So, you’ve decided you want a BBL – now, it’s time to start planning. This part of the process can seem overwhelming because there are dozens of things to consider, but preparation is key to a successful BBL procedure, recovery and outstanding results.
First things first – let’s get started with the basics: diet, exercise and vitamins!
Diet
A clean diet is essential – meaning you’ll want to consume unprocessed, whole foods. Eating healthy, vitamin-rich whole foods can be difficult because it requires a lot of cooking, time and money, but the evidence supporting this lifestyle change before surgery is irrefutable. The consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables and meats, lowers your BMI, reduces dangerous visceral (internal) fat, lessens the risks associated with surgery and recovery and ensures better long-term results.
Consuming whole foods doesn’t just require more time in the kitchen, but it also means shopping correctly and significantly reducing the frequency of eating take-out or from restaurants.
An excellent step-by-step guide that provides keen insight into success while adopting an elimination diet is “The Whole 30” by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig. The book offers a calendar of how you’ll feel day-to-day, prepping tips, recipes, shopping guides and so much more.
Exercise
After you’ve taken the reins of your diet, the next step is creating an exercise regimen. If you’re already actively exercising, great, please continue to do so up until your surgery. If you need to start a program, you’ll want to get started as soon as possible.
Using fact-based analysis and experience, the best place to start is a timed walk. Once you’ve spent a few days getting to know this routine, begin to quicken your pace. Try to beat the previous days’ distance within your allotted time each day.
Walking is a great, low-impact way to improve your cardiovascular fitness, which is vital for your recovery, as pre-and post-surgery are demanding on your heart and lungs.
Supplements
Supplements are a part of any well-balanced diet and exercise regimen. As soon as you decide on a BBL, it is vital to begin taking iron or ferrous gluconate, vitamin C and folic acid.
- Take 325 mg of iron three times a day. If you have an iron deficiency, it can take four to six months to replenish iron stores even after hemoglobin has normalized. Keeping this in mind, it’s just as essential to continue iron supplements after surgery.
- Take 0.4 mg of folic acid once a day.
- Take 250 mg of vitamin C three times a day with your iron supplement, as it helps increase iron absorption and aids in wound healing.
Your BBL results hinder on taking care of your body during the planning period. By maintaining a well-balanced diet, consistent exercise routine and supplementing with vitamins, you reduce your chance of complications and create an ideal template for surgical excellence!
Doctor’s Orders: If you’re considering a BBL, please begin by focusing on the parts of your health that YOU can regulate and control. By flexing this knowledge and expertise in planning, you are taking the reins of your overall health and healing before, during and after surgery.
