High Protein Meal Replacements
During the pre-op phase your body will go into ketosis. This allows your body to use your fat stores as an energy source. The result is the fat in your liver shrinks considerably in a short amount of time. As seen above, your diet is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Below are some suggested high protein meal replacements:
- Bariatric Advantage
- Aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Celebrex, and any other NSAIDs
- Replacement hormones
- Birth control
If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine, plan on bringing it to the hospital. Purchase vitamins and supplements in advance of surgery. Find a good protein shake.
If you smoke you should stop prior to surgery. Smokers have an increased risk of blood clots and complications during and after surgery. Make a plan and implement it a few weeks prior to surgery.
- Resist the Last Supper Syndrome. An empty stomach is easier to work with.
- Dont eat or drink anything on the day of surgery .
Phase Four: The Bariatric Surgery Solid Food Diet
Duration: Maintain Phase 4 Nutrition Guidelines Forever
We are discussing Phase 4 Solid Foods of the post weight loss surgery meal plan which starts at approximately three to four weeks after surgery. It is important to remember not to compare yourself to others as far as what you can eat or the rate at which you are losing weight.
Why Do I Need To Follow A Soft Food Diet After Bariatric Surgery
After bariatric surgery, your stomach and digestive system need to heal and adjust to the new alterations that have been introduced. For some, this means their stomach has been reduced to the size of a small pouch through surgery and a section of their digestive system has been rerouted to skip a large portion of the small intestine and normal digestion process.
As the digestive system heals and the body grows accustomed to working with just the pouch , nourishment is introduced slowly beginning with liquids, then purees, and now the next phase of soft foods. This phase is necessary to ease your stomach back into digesting whole foods.
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Soft And Pureed Recipes After Bariatric Surgery
If you are in the Pureed or Soft phase diet after Bariatric Surgery OR are preparing to bethese recipes are for you! By all means please COMPARE your programs recommendations to the ingredients used in these recipes. Every program differs and its best to follow your own surgeons guidelines!! All recipes have been written by myself a bariatric dietitian. Disclaimer: all the information provided on foodcoach.me is meant to be used as education and information, not medical advice. Please visit your surgeons office annually.
All the sweet tastes of the liquid diet gets old. And the lack of texture is enough to make any new post-op feel like youre going to go crazy. Enjoy a look through several different recipes to help get your wheels turning on how you can make your soft diet not only bearable, but actually a little enjoyable!
Stage : Soft Foods Diet
Youll probably eat nothing but puréed food for several weeks. Once your doctor decides youre ready, you can start building soft, easy-to-chew foods into your diet. These may include:
- soft-boiled eggs
- baked or steamed white fish
- canned fruits, such as peaches or pears
It is important to eat small bites. Eat a little at a time and practice good portion control.
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Pumpkin Goats Cheese And Sage Tart In A Broccoli Crust
Pastries are addictive. However, they are the primary culprit for weight gain. After your surgery, you might crave pastries, but do not worry. This pumpkin, Goats cheese, and sage tart in a broccoli crust have got you covered.
It is a flavourful dish that your family will love. Enjoy it as a main meal at lunch with a side of salad. You can serve it warm or cold. It tastes good either way.
Only take this dish after you have been cleared to take solid foods.
Here is the recipe.
Start Your Vitamin/mineral Supplements Day 8 After Surgery
Buy chewable or gel cap supplements for best absorption. Do not buy gummy or soft chews.
Vitamins suggested post-bariatric surgery
- Chewable calcium citrate with Vitamin D three times a day
- Chewable complete multivitamin once in morning surgery)
- Vitamin B12, 500 mg tablet once a day
- Vitamin B-complex tablet once a day
- Liquid iron once a day
- Vitamin D3 1000 IU once a day
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Turkey Tacos With Refried Beans Puree
PostOp, you are required to take a lot of proteins and fewer carbs. That is why the recipe owner created this Turkey Tacos with refined Beans Puree. It is perfect for phase 2 when you are allowed to take pureed foods.
This easy-to-follow recipe will only require a few ingredients that are readily available in local grocery stores. You can add mild chili powder to the recipe, but skip this process you are not ready.
Enjoy this high protein puree with only 68.1 calories per serving while still warm.
Here is the recipe.
Stage : Clear Liquids
Starting the day after your surgery, you will start a clear liquid diet, continuing for about 4-5 days. During this time, you should try your best to work up to about 3 ounces of clear fluids a day every 30 minutes. This might be difficult right after your procedure, but it will continue to get easier and feel more comfortable! During this time, drink slowly and do not drink liquids out of a straw or chew gum, as these can lead to gas and bloating. Some examples of liquids to try during this stage are:
- Diluted apple juice
- Sugar-free citrus gelatin
- Pedialyte Popsicles
You should also be adding diluted protein shakes to your diet. Use a combination of ½ protein shake and ½ water.
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Bariatric Clear Liquid Diet
You will start a clear liquid diet the first day after your surgery while you are in the hospital. You may drink skim milk, water, chicken or beef broth, or sugar-free gelatin. Do not start this until your surgeon orders this diet.
Your goal is to drink 3 cups of skim milk and 6 cups of water.
Drink your milk before other clear liquids. Sip small amounts slowly throughout the day. Use your check-off sheet to make sure you are meeting your daily goal.
What Is Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a surgery for weight loss that is considered when diet and exercise have proven to be ineffective for helping extremely obese individuals lose weight.
It is a major surgery that alters the way an individuals stomach and small intestine handles food. Bariatric surgery will cause a combination of both a:
- Reduction in the amount of food that is comfortable to eat
- Reduction in the absorption of the number of calories
This means that individuals will not be able to eat as much, as their stomachs are smaller, and that the food eaten will no longer travel through all parts of the stomach and small intestine. Weight loss occurs because fewer calories are consumed and absorbed into the body.
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Physical Activity And Exercise
Its time to start exercising. Actually, you should have started on stage 2. Walking, running, biking, weight lifting, aerobics, canoeing, badminton, hiking, and dancing in your bedroom like a crazy person can all be added to your weekly routine. Ensure that you are getting at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 to 7 days a week. It doesnt matter how you do it, just do it.
Note: Do not lift more than 10 pounds for at least 6 weeks after surgery. This can put undue pressure on your internal stitches and result in a hernia.
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Are you considering Gastric Bypass surgery?
Is a loved one going through this process soon?
Do you need more information for the various phases of Gastric Bypass recovery?
Inside Gastric Bypass Recipes, youll find a comprehensive guide to the days and weeks after your surgery. Youll learn about the types of recommendations your doctor and dietician may make and be better prepared for your consultations.
This book includes over 80 delicious Gastric Bypass recipe choices for the different phases of your recovery from Mocha Frappuccinos to Salmon Pate. Youll thrill to favorites like Root Beer Floats and Pumpkin Cheesecake Puddings as your digestive system heals. Its time to create a brand new you after this life-changing procedure!
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Chicken Spinach Tomato Dish Made In One Pot
Chicken spinach tomato dish is a hearty and highly nutritious dish that you can enjoy after the surgery. However, do not take it immediately after the surgery as it can be rough on the stomach and cause indigestion. Instead, eat it months after the surgery with your doctors orders.
Make this dish on a night when you are so tired and cant make a complicated dinner. You can make it in advance and keep it in the fridge or freezer. Then, when ready to eat it, throw it in the microwave, and voila! You have your dinner ready.
Enjoy it with your side of choice as recommended by your physician.
Here is the recipe.
Dietary Guidelines Post Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery doesn’t eliminate dieting altogether. It means that if patients adhere to the prescribed diet for the rest of their lives, they’ll lose the excess weight and keep it off. On the contrary, if you ever go off the diet, you will gradually regain the weight lost.
Its important to start implementing this diet even before the surgery because pre-surgery weight-loss helps the surgeon by making the laparoscopic approach easier and safer and increases the likelihood that the surgery can be completed less invasively.
Other dietary requirements are basic common-sense eating. With sensible eating and exercise habits , the weight-loss can be easily maintained after surgery.
The long-term goal of weight-loss surgery is to lose approximately 55 to 75 percent of your excess weight. The end result of weight-loss surgery is that patients will continue to require only small portions of food and eventually be able to tolerate all types of foods. Patients bodies will be satisfied with smaller amounts of food and they wont have continued cravings for larger quantities of food at mealtimes.
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How Are Soft Foods Different From Pureed Foods
Soft food is in a more solid state when you put it into your mouth and will be broken down into a mush-like consistency through chewing. You do not want to swallow any lumps or pieces that are not fully chewed.
Pureed foods have been blended and are in a thickened but still almost-liquid state and require no chewing. The soft foods you eat during this phase can easily be mashed with a fork and the remainder of the work to prepare it for digestion will be done through your chewing.
Keys To Thriving In Phase 4
Serving sizes for Phase 4 are bigger than they were for Phase 3, now your meal sizes are between 4-6 ounces for the total meal.
Eat these food groups in this order:
- First: Protein
- Second: Fruits/Vegetables
- Third: Starches
Hold off on drinking anything during your meals and 30 minutes after. Its easier to eat more food when you drink during your meal and immediately after. The fluid basically flushes the food through your GI tract faster and makes room. You dont want this when youre trying to restrict your calories and food intake.
Do not SNACK.
You can and should use protein shakes in between your proper 3 meals per day as a snack. Think of bad snacking as anything you do outside of your 3 meals thats not planned.
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Skinny Meatloaf Muffins With Barbecue Sauce
Who can resist muffins, especially ones full of meat? This is one of those bariatric diet recipes that brings together your favorite flavors of meatloaf in easy-to-control portion servings.
Ground turkey and whole wheat breadcrumbs are used, making this a great choice for anyone looking for a healthier version of traditional meatloaf.
Tip: Do not be afraid to experiment with different flavors of BBQ sauce.
Lifestyle Changes After Your Surgery
You may feel motivated to begin or resume an exercise program. Right after surgery, you need to let your body heal. Go slowly.
Low-impact exercises are a good option for the first month. These include walking and swimming. You may also benefit from simple yoga poses, stretching, and deep breathing exercises.
Over the next several months, you can slowly build up to strength training and cardio workouts.
Think in terms of movement as well as exercise. Simple lifestyle changes can be physical fitness boosters, such as:
- walking instead of riding the bus
- parking farther away from your destination
- taking the stairs instead of the elevator
Following the proper pre- and post-surgery diets can help you avoid complications, such as dehydration, nausea, and constipation.
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Basic Guidelines For Good Nutrition
- Establish the time youll eat each meal.Example: 8a, 12p, 6p.
- Continue to drink protein supplementsbetween meals as needed to assure youre hitting the protein goal
- Continue to drink at least 64 ounces ofcalorie free, non-carbonated beverages daily
- Plan meals and snacks in advance
- Learn to meal prep
6p: Meal- Crockpot chicken with steamed broccoli
Healthy Smoked Salmon Sushi Bowls
Sushi is delicious. However, creating them at home can be quite hard. I am yet to discover what they use to roll the sushi so perfectly. But since I am a sucker for sushi and healthy foods, I decided to figure out a way of enjoying delicious sushi at home, and I came across this sushi bowl recipe.
This smoked salmon sushi bowl is delicious. However, you should take it some months after the surgery since the vegetables are a bit firmer.
Enjoy this beautiful smoked salmon sushi bowl to keep away the sushi cravings.
Here is the recipe.
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Week 4 And 5 Soft Foods
This stage of the diet will allow for a very gradual reintroduction of soft foods into your diet. This stage usually lasts about 1 or 2 weeks.
If a food can be easily mashed with a fork, knife, or a spoon, then it is a candidate for stage three of the post-op gastric bypass diet. This portion of the diet will include soft meats and cooked vegetables.
The nutrient goals will remain the same as in stage two. 60-70 grams of protein and 64 ounces of fluid is recommended daily. The serving size of protein in stage three should be about 1 to 2 ounces and youll likely have 3 to 6 small meals.
Stage three, like stage two, focuses on high-quality lean protein sources. While stage 3 continues to focus on high-quality lean protein sources, up to three servings of soft vegetables may also be allowed a tiny portion of fat may also be permitted .
Recommendations for the protein sources in this stage of the diet will probably include several of the following items:
Meat, Dairy, and Eggs
- bananas
- avocados
You will still need two multivitamins and two to three 400-600 mg doses of calcium citrate .
Your dietitian may recommend you take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D3 per day this will most likely be divided into two 500 IU doses. These should be taken with your calcium citrate. Also, a daily dose of sublingual B12 may be recommended. A weekly or monthly injection or intranasal option may be available for B12. Some dietitians may want you to begin vitamin D3 and B12 supplementation in stage two.
High Protein Jello Mousse Full Liquids Stage
When you crave something sweet after your gastric bypass operation, you should make this nutritiously sweet, healthy treat for yourself.
It has as many proteins as a protein bar. It, however, has fewer calories. You can take it as a snack or as a meal during liquids to soft food stages.
Remember not to use flavored ingredients as this would increase calories content. Vary the flavors as you desire. Share some of this heavenly goodness with your kids and the rest of the family.
Here is the recipe.
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Recommended Meal Plan For Weeks Two To Eight Until Two Months Post
At this time, your caloric intake will probably be no more than 500 calories a day, divided into six to eight small meals. Recommended portion sizes are 1/4 cup for solids and 1/2 cup for liquids.
Sample Menu
This sample menu includes different foods that are safe for you to eat. You may adjust the menu to fit your tastes and tolerance.
Breakfast1/4 cup hot cereal made with non-fat milk
Mid-Morning
1/2 cup low-fat chicken noodle soup
Mid-Afternoon1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese
Late Afternoon1/4 cup sugar-free, nonfat yogurt
Dinner2 ounces lean ground meat1/4 cup puréed or well-cooked vegetables
Bedtime Snack1/4 cup non-fat milk
* Add 1 tablespoon non-fat dry milk powder to each 1/4 cup nonfat milk for additional protein.
Remember to drink 1 cup of water or other non-caloric fluids between meals. It is important to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement every day, plus additional iron if required, and calcium and vitamin D supplements two to three times per day.
Stage : Regular Consistency
This stage starts 4-6 weeks after your procedure, and involves reintroducing regular foods! Start by adding 1-2 new foods per day, avoiding anything that causes gas like broccoli, pepper, onions, and spicy foods. Remember to eat slowly and chew your foods completely before swallowing. Each meal should be about ¾ cup in size, and should not exceed 1 cup. You should continue to honor the 30/30 rule, sipping water in-between meals. Eventually, you will be able to work up to a regular diet, however, here are some foods you should still avoid:
- Rice, pasta, and bread
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