During a gastric bypass, your stomach pouch is made smaller so that less food can fit in your stomach. After a gastric bypass, patients must follow a strict diet so they can lose weight and still get all the nutrients needed to support their body. While the diet may vary slightly depending on personal situations, the basics of the diet are usually the same for all gastric bypass patients.
Purpose
The diet you follow after having gastric bypass surgery gives the staples in your stomach time to heal. It also allows you to ease into eating solid foods after your surgery, which reduces the risk of eating too much, getting nauseated or suffering from side effects and complications from the surgery.
Stages
The gastric bypass diet includes four stages or phases to gradually introduce solid foods into your diet. The first stage is the liquid diet phase. This is usually started one to two days following surgery and includes only thin liquids, such as broth and milk. Stage two is the pureed food stage, which starts if you when tolerate the liquid diet for three to four days. During this phase, which lasts two to four weeks, you will eat foods that have been pureed to a smooth paste. Egg whites, lean ground beans and soft vegetables are some examples of food that can be pureed. When your doctor feels you are ready for soft foods, you will move on to stage three. Foods, such as diced meat, that can be mashed with a fork are eaten during this stage. Approximately eight weeks after surgery, you will be able to start introducing solid foods into your diet. Stage four is the diet plan you will be on until you reach your goal weight.
Prevention/Solution
Even after gastric bypass, it is still possible to stretch the stomach out and to gain weight. To combat these possibilities, eat healthy foods that are low in calories and low in fat. You should also chew food thoroughly before swallowing and eat small, frequent meals. Avoid grazing so you can keep your calorie count under control.
Considerations
Exercise helps you to burn calories. Maine Medical Center notes that people who exercise after gastric bypass are more successful at controlling their weight than those who don't exercise. Starting as soon as your doctor approves following your surgery, begin walking. As you lose weight and get stronger, you can add other exercises, such as swimming, to your routine, and you will be able to start working out for longer periods of time.
Warning
There are risks associated with gastric bypass, including constipation, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, dumping syndrome and blockage of the opening of the stomach pouch. To minimize the risk of these, eat slowly and avoid foods that may get stuck in the opening, such as popcorn, nuts or tough meat. Fibrous and stringy vegetables may also cause a problem. These include cabbage and broccoli. Sip on water throughout the day to combat dehydration. You need 48 oz. to 64 oz. of water or low-calorie beverages daily, notes MayoClinic.com. Additionally, don't drink anything 30 minutes before or after eating a meal.
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