All patients having weight loss surgery in Central NJ have very special nutritional needs.
It’s extremely important to come to your nutrition appointments as you’re preparing for weight loss surgery to learn about the lifestyle changes you need to make as you start your journey.
In addition, it’s equally important to come to your nutrition visits AFTER your weight loss surgery so we can make sure you are eating properly and taking your vitamin and mineral supplements to avoid nutritional deficiencies and maximize your weight loss.
4 Steps to Get the Most Out of Your Nutrition Appointments
Here are four practical things you should do to get the most out of your pre- and post-op nutrition visits.
1. Get your blood work done.
Aim to have your blood work done about 1 week prior to your visit. And be sure to use our specific prescription for blood work.
We check certain vitamin and mineral levels that are most likely deficient in post weight loss surgery patients. The prescription we give you for blood work is very specific to bariatric patients.
If you get blood work done by your primary doctor or another specialist, it may not include the specific vitamin levels we need as a bariatric center to evaluate your complete nutritional status. Please use the prescription provided from the office.
2. List your supplements and their dosages.
Write down all of the vitamin and mineral supplements you take and the dosage.
Not all multivitamins have the same amounts of vitamins and minerals. Some lack iron or do not have the right amounts of other key nutrients you need. Knowing what you take as far as supplements makes it easier for us to help you stay healthy.
Also, avoid any type of “gummy” vitamins — they typically are not nutritionally adequate for people who have had weight loss surgery. If you have a question about which vitamin or mineral supplements to buy, call our office for advice.
3. Note your protein intake.
If you use protein bars or drinks, write down the brand and the amount of protein.
Getting enough protein each day is vitally important and using supplements helps many people reach their protein goals.
There are many, many protein supplements on the market — not all are the best choices for people who have had weight loss surgery. Some are too high in calories, and many do not have adequate protein or are made from a poor quality protein.
Having this information at your nutrition visit allows us to better assess whether you’re reaching your ideal protein needs.
4. Keep a food journal.
Keeping track of what you eat and drink helps to monitor your diet and keep you focused. It’s also useful to share these journals at your nutrition visits so your nutritionist can more accurately see what you’re eating.
Food journals are especially important if you’re having difficulty tolerating foods or having poor weight loss or weight regain.
Using smart phone apps like My Fitness Pal, Fit Day, Spark People or Lose It are great tools to use for keeping track of your diet.
Your nutrition, health and your success are very important to us. Coming prepared to your nutrition visits allows us to best help you along your weight loss journey!
Dietitian’s Corner by Lori Skurbe
Dietitian’s Corner is a monthly column for post-op and pre-op patients of bariatric surgery in NJ written by Prime Surgicare’s Lori Skurbe. Lori has been a dietitian for over 20 years with an extensive background in weight management, bariatric nutrition and diabetes education.
I had never been given an prescription for bloodwork. I am about 2 1/2 weeks away from surgery. What should I do?
Hi Lori, please call the office at 732-414-2707, thanks!
Also we should stop smoking. Smoking and the use of tobacco and nicotine products increase the risk of complications during and after bariatric surgery.