A change of diet will help you in the long run after receiving bariatric surgery. Not only will it help you lose weight, but the diet can help to avoid any complications from the surgery. The post-bariatric diet is designed to allow your stomach to heal, get you used to eating a small amount of food, help you lose weight, and avoid any complications. Some great tips for post-bariatric surgery are to plan out your water intake, choose high-protein foods, and keep meals small.
Water Intake
For a healthy diet, it is important to drink enough water throughout the day. This helps you to stay hydrated, keep you full, and flush out any toxins. On average, most people should be drinking about 64 fluid oz of water per day. An important thing to keep in mind after your bariatric surgery is when you drink water. You should drink water between meals, not with meals. This can cause you to feel nausea or get diarrhea. You should also wait at least 30 minutes before and after meals to drink any liquids.
High-Protein Foods
An important part of any healthy diet is choosing the right kinds of food. Choosing lean, protein-enriched foods will help you to lose weight and control your hunger. Some examples of these are lean ground meat, fish or poultry, cottage cheese, eggs, and nuts. Focus on these foods in your meal prior to other foods so that you stay full and have more energy throughout the day.
Keep Meals Small
Instead of sticking with three big meals a day, initially, several small meals are better for your diet and your digestion. You may want to start with four to five small meals a day then move to three to four meals a day once you reach 3/4 cup to 1 cup per meal. Each meal should include a half-to-one cup of food. This will also help to avoid binge eating as you will be full for most of the day.
By following these three simple guidelines, you will be successful with your bariatric surgery. Not only will you notice weight loss, but you will start to feel much better as you change up your diet to something healthy and manageable. Talk to Dr. Balsama if you have any questions during this time of change.
