Before mini gastric bypass surgery, patients are informed in detail about the importance of healthy eating and making healthy eating a lifestyle habit in the post-operative period. The emphasis on diet and eating habits is mainly aimed at as follows:
- After the surgical procedure, the stomach should be allowed to heal properly.
- New habits should be formed based on eating regularly and in smaller quantities.
- The goal of losing weight should be achieved, and regaining the lost weight should be avoided.
- By paying attention to the necessary points, the risk of any possible side effects or complications after the operation should be minimized.
First 2 Weeks
Although patients will develop new eating habits after mini gastric bypass surgery, they should also complete the recovery period of their surgical procedure. Therefore, establishing new eating habits will be a journey consisting of several steps. The first step is not to eat anything that may adversely affect the post-operative recovery process. This means you will be on a liquid diet for the first 2 weeks. Accordingly, clear broth, skimmed milk, unsweetened fruit juice, decaffeinated tea or coffee, unsweetened jelly, and protein mixes can be consumed.
2 to 4 Weeks
Under normal circumstances, patients can include mashed foods in their diet two weeks after gastric bypass surgery. There should be no solid pieces of food in the purees during this process and the puree should be completely smooth. The biggest savior tool at this stage is the food processor. Eggs, lean meats, well-cooked vegetables, fish fillets, beans, cottage cheese, and foods that will blend perfectly should be preferred. These foods can be mixed with any liquid to be eaten during the first week.
Unmixed foods are usually included in the diet in the 3rd and 4th weeks. These should be well-cooked vegetables, soft fresh fruit such as mangoes, and small and easy-to-chew soft foods such as well-cooked small pieces of meat. In addition, all kinds of food should be chewed very well.
6 to 8 Weeks
After unprocessed but soft foods have been mixed and consumed for a few weeks, different foods can be started to be consumed. At this point, it is necessary to start eating normal foods in small portions. If any food consumed causes distress, nausea, or other adverse reactions, it is important to stop eating it and inform the doctor.
There are certain foods that patients should avoid at this stage, even if they feel well: Desserts consisting of popcorn, dried fruit, nuts, cereal mixes, bread, hard meat, sodas, and fried foods.
At the end of the third month, the mini gastric bypass diet consists mostly of normal foods. So lean meat, vegetables, and whole grains can be consumed. Patients should completely eliminate refined sugar, saturated and trans fats from their diets. In addition, they should acquire the habit of eating not until they are full, but until their hunger is satisfied.
Nutritional Tips After Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery
After mini gastric bypass surgery, there are critical points to be considered in order to ensure that adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals are taken, as well as to comply with weight loss goals.
The first of these is to eat small meals. Thus, it is possible to get used to eating small meals normally. In addition, patients should make sure that they eat slowly. Eating too quickly can cause dumping syndrome. The leading symptoms of dumping syndrome can be nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.
Only one new food should be added to the diet at a time. Thus, it is possible to see how the body reacts to the new food consumed. Also, eating and drinking at the same time should be avoided. In other words, solid and liquid foods should not be consumed together. Otherwise, problems such as nausea and vomiting may occur.
All food should be chewed very well while eating. Chewing the food thoroughly will reduce the task of the stomach and prevent it from being strained. Ice cream, fried foods, sugary foods, and drinks should not be consumed, in other words, fat and sugar should be avoided.
After surgery, the new short intestine will not absorb important vitamins and minerals as much as before. For this reason, it is very important to regularly take the supplements recommended by the doctor after the surgery. Consuming high-protein foods after mini gastric bypass surgery will positively affect the patient’s post-operative recovery process.
Basically, the diets of patients after mini gastric bypass surgery are designed to maintain the weight loss they will experience. At this stage, the most important issue that patients should pay attention to should be learning to consume smaller meals, fresh, low-fat, and low-sugar foods after the surgery.