For some UK citizens who are overweight, sticking to a healthy diet is one of the ways to lose weight. Also, regular exercises help you burn calories. But, these processes are a lifelong commitment and sometimes, obese individuals are put off by the long weight.
For some others, mini gastric bypass surgery is the fastest way and most important component of a weight loss program. In spite of this, patients find it hard to keep up with guidelines that precede the procedure. Though they can be able to go through the knife, the tedious task starts after the surgery. Sustaining the tempo and following guidelines such as diet, exercises and, aftercare services can often be challenging.
After the procedure, the most important component to healing is sticking to healthy diets. The task, therefore, is the right set of meals to take and the proportion that suit each of these. Some patients might want to eat as they often did before the procedure but the “smaller stomach” does not support such. To this end, there are certain menus that help the body heal faster. It is worth noting that mini gastric bypass surgery is not an express solution to weight loss. Instead, it is one of the many steps to shedding off an extra kilo of flesh. A healthy diet on its part helps you lose weight faster.
There are specific diet recommendations to follow in achieving weight loss. From clear liquid through pureed foods down to solid diets, a patient ought to master these stages and follow them to the latter. It is important to find out from your doctor the diets you’ll need to take after the surgery. Also, find out the proportions to take and the types of food that make up the meal. There are general recommendations guiding meal intake after mini gastric bypass surgery and this will be looked at. It is also pertinent to follow the diet with all sincerity in order to lose weight safely.
A Visit to Your Kitchen after Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery
It is already clear that meals (especially a healthy diet that conforms to post-op requirements) play important role in the recovery phase after bariatric surgery. To this end, the first step you have to take is making a visit to your kitchen. Before this, your meal intake can start from the hospital (for the first stage). If you’re not yet strong to make meals, find someone to do so for you. It is not advisable to eat out. Now, we’ll be looking at the meals you have to consume in order to get back on your feet as soon as possible.
1. Stage One: The Liquid Diet
It is worthy of note that you cannot jump to your regular cheese or meat consumption after the surgery. Instead, you will be working on a liquid diet. This course is to run for at about two 92) weeks before the next stage comes on. Soon after the surgery, a patient starts consumption of liquid diets such as broth and unsweetened juice. The introduction of this diet is to help you get in line with other diets. It is important to note that the first stage is very volatile and shapes the outcome of other stages. For instance, the inability of a patient to adapt to liquid diets at this point will forestall the success of other diets. The overall essence is to help the body heal after a major surgical operation such as the mini gastric bypass surgery.
For the first day or number of days after the procedure, you will be “living” on liquids. By liquids, the concentration is not just on water intake. Other meals that are in liquid form and can easily pass through the body without triggering complications make up the list. The step-by-step journey to weight loss after the mini gastric bypass surgery starts here. With this, patients do not get in the way of foods that can trigger post-operative complications; which in extension can undermine the recovery process.
At this point, you should prepare to take at least a few ounces of clear liquids at a time. With consistent adaptation to this, the stomach will not find a reason to stretch beyond limits. Note that you won’t be stuck with this stage. On successful completion, you get the waiver to start off the next stage. However, water is not the only liquid in the list. There are other liquid-variations you can explore to get through this phase. Additional types of liquid such as sugar-free gelatin, decaffeinated coffee, skim milk, and sugar-free popsicles are also on the list.
Protein (Milk) is Essential
As you commence your diet at this stage, take note that milk features in all meal intake. It has been proven that protein plays a major role in the recovery phase after bariatric surgery. The mini gastric bypass surgery is not an exception. Even though protein has other sources such as eggs, beef, and chicken, it cannot be in the list at the moment. Take note that these are solid foods and the current stage demands liquids only! So take out time to get your dietician’s advice on the best source of protein.
Milk is the first on the list and the aim should be an intake of two (2) pints of milk each day. You can start by adding a glass of milk in every meal. This helps you achieve adequate intake of calcium, protein and other nutrients that help the body to build back faster.
Tips
To scale through this stage, there some steps you have to take. These help you consume enough liquid without putting yourself in the wrong lane. Let’s look at some of them:
- Start with a couple of sips for each fluid. While the intake is ongoing, be at alert to notice the sensation of fullness.
- Avoid frizzy liquids such as alcohol. These contain gases that cause bloating and have tendency of making the stomach grow in size.
- Make sure that milky drinks are taking before other liquids.
- Stop drinking as soon as you get full. Also, if you notice stomach pain or nausea when drinking, stop drinking and continue when the sensation is over.
- Sip fluids slowly for the few days. This helps you establish the amount of liquid that you can tolerate.
- Do not use straws for drinking because they can introduce air into the pouch and cause discomfort.
2. Stage Two: Pureed Foods
The next on the list of meals you can put together after mini gastric bypass surgery is the pureed diet. This comes after you were able to tolerate liquids for some days. However, the license to continue with this lies with your doctor.
For pureed foods, you can begin to eat mashed up (pureed) foods. At this point, you will be having foods that can pass for solid. But you’re not to eat directly as you would do with the solid diet. Rather, you “bypass” by mashing them into another variation to liquids. Any diet that is to come under this stage must have a thick, pudding-like consistency. The food should have the consistency of a smooth paste. Make sure no trace of solid pieces of food is present in the mixture. Note that this stage is in between the liquid and solid food stages.
To attain success in this stage, stay away from foods that are too fibrous or have lots of seed. These have tendencies of keeping seeds even after mashing them. It will do you a lot of good if you can consume about six (6) tablespoons of the meal. Also, a daily intake of five (5) smaller meals is permissible.
Tips
- To achieve a complete puree of foods in this stage, make use of a food processor to get the pudding-like consistency.
- Eat slowly. It is important to set aside about 30 minutes for each meal.
- Stay away from foods that have seeds. Foods that are too fibrous should also be avoided.
- While choosing foods that can blend well (such as eggs, cottage cheese, well-cooked vegetables, and lean meats), also add other foods you took in the first stage. The idea here is to compliment the meal with solid foods that have liquid. Foods such as broth and skim milk are among the best picks.
3. Stage Three: The Soft and Moist Diet
You’re already inching closer to the long-term meal consumption. The next set of meals you can prepare after mini gastric bypass surgery is the soft (moist) diet. After a couple of weeks of trying liquid and pureed foods, you’ll be ready to try something firmer. At this point, you will be “consuming solid foods in smaller portions”. The idea here is to prepare you for the long-term consumption of the regular (solid) diets. On the other hand, permission to explore this stage is at the doctor’s discretion.
After your doctor gives the nod, you should start introducing foods with a soft moist mixture. The foods that will feature here should be chewable and not make you have feelings of nausea. Unlike the previous stage, you can cut your foods into bits with a spoon or fork. However, to be on the safe side, you can still make use of the blender. While eating, make sure you eat only in bits. You don’t necessarily have to take in a mouthful. Also, chew each bite until the food attains a puree consistency before swallowing.
Note that this course will run for several days. Your goal should be the consumption of a one-half cup of food each day. There are foods to avoid at this stage. To this end, foods such as bread, carbonated beverages, nuts, and fried food should be avoided. You can try your hands on supported foods such as soft-boiled eggs, ground meat, and mashed potato. Cauliflower, sweet potato, carrot, minced meat, low-calorie yogurt; scrambled egg and mashed banana are other foods you can try.
Tips
- Chew your food slowly and make sure a puree-like consistency has been achieved before swallowing.
- Eat only a few mouthfuls at each meal.
- Attempt consumption of three to five small meals a day.
4. Stage Four: Solid Foods
If you have successfully scaled through the last stages, then this stage should be your point of consolidation. At this point, you can start eating your regular foods. It is now safe to experiment with different textured solid foods. Even though passing them through food processors won’t be necessary, it is important to keep them chewable. This stage comes up after about eight (8) weeks of trying out other foods.
With the reintroduction of solid foods to your diet, take heed to chop your food into small bites. The stomach is small and large pieces of food can cause a blockage which can lead to pain and nausea. You can consume as much as three meals a day with each meal consisting of one and a half cup of food. However, you must take note to vary your food. Introduce foods one at a time and check how your body relates with them.
Foods that cause you nausea or make you vomit should be out of the list. Foods such as spicy foods, cooked fibrous foods (such as cabbage or corn) and red meat can cause discomfort. Also, avoid fried foods and raw vegetables. Instead, go for minced meat, sardines, low-fat custard, skimmed milk, and smoothies.
Tips
- Avoid foods that can cause nausea or vomiting.
- Stop eating before you feel completely full.
- Introduce foods slowly and take note of their reaction in your body.
- Make sure you have enough protein in your each of your meals.
Guidelines for Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery
Apart from the tips that come with each of the meals you can make after mini gastric bypass surgery, there are other factors you have to take cognizance of. These will help you return to good health after the surgery:
- Eat only small pieces of food at a time and chew each piece thoroughly before swallowing.
- Make sure you have enough protein in your meal.
- Your vitamins and supplements should be taken when due.
- Don’t drink while eating. It makes you get full faster and can trigger dumping syndrome.
- Establish a regular pattern of meal intake. You can start with three meals a day with about three hours apart.
- Listen to your body and report unusual feelings to your doctor. Also, listen to your doctor and follow the medical guidelines to the latter.
Your Kitchen Beckons
For some weeks after your absence, your kitchen will “happy to see you again”. But this time, you’ll be making a different type of meal – meals that are smaller and richer in nutrients. While on it, make sure your meal preparation follows the post-operative guidelines as a slip can result in unpleasant events which might force you back to the hospital. It is therefore important to consult your doctor before making any meal. If you wish to get across to a doctor or want to find out the schedule of diets to take after mini gastric bypass surgery, the doctors at Weight Loss Riga will be pleased to attend to your concerns.
