One of the most common reasons for getting gastric sleeve surgery is to reduce alarming health concerns related to obesity. So, it is utterly terrifying when you find out your weight has not gone down after the surgery.
Naturally, the first question that you might have is why am I not losing weight after gastric sleeve surgery.
The reasons behind this might just come down to you not strictly sticking to the proper diet either by eating too much or not enough and not following the exercise routine prescribed by your doctor. Consuming too little protein or supplements and living an unhealthy lifestyle might also cause weight gain.
Myths And Reality Regarding Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The surgery is performed to help people lose weight significantly by removing more than half of the stomach. This, in turn, limits your daily intake of food as the capacity of your stomach decreases overnight.
However, most people think they can reduce weight without making any significant effort in achieving desired weight just by surgically removing parts of their stomach.
This common misconception is why people throw their diet chart away or stop consuming the necessary number of calories a human needs to consume to function properly after surgery. So, they end up consuming way more or too little protein and drift away from the goal of a balanced diet.
Some Important Factors Regarding Why You Are Not Losing Weight
Mentioned below are some of the most common reason you are finding it tough to lose weight:
Not Following the Prescribed Diet
As we mentioned before, not following the diet the doctor designed and balanced with your criteria and calorie consumption is the most common cause of people not losing much weight. Not following the diet could mean that you do not eat enough or overeat.
Failing to consume enough protein is also a significant factor that can hinder your weight loss process. You should also be mindful about whether you are drinking enough water throughout the day or not.
Processed foods are an absolute no-go, and it would help you so much if you give up on any habits of constant snacking. Snacks will increase your sodium and sugar intake really fast, so opt for healthy nuts and fruit as a substitute for unhealthy snacks. It will fulfill both your hunger and food cravings.
Drinking Or Consuming Unhealthy Calories
Consuming any beverage with added sugar is something you should stay away from at all costs. Remember the common saying that it is much easier to drink empty calories and gain your weight back in no time than eating calories that provide you nutrients.
Common drinks such as store-bought juices, fizzy drinks, milkshakes, sweet teas, and alcohol are definitely at the top of the list of sugary drinks you should avoid.
Ignoring Your Supplements
Once you have gone through stomach sleeve removal surgery or bariatric surgery, you must take vitamins and minerals daily.
As you have to stick to a rigid diet regime post-surgery, it is pretty easy to forget about taking some vitamins while you are focusing on recovering as quickly as possible.
Some nutritionists suggest taking specialized vitamins as long as possible for those who underwent surgery. So, you should talk to your doctor about whether you should get started on bariatric supplements or not.
Not Exercising Enough
If losing weight or maintaining current weight is on your list of things you want to achieve, you must burn calories. And there is no substitute or more effective way of getting in shape than exercising regularly.
It is most likely that your doctor has already prescribed you a balanced amount of cardio and freehand exercises that you can do in the comfort of your home. We would definitely advise you to get started on those exercises as soon as you recover from the surgery.
There is nothing better than the rush of hormones you get after a good workout session!
Unhealthy Lifestyle
If you happen to be one of those people who pride themselves on acting fine with only three hours of sleep for months on end or work night shifts regularly, maybe it’s time to rethink these life choices and develop a healthy sleeping pattern.
Unhealthy sleeping patterns are one of the most important factors to consider, as messing up the work pattern of your biological clock will make your body store calories instead of burning them. Also, be careful not to oversleep as this might have similar effects on your health to not sleeping enough.
Stress and Other Mental Health Issues
Having mental health issues such as severe stress, anxiety, depression can seriously disrupt your goal of losing weight. Especially if you are taking medicine for depression or anxiety, it will be quite challenging for you to lose weight.
Talking with your doctor will help you overcome these issues. Seeing a therapist or counselor might do wonders to manage your stress levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did I stop losing weight months after my bariatric surgery?
It is common to stop losing weight after a couple of months as the first three or four months is the period of losing weight rapidly. After that, the weight loss process slows down so that you do not end up losing too much weight.
Why do I have to consume so much protein after the surgery?
Our body can not produce protein by itself, which is why any balanced diet contains a generous portion of protein during every meal.
Can your stomach stretch back into the size it had before the surgery?
Unfortunately, yes, it can. If you go into your old style of mindless food consumption and lead an unhealthy lifestyle, your stomach will eventually return to its original size.
Final Words
As you have already taken the first conscious steps towards leading a healthier lifestyle and reducing weights to achieve this personal goal of yours, it is highly recommended that you give your best effort to ease into the new diet regime.
Now that you have your answer to the question, why am I not losing weight after gastric sleeve surgery, let nothing stand in the way of accomplishing a healthier lifestyle!
