Gastric bypass, or Roux-en-Y, surgery helps severely obese patients lose a significant amount of weight. The surgeon reduces the stomach to the size of an egg and reroutes the digestive system to block some calorie absorption, so patients lose weight rapidly during the first year. However, the surgery does not work by itself -- you must make long-term changes to your lifestyle and eating habits to reach your weight loss goal and maintain it.
Before Surgery
Step 1
Study the diet instructions from your surgeon's office carefully to determine which foods you can eat after surgery. As your body heals, your surgeon will allow you to progress from a clear liquid diet to full liquids, then to pureed or blended foods, and finally to soft foods over a period of about 10 weeks, so make sure you understand what is allowed during each phase.
Step 2
Make two copies of the list of liquids allowed during the first two weeks. Post one copy in your kitchen for quick reference and take the other copy to the grocery store when you shop.
Step 3
Create a gastric-bypass-friendly kitchen. If you live alone, toss or give away all sugary and fatty foods. If you share the kitchen with others, clear out a shelf or two for your food so that you will not be tempted by items that you cannot eat.
Step 4
Stock the kitchen with items that will help you control your portions, including small bowls and plates, measuring cups and spoons, a food scale and a blender bottle to mix protein shakes.
Step 5
Purchase small samples of protein powder from different manufacturers, either online or at a vitamin store. Your tastes will change after surgery, so do not buy large amounts of protein at first.
After Surgery
Step 1
Sip 48 to 64 oz. of water and other allowable fluids throughout the day to prevent dehydration and to help you feel full. Do not drink during meals, however, as the fluid can wash the food through your system too fast and rob you of some nutrients.
Step 2
Plan your meals and snacks according to your surgeon's instructions. After the first 10 weeks, some surgeons advise eating small amounts every four hours while you are awake to avoid over-stretching your stomach pouch while maintaining a feeling of fullness.
Step 3
Consume your protein first to ensure that you get at least 60 g per day to prevent losing your hair and lean muscle mass, according to dietitian Linda Aills, lead researcher of a study published in the September 2008 issue of "Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases."
Step 4
Read food labels carefully so you know what you are eating. Many packaged foods contain more calories, fat and sugar than you need, so choose whole foods whenever possible. Consult your health care provider or nutritionist to determine your individual needs.
Step 5
Record everything you eat in a food journal or diary to keep yourself on track with your food plan. At minimum, record what you ate, how much and the number of protein grams in the food. If you like, you may also record your mood, where you ate, and the number of calories and carbohydrate grams in the meal.
Maintenance
Step 1
Weigh yourself once a week and record the results on a spreadsheet or graph to determine if you are losing, gaining or staying the same. The average gastric bypass patient loses about 80 percent of her excess weight by the end of the first year, according to Sinai Hospital. If you stop losing before you reach your goal weight or begin regaining weight later in the process, you will need to consume less food, increase your exercise or both.
Step 2
Measure your portions to ensure that you do not eat too much, even if the choices you have made are healthy ones, and continue to record your intake in a food journal or diary.
Step 3
Eat only planned meals and snacks to avoid emotional eating that can cause you to regain weight. If you feel hungry when you are bored, lonely, tired or upset, be prepared to engage in an activity that distracts you from eating. Take a bath, call a friend, knit, read, work on a jigsaw puzzle, take a walk or dance to upbeat music -- anything that helps you avoid from eating in between meals.
Step 4
Attend support group meetings at least once a month, if possible. Patients can help each other to deal with the challenges of losing weight and maintenance, so join an online support group if no face-to-face group is available in your area.
Things You'll Need
- Diet instructions from surgeon's office
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Food scale
- Food diary
References
- Mayo Clinic: Gastric Bypass Diet
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Post-Surgical Nutrition
- West Penn Allegheny Health System: How to Be a Good Loser After Gastric Bypass Surgery
- ASMBS: ASMBS Allied Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient (PDF)
- Sinai Hospital: General Instructions to Gastric Bypass
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