subject: Gastric Bypass Nutrition - Eating After Gastric Bypass Surgery [print this page] Gastric bypass nutrition is a big concern following gastric bypass surgery. It is important that you take the time to educate yourself on the post bariatric diet in the weeks preceding your gastric bypass operation. It is essential you understand what you are allowed to eat and what will have to wait until after recovery. You will also want to shop for these products and have them on hand for your return from the hospital.
Having gastric bypass surgery can be an exciting time for many patients. Their life is about to change drastically over the next few years. Making changes in your eating habits will determine how much weight you lose and how much you are able to keep off. Even following obesity surgery, it is all about lifestyle changes.
Following surgery, you will be on clear liquids. When you go home, your choices will be baby food, pureed food or liquid protein. I opted mostly for liquid protein. The idea of eating baby food did not sound good to me and pureeing salmon or chicken was unnatural. I didn't care for it. I experimented the first few days and stuck with protein shakes for the duration of the first 2 weeks.
Protein is what is important in the early stages of recovery. It will help you heal and regain your strength. You should have about 60 grams per day. A chewable vitamin is also necessary for all the other nutrients that you need that you cannot get from food. After the first few months, many gastric bypass patients will switch to prenatal vitamins.
Soft foods can be reintroduced back into your diet at about 2 weeks. It is necessary to chew your food thoroughly. I heard a lot about this in my presurgery classes and at that time it does not have much of an impact. But if you do not follow this simple suggestion, you are going to find yourself in severe pain. It is hard to remember to chew the food well, because most people are not used to eating that way. It will only take one time of forgetting and you probably won't forget a second time.
After about two months, you should be able to eat most foods. Course meats may to need to be cut into small pieces and soaked in liquid. Your biggest problem will be with sugar. It will more than likely make you feel lightheaded or like you have the flu. Sugar may also cause dumping syndrome. It is best to limit sugar as much as possible.
