Some bariatric surgery patients regain weight. The specific reasons aren’t yet well-understood, but there may be something patients can do to help prevent it.

Bariatric surgery is a tool that can help you significantly reduce your caloric intake. After surgery, you should find that you are satisfied with less food than you were prior to surgery. The typical bariatric surgery patient consumes approximately 1,200 calories each day. As time passes, you may find that not only are you able to consume more calories, but that you are consuming more calories.

A good strategy you may find useful is to pick an upper weight limit, and weigh yourself once each week, typically on the same day and time. That way, you have a red flag when any abnormal increase occurs, which may help you prevent a significant regain.

Let’s say you currently weigh 210 pounds, and you do not want to exceed 215 pounds. You weigh yourself weekly and as long as you weigh less than 215 pounds, you continue your current diet and exercise routines. If you weigh more than 215 pounds, then it’s time to make some changes. You get a bit stricter with your diet and exercise routines, and you bring your weight back down.