, your stomach will be smaller and you will feel fuller with less food. Dr. Wiljon Beltre is a skilled, experienced and compassionate bariatric surgeon in Orlando who is ready to help you reach and maintain your healthiest weight.

Ten ways to prepare for gastric bypass surgery

Here are ten things you can do to help you prepare for gastric bypass surgery:

1. Exercise
   Before surgery, it’s important to begin and maintain a workout routine. This will help you reach your weight loss goals after surgery.
2. Reduce calories
   Get used to eating less by reducing your daily calories. Generally speaking, you’ll want to keep your daily calories between 1200-1500, but it’s important to confirm with your doctor.
3. Choose healthy foods
   Get in the habit of eating three healthy meals and one or two snacks per day. Focus on eating lean meats, proteins, leafy green vegetables and fruits while avoiding sugar and high-fat or processed foods.
4. Avoid caffeine
   Eliminate caffeine from your diet approximately one month before surgery.
5. Stay hydrated with water
   Slowly identify and eliminate sources of liquid calories and replace your thirst with water. On average, adults need 64 ounces of water each day.
6. Eliminate nicotine and tobacco
   Smoking and the use of tobacco and nicotine products are proven to dramatically increase the risk of complications during and after bariatric surgery. These should be out of your system for a minimum of three months before surgery.
7. Eliminate alcohol
   Prior to your surgery, it’s important to eliminate alcohol from your diet. This will help prepare your liver for surgery and protect you from possible complications like metabolic liver disease.
8. Make mental health a priority
   Think about social or environmental triggers that may cause you to overeat and make a plan to cope with them in a healthy way. You can start by journaling, developing a support group or engaging in other small, nonfood ways to help you cope with stress.
9. Commit to a healthy lifestyle
   Before surgery, it’s important to create a new routine filled with healthy choices. Make a plan to eat well, hydrate, exercise and replace negative coping mechanisms with positive ones. This will help you avoid gaining weight while you wait for your gastric bypass surgery.
10. Take photos
    Before and after photos can be very motivating. You won’t always see progress day after day, but looking back on the progress you’ve made can help keep you focused and motivated to keep going!

To find out if gastric bypass surgery is right for you, call Beltre Bariatrics at 321-499-6505 and request a consultation. Dr. Beltre is the only board-certified and fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon in Central Florida. He is ready to help you live a healthier life.