According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 133.6 million Americans are either overweight or obese. While most people lose excess weight through a combination of exercise and dieting, many people look to medical treatments. One of the most popular forms of weight-loss surgery is gastric bypass. It essentially shrinks a person's stomach, which will limit the amount of food he can consume and aid in losing weight.
Purpose of the Diet
The purpose of following the post-gastric bypass diet is to allow your body to adapt to such a significant change. According to the Mayo Clinic, first and foremost following the procedure, your stomach needs time to heal, which automatically restricts the amount of food the patient can consume. Second, it takes a decent amount of time for the body to get familiar with you eating just a fraction of what you used to eat a day. The final reason for following the proper diet is to allow for the procedure to work properly and to allow you to shed weight. This means minimizing any potential side effects and also to begin the weight-loss journey.
Phases of the Diet
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, immediately following the procedure, the patient will not be allowed to eat for 24 to 48 hours, to allow the body to rest from the shock. Following that, a strict liquid diet must be followed for the first phase of the diet. Soup, broth, milk, gelatin, and water are essentially the limit of what the patient can eat for three to seven days. Following phase 1, the patient can begin to transition to phase 2 and pureed foods. Temple University says that any food consumed must be smooth and not have any solids within it. If vegetables, meats, fruits, fish, eggs, or anything similar to that are to be consumed, they must be put through a blender and served smooth. Doctors typically recommend staying away from spicy foods during this time, as they may aggravate the stomach. Phase 2 will last for two to four weeks. The final phase before solid foods is consuming soft foods. Among the suggestions from the University of Rochester Medical Center are soft fruits, cooked vegetables, and diced meats. The general rule of thumb is to mash the food with a fork and if it works, you can eat it. This phase lasts roughly eight weeks, followed by the return to solid foods again.
Results of the Diet
Within the first two years, a patient can expect to lose at least 50 percent of his excess weight if the dietary and exercise recommendations are followed, states the Mayo Clinic. Even following the surgery, it is important to eat healthy and get the daily exercise requirements, cautions Temple University. The patient will have to have regular checkups with her doctor to make sure that no complications have developed and that she is on a healthy weight-loss track. Despite having the initial assistance of gastric bypass surgery, the patient must following his diet and increase his exercise to get the desired result.
