Being Successful with the Bariatric Surgery Diet

The bariatric surgery diet is what a gastric bypass patient will follow for at least the first eight weeks following their weight loss surgery. This diet may seem complicated, but it is actually very simple. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you have a stomach that is the size of an egg and you will not be able to consume more than an ounce or two at any given time. For the first 3 months eating will be a full time job and will take a lot of concentration. You do not want to overeat.

The first 24 hours following your surgery you will be fed a clear liquid diet while you are in the hospital. You will probably only be able to take a sip or two at a time and you will have to wait before you are able to continue. You may not even be hungry at this time, but you will have to make an effort to eat to keep up your strength and begin the healing process. You will move to step 2 of the diet before leaving the hospital.

This part of the diet is liquid protein shakes, baby food or strained, pureed foods. It is important to eat slowly so that you learn to recognize when you are full. Eating too much too quickly following this surgery can cause severe pain. It is important to discontinue drinking 30 minutes before a meal and not to drink again for 30 minutes following a meal. This will be true for the rest of your life. It is hard for me to explain exactly why, but anytime I have had too much liquid while eating it has caused severe pain and I have had it last as long as an hour. It has something to do with air trapped above your stomach that cannot exit.

Step 3 of this diet can begin as early as the beginning of the third week or you can wait as long as the beginning of the ninth week. You can pretty much have anything you want, but eating soft foods is where you want to begin. Avoid foods high in sugar or fat. Go slow and chew extremely well. Not chewing well and swallowing too much at one time and can bring horrible pain. It will not hurt you physically, but it will cause extreme discomfort and can last as long as an hour. Trust me when I tell you, it is best to do the things that will allow you to avoid this pain.

In Step 4 you will return to eating as normal. You will be eating a lot less and some course foods, such as; meats will be difficult. These foods will probably need cut up and maybe softened with liquid, especially in the early months. It is important to eat slowly and to chew well. If you overeat, it may cause vomiting. Sugar and excess fat can cause dumping syndrome and flu like symptoms. And this may be true for the rest of your life. Take things slow and embrace your new life as you learn to eat healthy and return to a healthy weight.