A suitable weight loss surgery diet has to be followed both before and after the surgical procedure. The reason for doing so before the surgery is to prepare the body for the operation. Eating the right things after the procedure will help the body fully recover in the shortest time possible. Most of the time, following a weight loss diet comes down to basic common sense and doing what feels right for the body.
Pre Weight Loss Surgery Diet
Prior to the procedure, the patient’s diet should include items that assist reduce body fat while retaining muscle mass. Many experts advocate a high protein diet since it is low in fat, calories, and carbs. Sugary foods, fried foods, dairy products prepared with whole milk, and high-calorie drinks such as soda should be taken in moderation or avoided. In addition, the patient should refrain from drinking alcohol in the days leading up to the treatment.
Prepare For Weight Loss Surgery
In order to prepare for weight loss surgery, the patient should be restricted to around 1000 calories per day for at least a couple of weeks before the procedure. Although it may seem like there are not many foods that are suitable for pre-op dieting, the patient can still enjoy a varied and interesting diet by making creative food choices.
Proteins
Almost any protein can be eaten as part of the diet, as long as it is low in fat and calories. Yogurt, eggs, fish and lean meat are all great examples of suitable protein sources. Try serving braised cod with steamed kale or making a protein-rich omelet out of egg whites, fat-free cheese and chopped, grilled chicken, with a little hot sauce or Szechuan seasoning for flavor. If vegetarian, combine two protein foods at each meal time to get the nutritional benefits similar to those provided by animal protein. For example, add a few chopped nuts to a serving of Greek yogurt. Be careful not to overdo it with the nuts as they are relatively high in calories.
Protein Supplements
A wonderful way of getting enough protein without consuming too many calories is to incorporate protein supplements into the diet. Indeed, certain brands of protein powder are specially formulated with Bariatric patients in mind. Mix protein powder with water, skim milk, diluted fruit juice or low-fat yogurt for a tasty drink or snack. For a delicious protein-rich shake, combine one scoop of chocolate protein powder with almond milk, frozen fruit, Chia seeds, cocoa powder and fresh spinach and blend on a high setting. Alternatively, blend together vanilla protein powder, spinach, ground flaxseed, fresh lime juice and chopped pineapple.
Carbohydrates
Alternatively, blend together vanilla protein powder, spinach, ground flaxseed, fresh lime juice and chopped pineapple.. Simply consume complex carbohydrates rather than refined ones. A great example of a suitable carb-rich food is oatmeal. As well as being filling yet low-fat, it is also incredibly versatile. There is seemingly no end to the foods that can be added to a bowl of oatmeal. Slice up some peaches, sprinkle them with cinnamon and sweetener and stir into the oatmeal. For mocha-flavored oatmeal, make up a bowl with black coffee instead of water and add in cocoa powder and sweetener. Another popular complex carb is whole grain bread. Fill a whole grain pita pocket with scrambled egg and sautéed scallions and enjoy.
Timing
The correct time to start a pre-surgery diet will depend on a number of factors, including the patient’s weight and the type of Bariatric surgery. For operations such as duodenal switch and gastric bypass, the diet might start as early as three months before surgery, as these kinds of procedure tend to be more complex.
Conversely, a patient preparing for gastric band surgery may be able to start the diet just two weeks before the operation. Reputable surgeons always thoroughly assess their patients and the circumstances before recommending when to start a pre-surgery diet.
As challenging as such a diet looks on paper, keep in mind that sticking to wise food choices immediately before surgery will ultimately help shorten the operating time. Plan out the diet beforehand as this will make it easier to stick to when the time comes.
Post Weight Loss Surgery Diet
Although the diet needs to help the body recover, it also has to provide adequate nutrition and be easy enough for the patient to follow and stick to. The main reason weight loss surgeries fail is because the patient was unable to stick to the diet prescribed by the health care team. Therefore, the ideal diet should include between 60 and 100g protein daily, plenty of fruits and vegetables and six to eight cups of water every day. It is also a good idea to take daily supplements such as a multivitamin, calcium or iron.
Weight Loss Surgery Recovery
There are several stages of the diet that most patients are asked to follow after Bariatric surgery. The diet lasts for three months, but is really only the beginning of a lifetime of eating more healthily. Post Weight loss surgery diets not only help patients recover, but also educate them on how to eat properly for the rest of their days.
Clear Liquid
The first stage of the diet is known as the ‘clear liquid phase’. For two weeks, patients are only allowed to consume transparent liquids. This keeps the patient properly hydrated, whilst giving the body time to heal. Liquids that can be consumed include diluted fruit juices, broths and non-carbonated beverages with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Sugar-free gelatin also counts as a liquid. Do not use a straw to drink the liquids, as this can result in drinking too quickly. Instead, sip throughout the day.
Full Liquid
After the initial two weeks of the diet is up, the patient can add in non-transparent liquids. Creamy low-fat soups, fruit smoothies and protein shakes are all now allowed. Yogurt and low-fat, low-sugar puddings also count as liquids. Buying a blender at this stage is a wise investment as it can be used to make a wide variety of soups and smoothies.
One of the simplest ways to make a smoothie is to peel and chop one kiwi and half a banana and combine them with several ice cubes in the blender. A good basic soup to start with is tomato soup. Blend chopped, canned tomatoes with cold broth and fresh herbs and heat up in a saucepan.
Pureed Foods
About a month after surgery, it is safe to start including pureed foods in the diet. To count as puree, the food should have the same consistency as apple sauce and it should not contain any solid chunks. Simply cutting food into small pieces or mashing it up is not the same as pureeing it.
Use a blender or food processor to properly puree the food. Put the chosen food in the processor and feed in broth, skim milk or low-fat gravy. The food to be pureed should be high in protein and low in calories. Great foods to puree include canned fruits, boiled eggs and cottage cheese.
Soft Foods
The last stage of the diet begins six weeks after surgery. In this phase, soft foods with more texture are incorporated into the diet. Generally speaking, any low-calorie food that is tender and easy to chew can be included.
For example, ground meats, really ripe fruit, cooked vegetables, small pasta shapes, rice and noodles are all permissible. Eat several small meals a day instead of a few large ones. Sip water and other clear liquids throughout the day. Continue to eat soft foods for around six to eight weeks before progressing onto foods with a regular texture.
Even after the three months is up, a patient’s calorie intake should never exceed 1200 calories a day. Although this may initially seem like a difficult calorie limit to stick to, the patient will eventually become accustomed to consuming this amount of food.
Wight Loss Surgery Diet Recipes
Following a weight Loss surgery diet does not mean delicious food and recipes are out of the question. There are many creative recipes that are suitable for patients both before and after surgery. For example, try making an egg white omelet with chopped mushrooms, sweet onions, bell peppers and smoked turkey, adding cayenne pepper to taste. When craving something sweet, make protein pancakes by blending oats, egg whites, cottage cheese, mixed berries, nutmeg and baking soda together and lightly frying the mixture in small batches.
Recipes for Christmas
Believe it or not, the holidays can still be fun for patients preparing for or recovering from Weight Loss surgery. Make festive orange cream cheese cookies by combining cream cheese, butter, flour, sugar free orange marmalade and a pinch of salt together, rolling the mixture out, cutting into shapes and baking for 10 minutes.
For a main course, try:
Slow-cooked pork and sweet potatoes are excellent low-fat substitutes for roast beef and roasted normal potatoes. In a slow cooker, combine pork chops and chopped sweet potatoes. And set the timer for 7 hours on low.
By adopting a suitable weight loss surgery diet, a patient will greatly increase and extend the effectiveness of the procedure. Although it may at first be hard to adapt to a new eating regime, the long-term benefits undoubtedly outweigh temporary inconveniences. Anyone who is prepared to commit to something as drastic as Bariatric surgery should really be expected to commit to a few dietary changes. If not, then maybe surgery is not the best option.
References
https://www.liver.theclinics.com/article/S1089-3261(15)00105-1/abstract
https://www.scielo.br/j/abcd/a/x9sjZ9JR9drPWZMQ5X8Mwgc/abstract/?lang=en
