Protein
How much protein are you consuming a day? Did you know that the recommended minimum amount of protein is 60 grams for a post-surgical bariatric patient?

Protein is the main building block of our body. Our skin, muscles and heart are made of protein.

A lack of protein can lead to many health conditions, including; anemia, hair loss, low energy and poor wound healing.

How much protein is enough? Use our chart to calculate your individual daily protein needs.

Increasing your protein can help you feel full, have more energy and get you back on track with your weight loss.

Vitamins
Surgical weight loss patients face a great task in the following months and years after surgery, most of which includes monumental lifestyle changes in comparison to their old habits and methods. The most important of all, given that weight loss patients have a new, tiny stomach to fill, is diet. So it's crucial to ensure that the food and nutrients you're feeding your body are packed with goodness.

Most importantly since the surgical weight loss diet lacks minerals and vitamins, patients must take extra vitamins every day to supplement their diet and ensure their body gets all that's required.

Among the vitamins recommended are multi-vitamins (chewable if possible!), then calcium, iron and vitamin B-12 sublingually. The recommended schedule is:

2 multivitamins a day
1500 mg Calcium a day
325 mg Iron (Ferrous Sulfate) a day
1000 mcg Vitamin B-12 (sublingual)-weekly.

Don’t take Calcium and Iron together—they compete for absorption. If you are not that committed to taking your vitamins...Get your labs checked!
You could be deficient and not even know it!

Fluids
Did you know that the body is about 72% water with some tissue in minerals thrown in for good measure?

While water has no calories, it's vital to your survival. It participates in almost all the chemical reactions in your body, it helps cool you, and it moves vital fuels and hormones to your muscle tissues. In short, you're cooked without it. Water also helps fill you up, so it helps fight hunger pangs. The brain triggers thirst and hunger from two different centers, but sometimes satisfying one center will temporarily satisfy the other.
When you feel hungry, drink a large glass of water and wait 15 minutes before eating. Studies show that having a stomach full of water depresses hunger and will help you lose weight. (www.Obesity-Update.com, Feb 5, 2005)

It’s crucial for post-op surgical weight loss patients to drink at least 64 ounces of water each day...what’s your daily intake?

 Please consult a physician before taking supplements or starting any exercise program