A gastric bypass diet is an eating plan specially designed to adequately help a gastric bypass patient avoid complications from surgery and transition back to solid foods. The first 3 months after stomach staple surgery will be the hardest to overcome due to the drastic physical and emotional changes. Many patients find it difficult to cope with the change in eating habits, some may experience various levels of depression, especially during the first 30 days. Once a deep weight loss occurs, the complaints of depression subside.
Immediately after surgery you will need to fast for 48 hours. This is essential to ensure that the stapled area of the stomach heals properly. After the first 2 days, you will begin to drink very small amounts of fluids. Juice, milk, and chicken broth are common selections. During this time it is important that the newly stapled stomach does not expand and cause complications in the surgery. It will also help you get used to the smaller amounts of food that you will now have on a regular basis. This phase will generally last 2 to 4 weeks before your doctor advances you to stage 2.
The second phase of a new gastric bypass diet will integrate chopped or mixed foods into your plan. At this point, you’ll be able to puree various fruits, yogurts, and lean meats into tasty delicacies that can be squeezed out of a toothpaste tube. Appetizing? Unfortunately, this stage is mandatory so that you do not experience serious complications. You also need to eat your pasta in small portions to get your digestive system used to your new eating habits. Avoid spicy foods at this time, as they can irritate your stomach more than before surgery.
The next phase will incorporate soft foods into your diet. Anything that you can manually mash will be considered soft food. Fruits, cooked vegetables, fish, and ground meat are generally acceptable at this stage. Your portions of these foods should be very small to avoid overstretching your stomach. This stage will last about 2 months before your doctor allows you to move on to the final stage.
In the fourth and final phase of the gastric bypass diet, you will switch to solid foods without mixing them. Your portions will still be small, as they always have to be, but hopefully at this point you will start to get used to small meals. It is strongly recommended that you continue to eat your food slowly and chew it well before eating. These steps will greatly reduce the risks of complications from bariatric surgery. After gastric bypass surgery, you should avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar. Your doctor will also ask you to take nutritional supplements or multivitamins to make up for the foods you cannot eat. You will need to take vitamins daily for the rest of your life.