Bariatrics Program Bariatric surgery is an excellent way to limit the amount of food you eat and assist in weight reduction, but significant adaptation of your diet and lifestyle are required to achieve maximum success. After your bariatric surgery, you will be losing weight very rapidly. Hence, proper nutrition is essential to maintain lean body mass (muscle), hydration, skin elasticity, and to minimize hair loss. The primary nutrition goals after surgery are as follows:
Nutrition Plan: In order to loose weight effectively and permanently, you must be an active participant in your weight loss program. The stomach stapling surgery will help you to lose weight, but it is not "magic". A well balanced nutrition plan is necessary to help you reach and maintain your goal weight. Making changes in your eating habits will also leads to a lifetime of good health and weight control. The following describes the plan's progression from liquids to solid foods, following your discharge from the hospital.
Weeks 1 & 2 (high protein, low calorie liquids) Protein is essential for every function of your body. After surgery, protein is needed for healing and infection prevention. It is necessary for you to continue on liquids for two weeks after your discharge from the hospital to avoid putting stress on your staple line. Hence, your dietician will prescribe a number of high protein liquid supplements. In addition to these supplements, you will be allowed to have coffee, tea, broth, Gatorade, clear, and cream soups (strained), cooked cereals (soupy), low fat yogurt (no sugar added and blended), diet soft drinks (gone flat), fruit juices (small amounts), sugar free drinks, diet Jell-O, popsicles, and water. You need a good fluid intake during this time, so that you do not get dehydrated. Weeks 3 & 4 (Pureed Stage) During the pureed stage of the plan it will be necessary for you to blenderize most of your food, or you may want to use baby food. It will also be important for you to develop an eating schedule for yourself that fits your lifestyle. The following are a number of guidelines that you will find helpful in making the necessary changes from liquids to semi-solid to solid foods.
It is not necessary for you to eat completely
different meals from anyone else in your household during this stage
of the nutrition plan. You are encouraged to select low calorie, high
protein, and low fat foods. Week 6 (Soft Stage) This stage of the nutrition plan could be called the soft-semi-solid stage because you will be consuming solid foods that are well cooked. You can continue to consume soft foods you have already been eating in addition to the following foods that should be included in your meal plan at this time: Baked fish, chicken, and turkey Dried beans, peas, and lentils Lean Ground beef and veal Creamy peanut butter Steamed or boiled vegetables Canned fruit, packed in its own juices or soft fresh fruit Cooked or dry cereals, crackers Toasted breads, baked potato (no skin), Melba toast Remember to continue eating slowly and chewing well. Avoid drinking liquids with your meals, and continue to follow the guidelines previously outlined. Week 7 (regular stage) Continue to advance the consistency of the foods you eat by including raw fruits and vegetables into your meal plans. Continue to select low calorie, high protein foods, and low fat foods. Always ask yourself, "Is there a lower calorie, more nutritious choice?" Foods to avoid You are encouraged to avoid the following foods: Nuts, seeds, skins (includes potato skins, onion skins, fruit peelings, and the membrane between orange and grapefruit sections), the stringy portion of celery, asparagus, string beans, un toasted bread, high caloric, high fat foods, and high caloric beverages. Steak and pork may or may not be tolerated depending on the individual. You may discover individual intolerances with certain foods; this is very common. You should concentrate on the positive behaviors and good eating habits you are developing. Dieticians Role Prior to your discharge from the hospital, the dietician will instruct you on the bariatric surgery nutrition plan. You will be provided written and verbal information on how to advance from liquids to solid foods. She will discuss with you how to meet your nutritional needs as well as how to avoid possible intolerances. In your return visits you will meet with the dietician on a regularly. They will evaluate your overall nutritional intake and make recommendations on how to improve if necessary. The dietician will also help you identify problems and make suggestions on how to correct them, as well as answering any questions you may have regarding your nutritional plan. Remember that surgery is not the magical answer to losing weight. The more involved you are in your nutritional plan, the better your results will be. Be an active participant. Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation The first few months after your surgery you will consume a very low calorie diet, and due to the volume restriction of your new stomach it will be difficult to eat enough of a variety of different foods each day to consume adequate amounts of various nutrients. Hence, vitamin and mineral supplements are required. Daily Multivitamin · Chewable · Must contain at least o 400mg Folate o 18mg Iron o 15mg Zinc Calcium Citrate
Iron
You may also wish to take an over the counter stool softener when starting iron supplements as they may cause constipation B-12
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