After bariatric surgery, patients feel quite different. First of all hunger is reduced and suddenly, satiety is reached after eating or drinking very little food. The days of overeating are a thing of the past and even if they do overeat, the pain and discomfort are enough to make them feel less than tempted to do it again.
Weight begins to fall off very quickly, the shape of the body and face seems to change week by week and the feeling of relief and accomplishment becomes increasingly stronger in the patient’s life. If the pre-surgical plan is followed correctly, the patient has already come to terms with the fact that their portions are going to shrink drastically and that exercise will have great relevance in their lives. However, exercise may be the part of the program they are most likely to abandon.
More often than not, the bariatric patient has tried all kinds of diets and exercise to lose weight with little to no success, and when rapid weight loss begins, exercise can seem a not so vital part of the formula. They skip a workout, then another, then two, and sooner or later they stop exercising altogether.
Not all weight loss surgery patients stop exercising, but those who do soon realize that the human body needs physical activity to be at its best. Furthermore, different studies have shown that bariatric patients who practice regular exercise loose more weight and have a better chance of maintaining their weight loss.
One study that followed 200 bariatric patients found that other than changing eating habits, regular physical activity is the factor that best predicts whether a patient will be successful in losing weight. Which means that, other than sticking to an eating plan, the best thing you can do to lose weight and keep it off is to exercise.
Regular physical activity tones the muscles, benefits the cardiovascular system, improves mood by producing endorphins and ignites a feeling of having accomplished something important. There are also benefits to exercising in group because having the support of others will both motivate you and hold you accountable.
When a patient arrives at LIMARP, the first thing we do is conduct a complete assessment, once the treatment is designed what follows is the pre-operative phase. Specific instructions vary from case to case, but all plans include some type of physical activity, the intensity will depend on the patient’s condition but the importance of exercise is established from those first moments.
A permanent program of physical activity is essential for the long term success of the bariatric patient, because although at the beginning they can lose weight without exercising, in a few years the weight can creep back up if exercise hasn’t been established as a priority.
At LIMARP we have a full team of professionals that is responsible for guiding the patient at each stage of the process, which includes an appropriate and progressive exercise plan that allows the patient to own this important tool.
If you feel it’s time to make a change; if you want to regain mobility and feel the satisfaction of finishing a good workout or playing sports, do not hesitate to call us. For a free evaluation call LIMARP International Center of Excellence for Obesity at 664) 686 2542 or fill out a contact form at LIMARP.
