According to the National Institutes of Health, roughly 133.6 million Americans are overweight or obese. Most people seek to lose weight through a combination of increased physical activity and by eating a healthy diet. For some, however, bariatric surgery--gastric bypass--may be the best choice for weight loss. Gastric bypass surgeries are very common. Most procedures make the patient's stomach smaller to limit food intake. The patient's diet changes several times, starting right after the surgery, before he or she settles into a long-term eating plan.
Time to Heal
Immediately after surgery, and for up to several weeks, you will follow a very restricted eating plan. You need time to heal, and to get used to living on less food. It takes several days to weeks to recover, and there will be many foods you are not allowed to eat. The first two phases of the gastric bypass diet provide optimum support for weight loss and to begin to improve your overall health.
Phase 3
Roughly six weeks after gastric bypass surgery, you will begin Phase 3 of the diet plan. This final phase is the last before reintroduction of solid foods. You will eat a variety of soft foods that can be easily digested. Examples include soft fruits, cooked vegetables, and diced meats. It's important to mash the food before you eat it. If you can do that easily, it is soft enough to consume. This particular phase lasts only two weeks, according the Mayo Clinic website. Go slowly when starting to eat solid foods, so your body can become used to eating regularly again. Among foods to be wary of are nuts, seeds, tough meats, and bread. Wait before eating these foods for several weeks into your reintroduction process.
Results
The Mayo Clinic reports that within the first two years after surgery you can expect to lose at least 50 percent of your excess weight if you follow your diet strictly and exercise as directed. It is important to eat a healthy and small amount of food, according to the Temple University website. You need checkups to make sure no complications have developed and that your weight loss is on track. Remember that to achieve maximum weight loss, you need to be consistent with your diet and eating habits.
Tags: weight loss, after surgery, eating plan, Mayo Clinic, several weeks, solid foods