Although weight loss surgery is highly accepted as an excellent treatment for obesity, it requires your help to make it a success. We provide you with a tool (a very small stomach) to assist you in your weight loss efforts, but it is your responsibility to use this tool correctly. The surgery will allow you to be satisfied with much smaller portions of food, usually limiting your calorie intake to 800-1,000 calories a day. However, if you do not follow the guidelines, it is very easy to increase what you eat and gain weight. We encourage you to follow a few simple rules in order to make this weight loss surgery a success.

1. Avoid all sugar-sweetened beverages and food (such as regular soda, cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, candy, etc.). 
2. Avoid all junk food including potato chips, corn chips, high fat crackers, pork skins, etc. 
3. Avoid all fried foods including french fries, fast food, fried chicken or seafood, etc. 
4. Start being more physically active. Although it is probably hard for you to exercise at your current weight, it will become easier as you lose weight. Exercising is the key to weight loss and maintenance after weight loss surgery. Your commitment to an exercise program will have a great impact on your success.
5. Take all prescribed vitamin supplements for the rest of your life. Maintenance of good health is necessary after gastric bypass surgery. Daily supplementation is REQUIRED FOR LIFE! 
6. Complete all follow up appointments for life. Follow up consists of four visits the first year after surgery, two visits the second year and yearly visits after that.

Smoking:  If you are a smoker, you must quit.  Stop smoking at least one month before your surgery.  Smoking makes you more likely to get pneumonia and breathing problems after surgery.  If you are a smoker and do not quit smoking for 30 days prior to your operation your surgeon will cancel your procedure.

Alcohol:  Do not drink any alcohol for 48 hours before surgery.  Beer, wine, mixed drinks and liquor are all alcohol.

Eating and Drinking:  Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery.  If you do, we will not be able to do your surgery.

Medicines:  Ask your doctor about taking your daily pills (medicines) before you go to surgery.

Sickness:  If you have a fever, cold, cough or rash, call your doctor and tell him or her.  Your surgery may need to be done at a later time.