A liquid diet can provide all the nutrition you need without empty calories, helping your body prepare for, and recover from, gastric bypass surgery. You may follow a liquid-only diet for the two or three weeks before surgery to increase protein intake without consuming more than about 800 calories daily. After surgery, you may be on a liquid-only diet for up to two months while your body heals.
Pre-Op Liquid Diet
Losing weight, especially excess abdominal fat, before your gastric bypass surgery will make the procedure easier, shorter and safer. Expect to follow a low 800-calorie liquid diet of high-protein meal replacement shakes in the few weeks before your surgery. Following this diet before surgery will prepare you for the weeks of recovery after surgery. Consuming a high-protein diet will help build lean muscle tissue that may speed healing after gastric bypass surgery. The goal of surgery is to lose fat -- not muscle. Eating protein will help your body break down stored fat to use as energy, instead of lean muscle tissue.
Clear Liquid Diet
In the first few days after surgery, you'll need to adjust to the size of your new stomach pouch; before surgery your stomach may have held up to 1 qt. of liquid -- after surgery, it may only hold 1 to 2 oz. You'll be restricted to clear liquids only, such as chicken or beef broth, sugar-free gelatin and diluted juice. Sip slowly, and don't use a straw, which can introduce air bubbles into your stomach. Don't drink any carbonated beverages.
Thicker Liquids
If you're healing well, your doctor will move you from clear liquids to thicker liquids after two or three days. You'll be allowed protein drinks, nonfat or low-fat yogurt, and thicker soups. You'll only be able to consume 2 to 3 oz. at a time; your stomach size will start to increase gradually and it's important not to overeat. Overeating can cause your stomach to stretch too much, which could hinder weight-loss efforts by allowing you to eat more than you should. During this time, you'll most likely be discharged from the hospital. Continue the diet at home.
Pureed and Solid Foods
After four to six weeks, you may be ready for pureed and soft foods, which include ground meats, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, tofu, tuna and hummus. Around 50 percent of your calories should come from protein -- your body is still healing and protein will help the recovery process. You can try eating jarred baby food. After eight weeks, you may be ready for solid food, but should avoid spicy foods; crunchy foods such as nuts, seeds and popcorn; stringy foods such as celery; and tough meats. It may take a full six months to heal from surgery.
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