Gastric bypass is a weight loss surgery procedure which changes how your digestive system works. The surgery creates a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach, and then reroutes it directly to the intestines, bypassing that part of the gastrointestinal system that absorbs much of the food's calories. While this technique has proven effective for many patients to lose weight, it is a significant medical procedure and requires a change in diet to avoid complications.
Post-procedure
For the first day or two after the surgery, you won't be able to eat anything while your stomach heals. After that, you'll be able to take in small amounts of liquids, such as broth, milk, or cream soups that contain no solids. Sugar-free gelatin is also an option, but you won't be able to eat more than a few teaspoonfuls of anything at a time, because at this point your new, reduced stomach has an extremely small capacity.
Soft Foods
Once your doctor is satisfied you can handle a liquid diet without complications, for the next few weeks you'll be able to eat a diet of pureed foods. Lean meats and fish are acceptable additions, as are soft fruits and vegetables, but everything must be blended to a smooth consistency to avoid gastric upset. After a few weeks of this, you'll gradually begin to move to more solid foods as your stomach expands and recovers.
Normal Diet
By about eight weeks after the surgery, your stomach will be healthy enough to eat normal foods again. However, due to the changes in your gastrointestinal system, certain types of foods may be difficult to eat or cause discomfort. Be especially careful reintroducing any foods that are crunchy in texture or spicy, because they can irritate your stomach and cause gastric upset. Eat small portions and drink plenty of liquids between meals.
Nutrition
Throughout the recovery process, your diet will focus on high protein and vitamin content. When fully recovered, your stomach will have around a quarter of its previous capacity, so maximizing the amount of nutrition you get in a smaller volume is paramount. Your doctor may prescribe protein shakes and vitamin supplements to ensure that you're getting the right nutrition to keep you healthy.
Forbidden Foods
Even once fully healed, your stomach will have difficulty processing certain types of foods. Avoid any foods that are high in sugar and fat, as well as any vegetables that are high in fiber, because these will cause digestive difficulties. You should also cut out any carbonated beverages, nuts and seeds, and foods like popcorn, because all can cause irritation and discomfort. As your recovery progresses, your doctor may OK the reintroduction of some of these foods to your diet in very limited quantities.
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