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It is no secret that life after weight loss in Dallas comes with many changes, but it is important that you realize you will have to alter every part of your life if you want your surgery to be a success.

How and what you eat

Food, snacks and meals will be the biggest change that you need to make. For a few weeks following the surgery, you'll only be allowed clear liquids. At this point in your recovery your stomach can only hold about a teaspoon. After your follow-up with your surgeon, you should be able to eat slightly larger quantities of soft food. Eventually, you will work your way back up to normal foods, but you will have to take time to chew each bite completely and take a break between bites. By doing so you'll realize you're full sooner and avoid dumping syndrome, which happens because the stomach can hold no more food. The condition makes it harder to digest the food in your stomach and can cause extreme abdominal discomfort.

Another thing you'll need to change is how often and how big a meal you eat. Instead of three regular meals most people have, patient who undergo weight loss surgery will need to get accustomed to six small meals. These meals should be comprised of foods high in protein and nutrients. All foods with empty calories must be eliminated. and you will need to cut out carbonated drinks and alcoholic beverages. You will also need to drink lots of water throughout the day, but avoid drinking anything an hour before and after you eat as this could cause Dumping Syndrome.

Changes in Your Body

Depending on the type of surgery you had, you can expect to need anywhere from one to six weeks recovery before you start physical activity. Those customers having laparoscopic surgeries can expect one to three weeks of downtime, while patients of more invasive surgeries can expect more like six weeks down. During your recovery period, it's a good idea to have someone available to help run errands and get food.

Until you've lost the excess weight, it's not safe to get pregnant because you could hurt the fetus, so you'll want to check with your doctor before you decide to have a baby.

Regimen Changes

As your body is not going to get everything it needs at first, you should be ready to take vitamins and supplements every day. B12, iron and folate are the most common post-op supplements taken. You will also need to have regular blood count checks to make sure you do not develop anemia.

For more information on weight loss surgery, schedule a consultation with a weight loss doctor in Dallas.