A sample day of food and supplements for the 4 weeks before body contouring surgery after weight loss.
After significant weight loss, whether through bariatric surgery, weight loss medications or dietary change, protein intake and several vitamins and minerals are often low, and that can affect wound healing after an operation. Knowing this is one thing. Fitting enough protein and the right supplements into an ordinary day is another. This plan sets out one worked example of a day, from waking to after dinner, with the approximate protein in each meal and each supplement placed at the meal where it is best absorbed. It is a template, not a prescription, and the doses in it are general. It does not replace blood tests or advice from your own doctor, and it does not decide whether surgery suits you. That is decided at consultation, after a GP referral.
What is inside
- The day: 6 time slots from waking to after dinner, with example meals, the approximate protein in each and a short note on which nutrients the foods supply
- Your protein target: 120 to 145 g per day as a general guide, based on 1.2 to 1.5 g per kilogram of body weight, and what to do if your own figure is lower
- The 5 core supplements and when to take them: whey protein isolate, a complete multivitamin, vitamin D3 with vitamin K2, vitamin C and zinc
- Timing on one page: where iron fits if your doctor has prescribed it, and why it is kept at least 2 hours away from zinc
- Before you start, and the final week: who should check with a GP or pharmacist first, including anyone taking warfarin or another blood-thinning medication, adjustments after bariatric surgery, and what changes in the week before surgery
The plan is emailed, usually within a few minutes. Check junk if not received. A member of my team may call to confirm it arrived and answer questions about the consultation process. Occasional educational emails follow. Unsubscribe at any time. By requesting the plan you confirm you are 18 or over. See our privacy policy.
Before deciding on surgery, read my overview of body contouring surgery after significant weight loss, including the risks and recovery.