Can your stomach grow back after Weight Loss Surgery?
A Weight Loss Surgery is considered a ‘success’ when patients lose 50% or more of their excess body weight and maintain that level for at least five years post surgery. Successful results are determined as well by their improvement in quality of life and measured in terms of big changes in health conditions or renewed ability to enjoy and participate in life more fully and happily. That said many patients worry about weight regain after weight loss surgery and one of the most common questions that are presented is whether or not your stomach can grow back after weight loss surgery.
Most patients, right after Weight Loss Surgery, are able to lose weight rapidly due to the mechanics of the procedure and their new smaller stomach size, even without following fully all the changes they should make. This does not mean they don’t need to follow their doctor’s advice or diet routine because they should but typically weight loss occurs after weight loss surgery. Obviously, as time goes by, active weight loss will slow down and the patient’s body and stomach will adjust to the portion sizes which the patients are now eating. Of course, over time these surgeries are designed to allow a patient to gradually eat a little more food over time, especially when they have achieved their weight loss goal. As such the answer to can your stomach grow back after weight loss surgery is NO, it will not grow back to its original size, but rather hold a capacity that allows the patient to have a long term normal life once they achieve their weight loss success.
The stomach growing back years after Weight Loss Surgery is one of the greatest fears that patients have. However, when a patient has lost down to their goal weight, a regain of a few pounds after some time is relatively normal. They start to tolerate a wider variety of foods and begin to eat more and exercise less as they get more and more comfortable with their goal weight lifestyle. So, their weight loss obviously slows down and plateaus before starting to climb just a little. Obviously, as the patients’ stomach begins a maintenance phase, it is crucial for the patient to maintain a healthy lifestyle and healthy diet, including exercise and lifestyle changes with regards to diet making smart choices at most meals, and splurging every once in a while. Otherwise, the patient's weight loss success won’t last and a weight regain may occur.
Most likely, the hardest part for patients about the entire weight loss journey is the ability to maintain the weight loss for the rest of their lives. It is normal sometimes to indulge and splurge on the daily diet, but also each patient must realize that for long-term success, they have to work harder afterward to go back to remain disciplined and keep motivated. It is important not to stray from your healthy new lifestyle after reaching your weight loss goal and stick with your new routines so that it becomes harder and harder to gain weight as time goes by.
Some of the main aspects patients must remember to prevent their stomach from growing back years after weight loss surgery are the following:
- Rethink your relationship with food
- Recreate your eating habits
- Track protein intake, having at least 90 grams of protein each day
- Avoid foods with more than 15 grams of sugar per serving
- Avoid Soda, even Diet Soda if possible (Drink Water).
- Eat lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy
- Separate eating and drinking by 30 minutes
- Choose healthy snacks
- Avoid sugar and junk food: milkshakes, high-calorie drinks, cakes, pastries, fried foods, candies, etc.
- Eat slow and small portions
- Avoid stress and strengthen your mental health
- Prioritize physical activity being physically active most days of the week
- Take suggested multivitamins and mineral supplements on a daily basis
- Do not give up
Weight loss long-term success involves a patient’s lifestyle change which includes strict alterations to their diet and daily routines for life. Like any challenge in life, the path to reach and maintain their new stomach size won’t be easy. Nobody said weight loss surgery was easy or fast! There is a number of situations that the patient will face but the key to success is their commitment to maintaining substantial lifestyle and behavior changes as their new way of life.
For more information regarding Clinics/ Hospitals and Weight Loss Options mentioned in this article:
Weight Loss Team – Bariatric Surgery Center at the CMQ Riviera Nayarit Hospital
Website: www.weightlossteam.com/
Email: info@weightlossteam.com
Telephone: Toll free 1(800) 404-9064 or + 1(818) 949-6911
