If you’ve got an important operation on the horizon, you’ll probably want to get your body in tip-top shape leading up to the big day. But a quick search online for how to best prepare yourself could leave you feeling like you’re walking on eggshells. With so much talk about what to do and what not to do, you can easily find yourself overcomplicating things. To keep things simple, here are four dos and four don’ts for the weeks leading up to surgery.

Do’s

Stay Hydrated

How much water you should consume in a day can vary depending on age, health, and many other factors. The best way to ensure you are consuming the right amount of water is to keep an eye on the colour of your urine. If your pet is a clear colour, you are drinking enough water, but if it is a dark yellow colour, then you need to drink more. Ensuring your body is hydrated will provide you with many benefits, including flushing out bacteria from your bladder.

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Try To Maintain A Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight will give your body the best chance of recovering from surgery. If you’re underweight, your body may not have the strength to fight the side effects of a serious surgery. Similarly, being overweight increases the chances of complications occurring that are related to the heart and blood. To maintain a healthy weight, focus on eating a balanced diet and ensuring you get your recommended daily steps. 

Partake In Regular Exercise

Part of maintaining a healthy weight may involve exercise. If you need to lose some pounds in the lead-up to your op, consider getting in some extra cardio work in the weeks prior to your operation. Even a short exercise regime over the course of a few weeks can be enough to reduce weight. It also goes hand in hand with your mental preparation; studies suggest exercise improves emotional well-being which should help you keep stress levels to a minimum before your operation while also aiding your recovery post-surgery.  

Mentally Prepare Yourself

Preparing yourself physically is only half the battle. It’s just as important to prepare yourself for the mental aspect of surgery. Undergoing surgery itself can be mentally challenging, while recovering from surgery can also put a strain on your emotions. Ways to mentally prepare yourself for surgery include taking time to meditate, journal, or carry out breathing exercises.

Don’ts

Smoke

On top of not offering any positive benefits, smoking can negatively impact your ability to recover from surgery. Smoking can especially impact recovery if your surgery relates to body tissues or the lungs. Try to use this period as a time to quit smoking completely, as this will offer many benefits when recovering from surgery and beyond. 

Drink Alcohol

You should cut out alcohol completely in the days leading up to surgery. However, even in the weeks leading up to your surgery, alcohol can indirectly impact your ability to get your body in its best condition. Consuming too much alcohol won’t just leave you feeling dehydrated; it may also lead to poorer sleep as well as the dreaded hangover that leaves us feeling fatigued. In addition, alcohol consumption generally leads to poorer diet choices and negatively affects our emotional state. All in all, there aren’t many benefits to overconsuming alcohol if you have surgery planned in the coming weeks.   

Eat A Diet High In Saturated Fats

As already mentioned, it’s important to ensure you arrive for surgery at a healthy weight. One of the best ways to do this is by focusing on what you eat. Diets high in sugar and/or saturated fats are most likely to see you gain weight. As a result, focus on a healthy, balanced diet that is made up of carbohydrates, protein, dairy, and fibre. Foods that are high in saturated fat and should be avoided include milk chocolate, biscuits, processed meat, and butter. 

Stress

Many people are unaware that psychological stress can be one of the worst things to suffer from if you’re recovering from surgery. Whether you’re waiting for a wound to heal or trying to fight post-op pain, any added stress will not help. As a result, it’s important to consider stress levels both before and after surgery. In the weeks before your surgery, try to plan activities that will keep your mind occupied and free from any pre-surgery nerves. If you are working in the lead-up to your operation, make sure your employer knows that you may need a reduced workload leading up to the day of your operation.   

Whether you’re preparing for open heart surgery in New York or a breast augmentation in Manchester, taking steps to physically and mentally prepare yourself is a wise move. Regardless of the size of your surgery, it can be a daunting experience going under the knife. Following the above tips should put your body in the best place to bounce back from your surgery.