Eating Healthy after Bariatric Surgery

Written by Jane Long

Eating healthy after bariatric surgery is extremely important. You definitely cannot go back to the same old bad nutritional habits and expect the weight loss surgery to be the magic fix to a lifetime of weight challenges. After the procedure, as the saying goes: “This is the first day of the rest of your life.” From this day forward, how you think about and consume food has got to change-permanently.

Life as you have known it prior to the operation that rewired your digestive system is going to change drastically. Gone are the days of snacking in front of the television or while reading a book. Instead, you will be up and moving to increase the health of your entire body. Your weight loss and maintenance will not be solely dependent on a decreased caloric intake. If you want weight loss surgery to be successful, you are going to have to work at it, for the rest of your days.Thankfully, you will have help initially, in order to know how to take care of your body, and the new you that will be emerging. Of course, among the first concerns is making sure you are eating healthy after bariatric surgery. Basically, you will have to take baby steps and learn how to eat all over again.

Clear Liquids

Right after weight loss surgery, you will not be allowed to eat or drink anything. You will receive hydration and nutrients through an IV. Although it does sound like a plumbing problem, all of your new connections that limit food intake and caloric absorption will have to start healing. The doctor will have to make sure you have not sprung a leak somewhere.

Once you have been given the green light to let some nutrient pass between your lips, you will still be limited to clear liquids. Since you can literally see through these beverages, they indicate how easy it will be on your newly fashioned and fragile digestive system.

Liquids

When the doctor feels you are ready for the next adventure in eating, you will be allowed to drink other liquids like skim milk or other nutritious beverages. How long you are on each stage of the healthy bariatric diet depends on how well your body heals and accepts the changes. So, do not compare yourself to someone else who might have undergone the procedure.

Purees

Next, you will advance to pureed foods. In fact, your dietary needs will appear to be already chewed to the enth degree. However, the food will have a little bit more substance. You may be surprised to discover you will feel full after only a tablespoon or two.

Soft Foods

Although you will not be able to eat just any soft food, if it is included on the bariatric diet, and a toothless baby could safely eat it, you are probably good to go. However, your choices will now be based on nutritional content. With limited room for food consumption, you will have to be taught how to make every calorie count.

Solids

Despite taking weeks to achieve this goal, you will eventually be given the go ahead to return to solid foods. However, we are not talking about a sit down meal with all of your favorites- a bite of this, a bite of that, and a smidgeon of dessert on the side. Once you graduate to solids, you will have strict guidelines that govern how you eat, as well as how much you eat.

For example, forget drinking a beverage with you meal. At most, your stomach cannot accept more than a cup and a half of nutrition at one sitting. You do not want to waste that space with liquid. Instead, you will lead off with your protein food. In addition, you will have to thoroughly chew each mouthful. The process serves 2 purposes. You will linger over your meal longer and feel full, and you will be helping your new digestive system out immensely.

Supplements

Since many bariatric procedures alter your digestive track, so you do not absorb all of the fat and calories you take in, it is extremely important to take a daily supplement. You need to make sure your body receives all of the nutrients necessary to stay healthy and provide the needed energy.

In short, eating healthy after bariatric surgery is vital, if you really want the procedure to help you lose weight and regain your health. In fact, trying to go back to your old eating habits will probably make you sick or cause major complications down the road. So, you really need to be sure you are prepared for the lifestyle changes and sacrifices you will have to make, in order to become healthy and stay that way. But, you can do it, if you are really committed.