Bariatric surgery can offer you a new beginning — and a dramatic boost — on your weight loss journey. But the surgery itself is just one step in the process. For the best long-term results, it’s important to follow your health care team’s instructions as you recover.
Making sure your body is properly nourished with a healthy diet is vital to your long-term success. But when you’ve had weight loss surgery, you’ll need a leg up with vitamin supplementation. Read more to learn why, and how to supplement with the vitamins you’ll need to succeed and stay well after your operation.
Your Diet Plan
Taking your vitamins goes hand in hand with maintaining a healthy diet for life. Your bariatric team will give you a nutrition plan to follow after your surgery.
You’ll start with a liquid diet then move on to soft or pureed foods before you can begin eating regular foods again. Focus on healthy eating, including fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Protein foods, such as lean meats, fish, dairy, eggs and beans are important as they provide key nutrients and help you feel full longer. Limit sugary foods, such as candy and baked goods.
It’s also important to drink enough fluids so you don’t get dehydrated. Aim to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water every day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Vitamins Your Body Needs
After weight loss surgery, you’ll need to take vitamin supplements every day to make sure you’re getting enough of all the nutrients you need. After some bariatric procedures like the gastric bypass, food skips the part of the intestine that best absorbs minerals such as calcium and iron. Therefore, patients need to take supplements to maintain the right levels of what their bodies need. There are bariatric multivitamins specifically for people who have had weight loss surgery. Your team will help you find the right bariatric multivitamin as well as iron and calcium supplements to ensure optimal nutrition and health.
Typically, your vitamin routine will include a multivitamin with iron, folic acid, and copper, as well as vitamin D, vitamin B-12 and calcium supplements. Your doctor may also recommend vitamin A or other vitamins. Don’t integrate new supplements or suddenly stop others without consulting your doctor.
Follow-Ups With Your Doctor
Patients typically meet with their doctor every three months for the first year after their bariatric procedure and then once or twice a year for life. That frequency is important because it allows your team to intervene quickly if you begin to regain weight.
During these follow-up appointments, your vitamin and mineral levels are measured to ensure you’re receiving the right level of dietary supplements for you.
Recipe for Success
We consider your success our success, too, as well as our responsibility and our joy. Make sure to stick to your nutrition plan, supplement with the vitamins and minerals you need, and follow up regularly with your caring team of experts to keep you healthy and whole.
Learn more about how we can support you in body, mind and spirit at AdventHealthWeightLoss.com. You deserve to feel whole.
