Losing Too Much Weight After Bariatric Surgery – Video

Have you had Gastric Sleeve or Bypass surgery and fearful of losing too much weight? Maybe you get comments from friends and family members telling you not to lose too much weight (which is another video all in itself!)

Today’s video on FoodCoachMe TV is about what I do as a provider when someones weight is a bit too rapid. It’s not the normal situation, but I want you to have peace of mind that very simple and healthy additions to your diet can help your weight to level off where you are most comfortable.

If you need to find a Bariatric Dietitian in your area, send me a message to Steph@foodcoach.me

Video Transcript:

Hi it’s Steph Wagner, Bariatric Dietitian at foodcoach.me!

I specialize in weight-loss surgery, which allows me to the great privilege of watching someones body and life, totally transform in front of my eyes. It’s incredibly rewarding and it never gets old.

But how do you keep from losing too much weight? If you’re preparing to have a weight loss procedure yourself, or you’ve already had one and you are a little fearful that you’ll lose too much weight- I have some encouraging news for you:

We have a plan for that. We meaning dietitians. Hopefully you have access to a bariatric dietitian and if not, send me an email and I’ll help you find someone in your area.

What’s amazing to me about the weight-loss process is this: weight typically levels off in a healthy place all on it’s own. It’s actually quite amazing. Your body is fearfully and wonderfully made, and even though we are changing things up for your body, it still has an amazing way of just leveling off where it should.

That being said, If your weight is leveling off and you want to keep losing more than either A) we need to revisit your weight loss goal or B) it’s time to get honest and back to the basics on your food choices.

The most rapid time of weight loss after gastric sleeve or bypass surgery is the first six months. That doesn’t mean weight loss stops at 6 months, but statistically, it does slow down. If someone has reached their weight loss goal and they are NOT six months postop yet, I would encourage them to take some action.

What kind of action? I would re-introduce protein shakes into their diet and increase servings of healthy fats such as nuts. This would help the weight loss to slow down so the patient doesn’t overshoot their goal. When a patient has lost more than they are wanting, it can be an uphill battle to get the weight BACK on, so it’s better to intervene sooner rather than later.

Even a situation like this, were someone’s weight is coming off so fast we need to slow it down, is one of the less common occurrences. More often than not, the weight loss is right on track (as long as the diet is on track) and weight levels off to a healthy range.

For more weight loss surgery information be sure to visit me, Steph Wagner, at foodcoach.me.