Post-Bariatric Diet
Weight loss surgery causes a number of changes in your body. Regardless what type of bariatric surgery you have, long term success will require you to change the way you eat after surgery. Your body will function differently and your nutrient demands will change.
Immediately following surgery, you will make progressive dietary changes to promote your recovery and help you adjust to the changes in the way your body functions. Your surgeon and dietician will go over specific instructions tailored to you and your needs after surgery. Follow them as accurately as possible and be sure to refer to our weight loss surgery eating guide and ask questions as they arise.
Special Diet Considerations
As you lose weight in the months following surgery, getting proper nutrition will be more important than ever. Consuming the right balance of nutrients will help you do the following:
- Maintain lean body mass
- Stay hydrated
- Promote skin elasticity
- Reduce risk of hair loss
You may not be able to meet all of your nutrient demands through the foods you eat, and you may be asked to include certain dietary supplements as a result.
Along with supplementation, you’ll also have to pay more attention to the quantity and quality of the foods you eat. You will become full very quickly, so adjusting the way you eat to chew thoroughly and slowly is recommended. Overeating can lead to discomfort following surgery, and if continued may inhibit weight loss. This makes it important that you maximize your nutrient intake in every food you eat. Empty calories, like those consumed through junk food, can hurt your weight loss efforts and will not promote good health.
Drinking any liquid, even water, with meals is to be avoided. Drinking while eating may cause you to feel full before you have taken in the nutrients your body needs during your meal. In some cases, consuming too much fluid at one time will result in vomiting.
Long-Term Weight Loss Success
For long-term weight loss success, you’ll have to continuously make healthy lifestyle choices. Your sleeping habits, your exercise habits and your eating habits will all affect your long-term success with weight loss, as will the way you manage stress and the way you take care of your body.
However, your post-bariatric diet will be one of the most important factors in maintaining long-term weight loss. Weight loss surgery will initiate a lot of change in your life. Embrace those changes and do your best to adopt healthy eating habits. By incorporating healthy strategies into your way of life after surgery, you’ll be more likely to maintain a healthy weight.
