Questions About Diet After
Gastric Bypass
What Food Can I Eat After Gastric Bypass
Surgery?
Obese patients who undergo stomach bypass need to make significant dietary
changes to their normal daily eating habits. For the first couple of days
after your operation you ingest only clear liquids. For the following
14 days, or so, you may add other liquids. Then you progress to a pureed
semi-solid diet for about the next five weeks. Finally, about eight weeks
after bypass surgery, you progress to a solid food diet, low in fat and
sugar.
How Many Meals Should I Eat Each Day,
After Gastric Bypass?
To begin with, you need to eat about 5 to 6 small meals/snacks each day.
Over time, your new small stomach pouch will stretch more and allow you
to eat slightly larger meals. With time, you will be able to eat 3 meals
and 1 to 2 high-protein snacks a day.
How Do I Maintain the Proper Intake
of Nutrients?
As part of your post-operative support, your dietitian will help you plan
healthy meals with maximum nutritional ingredients. For example, you learn
how to include a variety of foods in your diet that are rich in nutrients
like protein, fat and carbs, plus micronutrients like vitamins, minerals
and phytochemicals for optimum nutrition. However, since your digestive
system cannot absorb all the necessary nutrition from food after a gastric
bypass operation, your bariatric physician or dietitian will place you
on a lifelong program of nutritional supplements.
How Do I Recognize the Dangers of Over-Eating?
The symptoms of overeating or eating the wrong foods are immediate. They
include:
- Pressure or fullness in the center below
your rib cage
- Nausea
- Pain in your shoulder or upper chest
Note: When you start to experience feelings
of fullness, stop eating, even if you have not finished your meal.
Can I Exercise After Having a Stomach
Bypass?
Yes. Bariatric surgeons recommend some immediate gentle exercise, like
slow walking. Physical activity helps to maintain muscle mass and maximize
your weight loss. However, for optimum health, always discuss exercise
options with your doctor.
What Support is Available to Help Me
Make These Diet Changes?
Most weight loss centers that perform bariatric bypass surgeries offer
comprehensive counseling on post-operative diet and eating guidelines.
In addition, a dietitian will help you to plan meals and recipes. Finally,
most surgical centers maintain local support groups for mutual patient
support and motivation.
What Happens If I Cheat and Overeat
After Gastric Bypass?
Many obese patients who have gastric bypass surgery have experienced problems
with overeating. The causes for this type of disordered eating are complex,
involving genetics, emotions, hormones, family-upbringing, and even brain
function. None of this changes after stomach bypass surgery, except that
the stomach is now much smaller and can accomodate only small food portions.
If you eat more than your new stomach can hold, you will experience vomiting,
nausea, diarrhea and dehydration, expansion of the pouch, and ultimately
reduced weight loss and possible weight gain.
Note: Gastrointestinal weight loss surgery,
whether bypass or stomach banding, to reduce severe clinical obesity is
a serious undertaking requiring detailed consultation with your doctor
and bariatric physician. In particular, it necessitates significant lifelong
changes to patients dietary and eating habits.
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