Surgical Program
Behavior
- It’s important to monitor your mood post-operatively. Changes in mood can impact your motivation and compliance with the aftercare requirements of the program.
- Reporting chronic or overall mood changes to your healthcare professional is recommended.
- People who tend to eat as a way of dealing with various emotions like stress, loneliness and anger use eating as a coping mechanism. After surgery it is critical to replace the old coping behaviors of eating with other positive coping mechanisms.
- Attend monthly support group meetings.
Exercise
- Begin exercising as soon as possible upon starting the program.
- Progress gradually.
- Individualize your exercise program. It needs to work for you and your specific situation.
- Ideally your exercise program contains a mix of:
- Cardiovascular — walking, cycling, swimming, water aerobics, etc…performed 3 – 6 times per week for 30 minutes per session or accumulating that amount of time throughout the day.
- Strength training — if you don’t have access to an exercise facility you can train at home with simple equipment (dumbbells, resistance tubing). Core muscles (hips, back, & abdominals) can be developed by using floor exercises. A stability ball can be added for a greater challenge.
- Flexibility – maintaining or increasing one’s flexibility is an important component of quality of life. Flexibility exercises do not require any equipment, should be performed in a safe and controlled manner, and are best performed following a brief aerobic period to decrease the risk of muscle strain.
- Exercise will be the key to long-term success in terms of achieving and maintaining your desired range of body weight.
Nutrition
- 3 meals per day plus one high protein snack.
- No grazing or eating between meals.
- Each meal should contain a protein source.
- Avoid sweets and fats.
- Drink at least 64 ounces of water daily.
- Liquids should be consumed between meals (NOT with the meal).
- Avoid liquids with calories such as juice, milk, soups, protein drinks, etc.
- If hungry, drink fluids between meals.
- Take your prescribed multivitamins.
- Have your labs drawn yearly to identify deficiencies.
- Consume 1200 milligrams of Calcium Citrate daily.
Medical Program
Behavior
After you’ve completed the medical program, attending our Maintenance/Support groups will contribute significantly to your weight loss and weight management success. Maintenance provides support as well as structure to your weight management routine. The weekly contact with group leaders helps give you a sense of personal accountability.
Exercise
- Begin exercising as soon as possible after starting the program.
- Progress gradually.
- Individualize your exercise program. It needs to work for you and your specific situation.
- Ideally your exercise program contains a mix of:
- Cardiovascular — walking, cycling, swimming, water aerobics, etc…done 3 – 6 times per week for 30 minutes per session or accumulating that amount of time throughout the day.
- Strength training — if you don’t have access to an exercise facility you can train at home with simple equipment (dumbbells, resistance tubing). Core muscles (hips, back, & abdominals) can be developed by using floor exercises. A stability ball can be added for a greater challenge.
- Exercise will be the key to long-term success in terms of achieving and maintaining your desired range of body weight.
Nutrition
- Complete your food diary daily — this helps keep you honest.
- Follow your provided meal plan discussed at your final visit with the dietitian.
- No grazing or eating between meals.
- Avoid sweets and fats.
