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Bariatric Weightloss Surgery - Gastric Bypass

Skincare Articles


Gastric Bypass Diet: What Should You Eat After Surgery

By: George Peters


Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2007



After gastric bypass surgery, one has to follow a specific diet to promote healthier weight loss and better health. A registered dietician can help in creating a gastric bypass diet, which includes what to eat and how much. This should be followed strictly to get the best results.

A person is not allowed to eat for a couple of days directly after gastric bypass surgery. After that, one may be able to eat certain foods according to diet progression. This helps in the healing process, minimize stress on the area of surgery as well as give time to the body to adapt to the new eating patterns.

A gastric bypass diet follows these phases in progression:

  1. Liquid foods - broth, juice, milk, cooked cereal to be taken in 1-2 days 
  2. Pureed foods - foods with a consistency of a thick liquid or paste, usually for 3-4 weeks, or as recommended by the dietician
  3. Soft foods - finely diced meats, soft, fresh fruit, cooked vegetables, and similar foods for 8 weeks, or as recommended by the dietician

When you are going through the gastric bypass diet progression, you can eat many small meals and several sips of liquids in between meals. It is never advisable to take liquids together with the meal. A recommended start is 6 small meals a day, then down to 4 meals, then decrease to 3 meals a day. Foods rich in protein such as lean meat, low-fat dairy products and eggs are recommended to maintain and repair the body after the gastric bypass surgery.

The speed with which the body adjusts to these new eating patterns determines the rate of progression. In order for the patient to get the needed nutrients for the body needs, here are some tips:

  1. You must eat in small amounts when in a gastric bypass diet. Eating in large amounts at one time may cause pain, nausea or vomiting. Patients are advised to stop eating as soon as they feel full.
  2. Eat and drink slowly so that dumping syndrome will be avoided. Also avoid foods high in sugar and fat.
  3. Chew your food thoroughly and well. This will prevent blockages in the stomach since the new opening leading to it is smaller than before.
  4. Only drink liquids between meals. When a person takes them with the meal, it makes him very full and cause dumping syndrome as well. 6-8 cups of liquids are recommended so as to avoid dehydration.
  5. A person has to try new foods one at a time so that your body can adjust to the new food. Foods such as meat, bread, pasta, rice, raw vegetables, milk and carbonated beverages may not be tolerated easily by the body.
  6. Take the recommended vitamin supplements since the body may have problems absorbing certain nutrients since most of the stomach and small intestine is already bypassed.

The best way to get the results is to follow the recommended gastric bypass diet.

Discover more regarding gastric bypass diet and gastric bypass surgery cost.

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