Morbid obesity affects millions of Americans. For some patients, dietary changes alone do not result in enough weight loss to avoid health complications; these patients may be candidates for weight loss or bariatric surgery like gastric banding. After the surgery, patients still have to make some dietary changes, many of which may apply for the rest of their lives.
Stage 1 -- Clear Liquid Diet
For the first few days after your gastric banding surgery, your diet will consist of clear liquids because your stomach will be recovering from the surgical procedure. These liquids are easy to digest and can keep you hydrated. Some examples of clear liquids include water, clear broth, decaffeinated coffee or tea sweetened with artificial sweeteners, gelatin, and sugar-free sports beverages. You should avoid carbonated drinks during this phase. Your surgeon will advance your diet to the next stage when you can tolerate more advanced foods.
Stage 2 -- Full Liquid Diet
As your stomach heals, you will be able to tolerate more substantial foods. The second step of this dietary progression includes adding full liquids to your clear liquid diet. Your portion sizes will be small because of the size of your stomach pouch. Some foods that you can add to your diet are cream of wheat, creamed soups, non-fat yogurts, sugar-free popsicles, natural applesauce and 100 percent fruit juice. Your surgeon may also recommend that you start protein drinks to make sure that you obtain your required amount of protein each day.
Stage 3 -- Pureed Diet/Soft Foods
Your surgeon will advance you to soft foods around 3 to 6 weeks after surgery, depending on your tolerance levels. Protein is a very important part of your diet at this point; foods that you can include in your diet at this stage include dried beans, eggs, hummus, and lean meat that has been well cooked or pureed. You can also eat oatmeal, mashed potatoes, low-fat cheese, and soft cooked vegetables. As you add pureed and soft foods to your diet gradually, you will still need to continue to drink sufficient fluids to prevent dehydration; however, you need to drink your beverages 30 minutes before or after your meals so that you will not get too full to eat your food.
Stage 4 -- Regular Foods
Once your stomach heals and you can tolerate regular foods, you will begin your healthy diet plan that you will follow for the rest of your life. You will have to gradually introduce new foods back into your diet, but over time, you will be able to eat smaller portions of most foods. You should eat the protein portion -- such as fish, chicken, lean meat, eggs, or nuts -- of your meal first to ensure that you consume enough protein before you get too full. You will continue to eat three small meals a day with one or two healthy snacks; your dietitian will work with you to help you establish a healthy meal plan.
Vitamin Supplementation
After gastric banding surgery, you will need to take vitamin supplementation -- even after you begin eating regular meals. Your surgeon may suggest a complete multivitamin, 1000 to 2000 mg of calcium with vitamin D each day, and a vitamin B supplement. Women who are menstruating may need an additional iron supplement along with iron in the multivitamin. Be sure to take the iron and calcium supplements separately as they each interfere with the other's absorption.
Other Considerations
Most surgeons recommend that you avoid carbonated or alcoholic beverages even after you have started your regular diet. The carbonation may fill your stomach with air and alcohol may affect you differently than it did before your surgery, as well as being a source of unnecessary calories. You'll be advised not to drink through a straw as it will fill your stomach with air as well. Other long-term considerations include limiting intake of high-fat and high-sugar foods; these foods can lead to abdominal discomfort and can also make it difficult to lose weight, as noted by the University of Virginia. If you follow your physician and dietitian's instructions, you can have a successful outcome after gastric banding surgery.
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