During the gastric bypass surgery your stomach will be divided into two parts, one with a very small size (commonly the size of a golf ball) and this part will be made as your new stomach pouch. Because of this, your eating habits should change drastically after the surgery. You need to understand that these eating habits will be forever. Therefore, it is important to change your diet routine.
Changes in Diet
Changing your eating habits is very important. The new pouch contributes in making these changes.
- Your stomach can only hold a less amount of food. Therefore, it is very important to have a control on what you eat.
- Prepare your diet routine after proper consultation with your surgeon and dietitian.
- For the first two weeks after the surgery you will be having only diluted drinks.
- Abstain totally from alcohol and smoking.
- Vitamin B12 and minerals like iron and calcium are hard to absorb, so take supplements to balance the diet.
- Avoid fatty meats including fried foods and fats of all kind.
- Cut down on processed food, as they offer very little nutritional value.
- As you have very less quantity of food to take, make sure that you add as much nutrition as possible. Doing this can keep you health any away from many side effects.
- Do not drink liquids with meals, have them between meals. Liquids will fill your stomach faster, as a result you get less nutritional food.
- Stop having carbonated drinks, instead trying fruit juices with no artificial contents.
Eating Techniques
- Devote some time for your meals, so that you can eat without any distractions. This will make you aware of what you eat.
- Take very smaller bites and chew the food well, because your new stomach cannot absorb and digest heavy parts of food.
- Eat protein in the beginning of the meal. Even if you feel full much earlier than expected, you are on the safer side.
