The Key Dietary Elements to Weight Loss Surgery Success
There are certain key rules to live by when it comes to dietary habits for weight loss surgery success. These rules ensure that weight loss following surgery is quick, permanent, and without complication.
Immediately after bariatric surgery, there is an adjustment period to allow time for the stomach lining to heal. Liquids are started for the first couple of weeks, then phased into pureed or mashed edibles. After about four months, depending on the rate of healing, solid foods are gradually introduced into the diet. This gradual process ensures that the body has time to heal and adjust to the surgery. High protein foods are recommended because they aid in the healing process.
Eating and drinking at the same time is not recommended. Liquids are to be sipped throughout the day but not in conjunction with meals, about 45 minutes after meals is okay. This gives the body time to process the food and prevents dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome occurs when food travels too quickly through the pouch in the stomach and is dumped into the intestine, causing severe discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea.
As you progress to solid cuisine, you must turn your focus to portion size. Six small meals of about one cup of healthy food is the daily recommendation. It is difficult for the body to process foods high in fat or sugar, so they should be avoided. Spicy, sugary, or stringy snacks are not recommended either. It is very important to stop eating before feeling full, and chew the food thoroughly before swallowing to prevent getting food stuck in the small stomach opening. Extra time needs to be taken when eating, about 30 minutes to an hour for the whole meal. Proceed with caution when trying every new food to make sure their body can tolerate it.
The most important dietary element after bariatric surgery is to always make nutrition a top priority and take a multivitamin. With a smaller stomach, the food you eat needs to provide maximum nutrition. Gastric bypass and duodenal switch surgery bypasses part of the small intestine, making it harder for the body to absorb nutrients from food. Even with the most conscientious eating habits, protein supplements, including daily vitamins and minerals will be necessary for the rest of your life.
Having the smaller stomach and/or rerouted intestines that come with WLS can be a great tool to help control eating. However, if you had trouble with food before surgery, there is high probability that you will continue to struggle with eating compulsively, overeating or even just obsessing about food after surgery. Breaking free from unhealthy eating habits requires finding new ways to cope with life’s unavoidable difficulties. Learn how to comfort yourself in ways other than food. Food addiction is very common. If you are struggling with any food addiction issue, talk with someone in your support group or seek help from a professional counselor.
A complete lifestyle change is required to achieve a speedy and complete recovery from weight loss surgery. In turn, the surgery helps you achieve a fabulous new lifestyle by forcing you to pay attention to what you eat.
Follow these rules to ensure that you achieve your ultimate weight loss goal!