Gastric bypass surgery reduces the stomach's size so that food can bypass part of the small intestine. The reduced size of the stomach helps you to feel full more quickly so that you consume less food and lower your daily caloric intake. You also absorb fewer calories during the digestive process with bypassing part of the small intestine.
Pre-operation Diet
To prepare for surgery, your doctor will provide a special diet to begin one or two months before its scheduled date. The diet is intended to prepare you to maintain new eating habits once the gastric bypass is performed. It is important to become accustomed to the new diet as your stomach will not be able to store much food after the surgery. Overeating will trigger nausea and vomiting, and risks stretching the newly defined stomach area. Because your body will absorb less of the food you consume, it is also critical that you ensure you are receiving sufficient nutrients and protein to maintain general good health. Beginning your new eating habits well before surgery also allows the liver time to shrink. This enables your surgeon to access your stomach via a smaller incision.
Recommended Pre-operation Food Types
The general gastric bypass pre-operative diet requires daily intake of four protein servings, two whole grain servings, two servings of fruits and vegetables, and three servings of healthy fats. Select lean proteins such as fish, lean meat, nuts, beans, low-fat dairy products and eggs. Healthy fats are limited to nuts and various oils, for example, flaxseed, canola and olive. Maintain your high-fiber, low-fat diet until seven days before the bypass procedure is scheduled. At that point, you will be advised to switch to a liquid protein diet consisting of six to seven servings of a commercial diet shake such as Ensure, Slim Fast or Boost. It is important to consume a minimum of six 8-ounce glasses of water each day, especially during the final seven days before surgery. In addition to water, you may have sugar-free clear liquids, such as Kool-Aid or Crystal Light. Avoid sugary, carbonated and caffeinated beverages.
Pre-operation Portion Control
Portion control is the most critical component of the gastric bypass surgery lifestyle. Learn to adjust to smaller portions. After your surgery, you will be able to eat very small amounts of food in one sitting. Read the labels of everything you prepare and consume. Eat only suggested serving amounts as listed on package labels. Measure everything before eating. For foods without label recommendations, meat servings should be 3 ounces, raw vegetable servings are a cup, bean portions are 4 ounces, and cooked vegetables, pasta, and juice portions are half a cup. Fruit portions differ based on the type of fruit. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your individual eating plan before and after surgery.
