Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding on Incorporating Healthy Sleep Habits After Lap Band Surgery

How a Good Night’s Sleep Can Promote Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery — Tips from Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, or lap band surgery, is a low-risk surgical option for weight loss. When patients undergo lap band surgery with an expert like Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding, their recovery process promotes healthy life habits. In addition to eating well and exercising, the quality and amount of sleep you get is important after bariatric surgery. These tips and techniques for a better night’s sleep can dramatically improve your health.

Sleep has Many Benefits after Lap Band Surgery

To begin, we have all heard that a good night’s sleep is key to our health. But in this busy day in age, sleep can fall to the bottom of our priorities. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding stresses the importance of sleep during lap band surgery recovery. In addition, sleep promotes weight loss success in the months and years that follow bariatric surgery. Here are the benefits of a good night’s sleep in a nutshell:

  • First and foremost, sleep gives you energy to function during the day. This energy helps balance healthy metabolism that supports weight loss. In fact, researchers say chronic sleep deprivation often leads to weight gain.
  • Next, sleep empowers your immune system. Quality sleep allows your body to fight diseases, plain and simple.
  • Sleep helps your memory and ability to learn. While you snooze, your brain commits information gathered that day into memory. This leads to stronger memories, more creativity, and greater learning potential during awake time.
  • Sleep helps monitor your appetite. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding teaches her bariatric surgery patients about sleep’s effect on appetite-controlling hormones. Getting too little sleep may cause you to feel hungrier than you are. After lap band surgery, it’s important to have an accurate read on your appetite while adjusting to new eating habits.
  • In addition, sleep benefits the cardiovascular system. Both the heart and blood vessels restore and repair during sleep. Healthy sleep habits are connected to decreases in high blood pressure and likelihood of stroke. Sleep also helps fight kidney and heart disease, as well as diabetes.  All these factors amplify the benefits of lap band surgery.
  • Finally, remember that sleep plays an important role in your overall mood and perspective on your life. If you are sleep-deprived, this may result in irritability, lack of  concentration, and general distress. The right amount of sleep empowers you to make healthy choices and remain in control of your well-being.

The Best Ways to Ensure a Healthy Night’s Sleep After Bariatric Surgery

When you understand how important sleep is to your overall health, you can begin to make small positive changes. Even minor alterations to your lifestyle after bariatric surgery can have a major impact on your daily outlook. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding reiterates the importance of sleep for those who want to lose weight. After lap band surgery, try these healthy sleep habits:

  1. First, decide on a sleep schedule. When you know how much sleep works for you, find a consistent pattern for bedtime and wake time. Don’t let the weekends throw you off — experts say there is no way to “catch up” on sleep, so go for a steady amount each night.
  2. Next, go easy on the daytime naps. Sleeping too much during the day may interfere with your ability to fall asleep later on that night, experts say. If you do take a nap, keep it short, anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.
  3. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding and other weight loss experts agree: make exercise a habit after bariatric surgery. Consistent exercise encourages better quality sleep, especially important after lap band surgery. Be sure to discuss any exercise with your doctor before incorporating into your routine.
  4. Power down. Research shows that engaging in electronics like video games or TV before bedtime overstimulates and impedes the sleep process. After a hard day’s work, it might seem relaxing to play a game on your smartphone. But activities like these can have the opposite effect on your internal body clock. Try reading your favorite genre of literature instead.
  5. Create a calming nighttime ritual. Cultivate good habits in the evening that signal your body it’s time to wind down. Try listening to soothing music, taking a hot shower or bath, or drinking a bedtime-friendly beverage. Set goals for the next day, and pat yourself on the back for the healthy choices you made throughout the day.
  6. Last, create a comfort zone. Bedrooms that are cool and dark help promote quality sleep for most individuals. Consider the age of your mattress and pillows. If it’s time to upgrade, it could change your sleep life enormously.  Install room-darkening shades or buy quality earplugs if the world outside is too bright and loud.

Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding’s Prescription: Sleep for Healthy Weight Loss after Bariatric Surgery

Overall, sleep plays a much bigger role in a healthy lifestyle than some people realize. While most experts agree that 7-8 hours of sleep is optimal, discuss what’s right for you with your doctor. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding encourages all her bariatric surgery patients to take the subject of sleep very seriously. Safe and healthy weight loss depends on a sound diet, regular exercise, and proper rest. These are key components to a long and happy life.

Are you interested in learning more about weight loss?  For more on bariatric surgery options, including lap band surgery, visit the NYU Langone Weight Management Program. Ask for a consultation with an expert like Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding.

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