After having a tubal ligation, you may worry that changes in your hormones will make it harder to lose weight. The effects of tubal ligation on female hormone levels has been a matter of debate, but hormonal effects remain unproven, according to a review of studies reported in the February 1998 issue of "Fertility and Sterility." Tubal ligation destroys part of the Fallopian tube, making it impossible for the egg to travel to the uterus and implant. If you want to lose weight after tubal ligation, it's doubtful that you'll experience any hormone changes that will affect weight loss.
Step 1
Completely recover from surgery and consult your doctor before starting your diet. Tubal ligation is most often done through several tiny incisions in the abdomen. Recovery time ranges from one to seven days. Because you may experience abdominal discomfort for several days, you may not want to start a diet that could affect your bowel habits and increase discomfort, such as a diet high in fiber.
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Step 2
Choose an appropriate diet. Some diets, such as low-carbohydrate diets that cause ketosis, may not be appropriate during pregnancy. Because you no longer have to worry that you might be pregnant, you can choose a diet that benefits you without worrying about its potential effects on a fetus. Eat at least 1,200 calories per day for slow but steady weight loss that's more likely to be permanent, MedlinePlus recommends.
Step 3
Follow the diet plan you've chosen. Remember that weight loss of just 1 to 2 pounds per week, while not dramatic, is more likely to be maintained. Because pregnancy is no longer in your future, when you lose weight and keep it off, you no longer have to worry about gaining weight and having to lose it all over again after a pregnancy. This may give you the incentive to follow whichever diet plan you choose, knowing the results can be lifelong.
Step 4
Talk with your doctor if you can't seem to lose weight following a 1,200-calorie-per-day diet. It's not clear whether post-tubal ligation syndrome, characterized by mood swings, weight gain and menstrual difficulties, is a real condition, according to the University of Michigan Health System, but many women do complain of these symptoms after tubal ligation. It's also possible that you have developed other health issues common in women that can interfere with weight loss such as an underactive thyroid.
Tip
As soon as you recover from your surgery, add 30 minutes of exercise per day at least three times per week to your diet plan to help lose weight and keep it off.
Warning
If you feel ill after starting your diet, don't assume it's the diet. Check with your doctor; you may have an infection or other complication from your surgery.
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