5 Reasons To Exercise After Weight Loss Surgery

1. Lose weight. Of course the reason you had weight loss surgery in the first place was because you wanted to lose weight. Regular exercise after weight loss surgery will help you see results more quickly.
2. Keep the weight off. Chances are, you’ve lost weight in the past. But what prevents you from keeping the weigh toff? Physical activity is one of the best ways to maintain weight loss permanently.
3. Sleep better. Research shows that people who exercise in the day tend to get a better night’s sleep than people who are not physically active.
4. Be happier. Even before you see physical results of your weight loss surgery, exercise can help you feel better. Physical activity has been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression, improve mental clarity and increase your overall mood.
5. Feel younger. As we age, we tend to lose muscle mass and flexibility, which can result in decreased mobility and injuries. Getting and staying physically active can help you avoid these signs of aging.

The next time you’re tempted to tell yourself that you don’t need to exercise after weight loss surgery, remember all the reasons you should get moving!

Set realistic weight loss goals.
Your surgeon may be able to help you set realistic goals before you have surgery. It’s important that you know what to reasonably expect, including how soon you should see results. Write these goals down so that you can refer to them after surgery if you ever find yourself feeling frustrated.

Know your personal weight loss obstacles.
Many of the things that prevented you from losing weight before will still be present after weight loss surgery, although you’ll have more tools for addressing them. However, it’s still a good idea to understand what your personal weaknesses are so that you’re prepared to deal with them. For example, are you an emotional eater? You’ll need to focus on finding new coping strategies after surgery.

Make a weight loss commitment to yourself.
Despite what some of your friends or family members might think, having weight loss surgery is not an “easy” solution to weight loss. Make a commitment to yourself before having surgery and take a moment to appreciate the decision you’ve made. You’ll be responsible for making big changes after surgery, and you should be able to acknowledge your hard work. If you find yourself facing challenges after weight loss surgery, remember the promise you’ve made—and have been keeping—to yourself.

Many people assume that obesity related illnesses are caused by an excess of body fat and that removing some of that excess body fat leads to a reduction in symptoms. However, researchers have noted that symptoms are often reduced even after a little bit of weight loss, even if a patient is still technically considered obese. This may occur because the illnesses are triggered by fat cells that are stressed from an excess of calories, rather than an excess of body fat.

Temple University researchers examined samples of fat tissue from lean and obese people and found that there were cellular differences between the two groups. The fat cells in obese people showed signs of stress at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the part of the cell responsible for making proteins. This stress seemed to cause the creation of proteins that are related to insulin resistance, which plays a significant role in the development of type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

Researchers believed that the fat cell stress was caused not by an excess of fat cells, but by constantly taking in too many calories. Healthy fat cells are responsible for storing excess energy in the body, but consuming too many calories may basically overwork the fat cells, causing the stressed endoplasmic reticulum and resulting insulin resistance.

When people have weight loss surgery, they immediately begin consuming fewer calories because of a restricted stomach or intestinal bypass. This might reduce the amount of stress on the fat cells in a short amount of time, even before significant weight loss is achieved.

Overcoming Fitness Fears After Gastric Band Surgery

You never have enough time.
Perhaps the reason you’ve stayed out of the gym for so long is because your schedule is already packed. This is a common obstacle in today’s world, but it’s one you must find a way to overcome if you’re going to achieve long-term success after gastric band surgery.

Try finding time to exercise in ten minute intervals throughout your day. Maybe you can take a ten minute walk after lunch at work and walk the dog for ten minutes after dinner. Can you get up ten minutes earlier in the morning? You don’t have to do all of your physical activity at once for it to add up.

You don’t feel comfortable in a gym.
A large fitness center can be intimidating for anyone, especially if you are out of shape or your size makes using some of the machine difficult. Many people are so intimidated by the gym environment that they avoid physical fitness all together. But you don’t have to be a gym rat to get in shape.

Remember that physical activity is about moving your body, not working out on certain machines in a special building. If going to a gym intimidates you, think of other ways to get active. Walk, ride a bike, or play with your kids outside. Invest in a set of resistance bands and do strength training in your living room.

If you’re committed to losing weight after gastric band surgery, meeting your goals may simply be a matter of doing some creative thinking. Take some time to consider what has prevented you from succeeding before and come up with new solutions that will work for your lifestyle.

While bariatric surgery is designed to help you lose weight, there are still many lifestyle changes you must make on your own after having surgery in order to achieve the best results. Bariatric surgery can help, but it’s not a magic solution and it is possible to maintain your current weight or even gain weight after having surgery if you’re not committed to following specific guidelines.

In order to lose weight and keep it off after bariatric surgery, you should:

• Replace simple carbohydrates, like those found in sugar and pastries, with complex carbohydrates, like those found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
• Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, which are naturally low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals.
• Choose lean protein sources like fish, skinless poultry, and lean cuts of beef.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid high calorie beverages.
• Opt for low fat or fat free dairy products.
• Find ways to be physically active every day.

Making these lifestyle changes on a daily basis after bariatric surgery will help you avoid complications, lose weight at a healthy rate, reduce your risk of chronic illness, and finally overcome obesity.

Dr. Gus Slotman of the University of Medicine was the lead author on a study that followed 91 obese people who had bariatric surgery at the same time as a parent, sibling, child, spouse, close relative, or in-law. The results of these weight loss surgery patients were compared to those of patients who underwent the surgery alone. The results from patients in the family group were compared to patients who had similar age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) in the solo group.

The study showed that people who had weight loss surgery at the same time as a family member lost 30% more weight in the first year after surgery than patients who had surgery alone. Furthermore, patients who had surgery with a brother or sister lost 40% more weight than people who had bariatric surgery alone. Dr. Gus Slotman theorized that sibling rivalry may have contributed to the greater percentage of weight loss among siblings.

In addition to losing more weight, bariatric surgery patients who shared the experience with a family member also experienced more health improvements, including a greater chance of resolving type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

It’s believed that the improved results of the patients who lost weight with family members is a result of a strong system of support and encouragement. Sharing the experience with someone close to you may make it easier to follow through on the recommended diet and exercise changes after surgery.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted a review of 5,115 men and women ages 18-30 that had participated in the 15-year long Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. While the original study was designed to investigate the precursors of cardiovascular disease, the participants had been asked to rate their feelings of depression and had their BMI recorded.

UAB Assistant Professor of Sociology Belinda Needham, PhD studied the data from the CARDIA study in an effort to determine if depression increased the risk for obesity or if obesity increased the risk of depression.

Needham reported that, “We found that in a sample of young adults during a 15-year period, those who started out reporting high levels of depression gained weight at a faster rate than others in the study, but starting out overweight did not lead to changes in depression.” While everyone in the study gained weight over the course of the 15-year study, those who said they were depressed at the beginning of the study had an average waist circumference that was 1.6 centimeters greater after 5 years than those who had not reported being depressed.

While starting depression seemed to predict the rate of weight gain, initial weight and waist circumference was not linked to the development of depression over the course of the study.

Researchers noted that physicians who are interested in treating or preventing obesity in their patients should see these findings as a push to pay attention to mental health. Treating depression may, according to Needham, be an important part of fighting obesity.

Questions To Ask Before Having Lap-Band Surgery

• Are you committed to making lifestyle changes? Lap-Band surgery will help you lose weight, but you will still be responsible for making significant changes. You’ll need to change the way you eat and get regular exercise after surgery. You should be prepared for these changes before having bariatric surgery.
• Do you have a support system? This will be a period of transition for you, and a strong support system can help you navigate the unfamiliar territory. Make sure you know where you’ll turn when obstacles arise. You may be surprised by changes in your relationships or self perception after surgery, and a support group that specializes in weight loss can be especially useful for these situations.
• Have you examined what emotional issues contributed to your weight gain? Many people who have Lap-Band surgery became obese because of emotional eating, using food to cope with their emotions. Before removing that coping mechanism from your life, it can be helpful to work with a professional to help resolve old issues and create new, healthier coping strategies.

How To Keep The Weight Off

• Weigh yourself once a week. It’s not necessary to become obsessed with the scale, but it is important to continue to monitor your weight. Remember that weight is lost and gained slowly and you may not notice the subtle changes. Weighing yourself weekly allows you to spot up-trends quickly and make the appropriate corrections.
• Keep exercising. Experts agree that exercise is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy weight. You’ll keep your metabolism burning and hang on to the lean muscle you’ve gained while you were losing weight. You may be tempted to skip the workouts when you’re not working towards a goal, but regular physical activity needs to be part of your everyday lifestyle if you’re going to maintain a healthy weight and body.
• Don’t skip meals. When you stop paying close attention to what you’re eating, you may be tempted to slip back into old habits, like working through lunch or skipping breakfast. Continue to eat regular meals at about the same time every day to prevent a slowdown in your metabolism, which can cause a regain.

It can be tempting to give yourself a break after you’ve worked so hard to lose weight. Consider rewarding yourself with a special trip or purchase instead of diving into the junk food you’ve been staying away from. Remember that the longer you continue to practice your healthy habits, the easier it will be for you to keep your weight off in the long term.

A new study of twenty-five morbidly obese adults compared their levels of anxiety and depression before and after undergoing laparoscopic gastric banding surgery, or Lap-Band. The Lap-Band surgery places a small band at the top of your stomach, effectively reducing the amount of food you can eat before feeling full, and it results in significant weight loss over a relatively short period of time. The study participants showed marked improvement in the patients’ quality of life even six months after their procedure and additional improvement another six months later. All of the patients had showed physical improvements, and anxiety and depression levels were reduced significantly.

Andrew Johnson, MD, one of the study’s authors, said that this study showed the potential for overall improvement in a patient’s health after Lap-Band surgery. “These results provide evidence one year after gastric banding that psychological health improves in parallel with physiological health.”