Here's how experts recommend you eat after weight-loss surgery.
In order for weight-loss
surgery to help you lose a significant amount of weight — and
keep it off in the long term — you'll need to adopt new eating habits. This not
only means changing what you eat, but also how you eat.
"It's very
important for patients who have had Lap-Band or bypass surgery to realize
they've got a small pouch that holds only a small volume of food: Initially,
it's about one ounce per meal, and after a few months it's about one cup to
one-and-a-half cups of food," says Charles E. Morton, MD, bariatric
surgeon and medical director of bariatric services at the Metabolic Surgery
Center at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. That means you've got to be
very choosy about what you eat.
The Right Foods After Bariatric Surgery
Eating lean protein (like chicken and fish) and
vegetables before consuming rice or bread can increase satiety and nutrient
intake, says Dr. Morton. "People should have at least 60 to 80 grams of
lean protein a day to increase lean body mass and stay healthy and energetic
during rapid weight loss," he suggests.
For some people, one
side effect of the surgery is enough to encourage them to choose healthy foods:
Their bodies find greasy or fatty foods (like fast food) more difficult to
digest, which can result in "dumping syndrome"
(bouts of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and sweating). After Pamela
Folle, 49, of Las Vegas, had Lap-Band surgery in November 2007, she found that
she could not tolerate steak, hot dogs, hamburgers, and carbonated drinks.
"Not even in very small portions," she says. Folle now opts for lean
proteins and vegetables, and she limits her daily intake to four ounces of food
three times a day.
Folle also takes a
daily multivitamin. "My doctor recommended it," she says. That's
because bariatric surgery causes patients to absorb fewer nutrients from food,
which may leave them deficient in iron, calcium, folate, and vitamin D. Since
few multivitamins contain adequate levels of vitamin D, your doctor may suggest
that you take an extra vitamin D supplement in addition to your multivitamin.
The Wrong Foods After Bariatric Surgery
Which foods are most
problematic can depend on the type of weight-loss surgery you've had.
"Lap-Band patients must stay away from soft foods, foods that melt, and
high-calorie liquids," says Morton. "Bypass patients should avoid any
concentrated source of sugar such as sweets, whole milk, and milk shakes. These
aren't tolerated due to the sudden deliverance of this type of food into the
small intestines." That sudden deliverance often causes dumping syndrome.
No matter what type of
weight-loss surgery you have, your new stomach probably won't be able to handle
both solid food and fluids at the same time, says Laura Gittus, RD, who works
with Morton and coordinates the bariatric-nutrition program at the Metabolic
Surgery Center. Therefore, make sure you separate fluid and food intake by at
least 30 minutes. When you do drink, sip — don't guzzle — and opt for at least
48 ounces a day of things like water and low-calorie beverages or tea, and up
to 24 ounces per day of skim, low-fat, or soy milk.
Gittus also advises
those who have undergone weight-loss surgery to minimize or eliminate these
other high-calorie, low-nutrient foods: deep-fried foods like chicken and
french fries; fast-food meals; high-fat foods like pizza, bacon, or breakfast
sausage; high-sugar foods such as cakes, cookies, ice cream, and candy; and
alcohol.
Slow Down and Savor Each Bite
Importantly, don't
rush through meals. "Eat slowly and savor each bite to prevent
overeating," Gittus says. "That will also help you enjoy food without
feeling like you're restricted or on a 'diet'."