Post-Surgery Diet Information General Information New Ways of Eating and Living Diet at Home Recommended Foods & Beverages

First two days after surgery. You will be on a clear liquid diet the first two days after surgery. Clear liquids include clear broth or soup (with no vegetables or meat and not creamy, jell-o, fruit juice (no nectars), water, tea, and coffee.

First week and early Second week after surgery. You will continue on liquids on day three but adding liquids that have a thicker consistency such as: milk (preferably skim), low-fat yogurt, cream of wheat, oatmeal, creamy soups, and fruit smoothies. (Nothing that you will have to chew). Two protein supplement shakes should be included into your daily intake.

Third week after surgery. You may begin pureed foods such as blended meat, meat paste, yogurt (not raspberry or other types containing seeds). You may also begin to add cottage cheese, sliced cheese, cheese dishes, scrambled and hard boiled eggs, and fish. Slowly add soft canned fruits and vegetables. Baked potatoes (without the skin), rice, macaroni, noodles, ready-to-eat corn or rice cereals. All food must be prepared to a pureed consistency. Remember to incorporate  two daily protein supplement shakes.

Fourth to sixth week after surgery. After your surgeon visit and your first band fill, you may begin to add meats that are ground after cooking, such as pork loin, veal, chicken, turkey, and beef. After your checkup you can begin to experiment more with food. Sliced meats as well as raw fruits and vegetables may be tried. Remember to chew them very well. If you feel hungry between meals you may sip on low-calorie drinks. Often drinking a glass of water will even overcome the hunger desire.

It is very important that you eat food high in protein at each of your three meals. Your in between meal snacks should be based around protein. Protein is needed for wound healing, renew body cells, and support your metabolism. As you lose weight and decrease your caloric intake,  your body will breakdown muscle for energy in preference to fat unless daily consumption of protein is adequate.

The recommended daily minumum dietary allowance (RDA) for protein is:

• 60-70 Gms/day for men
• 50-60 Gms/day for women

Your specific range of protein requirements will be determined and monitored by our licensed, registered dietitian. Participation with our dietitian is recommended for all patients in our after-care program to assure that you continue to daily consume the proper amount of protein to maximize your weight loss.

When you begin introducing solid foods, you might not be able to eat the amount listed above, but you should try to eat 60 Gms of protein each day. During your dietary consultation, the dietitian will give you a specific range of daily recommended protein intake. 

Certain foods may be difficult to tolerate. Since toleration for these foods varies from individual to individual, use your own discretion as to whether to include them in your diet. Through trial and error you may find that you are able to tolerate some of these food items, but there may be others which your digestive system cannot handle as well.

• Tough meats, especially hamburger (the gristle in hamburger is difficult to digest)
• Membranes of oranges or grapefruit
• Cores, seeds, or skins of fruits or vegetables
• Fibrous vegetables such as corn, celery, or sweet potatoes
• Bread
• Chili or other highly spiced foods
• Fried foods
• Milk (Milk is an important part of your diet that supplies much needed protein and calcium. If you are unable to tolerate it as a beverage, it should be incorporated into the diet through foods such as soup, pudding, or cheese.)
  
  

Certain foods have a concentrated supply of calories with little nutritional value. These empty-calorie foods should be left out of your healthy diet. Sugar and foodstuffs containing large quantities of sugar such as syrups, cakes, biscuits, sweets, jam, marmalade, honey. High fat foods including chocolate, chips, pies, pastries. Alcoholic drinks should also be avoided as much as possible. These are drinks such as beer, wine, liquors, port, sherry, cocktails, champagne. You should avoid Carbonated Beverages as these may strech your gastric pouch.

It is important to: Eat slowly Chew food well. Don't drink during meals. Drink liquids 30 minutes before or at least 40 minutes after meals. Stop eating when you are full. Eat three meals; avoid snacking, except one protein based snack between breakfast /lunch and lunch/dinner. Sip low-calorie beverages, preferably water between meals. Select a balanced diet. Exercise regularly. For successful weight loss after Adjustable Gastric Banding surgery, a change in your eating habits is necessary. The operation alone is not a cure--it is not magical. You will not be able to lose as much weight as you like if you eat continuously, or if you stretch your pouch by eating large amounts of food at one time. You will achieve your desired weight loss only if you are willing to control what you eat, and the way in which you eat it.