DIET RULES FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

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DIET RULES FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

First 46 weeks

1. Eat food only if you are hungry. If you are not hungry, don't eat.

The goal is to relearn

eating patterns (for best lifelong success) using the stomach

pouch and actual hunger as the guide. Learn to avoid " mind hunger "

such as: eating from boredom or appealing commercials on TV, eating

because your Mom said you should, or because some dietician told you

that you need a certain amount of protein each day. The human body

is evolved to handle starvation just fine, so if you eat nothing for

one or more days (as long as you stay hydrated) you will be fine.

Furthermore, your freshly operated stomach is rather sensitive, and

intake of food puts it under stress. The little stomach will heal

the quickest if it is given the least possible work (=food) to

handle. In other words, the less you eat the better you will

probably feel.

2. Drink plenty of zerocalorie liquids. We hesitate to set a

numerical goal for liquid intake per day, though the range of 48 –

100 ounces is reasonable. The real key to watch is the amount of

urine that you make, and the color of that urine. (If your kidneys

are happy that you have enough fluid, then we are happy.) The goal

then is to pee a medium to large volume of urine at least 23

times per day, and to have that urine be very light in color, almost

like water.

3. If you are hungry, choose mushy proteins. Avoid carbohydrates.

Aim for the smallest " meal " possible to relieve your hunger. In the

beginning meals are best thought of as experiments, so don't plan a

certain amount that you are going to eat. Instead, try a teensyweensy

spoonful and see how it feels, then go from there.

4. Don't drink liquids with your food. Avoid drinking for at least 1

hour after eating. Liquids taken with food or shortly after food are

very likely to overfill the pouch and cause vomiting in the first

few weeks. Some call this the " cork effect. " The same guideline

remains important in the long term because liquid will wash the food

through the pouch and eliminate the desired feeling of satiety.

5. Start your exercise program ASAP. Simple walking is a good way to

start. The key is to exercise almost every day, and to have the

mental attitude or goal of doing just a bit more each day. Push

yourself until you sweat and you're breathing hard. Within months

you will amaze yourself with the exercise you can accomplish.

6. Begin taking Vitamins + Iron, and supplemental Calcium. You should

begin with chewable vitamins and calcium because they tend to be the

best tolerated. Later (when you can eat chicken comfortably) you are

welcome to change to any form or brand that you like. The key

requirements are to take a Multivitamin + Iron twice per day, and to

take at least 1500 mg of supplemental Calcium each day.