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NUTRITION
Committing to good nutrition is critical
to the success of your weight loss surgery. In this section you will
find the recommended follow-up diet as well as tips and techniques
for maintaining a sensible diet. We want to see you succeed! If you
have questions that are not answered here, please feel free to
contact us!
Follow-Up Diet
Our Registered Dietitian will always be available for post-op
patients. If the physician feels you need individual care, you may
schedule an appointment.
Helpful Tips and Guidelines
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Use measuring tools and a food scale to check your portion sizes. Serve meals on smaller plates, such as salad or luncheon plates, to make the small portions more appealing.
- Eat slowly. As most bariatric clients were fast eaters in their previous lives, this can be a difficult behavior to change. Use tools such as small baby spoons and forks to help you eat more slowly.
- Chew your food carefully – 15 to 20 chews per bite – until the food feels pureed. This will help you slow down and help ensure nothing gets stuck passing through the narrowed stomach outlet. Eating too much, too quickly or without chewing carefully can lead to vomiting, which is never normal.
- Eat three meals a day. This helps to prevent snacking and “grazing,” which can add many calories between meals. Most long term, post-op clients find they need to limit their total caloric intake to 1000 calories per day to maintain their weight loss.
- Switch it up! Don't eat the same thing every week. Variety is the spice of life, and trying new things is good for your digestion as well.
- Eat as much fresh food as possible. It's tough sometimes, but be sure you aren't always eating packaged foods. They tend to have much higher amounts of sodium and other bad things for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if I can’t eat enough protein?
A: Protein supports the post-op healing process and helps to maintain lean muscle which is essential for losing body fat and retaining muscle mass. A patient who has had the Roux-en Y procedure often has difficulty consuming adequate amounts of protein during the first two months, the most critical time of weight loss. Therefore, it is imperative to take protein supplements until you can get enough protein from your regular diet. A sufficient protein goal would be 60 to 80 grams per day. Work with our staff to help identify well tolerated high protein supplements and foods, and learn to count the grams of protein to achieve your personalized dietary goal.
Q: What will happen if I don’t take my supplements?
A: Skipping supplements is not an option. Because the body cannot get enough key nutrients from diet alone, patients who have had the Roux-en Y procedure must have vitamin supplementation for life. If they don’t, they risk a nutrient deficiency that may compromise their health and result in permanent damage to their body and vital organs. It’s important to identify the problems and determine a solution that works for you.
Q: Will my food cravings disappear?
A: Often hunger and food cravings disappear or subside after surgery due to a physiological change in your body chemistry. The effect is most profound the first 12 to 18 months following the Roux-en Y procedure. Therefore, that is the time to develop and integrate healthy behaviors into your lifestyle.
Q: I know I should exercise but...
A: No ifs, ands, or buts… If you are medically cleared for exercise, it is essential. It takes no time at all to increase your strength and endurance if you start by walking just 10 minutes a day. As you build your endurance, you will become comfortable living a more active lifestyle. Exercise is known to facilitate weight loss and weight maintenance, increase strength, improve mood, combat chronic disease, improve sleep, and reduce depression. In short, it is your ticket to life-long weight management and good health. |
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