7 Ways to Lose the Weight Before Your Tummy Tuck

Patients close to their ideal weight are the best candidates for any body contouring surgery, including tummy tuck. Although you must be eager to get rid of the stubborn belly fat and excess skin, it is crucial not to rush. You need to lose the weight before your tummy tuck surgery and be approximately 15 to 20 pounds away from your ideal weight.

Moreover, you need to remember that there are no quick solutions for weight loss. For this procedure to be effective, you need to be at a healthy and stable weight. You can’t achieve that with overly restrictive diets. These diets will help you lose weight incredibly fast, but the issue is that you will just as quickly gain it back.

With that in mind, we will show you seven ways to lose weight while you prepare for your tummy tuck surgery effectively and sustainably.

Be realistic

Setting unrealistic goals is a perfect way to set yourself up for failure. Instead, start small, and celebrate every small victory. Losing 2 pounds a month is a great start.

To be able to set realistic goals, you need to determine how much weight you need to lose. Calculate your BMI and see where you are on the scale. This will tell you how much you need to lose, and you will be able to decide how much time you will realistically need.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise has many benefits. It keeps you in good shape and affects your overall health. Working out at least four times per week can help you lose weight significantly. Since weight loss is usually accompanied by excess skin, you will want to do something to tighten it, and exercise can help with this. That will ensure you get the best results from the tummy tuck.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when working out:

Focus on healthy nutrition

Exercise and nutrition go hand in hand, and good nutrition should be a way of life, not just a means to an end. Here is what your diet should look like:

Besides paying attention to what you eat, you need to be careful how much you eat. Losing weight happens when you are on a caloric deficit. However, it bears repeating that you should lose weight gradually. Thus, steer clear of fad diets and promise quick results.

Hydrate

You have to drink enough water to lose weight and stay healthy. Water is a crucial part of most metabolic processes in all living beings. Moreover, often when people feel hungry, they are actually just thirsty. The recommended amount of water you should drink every day is between 10 and 15 glasses.

If you are not a big fan of water, you can squeeze some fruit or vegetables into it. Lemons, oranges, cucumbers, pineapple, cranberry, and watermelons are good options.

Sleep enough

Not getting enough sleep can cause you to gain weight. Tiredness can lead to eating more to compensate for the lack of energy. Enough sleep can promote weight loss because it keeps your body rested and gives you energy for effective workouts.

Destress

Many people use food as a way to soothe emotional distress. Some people use food to reward themselves when they have done something good. Sometimes, they use food to pick them up when they feel sad, angry, or stressed. It would be best to explore other relaxation techniques, such as:

Once you have tried any of these techniques, wait for a bit to see if you are hungry.

Get support

No man is an island. Since weight loss is a journey, you will likely run into a few bumps in the road. When things do go as planned, you need a sound support system. It’s good to have a shoulder to cry on when you feel like you are nothing is going your way. It is also good to have someone to hold you accountable. However, they should do so lovingly, without judgment and criticism.

You may think that your friends and family are good options to keep you on the right track. However, they will often beat around the bush and avoid telling you the truth because they are afraid to hurt your feeling. It would be better to join a class; CrossFit is a great option.

To lose the weight before your tummy tuck, you need to stay positive

Losing weight can often be frustrating. There will be periods when nothing will happen. You have to remind yourself that the journey to weight loss is full of ups and downs. It’s ok if you sometimes feel like you want to give up. In those situations, remind yourself that you are not doing this only for your looks but for your health as well. It will keep you motivated to keep going. Also, motivation and positivity go hand in hand, so if you wish to lose the weight before your tummy tuck, just be positive!

Meta: Read about 7 ways to lose the weight before your tummy tuck. Reaching a near-ideal weight will ensure you get the best possible results after the procedure.