There are a range of things that might be at work when you’re feeling tired and flat after WLS It's always recommended you bring this up with your professional team to work through any underlying causes, and outside of that, here’s 5 things that might also be sucking the life out of your day.
1. Lack of Protein / Carbohydrate
After WLS your needs for protein are upward of70-80g daily. So falling short will have quite a few repercussions - Lack of energy, loss of strength, and impact on the production of hormonesand neurotransmitters that will regulate metabolism, energy production, and hormone balance.Be sure to include at least 25g of protein in every main meal andsnacks should be 10-15g proteinas well to reach your target.Carbohydrates create a good fuel source in the body, and removing carbs from your diet can lead to a feeling of fatigue and irritability because your brain prefers to run on glucose.
Make sure each meal has some kind of slow-burning carbohydrates like brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, or rye sourdough bread.
Quick hits like white pasta and bread are a recipe for elevated hunger later in the day, as well as a “mid-afternoon slump” and should be avoided.
2. Malnutrition / Malabsorption
After Gastric sleeve and bypass surgery, there is a range ofnutrientsthat arepoorly absorbed.Chat with your health care professional (such as your dietitian) about potential nutrient deficiencies and that steps that you can take to correct these deficiencies, such as supplementation.
B12, Iron, Magnesium, B6 Folate, and a range of other nutrients contribute to the chemical reactions needed to create a good supply of energy each day, so eating “the Rainbow” lots of different coloured foods to maintain your “Nutritional Fitness” will be a good place to start with creating a ready supply of energy.
3. Lack of Exercise
When we feel flat, sometimesexercise is one of the first things we cross of the “to do” list. Too tired to get to the gym or go for a walk, when this could actually be thekey to better energyproduction and feelings of vitality.
Start with a20 min walk each dayand work up from there.
The research shows, that the goal of reaching 10,000 steps dailynot only improves your mental health but has far-reaching effects on your sympathetic nervous system, making “rest and digest” or relaxation and digestion and elimination much more efficient.
Reducing stress and being more active is always going to lift your spirits and your energy levels.
Start with a 20 min walk each day and work up from there The research shows, that the goal of reaching 10,000 steps daily not only improves your mental health but has far-reaching effects on your sympathetic nervous system, making “rest and digest” or relaxation and digestion and elimination much more efficient. Reducing stress and being more active is always going to lift your spirits and your energy levels
4. Stress
The number one contributor to overwhelm and fatigue ispoor stress management.
If you are continually feeling like a deer in the headlights for whatever reason, this is a good indicator you are being drained of vitality. High-stress states do come and go, and our body is made to manage these.
Long term low-grade stress is more insidious and can become the seat of many health issues such asdepression, muscle wasting, anxiety and burnout. If you find you are stressed more than you are in control, it's a good time to seek some support - Psychological intervention is a key to gaining insight into the way we deal with stress, and provides some fantastic tools to support you on theway to a happier and much healthier way of life.
5. Poor Sleep
Poor sleep quality interrupted sleep, and once again,nutrition can affect how we rest.
When you are under-rested, we start the day behind the 8 balls!
Lack of sleep is classed as an “inflammatory state” and means we are stretching most systems in the body as a result.
