Weight Loss Surgery Diet
After weight loss surgery, your brand new smaller stomach may only hold about an ounce of food. Your doctor or dietician will recommend a weight loss surgery diet plan that you will need to follow. This diet will provide you with all the nutrients that you will need, and also help promote weight loss. You will be expected to follow this diet for a lifetime.
The diet after weight loss surgery will progress in stages. It will go from liquids, to semi liquids, to solids. The amount of time for you to add solid foods to your diet will depend on the type of surgery you had, but generally speaking most people are eating small amounts of food in 4 to 6 weeks. The surgeon will monitor your progress carefully to help determine which foods are good, and will provide you with the necessary dietary guidelines.
Below are some guidelines of a general weight loss surgery diet. You must understand though, the diet plans will vary for each surgery and individual. Below are some general guidelines of the dietary changes for anyone having had weight loss surgery.
After Surgery
Right after surgery you will be able to take sips of water or suck on an ice cube. You probably won't get much more than this. The next day you will get a little bit more liquid, but only a small amount at a time.
Liquid Diet
You will then be on a liquid diet for a couple of weeks because it is to protect the small stomach pouch. It is also important to keep hydrated with lots of water. Some of the liquids that are recommended are:
- broth (with no vegetables or meat)
- skim milk
- fruit juice
- sugar free popsicles
- sugar free jello ect...
Semi Liquid Foods
Semi liquid foods will then be added 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. These foods should be the same consistency as baby food. This will help you to be able to transition to more solid foods in time. Protein is very important to help you maintain muscle while you are losing weight, eat protein-rich foods first, then add fruit and vegetables to your diet. Below are some samples of foods that may be eaten at this time.
- pureed skinless chicken or fish
- mashed potatoes
- low fat yogurt
- low fat pudding ect...
Soft foods
Soft foods will be added by five to 6 weeks after surgery, Soft foods should be tender and easy to chew, such as ground or finely chooped meats, canned or soft fruit, cooked vegetables, rice, macaroni, and noodles. During this part of the diet, you will eat many small meals a day and sip water in between. Perhaps starting with six small meals a day, you will then gradually progress to 4 meals. Meals should include protein such as lean meat, yogurt, and eggs. You will eat soft foods for about 8 weeks before going on to regulart texture foods, as recommended by your surgeon or dietician.
Healthy Food Choices
The main weight loss surgery diet will consist of lean meats such as chicken, turkey and fish. Your diet will also consist of vegetables and fruit. Your doctor will provide you with a list of foods that you can eat, including healthy protein choices, healthy carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
It is very important to eat a sufficient amount of healthy protein to help maintain muscle and burn fat. Since you will only be eating small amounts of food, it is so important you choose healthy foods.
New Eating Habits
Now that the surgery is over, your on your way to a new healthy lifestyle. How you eat will change just as much as to what you will be eating. Your stomach will only be able to hold a small amount of food and your digestion process will have changed.
- Your meal portions are going to be small. You are going to have to learn to eat slowly, and make sure that your food is chewed thoroughly. If you overeat, eat to quickly, or you don't chew your food to liquid consistency, it may cause nausea, or vomiting.
- Avoid drinking when eating. Drinking liquids does not alleviate hunger, and may force the food to go through your stomach pouch too quickly. You will be losing the nutrients that you need from the food, and may cause hunger during the day. It might also cause a condition called dumping syndrome. You really should not drink anything 30 minutes before you eat, and 30 minutes after.
- You might want to set a time for each of the three meals you will be eating, and stick with that time every day. Do not skip meals, or snack in between meals.
- You should stop eating when you feel full. If you overeat, it can cause nausea and vomiting, but it can also make your stomach pouch larger. When you first start the solid food diet you may only be able to eat a few bites of food before you get full, but after awhile you may be able to eat a half cup to a full cup of food.
Vitamins
After weight loss surgery you will be required to take vitamins and minerals for the rest of your life. If you had lap band surgery, then you will have to take a daily multi vitamin, but if you had bariatric surgery your daily supplements will include: a multi vitamin, calcium, vitamin B12, and possibly iron if you are a woman. Your doctor may also recommend a protein supplement like whey protein powder, lactaid milk, soy milk, or other soy products.
Drinking Liquids
Water is very important in life and in this weight loss surgery diet. You should drink at least 6 to 8 glasses daily in between your meals, but not during your meals. You must drink slowly.
Other suitable drinks are
- sugar free drinks
- tea or coffee with low calorie sweetener
- low calorie non carbonated drinks
Some doctors have said that carbonated drinks may make the small stomach pouch larger and recommend that they should be avoided.
Foods To Avoid
- syrups
- cakes
- biscuits
- jam
- honey
- pies
- chips
- pastries
- cookies
Common Problem Foods
Some foods have a hard time passing through the stoma and can cause a blockage. Below are a few of the foods that can cause problems.
- dry meat
- shrimp
- doughy bread or bread that isn't toasted
- pasta
- rice
- peanut butter
- dried fruit
- vegetables like corn, asparagus, and celery
- nuts,
- coconuts
- popcorn
- fried foods
- seeds and skins from fruits or vegetables
- citrus fruits
You can introduce these foods slowly and see if you can tolerate them. Chew them well and always follow your doctors advice.
Exercise
Last but not least, the nasty word exercise. Adding exercise is as important as eating healthy. Ask your doctor what activities are best for you.
In conclusion
The weight loss surgery diet might vary from the above recommendations. The diet above is just a general nutrition plan. After your surgery your doctor or dietician will sit down and go over your dietary and nutritional needs. As I said earlier, the diet will vary between the type of weight loss surgery you have and individual needs. Good luck on your journey.