If you’ve been reading the Mayclinik blog for some time, you know that after bariatric surgery, we’ve devoted several posts to life. Sometimes, the emphasis is on respecting the body and its needs. In the beginning, this might be hard to do, but that’s where discipline and organization are important. Despite this, we’d like to take a look at food diaries, which can be a helpful guide for you after bariatric surgery.
What Is a Food Journal?
A food journal, simply put, is a way for people to keep track of what they consume. For individuals who are seeking to lose weight, several nutritionists suggest food journals so that they can better determine the amount of food they consume as well as what time of day they eat. It’s perfect for counting calories and keeping track of poor eating habits. For individuals who have just undergone bariatric surgery as well, diet diaries are a perfect alternative. There are plenty of reasons why monitoring meals is so important for effective treatment, particularly early on.
Know Your Eating Habits
You’re expected to accept several changes to your diet and lifestyle as you adapt to life after bariatric surgery. A food diary will help you keep track of your cravings, what you’ve eaten during the day, and how much you feed. When keeping a food diary, be sure to note the following:
- What you ate
- How much you ate
- When you ate
- Where you ate
- How you felt while eating
This may seem insignificant on the surface, but it can be very useful in the long run to have this information on a day-to-day basis.
Tracking Your Nutritional Needs
Many people discover in their food diaries that they are consuming too much of one food category while avoiding other vital foods. You will recognize any nutritional needs you might have when you record your diet during the week, allowing you to change your diet when required to make it healthier and more balanced. This is also a safe way to guarantee that you’re just eating what you should be eating.
Tracking Your Health on a Day-to-Day Basis
Life after bariatric surgery can be difficult and it is vital for you and also for your doctor to be able to monitor your health every day. Be sure to note this if you notice problems with diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, or stomach pain. Patterns of problems that disagree with you may point to certain foods, or it may be a sign of a serious issue. A better way to support yourself is to write it down to have a record, and in turn, help medical professionals help you.
You Can Record More Than Your Meals
We discussed recording how you were feeling while eating. We’re not just talking about indigestion or pain. You can record in your food diary your mood and energy level as well. This is a perfect way to keep track of how you’re feeling about your surgery while you heal and get back on your feet. Reach out to your support network and share your struggles if you’re feeling fatigued or in low moods. We’ve already stated that weight loss surgery can cause a slew of emotional and psychological problems, so keeping a food journal is a good way to keep track of these issues.
Keeping You on Schedule
Sometimes you just have to feed, and weight loss surgery can make your hunger symptoms worse. You will usually note sometimes of the day that you eat, and you will notice how you feel about these feeding times. If you know that eating at a certain time triggers indigestion or other issues, you should make a note to stop meals at that time, enabling you to eat when it is most convenient for you.
