After bariatric surgery, or weight-loss surgery, you must give your body time to adjust to the changes to your digestive tract. You can expect to be on a restrictive diet for several weeks after your surgery, which will also help you become accustomed to eating smaller portions of food. The specifics and duration of your post-surgical diet may vary slightly depending on what type of surgery you have. The most common types of bariatric surgery are gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding, often referred to as Lap-Band surgery.
Liquid Diet
Immediately following bariatric surgery, you will not be able to eat for 24 to 48 hours so that your stomach can start to heal. You may have an occasional sip of water or suck on an ice cube the first day. The following day, you can have small amounts of clear fluids, such as broth, unsweetened juice or skim milk. You may be confined to clear liquids for up to four days, after which point you can introduce fuller liquids such as thick soups. At this point, you may be allowed to consume some liquids that are higher in calories that may be discouraged at later stages in the diet. The goal at this stage is not to lose weight, but to allow your body to heal.
If you have a gastric band, consume small amounts of liquids frequently to prevent nausea and vomiting. Vomiting can stretch the stomach pouch and increase the chances of band slippage, which could require an additional surgery to correct.
Soft foods
Approximately three to four weeks following surgery, you will be able to start eating soft or pureed foods, such as mashed potatoes, applesauce, yogurt, pudding or skinless chicken or fish. To ensure adequate protein intake, UC San Diego Health System recommends consuming your protein-rich foods first. You should still avoid anything that requires chewing. You may also eat other foods that can easily be pureed, such as beans, eggs and soft fruits or vegetables. Avoid fibrous or stringy vegetables. Be careful with spicy foods or dairy products, because your stomach might still be too sensitive to digest them. If you would like to try them, add them to your diet in small amounts and observe any reactions.
Soft Solid Foods
After five weeks, you can include tender, cooked foods such as fish, ground turkey, cooked vegetables and soft fruits. Cut all food into small pieces and chew thoroughly. If you have any problems with the solid foods or become nauseated, resume the liquid diet and slowly add more solid foods. This stage will normally last for about eight weeks, after which you can return to eating more solid foods without pureeing them. Remain cautious with spicy or crunchy foods.
Considerations
Once you are able to eat solid foods without any problems, you will have to adopt some new eating habits. Keep your meals small and eat slowly. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry and still feel comfortable.
Gastric bypass patients will absorb fewer calories and nutrients from food, so it's important to take any recommended vitamins and minerals. You will most likely need to take a multivitamin every day for the rest of your life, notes MayoClinic.com.
Lap-Band patients should avoid eating and drinking at the same time, as liquids can flush foods out of the stomach pouch and prevent you from feeling full.
Avoid foods that are difficult to digest, such as nuts, seeds, popcorn, dried fruits, fibrous vegetables, bread and tough meats. You may have to experiment to find out which foods you can and can't tolerate.
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