Bariatric or weight loss surgery is surgery that alters the digestive system in order to limit the amount of food consumed and absorbed. Bariatric surgeries such as gastric bypass, banding and gastrecomy, help patients lose weight and lower secondary medical problems that can often occur in conjunction with obesity. Bariatric surgery can be very successful if patients follow specific post-surgical requirements in the areas of nutrition and exercise.
Transition to Solid Foods
Immediately following gastric bypass surgery, there are basic guidelines all patients need to follow to stay healthy and keep sutures or bands in place. Be sure to adhere to these guidelines for a safe and healthy recovery.
While in the hospital, take clear liquids only. Begin with small sips of water on day one in order to avoid overfilling the stomach. If you tolerate the water well, you can add a protein liquid to improve your nutritional intake.
Upon leaving the hospital, follow a liquid protein diet for the first three weeks, taking very small amounts of liquids over a long period of time. Sip water and protein drinks at the rate of about 2 oz. every 15 minutes.
After your three-week post-surgery checkup, begin a soft foods diet with your doctor's approval. At first, add some soft foods to the liquid diet, eventually transitioning completely to soft foods. Protein dense foods should be chosen over starchy ones. Choose foods such as eggs, low-fat yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, tuna, ground poultry, bean dishes, soft cooked vegetables, low-fat soups, tofu and low-fat cheeses.
After 10 to 12 weeks following surgery, you can begin to implement solid foods into your eating plan. Add solid foods one at a time, testing your tolerance for each one. Healthy foods must be eaten most of the time to avoid reverting to junk foods and bad eating habits. Chewing is especially important to keep the stomach from overfilling, as is taking liquids before or after meals to keep the stomach from filling up too soon.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
Vitamin and mineral supplements are extremely important to bariatric patients. Because the size of the stomach has decreased, the necessary nutrients needed for good health may not be absorbed in adequate amounts. To remedy this, take a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement. Choose a chewable supplement the first few weeks after surgery; after a few weeks, you can switch to a tablet or pill. An additional source of calcium is also needed for bariatric patients, as the ability to absorb and utilize calcium is decreased. Take two chewable calcium tablets containing 500 to 600 mg of calcium citrate daily to meet recommended calcium requirements for bariatric patients.
Eat Slowly
When beginning a solid food diet, be sure to chew food slowly to learn when your stomach is full. It is important to recognize fullness in order to learn to avoid overfilling and consuming too many calories. Eating too much or eating too fast can cause vomiting in bariatric patients.
Avoid Certain Foods
There are some foods that can cause complications with bariatric surgery. Avoid these foods for at least three to six months after surgery, taking care to limit the intake of these foods even after the waiting period is over. Foods to avoid include carbonated drinks; sugar sweetened caffeinated beverages; shredded coconut; tough or dry meats; the membranes of seeds and skins of fruits and vegetables;
fresh or soft bread and bread products; fried or high fat foods; whole milk and whole milk products. Because the size and shape of the stomach has changed, be sure to avoid these foods since they can fill the stomach without providing maximum nutrients.
