After having bariatric surgery, it is very important to stick to the diet rules that were given to you. Your health care providers carefully put together these guidelines to help you limit the number of calories you eat while still eating well-balanced meals that keep muscle tissue and avoid nutrient deficiencies.
At first, this new way of eating might seem hard to follow, but most people find that after a while, the rules become a natural part of their daily lives.
Some general rules
• Eat small meals that are well-balanced.
• Eat foods that are low in sugar, fat, and calories.
• Write down every day how much food you eat, how many calories you eat, and how much protein you eat.
• Take small bites of food and chew them well.
When you're hungry, stay away from rice, bread, raw veggies and fruits, and tough meats like pork and steak. Most of the time, ground meats are better accepted.
• Don't chew ice, use straws, or drink fizzy drinks. They can put air into your pouch, which can be painful.
• Stay away from sugar, foods and drinks that contain sugar, and sweets and fruit juices that are highly concentrated.
• For the first two months after surgery, you should focus on drinking thin and thick drinks to get between 300 and 600 calories a day.
• You shouldn't eat more than 1,000 calories a day.
Fluids
• To keep from getting dehydrated, drink more water and low-calorie or calorie-free drinks in between meals. No caffeine should be in any drinks.
• Drink about a cup of water every six to eight hours, in between small meals.
• Every day, you should drink at least 2 liters, which is 64 ounces or 8 cups. You'll be able to reach this goal over time.We strongly advise you not to drink any alcoholic drinks. It's harder to predict and control how much booze will affect your mood and sedation after surgery because your body absorbs it much faster than before.
Gluten-
Eat foods that are high in protein to keep your muscles healthy. Eggs, meat, seafood, tuna, chicken, soy milk, tofu, cottage cheese, yogurt, and other milk products are all high in protein. At least 65 to 75 grams of protein every day should be your goal. It's okay if you can't reach this goal in the first few months after surgery.
Adding Things
To avoid nutrient deficiencies, you must take the following products every day. Remember that all of the pills need to be broken up or crushed into six to eight small pieces. You can't take whole pills as well as you could before surgery, and the pills may have a hard time getting through your new body.
Mixes of vitamins
Every day, take a chewable multivitamin and mineral tablet that has at least 18 mg of iron, 400 mcg of folic acid, selenium, copper, and zinc. Trader Joe's and Centrum Adult chewable multivitamins both have this mix in them. After surgery, take two tablets every day for at least three months. After that, take one tablet every day for the rest of your life.
Supplement for Calcium
To avoid bone cancer and not getting enough calcium, take 1,200 to 2,000 mg of calcium every day. To get the most out of the calcium, spread it out over the course of the day. For example, take a 500–600 mg tablet three times a day. Calcium citrate is the best type of calcium.
Supplement for vitamin D
You should get between 800 and 1000 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D every day. You should take this whole amount in two separate doses of 400 to 500 IUs each day. When you take calcium, you should also take vitamin D. You can escape taking multiple pills by taking a calcium-vitamin D supplement instead, as long as it has the right amounts of both.
Supplement for vitamin B12
Every day, take 500 mcg of vitamin B. There are pill forms that can be taken or forms that are put under the tongue.
Different Add-Ons
Some patients, especially women who are still having their periods, need extra iron or folic acid pills. This is something your nutritionist will talk to you about.
Progress in Diet After Weight Loss Surgery
After surgery, you will start with a clear liquid meal right away. If you are ready, you can slowly start drinking thicker drinks after you leave the hospital.
After two weeks, you can move on to mixed and puréed foods. During this time, you can get the protein you need by drinking or mixing shakes or drinks that are high in protein (more than 20 grams) and low in calories (less than 200 calories).
You should know that after surgery, your stomach is very small—less than 1/4 cup, or about the size of an egg. And the hole in your stomach that lets food go is also very small. To avoid this, it is best to try new foods slowly, taking only two to three bites or sips at a time. After 10 minutes, you should try again. This will teach you your boundaries and how much you can handle. When you eat, liquids go down faster than soft foods.
If you eat too much or too quickly, you might feel sick or hurt. Stay away from thick, creamy drinks like gravies, sauces, and ice cream.
What to Eat in the Hospital
As your first meal after surgery, you will get clear drinks like broth, juice, and Jell-O. Juice and Jell-O have a lot of sugar in them, but at this point, your amounts will be very small. As you get used to it, slowly increase the amount of water you drink with each meal.
What to Eat for the First Two Weeks After Surgery
As you go along, you'll add more thick drinks that are high in protein and low in fat and sugar. (The list below gives you some ideas.) During this time, you can get the protein you need by drinking or mixing shakes or drinks that are high in protein and low in calories.
The goal is to eat small amounts that are easy to empty from your pouch. Start with servings of 1 tablespoon and work your way up to 2 tablespoons as you can handle it. Start with 1/4 cup of fluids at a time and work your way up to 1/2 cup as you can handle it. The most calories you should eat in a day is 400.
Also, it's important to drink plenty of water. Water or other non-caloric drinks should be drunk every day.
If you can handle milk, nonfat or 1% milk is a good choice for stronger drinks.
• Low-calorie drinks made from soy or without lactose
• Yogurt without added sugar • Pudding without added sugar
• Cottage cheese with less fat • Other low-fat soups made with broth
• Hot foods that have been refined and don't have much fiber, like cream of rice or cream of wheat. Add more liquid when you're making them to make them more like soup. If you want to, you can drink a high-protein, low-calorie supplement drink. A dose of these drinks should have less than 200 calories and more than 20 grams of protein.
For every 1/2 cup of nonfat or low-fat milk, add 2 tablespoons of non-fat dry milk powder, egg replacement or powered egg, or another protein powder. This will help you get more protein. These can also be put in soups, hot cereal, and other thick drinks.
Don't forget to drink one cup of water or another non-calorie drink in between meals. Every day, take a multivitamin pill.
What to Eat for Two to Four Weeks After Surgery
As accepted, start adding very small amounts of soft and puréed foods. Chew everything very well and take very small bites. When you add a new food, don't eat more than two bites every 20 minutes.
Soft and well-cooked veggies, hot cereals, mashed potatoes, noodles, scrambled egg whites or egg substitute, canned fruits, tuna fish, tofu, lean ground meats or poultry, and applesauce are some of the best soft and well-cooked foods that you can eat.
Don't eat any bread or meat that is hard to chew.
Planned meals for weeks two through eight until two months after surgery
At this point, you shouldn't eat more than 500 calories a day, spread out over six to eight small meals. It is suggested that you eat 1/4 cup of solids and 1/2 cup of drinks each time.
Free Sample meal: This free sample meal has many safe foods for you to eat. You can change the menu to suit your likes and dietary needs.
Breakfast
1/4 cup of non-fat milk-based hot cereal
In the middle of the morning, drink 1/2 cup of nonfat milk.
Two egg whites made in a fry pan
Lunch
1/2 cup chicken noodle soup with less fat
In the middle of the afternoon
1/4 cup cottage cheese without the fat
Late afternoon
1/4 cup nonfat yogurt with no added sugar
Dinner
2 ounces of lean ground beef
1/4 cup veggies that have been puréed or cooked well
Snack Before Bed
1/4 cup milk without fat For extra protein, mix 1/4 cup of nonfat milk with 1 tablespoon of nonfat dry milk powder.
Don't forget to drink one cup of water or another non-calorie drink in between meals. Every day, you should take a multivitamin and mineral supplement, plus extra iron if needed. Every two to three hours, you should also take a calcium and vitamin D supplement.
Plan of meals to follow for two to six months after surgery
Every day, eat between 900 and 1000 calories and at least 65 to 75 grams of protein. For a healthy diet, you should eat the following every day
• 3 servings of milk and dairy products (nonfat and low-fat)
• Three servings of lean meat or a meat substitute
• Three servings of starch (but not too much bread or rice)
• One piece of fruit (avoid fruits that are dried out or have skin on them).
• Two plates of vegetables (must be well-cooked)
It is suggested that you eat 1/4 cup of solids and 1/2 cup of drinks each time.
If you can, stop taking liquid or powdered supplements that are high in protein. Food is the best way to get the energy you need.
A Sample Menu
What's on this sample menu are all safe things for you to eat. You can change the menu to suit your likes and dietary needs.
Breakfast
1 egg or 1/4 cup egg replacement
1/2 cup of cereal
Around noon, a half cup of nonfat milk
Late in the morning
1/2 cup of cut up melon
Lunch
1/2 cup chicken noodle soup with less fat
Two biscuits with salt
In the middle of the afternoon
1/4 cup cottage cheese without the fat
1/4 cup fruit in a can that is packed in juice or water
Late afternoon
1/2 cup yogurt without added sugar or fat
Dinner
2 ounces of fish or lean meat
1/4 cup of mashed potatoes
1/4 cup cooked veggies that have been pureed
Snack Before Bed
1/2 cup milk without fat
There are eight small meals a day on the sample menu. You should eat at least six times a day, but you can eat more or less often if you want to.
Don't forget to drink one cup of water or another non-calorie-containing drink every three hours. Every day, you should take a multivitamin and mineral pill, and if you need more iron, you should take extra iron. Besides that, you need to take calcium and vitamin D pills three to four times a day.
suggested meal plan for six months after surgery and longer
• Stick to 900 to 1,000 calories a day
• Eat only three meals and two or three snacks a day
• Stop drinking high-protein drinks
• Eat more low-fat, low-sugar, and low-calorie foods as tolerated
• Avoid raw vegetables, fresh fruits with skins, dried fruits, breads, popcorn, nuts, and red meats only if they are not well tolerated.
Dietary Guidelines for the Long Term
Over time, you'll be able to eat a wider range of things that are still good for you. Some foods, like red meat, chicken, breads, and fruits and veggies high in fiber, may still not be well tolerated. Keep tracking your calories every day and eat foods that are low in fat, sugar, and calories. Try to eat the right amount of each food group based on the diet plan for 900 to 1000 calories given above.
To stay hydrated, you should drink at least 2 liters of water or other non-caloric fluids every day, unless your health makes this impossible.
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