Our Top Tips for Staying Trim After Liposuction
Liposuction is an amazingly effective treatment for trimming unwanted pockets of fat. It puts the finishing touches on your weight-loss and body-toning efforts once you’re near your ideal weight. It can boost your self-esteem by making you feel great about your body. And the fat cells removed with liposuction are gone forever— you’ll have fewer fat cells in the treated area for the rest of your life.
But liposuction isn’t a cure-all for maintaining a trim physique. If you gain weight after liposuction, your remaining fat cells will grow in size, if not in number. Fat can also build up more quickly in other parts of your body. So, to keep your new contours, you’ll want to maintain a steady weight and healthy muscle tone.
Here are our top tips for staying trim after liposuction:
1. Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices a Habit, Not a Chore
You’ve probably experienced the yo-yo effect of crash diets. When the process of losing weight is unpleasant, you tend to surrender to unhealthy temptations once you’ve reached your goal. Your willpower has been worn down, and you put the weight right back on. Research into human behavior and physiology points to another approach that works better and can be sustained with relative ease: building healthy habits.
Find healthy ways to eat and be active that you enjoy, and turn them into habits. Start with small steps, repeat them day in and day out until they become second nature, and then build on them with even healthier actions. Instead of “dieting” (which is unpleasant and takes work), learn to enjoy and prefer healthy foods. Instead of “exercise” (something you make yourself do), find physical activities that you enjoy and look forward to.
2. Eat a Healthy Mix of Foods
Small steps in changing the mix of foods you eat can make a big difference in sustaining your health and weight. Stock your refrigerator with ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare fruits and vegetables, and make them the core of your daily menu. Eat healthy proteins, like lean meat and fish, and limited amounts of whole grains. Most importantly, avoid foods with added sugar, refined carbohydrates like white flour and rice, and highly processed packaged foods. Keep these fattening foods out of your home, or at least well out of sight, so you won’t be tempted by them when you’re tired or under stress.
3. Stay Physically Active
Regular physical activity burns calories, builds muscles, speeds your metabolism, and has many other positive health effects. Find a physical activity routine that you enjoy and that is easy for you to do several times a week. It might be walking, running, or biking. It might be yoga, aerobics, or dance. Mix resistance exercises, to build muscle, with aerobic activities. Do your activity with a friend or listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks to make it even more enjoyable. Tracking progress can be another motivator.
4. Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking plenty of water is critical to maintaining a healthy metabolism. Water helps your body process food with less fat accumulation and fills you up so that you tend to eat less. Switching to water from soda, juice, or other sugar-filled drinks can also cut hundreds of calories out of your diet.
5. Reduce Stress
Stress is one of the main causes of weight gain. It triggers cravings for unhealthy foods and reduces our ability to resist unhealthy temptations. Watch for signs of stress in your body, such as a clenched jaw, tight muscles, or headaches. When you feel the tension, take a quick time-out and breathe deeply, meditate, focus on something positive, or take a short walk.
Learn More About Liposuction in Los Angeles
Dr. Stephen Bresnick in Encino, CA, is one of the most sought-after and extensively trained plastic surgeons in the Los Angeles area. He is known for his compassionate approach and superior artistry. Call us at (818) 981-3333 or contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bresnick today.