Benefits Of Weight Loss Surgery * Spotlight My Health

Thinking about weight loss surgery to help with obesity? I took this route almost six months ago and I’ve learned some pros and cons about the benefits of weight loss surgery. Today, I’m going to talk about the benefits that I know of and have experienced.

Having weight loss surgery is a very serious undertaking that shouldn’t be taken lightly. I suggest doing plenty of research and talk to your doctor several times to get all your questions answered before you decide. Making an informed decision is much better than just jumping in, so to speak.

What Is Weight Loss Surgery or Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery comprises various changes made to your stomach and/or digestive system. This route for weight loss is only considered when other diets and exercise have not worked and you have a high BMI combined with other co-morbidities; especially if the co-morbidities have been caused by the extra weight.

There are pros and cons for weight loss surgery along with having to make dietary changes and adding exercise to your daily routine. These changes have to be made in order to ensure long-term success with the weight loss. Another big change to get used to is the much smaller portions that you will be eating. These are all things that you can read about in my post “What Is Bariatric Surgery.”

Having Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a big move, but one I felt I had to make because it seemed my health was going downhill. In general, I was not feeling well most of the time. I was sluggish and fatigued.

The year before surgery, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and had to start using a CPAP machine. The CPAP machine mortified me—I mean, really, me having to wear a contraption to sleep. Ughhh! And then my ankles were beginning to swell all the time. It was the last straw. I was appalled at it all and frightened. So, I knew I needed to make changes.

Health Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

The risk of getting any of the following is much lower after surgery.

-Overall Poor Health

-Sleep Apnea

-High Blood Pressure

-Incontinence

-Asthma

-Type 2 Diabetes

-Heart Disease

-Fatty Liver

-Achy Joints

After having the surgery, there are many ailments that can be drastically improved.

-Fast weight loss

-Improvement of overall health

-Sleep apnea recovery

-Reduction in hunger hormones

-Smaller food portions

-Feel full faster

-Reduction of asthma

-Speeds up the digestive process

-Reduction in blood pressure

-Improvement of type 2 diabetes

-Reduction of risk for heart disease

-Lowers risk of depression or no longer depressed

-Improves fertility

-Less risk of COVID-19

-Reduces risk of developing fatty liver (non-alcoholic)

-Joint pain relief

Fast Weight Loss

This, of course, is the most obvious benefit from the surgery. It’s great and is what brings about all these other benefits.

Improvement of Overall Health

Since I had my surgery 5 ½ months ago, I can’t tell you how much better I feel physically. I can walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath, I’m moving much easier than before the surgery and I can cross my legs again. For those of you that are overweight, you know what I mean. It feels soooo good, to be able to cross my legs again.

I’ve also been able to stop taking several medications that include high blood pressure meds, a diuretic and various other meds, to my delight. I’ve increased my steps during the day, and I’ve started using a glider exercise machine that we have. That’s a biggie for me because I hate exercising.

If anyone has any ideas, they want to share on your motivation that keeps you exercising; I’d love to hear them. Exercising is something that bores me senseless. I can’t seem to get past it. I really need some motivational ideas.

smaller portions after weight loss surgery

Smaller Food Portions After Weight Loss Surgery

This is true, I really can’t eat very much at one sitting anymore. I can’t say that it’s been easy, because it’s not something I was used to. But, I truly dislike feeling over full, so I keep a handle on eating too much in one sitting.

Feel Full Faster

I’ve learned to eat slowly and stop eating when I feel full even when there is still food on my plate. And I think that is what is hard. I grew up in a family that taught to clean your plate. But, like I said, I’ve learned to push the plate away, regardless.

Smaller Appetite

I’ve also noticed that I don’t have the same appetite that I had before. This is because of the reduction in the size of my stomach. I had gastric sleeve surgery which means my stomach is now about the size of a small banana. The hunger hormones get taken away with the part of the stomach that is lost to surgery.

Joint Pain Relief After Weight Loss Surgery

This was a biggie for me too. Before surgery, my knees were so bad that I was afraid of falling when I went up or down stairs because my knees wanted to give out.

I’m sure my knees didn’t like the extra weight I was carrying around. Now, I don’t hesitate to go up and down stairs because I just don’t think about it. I don’t have to.

Sleep Apnea

With the reduction in weight, you might be saying goodbye to the pesky CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. Just don’t do so without consulting your doctor first.

seeing the loss after weight loss surgery

Weight Loss Surgery Could Change Your Life for the Better

Our quality of life is important to all of us. Having weight loss surgery can change your life and the things you do with your life.

For people with severe obesity, weight-loss surgery will probably extend years of life.

Chances are that after the surgery you will be more able to move around easier and can be physically active again. It could even change your moods. I say this because many overweight people also tend to be depressed. With the weight loss comes a change in your self-esteem which will most certainly change your moods.

Some changes might be:

-Could change your love life

-Less anxiety and depression

-Increased energy

-Improves self-esteem and self-confidence

Final Thoughts On Weight Los Surgery

While all types if surgeries have risks, bariatric surgery is relatively safe. I know this from discussions with my doctor and I suggest you also ask your doctor about the risks. When surgery is done by a knowledgeable and experienced team of doctors and nurses, this surgery in comparable to knee or gallbladder surgery.

From weight loss to overall health benefits, talk to your doctor to see if you’re a candidate for bariatric surgery and how you can be on your way to a healthy lifestyle.

If you have been losing the battle with obesity and just down right not feeling good, then choosing the right bariatric procedure could change your life. Losing the weight and improvements with your health will help you feel like you have a new lease on life.

For more questions that you might have about bariatric surgery, click to read “Questions About Bariatric Surgery.”