Eating right is the key to seeing benefits from bariatric surgery.
If you've had bariatric surgery, or surgery to reduce your stomach size, you've taken a major first step to a healthier weight and lifestyle. But some who have had stomach reduction surgery take this step only to gain the weight back. The key to making the most of reducing your stomach size is to maintain a healthy eating regimen combined with exercise.
Portion Size
From this point forward, portion sizes must be smaller. Even though your stomach size has been reduced, it can still be stretched out again by frequent overeating. Instead, the key is to make each bite count. Because your stomach size is smaller, you should feel full more easily. However, if you still feel hungry, you can eat zero-calorie foods such as vegetables. Carrot or celery sticks are both good options.
Foods to Avoid
One condition that you should be especially wary of is called dumping syndrome, a condition that occurs when you consume foods that are too high in fat or sugar. Symptoms include sleepiness, light-headedness, profuse sweating, rapid heart rate, cramping, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea. Danger foods include candy or junk food, fried foods, fruit juices, sodas, fatty meat, processed foods and starches that come from white rice, refined sugar or bleached flour.
Foods to Eat
Because your stomach is no longer able to absorb all of the nutrients in food, you must eat certain foods and supplement your diet. Protein-rich foods must be eaten so that your body can absorb the minimum 60 grams daily to maintain lean muscle mass. In addition, a high-potency multivitamin with iron should be taken to supplement your food intake.
