By Lori Skurbe, RDN, CDCES, MPH, Prime Surgicare Bariatric Dietitian
Did you have weight loss surgery–gastric band (lap-band), gastric sleeve or gastric bypass–before Covid-19 and regained a significant amount of weight?
You’re not alone. Many WLS patients have regained some weight over the years, but during the unprecedented stress, fear and long-term stay-at-home order during 2020, many bariatric warriors faced weight regain beyond what they can overcome alone. Changes in employment, home schooling and the virus affecting so many family and friends left many of us resorting to old bad habits to cope, rather than our WLS tools.
As a result, some may have stretched out their pouches, allowing for eating larger portions of food. People with gastric bands may find they no longer reduce hunger or they are causing chronic gastric complications.
If this resonates with you and you have experienced significant weight regain, some of our patients are preparing for a bariatric revision procedure.
Check your current BMI and learn more about bariatric revision surgery
Setting the Stage to Start Losing Weight Again
As with all WLS procedures, your diet and exercise are still of utmost importance. As part of the revision process, you will meet with our bariatric dietitian to get back on track and prepare you for your revision surgery.
Medical insurance requires patients to see a Registered Dietitian (RD) for a certain number of visits before having the next surgery making meetings with the bariatric dietitian a very helpful time to hone in your nutrition and exercise habits, so you get the most out of the next operation you are having.
Is your lap-band no longer working for you? Dr. Seun Sowemimo explains a more modern solution to surgical weight loss:
Your Pre-Op Bariatric Revision Nutrition Visits
Your one-on-one bariatric nutrition appointments with me will be a chance to evaluate what contributed to the weight gain, your current eating and exercise habits and create personalized strategies to prepare for long-term weight maintenance starting today--no waiting until after your revision operation!
You will gain these valuable bariatric tools during our visits:
- Get back to basics – protein-based, low fat, low calories meals
- Become more mindful of your current eating habits – start to log your food intake
- Start regular physical activity, if not already active
- Learn about proper vitamin and mineral supplements and get labs done to check vitamin and mineral levels
- Understand proper hydration
- Review cooking tips
- Explore dining out guidelines
- Review transitional diet used right after your surgical revision operation
- Avoid grazing/snacking and erratic eating patterns
- Rein in emotional eating
You will also follow up with me after your surgical weight loss procedure to make sure you are on track, steadily losing weight, and taking your prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements.
Starting Fresh with a New Bariatric Strategy
Make no mistake–It requires a lifetime commitment to optimal nutrition and regular physical activity to lose weight–and sustain that weight loss–which is why it is so important to make the most of your pre-surgery and post-surgery nutrition visits.
We welcome you to this new journey and would be happy to offer our guidance.
Contact our friendly and respectful bariatric team at Prime Surgicare by calling (732) 414-2707 to schedule your private consultation within the next 10 days! Appointments are available via telehealth or in our Freehold or Jackson offices.