Diet and Nutrition After Surgery

Daily vitamins are required for the rest of your life following weight-loss surgery. Failure to comply with vitamin recommendation may result in serious deficiencies. You will need specific doses of iron, B1, B12, calcium, and Vitamin D. Your medical team will provide individual recommendations based on your surgery and your lab results.

Patients are required to consult with a dietitian before surgery. Your insurance and medical team may determine the number of visits required to prepare you for surgery. Counseling after surgery is available on an individual basis as needed or recommended by your surgical team.

You will be provided with materials that clearly outline expectations regarding your diet and compliance to guidelines for the best outcome. After surgery, health and weight loss are highly dependent on patient compliance with these guidelines. You must do your part by restricting high-calorie foods, by avoiding excess starches, sugars, fats and empty calories.

You will be encouraged to eat three high-protein meals and two healthy snacks per day. Your diet will also be comprised of colorful fruits, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy products.

Nibbling or "grazing" on foods adds hundreds of calories a day to your intake and can slow down your weight loss or lead to regain of weight.

Although every person’s experience is different, common foods that are not well tolerated include:

• Dry, tough, overcooked meats
• Stringy, fibrous foods (celery)
• Greasy foods
• Concentrated sugars

When you are losing weight, there are many waste products to eliminate, mostly in the urine. Some of these substances tend to form crystals, which can cause kidney stones. A high water intake protects you and helps your body rid itself of waste products efficiently, promoting better weight loss. Water also fills your stomach and helps to prolong and intensify your sense of satisfaction with food. Being adequately hydrated also promotes a healthy metabolism.

Eggs, skinless chicken, turkey, tofu, seafood and low-fat dairy products are some of the best choices of protein. Sixty to 80 grams a day are generally a sufficient amount of protein to help you maintain lean body mass (muscle) and aid healthy weight loss.

Eating high-sugar or high-fat foods may result in a reaction called “dumping syndrome.” This reaction is characterized by cold sweats, increased heart rate, followed by cramps and diarrhea. Not all weight-loss patients experience this, however, many do.

No matter which bariatric surgery you have, you will find that even small amounts of alcohol will affect you quickly. A caution for gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients: You will process alcohol into your system much more rapidly than before surgery and can have higher blood alcohol levels with less intake. Studies have shown that the risk of developing alcohol dependency increases after surgery, therefore, routine use of alcohol should be avoided.