Guide to feeding after bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery is a procedure that people who are obese usually perform to help with weight loss. Basically, the bariatric procedure aims to limit the intake of food that enters the body, by limiting the stomach space or removing some parts of the digestive organs. Even though it is effective, you still need to maintain your diet after having bariatric surgery.

The importance of maintaining a diet after bariatric surgery

Maybe you think that by undergoing this procedure, you can return to your preoperative diet without worrying about causing weight gain. But in fact, you actually have to take more care of the food and drink that enters the body.

Indeed, bariatric surgery can make you lose weight instantly because it makes the stomach smaller in size, the effect may also change the way the intestines digest and absorb food.

Unfortunately, this surgery also reduces the body's ability to absorb various nutrients. Imagine if you do not keep it with a nutritionally balanced diet, you could develop the risk of experiencing nutritional deficiencies.

Therefore, you must carefully consider the type of food and the appropriate portion in order to stay healthy.

Foods that should be consumed after bariatric surgery

The doctor who works with the dietitian will later advise you on what types of food should be consumed and how many servings should be recommended.

Of course, you must follow these rules, because this diet will help restore abdominal surgery scars, train you to become accustomed to eating smaller amounts of food, avoid gaining weight, and avoid side effects and complications of surgery.

The diet after bariatric surgery is usually done in stages. You will start with a liquid diet before going back to eating solid foods later. Usually this process lasts for three months, but it also depends on the state of your body.

Here are the stages of feeding you have to go through.

Post-bariatric fluid intake

Source: Calming Blends

On the first day or after surgery, you are only allowed to drink water for about two days. After your body gets used to it, you can consume other fluids such as:

clear broth
coffee or decaffeinated tea without sugar
unsweetened juice
infused water no sugar
herbal tea

If the stomach has started to digest these various fluids, you can continue to drink more concentrated fluids. Remember, the drink you choose should still be low-fat, such as skim milk or low-calorie yogurt drinks.

Fine food

Source: Well Vegan

Usually, you will begin to enter the stage of eating refined foods or puree after a week or two after bariatric surgery.

When not used to it, you may only be able to swallow 1-2 tablespoons. It's okay if you want to start with smaller portions, then you can add more portions over time.

For this stage, in addition to consuming yogurt cream, you can also refine the following types of foods:

boiled potato
tofu silk
lean meats
fish meat
Red beans

Make sure the food is thoroughly mashed until it's soft without any solid chunks. To make it smoother, mix the ingredients with water, skim milk, or broth.

Soft food

Source: Once Upon A Chef

The next stage is consumption of soft foods. Of course, the food you choose should be soft and slightly moist. Remember to stick to foods that are low in fat and low in sugar. Here are a few options:

low-fat minced meat
fish
egg
cheese cottages
rice
boiled vegetables

Solid food

After going through about two months after bariatric surgery, you can start eating solid foods. Foods that are consumed must contain high nutrition and not junk food. However,

You also have to be careful because there are some foods that can cause pain or nausea when eating, such as the following:

bread
raw vegetables
cooked fibrous vegetables such as broccoli and corn
tough meat
skin on vegetables and fruit such as apples and potatoes

To outsmart, in the types of vegetables above you can grind them first before eating. If you want to eat meat, use a special tool or marinate the meat with several ingredients until it becomes tender before processing.

Things to watch out for when eating after bariatric surgery

Even when you have returned to a normal diet, there are a few things you should keep in mind every time you eat.

Eat three times a day. Maintain this diet at the right time and not snacking on it. When you eat too often, it is feared that this could lead to more calorie intake which will lead to weight gain.
Start eating small portions. Your stomach also needs adjustment after going through bariatric surgery, so it's okay if you can only eat a few spoonfuls. This portion will be increased later when things get better, but you also still have to limit the portion of food forever.
Stop eating when you are full. Don't force your food intake because it can make you feel nauseous and uncomfortable afterward.
Chew food until smooth. The openings that direct food from the stomach to the intestines become smaller after surgery, so food that is not chewed properly can block these openings. To help, you can cut food into small pieces.
Eat slowly. Eating too fast can make you not realize that you have exceeded your portion before even feeling full. In order not to cause problems, it's best to eat for at least 20 minutes with a one-minute break at each bite.
Don't drink and eat at the same time. Drink it 30 minutes before eating, then wait another 30 minutes after finishing eating. This is done to prevent the stomach from becoming too full.
Avoid using a straw. It is feared that straws can cause air to enter, which will give the stomach a feeling of fullness.

Remember, your goal in doing a good routine is to lose weight. Therefore, maintain a balanced diet that has been recommended by your doctor so that your goals can be achieved.