Diet After Gastric Bypass Surgery

After gastric bypass surgery, you must "retrain" your stomach to hold food. Your stomach can no longer hold the same amount of food that it used to now that it is smaller.

As you advance your diet, you''ll need to take it slow. Begin by sipping on one ounce (three tablespoons) of an allowed liquid over 5 to 15 minutes. Stop if you feel full, pain or nausea. Wait a little while until the feeling passes, then try again.

Guidelines:

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes for each meal.
• Don''t skip any meals.
• Take small bites and chew thoroughly before swallowing.
• Choose low-fat foods (less than five grams of fat per serving.)
• Stay away from concentrated sweets and sugar (less than 10 grams of sugar per serving.)
• Sip between 48 and 64 ounces of liquid (preferably water) each day.
• Take your prescribed multivitamin each day.

Step by Step Progress:

There are 4 steps that you will take in getting back to a regular diet. When you can tolerate one step without complications, move on to the next step.

1. Clear liquids - 1 to 2 days after surgery; no more than 1/2 cup total at a time.

2. Full liquids - 3 days to 3 weeks after surgery: gradually increase from 1/2 cup to no more than 3/4 cup total at a time.

3. Pureed - 3 weeks to 6 weeks after surgery: meals should be from 3/4 cup to no more than 1 cup total.

4. Regular (small meals and snacks) - 6 weeks and beyond: no more than 1 cup total; no more than 2 ounces of meat.

Everyone is different so your progress might follow a different timetable than listed here. Don''t push yourself. Talk to your physician or registered dietitian for more information about diet choices and meal planning.

Here''s what you can eat or drink at each step:

Clear Liquid Step

• Water
• Diluted juices - no pulp (one part juice to 10 parts water)
• Diet gelatin
• Sugar-free popsicles®
• Clear broth
• Decaffeinated tea
• Remember, no carbonated beverages.

Full Liquid Step

• Anything from clear liquid step
• Non-fat acidophilus milk*
• Plain soy milk*
• No Sugar Added Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink®*
• Low-fat cream soups
• Cream of What®
• Cream of rice
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Infant strained fruits
• Sugar-free yogurt
• Sugar-free pudding
• Sugar-free instant breakfast drinks
• Crystal Light®
• Sugar-free Kool-Aid®
• Sugar-free iced tea

Pureed Step

• Anything from the first two steps
• Eggs*
• Baby food chicken or turkey*
• Tofu*
• Baby food or toddler fruits and vegetables
• Chicken or vegetable broth
• Hummus
• Regular unflavored oatmeal
• Low-fat cottage cheese

Regular Step

• Anything from the first three steps
• Soft cooked pasta
• Rice
• Most foods that have reduced sugar and fat

* - good source of protein, which is an important part of your diet.