If you’re considering gastric sleeve surgery, there are benefits, but also challenges. Six months post-surgery is a critical milestone. We'll discuss the typical weight loss 6 months after a gastric sleeve and what your diet will probably look like by this stage. This article will also cover gastric sleeve benefits you can look forward to besides weight loss and the challenges you might face in order to help you prepare. What This Article Covers: Average Weight Loss 6 Months After a Gastric Sleeve What to Eat 6 Months After a Gastric Sleeve How Your Life and Body Will Change After Gastric Sleeve Surgery What if I'm Not Seeing the Results I Want? Average Weight Loss 6 Months After a Gastric Sleeve The average amount of excess weight loss seen within 6 months after gastric sleeve has been about 50%. Excess weight is calculated by taking your actual weight and subtracting it by what is considered your ideal weight. If your excess body weight comes out to be 100 pounds, then the average excess weight loss within 6 months from gastric sleeve would be around 50 pounds, provided you stay on a healthy gastric sleeve diet after surgery. The 6 month mark after bariatric surgery is typically when weight loss starts to slow down a little. Keep in mind that rapid weight loss can result in loose skin. Some bariatric patients report that this causes issues, such as irritation and rashes, possibly requiring surgery to fix it. There may be some other ways to tighten loose skin after bariatric surgery without plastic surgery. These options include healthy diet, exercise, skin care routines, collagen, and yoga. After consulting with your healthcare provider, you can usually start with toning exercises to help avoid loose skin. Individuals will generally see desired weight loss soon after 6 months. Within a year, the gastric sleeve expected weight loss is 75% of excess weight. Many patients can reach weight goals within two to three years after bariatric surgery. Pace yourself and take the time to enjoy the process rather than only thinking about results. This will help you stick to your new healthy lifestyle plan. What to Eat 6 Months After a Gastric Sleeve In many cases, bariatric patients work up to 1000 calories per day by the time they reach 6 months post-op. Calorie intake may stay at about 1000 per day, depending on your dietitian's recommendations. Weight gain after gastric sleeve surgery is possible. Bariatric surgery is only a tool for weight loss. It is important to stay consistent with your healthy lifestyle after surgery in order to maintain weight loss. A bariatric diet plan that stays within the calorie limit can help with this. Below are some helpful tips for your gastric sleeve post-op diet. Start Each Meal With Protein Maintain a lean protein-based diet throughout the week. Protein helps to keep you fuller longer. It will also help you to maintain and build muscle that will, in turn, support your metabolism. Some struggle with reaching daily protein goals. In that case, you can try bariatric high-protein meal replacements to add into your daily dietary intake. Avoid Cheat Meals The idea of a healthy lifestyle is to understand portion control and moderation so you are able to eat some of the foods you like, but in a healthier way. Including a cheat day into your diet plan will only trigger bad eating habits and make it harder to get back on track. Include small healthy meals and snacks throughout the day to stay satiated. Try things like Greek yogurt, meal replacement smoothies, and dark chocolate covered bananas as a treat. Finding healthy bariatric recipes will provide bariatric friendly options that taste great. Stay Nourished Give your body complete nourishment with small nutritious meals and supplements. Cravings should then become easier to ignore and eventually disappear. Portioning your food should become easier as time goes on. You may need to look into bariatric portion plates to have a better understanding of moderation and portion control to keep yourself on track with nutrient-dense food options. Be mindful of nutrients that might be missing, even in a good meal plan. For example, B12 deficiency after bariatric surgery is common. Bariatric specific supplements should be taken as soon as possible to maintain good nutrition after bariatric surgery. Make sure you are taking bariatric multivitamins to prevent deficiencies. How Your Life and Body Will Change After Gastric Sleeve Surgery Longer Life Span Gastric sleeve surgery has been shown as a successful intervention in treating obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. Treating obesity-related conditions can increase life expectancy and quality of life. Blood pressure, lipid labs, and cholesterol levels may return to normal levels after a gastric sleeve procedure. Fertility and Other Obesity-Related Conditions Resolved Skin problems like acne, redness, and inflammation are likely to clear up. Wound healing greatly improves when you lose weight. Gastric sleeve patients report less chronic pain in the long-term. Your hormones can be adjusted with changes to the digestive tract. Stress, mood, and digestive hormones can be more effective. With weight loss, you may feel more energized and motivated to tackle daily life activities. With increased fertility post-op, some patients start to plan a pregnancy after a gastric sleeve. Although, it is required to wait at least a year before planning pregnancy. There May be Haters Life after gastric sleeve surgery can sometimes be chaotic since you and your body are rapidly changing. Some people will be relieved to see you happy and healthy after a gastric sleeve. Others may judge you because they don’t understand why bariatric surgery was right for you. Some people quickly become jealous. It can cause arguments that sometimes seem to have nothing to do with your weight loss. Be prepared for some odd reactions. Finding a qualified counselor or therapist may be beneficial for helping you cope with your new life after bariatric surgery. What if I'm Not Seeing the Results I Want? You may have simply hit a bariatric weight plateau. This is a normal event and should be temporary. A bariatric plateau can happen at any time, even right after surgery. Be honest with yourself and face facts. How well have you been sticking to all the necessary healthy habits? Has your diet changed enough and do you exercise? After following bad eating habits, it may take a while to re-learn and reinforce good habits. If you are not getting enough protein to build and maintain muscle, you may be diminishing your metabolic processes. Taking nutritional supplements and protein meal replacements can help maintain your metabolism and nutrition. Try bariatric supplement samples to find something you enjoy. If you are having trouble with weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery, consult with your dietitian and doctor. Expert guidance or some tests can help to identify the problem. Did you find our blog helpful? Then consider checking: Bodybuilding After Gastric Sleeve Gastric Sleeve And Acid Reflux How to Restart Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery What Are The Best Vitamins After Bariatric Surgery? The Benefits of Zinc and Copper After Bariatric Surgery Importance Of A Bariatric Specific Multivitamin For Life Weight Loss Surgery: Issues to Consider Setting Realistic Goals and Staying Motivated After Bariatrics 5 Tips To Healthy Eating After Bariatric Surgery Life After Weight Loss Surgery: 5 Things You Should Know Taste Change After Weight Loss Surgery Probiotics for Bariatric Surgery Patients Bariatric Support Groups Mini Gastric Bypass **This blog is for information and education purposes only. This information is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions in regards to a medical condition. A qualified healthcare professional can best assist you in deciding whether a dietary supplement is suitable based on your individual needs.