A Healthy Lifestyle

Losing weight and feeling great!  Some things to remember along the way following weight loss surgery!

Up the fluid intake, minimal 2lts daily – as well as filling you up and all the health benefits water provides, your band can tighten due to dehydration.  Even very mild dehydration can cause tiredness and headaches so before you pop a pill or start worrying about your health, check your fluid intake first.  

Remember to do your body measurements – sometimes you will lose inches as well as weight so if you ever weigh yourself and haven’t lost one week, do your measurements as you may have lost inches (especially if you are exercising)

You really are what you eat – the only way your body gets fuel and the nutrients it needs to survive and function correctly is from your diet. So eat healthily and listen to your body – if something’s not right ask for help or see your doctor

Contrary to popular belief it’s ok to eat between meals if you are hungry provided you choose low calorie healthy snacks – it may be an indication your band needs adjusting or your diet needs changing.  On the flip side if you band is to tight and you struggle to hit optimal nutrition, this needs addressing, speak with your nurse, likely you will need some fluid out your band

Be wary of the so –called “superfoods” There is no one food that will provide your body with everything it needs. Instead there are many foods that are supremely healthy and when eaten in conjunction with a healthy & balanced diet they will provide your body with certain benefits. We all know that fruit is healthy for example but it doesn’t provide us with enough iron or protein that our body needs so protein is just one part of a balanced diet

If you feel exhausted, tired, weak, dizzy or are looking a little pale see your doctor to have your iron levels checked! Anaemia is a condition caused by low iron levels and can be helped with diet as well as supplements. Iron is found in many foods such as red meat, beans and pulses, green leafy veg, dried fruit and eggs.

Exercise brings lots of benefits to the weight loss journey, alongside improving health & wellness.   Find something you enjoy and keep it consistent

It’s great to want to lose weight and be healthier but don’t aim for unrealistic goals. Maintain a normal BMI of 20 – 25 (sometimes quoted as 19 – 24 for females) It’s easy to keep losing weight as the compliments come flooding in but a low BMI isn’t good for you either. Problems with this include tiredness, weakened immune system, feeling cold, fertility issues 

So yes your overall aim is to lose weight once you have gastric band surgery, but it is also important to stay healthy too!