Roux-en-Y surgery is a form of gastric bypass or weight loss surgery that involves changing the makeup of the stomach to reduce fat absorption and the amount of food it takes for you to feel full. As a result, you are able to lose weight very quickly. While you will follow a special diet after surgery, you also adopt a special diet prior to surgery to ensure your stomach is as free of residue as possible.
Weight Loss and Maintenance
Although you will be undergoing weight loss surgery, you should not gain weight beforehand. Your goal should be to lose weight, if possible, or maintain your weight. This is because added weight increases your risk of experiencing surgical complications. By losing weight through healthy eating and engaging in physical activity, you can potentially improve your recovery times and surgical success.
Foods to Limit
To maintain or lose weight before surgery, limit the amount of fats in your diet to between 20 to 35 percent of your calories, advises Sharon George, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., a dietitian writing on ObesityHelp.com. Limit sources high in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol, such as animal products with visible fats, fried foods and pre-packaged convenience foods. Limiting the amount of sugar in your diet also can help -- avoid eating any foods that have sugar listed as one of the first three ingredients.
Foods to Eat
Increasing the amount of lean, high-quality protein in your diet is important prior to Roux-en-Y surgery because protein is needed to repair tissue. By eating healthy protein sources such as soybeans, legumes, beans, low-fat dairy products, skinless chicken, eggs or nuts, you can ensure your body can better heal itself after surgery. You also need plenty of fruits, whole grains and vegetables in your diet because they are low in calories, nutritious and filling.
Bowel Preparation
Because Roux-en-Y surgery involves re-arranging your stomach anatomy, it is important to have your stomach and intestines as free of stool and residue as possible. This means your physician will recommend you consume only clear liquids for about 48 hours before your surgery, according to Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Examples of approved liquids include water, apple juice, cranberry juice, ginger ale, lemon-lime soda and decaffeinated tea without milk. Talk to your physician about specific drinks you may be able to consume.
References
- Cedars-Sinai Hospital; Preparing for Weight Loss Surgery; 2011
- ObesityHelp; Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Diet and Nutrition Guidelines; Sharon George, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
- University of Rochester Medical Center; Bariatric Surgery Preparation; January 2010
- MedlinePlus; Roux-en-Y Stomach Surgery for Weight Loss; May 2010
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