A Bariatric surgery diet is designed to restrict caloric intake to produce desired weight loss, to help develop appropriate eating habits and to prevent disruption or obstruction of your pouch.

Sometimes it is strongly recommended to pursue weight loss in preparation for surgery. Even a small amount of weight loss may contribute to a decreased risk during bariatric surgery.

Your three main priorities:

• Drink enough fluids to keep your body hydrated.
• Eat adequate protein.
• Take required vitamin and mineral supplements to meet recommended daily allowances.

Your diet principles:

• Drink 6-8 cups of fluid each day
• Sip one cup of liquid over an hour
• Stop drinking within 30-60 minutes of a meal
• Sip allowed beverages slowly
• Do not use a straw
• High calorie foods, beverages and snacks are not allowed.
• Begin your vitamin/mineral and calcium supplements as soon as allowed.
• Include protein first at each meal to help maximize protein intake. As your pouch expands, you may only need to eat 3 meals and 1-2 high protein snacks each day.
• Eat very slowly. Foods need to be thoroughly chewed to prevent blockage. Stop eating as soon as you are full.

How to know you’re full/ satiated?

• Feeling of pressure in the center just below you rib cage,
• Feeling of nausea,
• Pain in your shoulder area or upper chest.

Contact your doctor if the above symptoms persist or worsen.

Your diet will be advanced gradually, depending on tolerance, following bariatric surgery:

• Phase I Clear Liquid Diet (in hospital) (2 days).

Low Calories, Low Sugars, noncarbonated beverages.

• Phase II Full liquid diet (14-21 days).

High Protein, Low Sugar.

• Phase III Puree Diet (14-21 days).

Pureed, Low Fat, low simple sugars, High protein Food

Tender poultry and fish, legumes, eggs, cheeses, well-cooked vegetables, pureed fruits, Dairy.

• Phase IV Soft Diet. (14-21 days)

Foods that are soft in consistency can be cut easily with a fork.

Sweets should not be part of your diet if you want to reach your weight loss goal following weight loss surgery

Your Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation

You should start taking supplements after 2 weeks of surgery to prevent vitamins deficiencies since food intake will not meet your daily requirements.

Bariatric multivitamin and mineral:

Allow your body to function at its full potential

Help you avoid malnutrition and vitamin deficiency

Vary by procedure and patient

If you choose to take generic multivitamin and mineral you should know that the following are required in higher doses than the daily allowances as a bariatric surgery patient. (Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Iron).

Exercise

Exercise is an important step to help you feeling better and energized. It also leads to measurable improvements in weight loss and overall health. You should begin walking for 20 minutes per day as soon as you get home. Start with a slow pace and gradually increase the speed at which you walk as your endurance improves.

At first, it’s probably best to spread this out over the day instead of doing it all at once. For example, try going for a 10-minute stroll in the morning, midday and in the evening.

By the time you reach six weeks post-op, you should be able to complete three 10-minute walks per day while walking at a relatively quick pace.

After week six, it may be time to begin a more intensive exercise routine including strengthening, flexibility and more endurance exercises.