What Can I Eat Before Gastric Bypass Surgery

Losing weight can seem like a daunting task especially if you have a significant amount of pounds to shed or are battling a medical condition that makes the process even more difficult. If you have a BMI of more than 40, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnoea, then Gastric Bypass Surgery might be the best option for you, especially if other diet and exercise strategies have proved to be ineffective. As with all types of surgery, it is imperative to prepare properly in order to ensure a successful procedure and begin to reap the benefits as soon as possible. Avoiding certain types of medication, quitting the use of tobacco products, drinking more water and changing your diet are some of the things you can do in the months and weeks leading up to your surgery. As the day of surgery nears, you will need to reduce your portions, severely cut down on the calories you take in and limit the types of food you eat. The main purpose behind lowering your calorie intake is to reduce the size of your liver and decrease the chances of developing complications during and after. Below are a few foods that are safe to eat before you go in for gastric bypass surgery:

Lean Protein

Lean protein from sources such as beef, chicken, fish, pork and vegetarian sources are recommended prior to your gastric bypass surgery. These foods help to keep you fuller for longer, reducing the chances that you will reach for unhealthy snacks which may sabotage your weight loss. Eating lean protein also helps to raise your metabolism as protein requires more energy to digest than other food sources which helps your body burn more calories and ultimately contributes to your weight loss. Finally, lean proteins help to repair tissues damaged from exercise, which improves your recovery time and allows you to return to your regime faster. Exercise is imperative in the months leading up to surgery as a way to help you lose weight faster.

Fruits and vegetables

In addition to being chockfull of healthy vitamins and minerals which help you stay energized during a weight loss program, fruits and vegetables contain fibre which helps you stay fuller for longer and thus aids in appetite control. A word of caution however, it is important to avoid carbohydrate dense fruits and vegetables such as bananas, potatoes and others as these can sabotage your weight loss efforts.

Whole grain products

Whole grain products such as oatmeal, brown rice, barley, millet and others serve the same purpose as lean protein and fruit and vegetables as they help you feel full and avoid eating extra calories that may lead to weight gain.

Foods to avoid

In addition to ensuring that you get adequate nutrition from healthy food sources, you should avoid certain foods that may slow down your weight loss and have other undesirable health effects. These include:

Nuts and seeds
Tough meats
Extremely fibrous vegetables such as broccoli, celery and cabbage.
Carbonated beverages
Fried foods
Alcoholic drinks
High carb foods such as breads, rice and pasta.
High fat foods

Ensure to drink plenty of water in order to keep hydrated and keep food moving easily through your digestive system.

2 Week Pre-op Liquid Diet

In order to reduce the fatty tissue around your liver even further, a liquid diet is recommended up to 2 weeks before your gastric bypass surgery. The liver and stomach are extremely close together and having an oversized liver may lead to complications with your surgery. The 2 week pre-op liquid diet must be followed strictly for maximum effect. Below are the elements of a liquid pre-op diet prior to gastric by-pass surgery:

Use of protein and meal replacement shakes.
Incorporation of solid free broth.
Avoidance of sweetened and carbonated drinks.
Use of vegetable juices instead of actual vegetables.
Limiting or avoiding caffeinated drinks altogether.
Drinking plenty of water (up to 16 ounces a day)

Important pre-op surgery tips

The following tips will dramatically improve the success of your gastric by-pass surgery:

Avoid eating or drinking anything up to 24 hours before the surgery.
Stop taking medications such as steroids, anti-coagulant drugs, birth control medications and replacement pills at least a week before surgery.
Stop smoking to reduce the risk of blood clots and other complications during surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery is an effective way for people who are unable to lose weight using conventional methods to shed extra pounds. In addition, it can be a potentially life changing procedure for people who are experiencing complications from obesity or those who are extremely overweight. However, it is important to prepare properly in the weeks and months leading up to the surgery and ensure that you lose some weight as well as clear your stomach prior to having the procedure. Following a few simple strategies and a strict calorie controlled diet should significantly improve the chances of your surgery’s success.