A post bariatric surgery diet is very straightforward during the first six months of recovery because the body needs time to heal properly before the stomach and other organs can correctly digest all foods. Sure, some post bariatric diets may have some alterations according to the dietary restrictions of each patient, such as allergies, lifestyle choices, or any medical conditions that prevent them from having certain foods. This post bariatric surgery diet plan will be provided as part of our integrative bariatric program, which focuses on different areas so the patients receive well-rounded attention that covers all their needs.
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This means that your treatment doesn’t end once you exit the operating room and you’ll receive different types of support, such as physical, psychological, and nutritional. Every bariatric patient needs to change their eating habits before and after their clinical intervention. This is why the nutritionists at the LIMARP® clinic at Tijuana offer a personal diet program along with specific recipes and guidelines to follow at different stages of their treatment. These guidelines are provided by a professional specialized in bariatric nutrition.
For this article, we’ll talk about the post bariatric surgery diet, covering the first months of recovery, as well as the different diet options the patient can follow once they’re cleared by their doctor. At LIMARP®, we know that the solution for obesity cannot rely on a single action such as a surgery. Weight loss surgery is one definite step, for sure, as it accomplishes dramatic results in a very short time, but it is not sufficient by itself for maintaining low weight and staying healthy in the long term. Our team of doctors at the Tijuana clinic, led by Dr. Liza María Pompa González, offers an Integrative Bariatric Program that tackles obesity with a set of different complementary interventions.
As always, we’d like to remind you that the information presented in this article may not apply to all cases, and if you’re currently following a post bariatric diet that’s not working for you, make sure to contact your doctor as soon as possible so they can provide the proper alternatives.
A Deeper Look Into a Post Bariatric Surgery Diet
A post bariatric surgery diet is an essential part of any bariatric treatment. After bariatric surgery, the size of your stomach gets drastically reduced, and a post bariatric surgery diet will help your body get used to its new self. Of course, this diet is also a big part of your weight loss journey. Compliance to your post bariatric surgery diet will help you get on track for your new, healthier, long-term eating habits.
When it comes to post bariatric surgery diets, our specialists provide thorough nutrition planning for patients as part of our integrative bariatric program and these plans will vary based on the type of procedure you receive. Post bariatric surgery diet plans schedule a gradual introduction of foods, from liquids to solids, to allow your stomach ample time to heal properly, which reduces your risk of future complications. Allowing your stomach to heal also increases your odds of achieving your weight loss goals and keeping the weight off in the long-term.
Post bariatric surgery diet plans are essential for all bariatric surgery patients. Those individuals who undergo malabsorptive procedures must learn to choose foods and supplements that ensure they receive the nutrients they need. With our tailored plans, all patients can discover more options that will benefit their health and unique situation.
Stages of a Postoperative Diet
As your stomach heals, you will go through various stages of eating during your postoperative diet. This means that the foods that you can and cannot eat after bariatric surgery will also change.
Liquids
You will only have clear liquids for one to seven days following your bariatric surgery. This includes, of course, water, but also chicken, beef or vegetable broth, popsicles and gelatin. You may only drink two to three ounces of liquid at a time and you must drink them very slowly. When your post bariatric surgery diet allows for it, you may begin drinking non-clear liquids for one week. These include skim milk, unsweetened plant-based milks, soups, sugar-free juices, and decaffeinated coffee or tea.
Pureed Foods
As your body becomes more tolerant, you may start introducing pureed foods to your post bariatric surgery diet. You will eat them exclusively for three to four full weeks. You may also have protein shakes during this time, but should not eat and drink at the same time during this stage because you will not be accustomed to the smaller size of your stomach and will likely be unable to gauge when you are full. Examples of good pureed-consistency foods are scrambled eggs, cooked and smashed vegetables, grounded meat, humus, yogurts and pates.
Soft Foods
After three to four weeks of pureed foods, your post bariatric surgery diet plan will begin to change again, and you may begin to introduce soft foods. You may eat a combination of pureed and soft foods for about two weeks. Soft foods should be cut or shredded into very small pieces and may include foods such as diced fish or chicken or ground meats, canned or soft fruit with no seeds or skin, and cooked vegetables with no skin. Other good options are rice, lentils, tuna and soft cheeses.
Healthy Solid Foods
After about six to eight weeks, you may gradually introduce more solid foods into your post bariatric surgery diet, but you should continue cutting your food into small, easily digestible bites. You may not tolerate some foods right away, such as spicy or extremely crunchy foods. However, you may be able to incorporate them back into your diet at a later time. It is important to continue eating small meals and to make healthy choices that focus on protein, vegetables, and fruits.
Although you’ll be able to eat many different types of food after your recovery, it is still important to remember that you should still avoid certain foods that can lead you on a wrong track from your weight loss goals and away from healthy eating habits, like high-calorie, high-fat and high-carbohydrate foods, junk foods, sugary drinks and alcohol.
Once you’re cleared by your doctor, you’ll be able to follow a post bariatric surgery diet plan that’s more in line with your lifestyle. There are many questions regarding whether a bariatric patient can take up any diet following their surgery and we understand that many people may be nervous or worried to gain back the weight or accidentally hurt themselves because they didn’t watch what they eat.
It’s very important to be mindful of the food you eat while on a post bariatric surgery diet, which is why we recommend that you work alongside your nutritionist to find the right post bariatric diet plan. Next, we’ll talk about some of the dangers of not sticking to the plan provided by your doctor, as well as an example of specific diets and how well they work for bariatric patients.
The Dangers of Not Following a Post Bariatric Surgery Diet
Eating a lot is not recommended after this surgery and doing so would mean breaking the post bariatric surgery diet your doctor recommended to maintain a healthy weight. Overeating can take form in irregular snacking behaviors or binging during meals despite being full. Because the surgery removes a large portion of your stomach, overeating can result in significant weight gain or plateaus, as well as abdominal pain, cramps, frequent indigestion, and heartburn.
Overeating and ignoring your post bariatric surgery diet can also result in the following symptoms:
- Vomiting and Diarrhea: When the stomach receives more food than it can hold, it’s natural for the body to release the contents through vomiting or diarrhea. Overeating while being on a post bariatric surgery diet can also affect the body’s digestion.
- Dumping Syndrome: This can happen when the food you consume, usually undigested, passes too quickly through the intestine, and it’s usually a reaction that the stomach has when it comes to overeating. Some symptoms may include increased sweating, diarrhea, dizziness, and nausea. However, the most concerning side effect is the sudden drop in blood sugar; if you happen to experience this, seek urgent help immediately.
- Stretching of the Stomach: The stomach stretching to a larger size is the most serious consequence of overeating after gastric sleeve surgery. Repeatedly eating large meals will undo the progress surgery allowed you to make and you’ll regain the weight you lost due to your stomach stretching.
Examples of Post Bariatric Surgery Diets
There are several post bariatric surgery diet plans that help improve the patient’s overall health, not only by helping them keep an ideal weight, but by benefiting their quality of life or helping them reach specific goals. You may have a lot of questions regarding the type of post bariatric surgery diet you can follow once you’ve recovered, and in this section of the article, we’ll give some examples on which diets can be recommended for bariatric patients.
One of these post bariatric surgery diets is the keto diet, which primarily consists in consuming a high-fat, low-carb diet that drives the patient’s body into ketosis, a metabolic state that elevates the ketone levels in their blood systems. Some studies have concluded that the keto diet can be suitable for bariatric patients that are in the preoperative process or any other type of non-surgical procedure.
A 2020[1] study stated that a low calorie keto diet is one of the most frequent methods for “the induction of a preoperative weight loss”, but it still concluded that nutritional counseling was needed “to facilitate the adaptation of the eating habits to the new gastro-intestinal physiology”. It’s important to point out that, while a well-rounded post bariatric surgery diet that’s based on protein is more sustainable for bariatric patients, it’s always better to consult a doctor to discuss the best dietary options.
Another post bariatric surgery diet you can follow is a plant-based diet that “encompasses a wide range of dietary patterns that contain low amounts of animal products and high amounts of plant products such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds”[2]. As you can see, this doesn’t mean that you have to stop eating animal products, but rather focus on plant-based products to make sure you get all your necessary macro and micronutrients.
How can a plant-based diet help a person lose or maintain their ideal weight?
Well, one study[3] found that this type of post bariatric surgery diet can help people who are struggling with being overweight or dealing with other illnesses such as type 2 diabetes., cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. This is due thanks to the increased intake of fiber, polyunsaturated fats, and plant proteins found in this post bariatric surgery diet.
Contact Us to Learn More
If you want to learn more about what a post bariatric surgery diet entails, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We can help determine the right treatment for you. Contact us online anytime or give us a call at (619) 373-0229.
References
- [1] Bettini, S., Belligoli, A., Fabris, R. et al. Diet approach before and after bariatric surgery. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 21, 297–306 (2020).
- [2] Hemler EC, Hu FB (November 2019). “Plant-Based Diets for Personal, Population, and Planetary Health”. Advances in Nutrition. 10 (Suppl_4): S275–S283. doi:10.1093/advances/nmy117. PMC 6855934. PMID 31728495.
- [3] Iraki J, Fitschen P, Espinar S, Helms E. Nutrition Recommendations for Bodybuilders in the Off-Season: A Narrative Review. Sports (Basel). 2019 Jun 26;7(7):154. doi: 10.3390/sports7070154. PMID: 31247944; PMCID: PMC6680710.