| Rapid weight loss is possible, thanks to a surgical | | | | foods that are easy to chew such as fresh fruits, |
| procedure called the gastric bypass. In essence, this | | | | ground meats, and cooked vegetables. Afterwards, |
| weight loss surgery reduces the size of a part of the | | | | you can move on to the last phase, which is the solid |
| stomach and connects it to the small intestine. By doing | | | | diet. Just be sure to avoid overeating and skipping |
| so, it prevents overeating and helps gain satisfaction | | | | meals. |
| after eating small meals. After the surgery, the | | | | Usually, every meal should include foods rich in protein |
| stomach volume becomes smaller and, as a result, can | | | | such as cheese, lean meat, and eggs. You need |
| contain only 1 ounce of food (which stretches to 8 | | | | protein because it helps in repairing and maintaining the |
| ounces over time). | | | | tissues in your body after the surgery. |
| Have you gone through weight loss surgery? Because | | | | After the surgery, it is recommended that you start |
| of the changes in your digestive system, you need to | | | | with six small meals everyday. After a few weeks, |
| follow a diet after the surgery. You also need to | | | | move on to four meals a day and then reduce it to |
| consult a registered dietician to know the foods you | | | | three meals a day once you have started following a |
| must eat, how to eat them, and how much to eat. | | | | regular solid diet. |
| Your post-surgery diet must be planned carefully to | | | | The rate at which your body adjusts to the new diet |
| avoid sudden weight gain and other complications such | | | | and eating habits determines how fast you must |
| as vomiting. Also, the right diet helps shorten the | | | | proceed from one diet phase to another. Most patients |
| recovery period, ease pain on the surgical areas, and | | | | begin eating solid foods three months after the |
| adjust your body to the changes in eating habits. | | | | surgery, but for some, it can happen sooner. |
| For the first two days after your surgery, eating is not | | | | When complemented with regular exercise, following |
| allowed. Then after several months, you are required | | | | the right diet leads to a 50 to 60 percent weight loss |
| to eat certain foods that vary in softness and texture. | | | | two years after the surgery. What’s more, you |
| Weight loss surgery patients follow a diet progression | | | | enjoy the weight loss benefits of the surgery for good |
| that begins with liquids and proceeds to pureed foods | | | | of you consistently maintain the right diet. |
| and soft foods. The first phase is the liquid diet | | | | Of course, there’s a price to pay for not following |
| consisting of water, milk, juice, broth, and soup. It is | | | | the doctor’s or dietician’s recommendations on |
| followed by three to four weeks of puree diet that | | | | diet and exercise. Weight gain is the usual result of bad |
| includes foods with a texture of a thick liquid or a | | | | health practices such as lack of exercise, overeating, |
| smooth paste. | | | | and high-calorie food and beverage intake. If it happens |
| Examples are yogurt (low fat or sugar free), oatmeal, | | | | to you, visit your doctor to discuss the possible |
| pureed meat, and pureed fruits, among others. The | | | | solutions. That way, you will be able to get the most |
| third phase is an eight-week soft diet that consists of | | | | out of gastric bypass surgery. |