What To Eat After Gastric Bypass Surgery
What are you going to eat after your gastric bypass surgery? You have successfully completed your gastric bypass surgery and are well on your way to shedding the extra pounds you have been carrying on your frame. However, successful recovery from your surgery is contingent on several factors including getting enough rest, incorporating mild exercise and most important of all, following a strict post-op diet. You have just been through a major surgery in order to take care of a problem that has probably caused you untold misery for years. The last thing you want to do is sabotage your success by neglecting your diet or slipping back into old habits. Immediately following your surgery, you will have stitches or a staple line that must be cared for properly in order to promote healing and avoid complications such as healing. Following a doctor-ordered post op diet will help you to avoid these complications and help you recover much quicker. The following are the main elements of an effective post-op diet:
Purposes of the Gastric Bypass Surgery Post Op Diet
The post op diet serves several purposes:
- To allow your stomach to heal properly without being stretched by too much food.
- Avoid tearing of stitches and other complications after surgery.
- Allow your system to get used to eating smaller portions after reduced stomach capacity.
- Stimulate your weight loss.
Clear liquids
This part of the diet should be followed up to 7 days after surgery and is crucial for ensuring that your body gets the nutrition it needs while getting enough rest to allow for complete healing. You will want to avoid overburdening your digestive system and especially your stomach to avoid tearing stitches and stretching your stomach too much. Your doctor will recommend the duration of the clear liquid stage. As a rule, limit your consumption to 1-2 ounces per hour to avoid stretching your stomach too much. The following are the liquids you may consume during this period:
- Water
- Vegetable, chicken or beef broth (all solids strained)
- Skimmed Milk (unless you are lactose intolerant)
- Unsweetened juice.
Ensure to follow your doctors guidelines which will normally recommend consuming some type of liquid every one or two hours.
Protein shakes
By the second week after your surgery, your digestive system should be sufficiently recovered to allow for the inclusion of protein shakes that will help repair healing tissues and provide you with much needed energy for more activities. This stage will normally last one week and will involve drinking protein shakes in small portions in accordance with a smaller stomach size. Pureed foods may also be introduced at this stage although they should be consumed in small amounts of up to 60 grams per portion.
Protein foods that are safe to eat include: egg whites, pureed soft meats and protein shakes. You may also puree beans and soft foods and vegetables. Puree solid foods with liquids such as broth, skim milk or water. Dairy products such as cream and cottage cheese may also be consumed. Clear liquids from stage 1 are also allowed although it is recommended that you avoid consuming them 30 minutes before solid meals and 60 minutes after. Avoid spicy foods and carbonated drinks and ensure to sip your drinks slowly.
Soft foods
In the 3rd and 4th week, you will slowly re-introduce soft foods into your diet. Foods that you can eat at this stage include soft meats (ground or finely chopped), fresh fruit with the skin removed and cooked vegetables with the skin removed. The following are the foods you are allowed to eat at this stage:
- Lean poultry (turkey or chicken)
- Egg whites.
- Fish
- Soft cheeses
- Carrots
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Other soft foods.
Serving sizes should be limited to 1-2 ounces and meals should be eaten 3-6 times per day. This stage may last up to 2 weeks depending on your doctor’s recommendation.
Solid foods
This is the final stage of your post op diet where you will finally re-introduce solid foods. It is also the stage where you introduce the diet that you will consume for the rest of your life. You will want to avoid going back to the poor eating habits that led to your gaining all that weight. Start by introducing one healthy food and see how your body reacts. At this stage, it is still imperative to avoid foods that may cause nausea, vomiting or pain. Your diet should primarily consist of lean protein, fresh produce, water and health fats in moderation. Avoid processed and high fat foods, carbonated and sweetened drinks, high carbohydrate foods and other unhealthy food options.
A proper pre-op diet is imperative to ensure complete recovery after your gastric bypass surgery. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and follow the diet until you are completely recovered. Avoid sabotaging your efforts by going back to bad eating habits and you should be able to see the results you want within a reasonable amount of time.