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Post-surgery bariatric tips and must-do's

Smile and relax! You have just given yourself the very best gift you can ever give yourself- more years of healthy living! So, now the tough part is over. You anticipated your surgery date and how it would go. Now you are home, and are ready to learn how to start living with this awesome gift! It may not be easy everyday, but you now have a full proof portion controller in your body that will help guide you in making better food decisions and most importantly, knowing when full is full. You should be following your surgeons guidelines for Stage appropriate foods, and consuming your protein supplements regularly 2-3 times a day.

The “Tips” and “Must Do's” are the same in my book! You Must....
   1)   Eat three meals a day of high quality protein.
   2)   Maintain good hydration, by sipping all day long (except during meals).
   3)   Fluids should be non-carbonated, sugar-free and caffeine free.
   4)   Chew your food thoroughly and eat slowly.
   5)   Avoid sugar.
   6)   Practice realizing your body's feeling of fullness.
   7)   Do NOT drink liquids with meals.
   8)   Don't snack in between meals.
   9)   Exercise! Follow your surgeons guidelines, but moving is great.
   10)   Do not weigh yourself more than once a week.
   11)   Make sure you find “you” time to relax, unwind and de-stress.
   12)   Get good sleep. Your body's still healing.
   13)   Do remember where you've been and how far you have already come!

Your protein needs after bariatric surgery.

Patients that have undergone weight loss surgery have different nutritional needs than other people. Some surgery may inhibit absorption of nutrients, but all surgery is successful because it helps control portion size. Post-operatively you will only be able to consume very small amounts of food three times a day at meal time. This restriction makes it imperative that the foods being consumed are appropriate to provide the necessary nutrients for your body daily.

Protein plays a crucial role in the health of your body. It is one of the body's main building blocks for muscle, skin, bone and other tissues. The first three months after surgery, you will lose an extreme amount of weight. Your surgeon wants to make sure that your lean body mass remains intact and is not sacrificed or compromised. The goal with weight loss surgery is to lose body fat not muscle. Protein at this time is usually higher than normal diets to help make that happen. Protein goals daily should range between 50-60 grams to give your body what it needs while maintaining lean muscle. No matter what your BMI, a good percentage of your body weight is lean muscle. Three meals a day, consisting of good quality protein, plus additional protein supplementation is very important.

These protein supplements, are made of good quality protein that is tasty and easily digestible. They are made of whey protein isolate, are lactose free, have no aftertaste and come in a great variety of flavors. They are highly recommended by leading Bariatric surgeons. Help your body meet it's protein needs by consuming 2-3 protein supplements daily for the first 3 months post-op. These protein supplements can be used successfully in place of a meal or as a “buffer”, after 3 months, if you have an extended period of time between meals. It is important to plan ahead, in order to guarantee that you will never skip a meal. Taking a supplement with you, just in case you get delayed is a great idea. They are convenient and perfect for the person “on the go”!

Your vitamin & mineral needs after bariatric surgery.

In order to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies, you will be on supplements for the rest of your life. Your body is now going to be consuming less food and will not absorb nutrients as well as prior to surgery. It is important to follow a regimen and stick to it, in order to prevent problems down the road. General recommendations are as follows:

Beginning the first day after surgery and continuing everyday, each patient should be taking a daily multivitamin, 2,000 mg of calcium citrate daily, and a protein supplement to help you achieve your protein levels. Many surgeons recommend that for the first month post-op all vitamins and mineral supplements should be taken in a chewable, powder, or liquid form; not pills. The above suggestions are universal. Additional supplementation may be needed or warranted based on an individual basis. As you progress after surgery supplementing with folate, vitamin B12 , and Iron may be beneficial. It is very important to followup with your surgeon routinely for blood work, to evaluate your nutritional status. The idea is to consume 100% of your nutrition each day, eating small portions and reducing your caloric intake. Not easy to do, however, you will be a pro before you know it!

What do you need to do before bariatric surgery?

There are many things that you can do prior to surgery to prepare.

Control of your body and weight is the very first step!

You have already accomplished this because you are on the road to making one of the best decisions of your life...to improve your quality of life - Bariatric surgery. Surgeons advise patients to follow good nutrition by consuming a variety of quality foods, staying well hydrated, getting good sleep and promoting healthy weight loss pre-operatively. There are many guidelines that you will need to follow after surgery, so becoming familiar and practicing these rules is also a must. Patients should do all their food, fluid, vitamin/mineral and protein supplementation shopping before surgery. The idea is to alleviate any stress once you are home from surgery. Set yourself up for success right from the beginning by planning ahead and allowing yourself time to heal and relax once surgery is over.

Many surgeons advise their patients on the many benefits of weight loss prior to surgery. One of the best ways to do this, while promoting good nutrition is by using the VHP - very high protein shakes. The VHP shakes are complete high protein meal replacements. We usually recommend drinking these shakes for breakfast and lunch and then eating a small sensible high protein, low carbohydrate diet. Weight loss prior to surgery has been shown to decrease the size of your liver and make it easier for the surgeon to perform your surgery.

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