4 Dietary Guidelines To Follow After Weight Loss Surgery

If you have struggled to successfully lose weight and keep it off, weight loss surgery is a great tool to help you make the dietary changes you need to reach a healthy weight. The type of weight loss surgery that your doctor recommends will depend on how much weight you need to lose and your personal comfort level.

Certain procedures are more effective at boosting your weight loss, but they may have a higher chance of surgical complications. Most surgeries either restrict the volume of nutrients your body absorbs or decrease the size of your stomach; this makes it essential for your diet to be as healthy as possible. Here are a few dietary guidelines to follow after your weight loss surgery.

1. Consume Protein with Each Meal

As you get used to the size of your new stomach, your doctor will likely recommend that you consume a few small meals rather than one or two large meals. It's important to incorporate protein-rich foods every time you eat. A diet high in protein will assist you with retaining your lean muscle as you lose weight. You want to keep as much lean muscle mass as possible to keep your metabolism elevated. Lean meats and seafood, yogurt, protein shakes, and eggs are just a few convenient ways to boost your protein consumption. 

2. Stay Away from Carbonated Beverages 

Carbonated beverages, including soda, diet soda, and sparkling water, should be avoided after weight loss surgery. These beverages can introduce air into your new stomach. Not only can this air make you feel uncomfortable, but it can cause the size of your stomach to expand. 

3. Avoid Drinking Alcohol

Weight loss surgery will alter how your body absorbs alcohol. Typically, the alcohol will enter the bloodstream more rapidly. This causes you to feel the mind-altering effects of alcohol more easily, and it is tricky to predict exactly how your body will respond. Another reason to avoid alcohol is that you want to make every calorie count. Stay away from calories with little nutritional value in favor of nutrient-dense foods and beverages.

4. Be Prepared to Regularly Alter Your Diet

The foods recommended by your doctor after weight loss surgery will change as your body recovers from the procedure. Immediately after your surgery, your doctor will likely recommend an all-liquid or soft food diet that permits your stomach to heal. As the stomach heals, you'll re-introduce solid food, including items that can be tricky for the stomach to digest, such as raw vegetables and whole grains. Stick with your doctor's recommendations for the best results.


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