Liposuction is one of the most tried-and-true cosmetic procedures for getting rid of stubborn pockets of fat. While it’s rewarding to free yourself from unwanted body fat, it’s important to stay motivated and maintain your weight loss after the procedure.
Though most of our patients experience stunning results for years to come, it is possible for weight gain to undermine your liposuction results.
Here are our experts’ top four tips for staying lean after lipo.
Stick to an Exercise Routine
Staying active after your procedure will make maintaining your weight significantly easier. Sticking to a regular exercise routine is key. Typically, you will be able to resume light exercise around 2 weeks after undergoing liposuction.
Don’t just hit the cardio machines or throw yourself into a daily run. A well-rounded exercise routine will impart more benefits than a one-dimensional plan. Incorporate resistance training into your routine. Building muscle mass not only gives your body a more uplifted, toned look, but it also boosts your resting metabolism — meaning that you burn more calories even when you’re not moving around.
Outside of regular exercise, avoid sedentary behaviors altogether. Don’t sit for more than an hour over the course of your day. Getting a fitness tracker or simply setting hourly reminders to stand up and walk around for a few minutes can be helpful.
Watch Your Diet
While avoiding a sedentary lifestyle is essential for staying lean after your procedure, you can’t out-exercise a poor diet. Focus on eating a wholesome, well-rounded diet that gives you enough calories to maintain your weight without gaining additional pounds.
Eating more fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber will not only give you the nutrients and antioxidants that you need, but they will also keep you full without inundating you with calories. Consuming healthy, lean meats that are high in protein can also help you stay full for hours. Keeping your portion sizes reasonable will also help moderate your calorie intake.
Another great way to cut back on the calories while remaining satisfied is by preparing your own food. When you eat out at restaurants frequently, you have no control over what ingredients go into your food or how large your portions are. Cooking at home more often will help you keep the pounds off.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking a lot of water every day and keeping yourself hydrated can help support your ability to stay lean after liposuction. It accomplishes this in a number of different ways, including:
- Keeping You Full: Water fills up space in your stomach, signaling to your brain that you’re full. When you stay hydrated, you’re less likely to feel hungry. This ultimately cuts back on the amount of food that you want to eat.
- Burns Extra Calories: While the research isn’t conclusive, many studies have indicated that drinking extra water will help raise your metabolism and burn more calories over the course of the day.
- Assists with Waste Removal: Water carries waste out of your body, including toxins and stool. This means that you will stay regular and keep constipation at bay, keeping inches off your waist.
- Keeps Energy Levels High: If you want to stay lean after liposuction and stick with a regular exercise routine, staying hydrated will help support your efforts. Drinking water keeps energy levels high and helps fuel your workouts.
Manage Your Stress Levels
Stress and mood play a huge role in weight gain, so it is important to moderate your stress levels whenever possible. While doctors and scientists don’t fully understand the relationship between stress and weight gain, many studies have found a positive correlation between the two. Some scientists believe that cortisol, a hormone released by the body when under duress, can trigger overeating. Regardless of the exact relationship, many people cope with stress by overeating or drinking alcohol excessively — both of which are counterproductive to weight loss. Having healthy stress management skills in place will not only help you keep the weight off, but also will enable you to sail through life a little more smoothly.
To learn more about our liposuction services, contact us.