Gastric bypass surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic, is the most frequently performed weight loss surgery. This is due to fewer side effects and the long-term weight loss it yields. Upon having this procedure performed, patients are limited in what they can eat, especially during the first 12 weeks. In this time, patients slowly progress through stages that limit the foods they can eat. This progression is meant to give the stomach time to heal while avoiding complications that can occur from eating too much too soon.
Stage One
The gastric bypass diet begins with a liquid diet. Bariatric-surgery.info states that approximately one day after surgery, patients are placed on a diet of clear liquids that consist of apple and orange juice, flat diet sodas, clear broth, water and sugar-free jello. Once a patient is able to tolerate the clear liquids, he progresses to the next stage. This typically happens the next day, however, the decision is at the discretion of the doctor.
Stage Two
During this phase of the progression diet, patients are on a semi-liquid diet. While this may contain foods with consistency, the consistency must be that of thin mashed potatoes. This stage includes foods and beverages such as skim or 1 percent milk, unsweetened applesauce, cooked cereal like oatmeal and grits that are thinned with skim or 1 percent milk, sugar-free yogurt that is blended, blended meat added to blended cream soups, and fat-free cottage cheese. The emphasis is on protein because it helps build cells, which aid in the healing process.
During the day, six to eight cups of liquid beverages need to be consumed to prevent dehydration. Due to the decrease in stomach size, though, these beverages must be sipped in intervals of 2 to 4 oz. Beverages that are allowed include water, flat diet sodas, decaffeinated tea or coffee, sugar-free Kool-aid or Tang, diet Snapple and juices that are diluted half and half. Patients are typically following this plan for the first two weeks after surgery.
Stage Three
Known as the semi-solid stage, patients usually enter this stage between the third and fourth week following surgery. It is recommended by Bariatric-surgery.info to add one new food and note how your body reacts to it. Foods in this stage consist of any type of cooked eggs with the exception of fried, chopped lean meat with the exception of red meat, vegetables that are cooked and peeled, skim milk mixed with powdered instant breakfast mix, sugar-free low-fat yogurt, casseroles such as macaroni and cheese, and canned fruits in natural juices. Patients need to eat four to six meals each day, with every meal totaling no more than 6 oz. Beverage amounts and choices remain the same. This stage typically lasts for four to six weeks, however, this is at the discretion of the doctor.
Stage Four
Stage four is generally implemented 10 to 12 weeks after surgery and is referred to as the low-fat solid diet. The foods and beverages consumed during this time are generally what patients will consume on a permanent basis. Again, it is recommended to add one new food at a time to prevent complications and discomfort. These food choices include but may not be limited to, poultry, fish, lean cuts of pork or ground beef, egg whites, low-fat cheeses and yogurt, dried beans and cooked breakfast cereal. The beverages remain the same.
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