Weight loss Surgery Diet Plans - Post Surgery

In order to achieve the best results from weight loss surgery, it is extremely important for all patients to adhere to strict diet requirements and follow advice offered by their surgeon.

All weight loss surgery involves some form of lifestyle change and adaption to new eating behaviours after the surgery is completed. These adjustments can be relatively challenging to begin with as psychological issues related to food, nutrition, and exercise all factor into the weight loss equation. However, successful weight loss works as a great motivator for people and encourages them to persevere and adapt to new habits in order to achieve and maintain the body they desire.

Gastric balloon

Immediately after the gastric balloon operation, patients are required to follow a liquid diet for three days. After three days, soft food can be introduced for the next ten days. Normal eating can resume after ten days but food must be consumed in significantly reduced portions.

0 - 3 days after surgery- Liquid only

• Start taking multivitamins and mineral supplements.
• Drink at least eight cups of fluids a day
• Sip drinks slowly so that your body has time to adapt to the balloon

Some suggestions

• Semi-skimmed milk - 600ml (1 pint) per day
• Low calorie / reduced sugar squash
• Diluted fruit juice (½ juice, ½ water)
• Tea / herbal teas
• Coffee
• Bovril/ Oxo cube/ Marmite diluted in water
• Water

3 - 10 days – Soft food only

• Reintroduce soft food into your diet
• Eat everything in 1 to 2 tbsp portions unless otherwise specified
• Eat regular meals in small portions
• Use a tea plate instead of a dinner plate to help with portion control
• Eat four to five small meals throughout the day
• Avoid hard fruits and vegetables and heavily seasoned food
• Continue drinking semi-skimmed milk (1/2 a pint)

Some suggestions

• Breakfast:
• 3 tbsp porridge
• 1 Weetabix and 150 ml semi-skimmed milk
• Lunch and dinner:
• Blended egg, mashed potato, and blended vegetables lean meat blended with gravy
• Before bedtime:
• Blended fruit
• Fromage frais
• In between meals:
• Blended fruit or low fat yoghurt
• Tea, diluted fruit juice, or coffee

10 days and thereafter: Normal eating

• Avoid pasta as it tends to "stick" to the balloon
• Drink water straight after meals to rinse the balloon
• Continue your intake of multivitamins and mineral supplements

Some suggestions

• Breakfast:
• Whole wheat cereal
• A slice of toast with low-fat spread
• 3 tbsp porridge in ¼ pint semi-skimmed milk
• Lunch and dinner:
• Lean meat, baked beans, a slice of bread
• 1 to 2 tbsp pasta or cooked rice
• 1 to 2 tbsp mashed potato
• 2 boiled eggs the size of a potato and without fat
• Low-fat yoghurt or fruit

Food diary

In order to monitor liquid and food intake, it is advised that patients make a note of what they have consumed on a daily basis in the form of a food diary. Any other information relevant to weight loss like exercise regimens etc can also be included.

Gastric Band

Undergoing gastric band surgery requires patients to make lifestyle changes and alter their eating habits in relation to new restrictions. Pre- and post-surgery diet guidelines are provided to all patients so that they can make the right food and maximize their chances of success.

0-2 weeks Post-Surgery: Liquids only

• Consume fluids (liquids that you can drink through a straw) for optimum healing
• Do not eat solid food
• Take a chewable/liquid form of multivitamins and calcium supplements
• Aim to drink 2.5 to 3.5 litres every day (evenly spread throughout the day)
• Drink at least 200 ml of fluids with every intake
• To avoid trapped air and bloating, do not drink carbonated drinks because you cannot expel gas and air. These drinks may also cause distension of the stomach wall which could cause the gastric band to slip
• Do not chew gum
• It is normal for patients to feel hungry during the 0-2 week period as stretch receptors in the stomach are stimulated by surgery. This can be uncomfortable but hunger pangs will eventually ease so it is important stay motivated

Fluid suggestions

• One pint (600 ml) of semi-skimmed milk per day (the fortified mixture so that the recommended daily allowance of nutrients and minerals is met)
• Soups and milkshakes that are fortified with nutrients, e.g. Slimfast (3 per day)
• Low-calorie diluted fruit juice (1 part juice to 1 part water)
• Low calorie/reduced sugar squash
• Herbal tea and coffee
• Water

2-4 weeks Post Surgery: Soft food

• Food should be soft enough to break down easily with a fork
• Meals should have the consistency of cottage pie, scrambled egg, or well-cooked cauliflower cheese
• Avoid crunchy food and salads

Some suggestions

• Breakfast:
• Scrambled or poached eggs
• Omelette
• Porridge with semi-skimmed milk
• Fruit smoothies – fruits blended into skimmed milk or low-fat yoghurt
• Lunch and dinner:
• Fish pie with pureed vegetables
• Minced meat
• Vegetable soups
• Soft pasta in tomato sauce
• Cottage cheese (low fat)
• Soft boiled egg
• Mashed potatoes
• Soft poached salmon
• Pureed vegetables
• Lentils
• Desserts:
• Stewed or pureed fruit with low fat custard
• Mashed banana
• Yoghurt
• Mousse
• Sugar-free jelly
• Sorbets

4 weeks and onwards: Normal eating

• A relatively normal food intake can resume as far as the texture food is concerned
• Consultations with dietitians can aid meal planning

• Breakfast
• Small banana with low-fat yoghurt
• Whole grain toast and sugar-free jam or fruit puree
• All bran flakes and cereal bars
• Fruit salad
• Lunch, dinner and snack
• Cottage cheese
• Pasta, rice, and noodle
• Salmon with cucumber
• Tuna and baked beans or onion
• Egg salad
• Potato salad with low-fat dressing
• Roast sweet potato

Gastric sleeve and bypass

Before undergoing gastric bypass/ sleeve surgery, patients will be provided with information and instructions regarding diet stipulations by their doctor

For the first four weeks after surgery, patients are restricted to a 'liquid only' diet. Following this four week period, patients can begin to introduce soft foods into their diet for the next four weeks. At eight – twelve weeks, patients can begin the transition to normal eating but must follow plans and controlled portion regulations.

0 - 4 weeks: Liquid only

• Phase 1
• It is vital to take a multivitamin/mineral and a calcium supplement long term
• Keep properly hydrated and aim to drink 2.5 – 3.5 litres gradually throughout the day
• The recommended portion size for a cup of fluid is no more than 200mls
• Leave 1 hour between each drink
• Do not drink fizzy drinks
• It is normal for patients to feel hungry during the 0-2 week period as stretch receptors in the stomach are stimulated by surgery. This can be uncomfortable but hunger pangs will eventually ease so it is important stay motivated

Fluid suggestions

• Broth
• Tea "no added sugar"
• Coffee "no added sugar"
• Skimmed and semi-skimmed milk
• Cordials
• Bovril and water
• Fruit and vegetable juices
• Consomme / clear soups
• Creamed soups without bits
• Low fat hot chocolate drinks
• Low fat thin yoghurts without bits

• Phase two: Pureed foods
• Once patients are able to tolerate liquid foods for a few days, they can begin to eat pureed foods
• Patients can eat foods that have the consistency of a smooth paste or a thick liquid
• No distinct pieces of food in pureed mixtures
• Blendable foods:
• Lean ground meats
• Beans
• Fish
• Egg whites
• Yogurt
• Soft fruits and vegetables
• Blend solid foods with a liquid such as:
• Water
• Fat-free milk
• Juice with no sugar added
• Broth
• Fat-free gravy

4 - 8 weeks: Soft food only

• Food should be soft enough to break down easily with a fork.
• Meals should have the consistency of cottage pie, scrambled egg, or well-cooked cauliflower cheese
• Drink plenty of fluids before meals and try to wait at least 1 hour before drinking again
• Continue to take multivitamin/mineral and calcium supplements
• Stick to a balanced diet by varying meals and go for low-sugar or low-fat options
• Try to eat at least three meals every day and use a tea plate or a child's plate to help manage food portions
• Do not chew gum
• Breakfast
• Weetabix with skimmed/semi skimmed milk
• Scrambled egg / omelette / poached eggs
• Porridge with skimmed /semi skimmed milk
• Fruit smoothies blended with skimmed milk with a selection of fruits like banana/strawberries/mangoes etc
• Lunch and dinner
• Fish pie and pureed vegetables
• Thick blended vegetable soups/mushroom soup
• Low fat cottage cheese
• Lean minced meat and blended casseroles
• Soft pasta in tomato based sauce
• Mashed advocado and 1 soft boiled egg
• Cauliflower cheese with fish and parsley sauce
• Pureed vegetables with meals
• Fish in parsley sauce with mushy peas
• Mashed or pureed tofu / soya / quorn with vegetarian gravy / stock
• Mashed potatoes and pureed vegetables
• Well cooked lentils or dahl
• Soft poached salmon with mashed potatoes
• Salmon with cucumber
• Baked beans
• Avoid these foods:
• Nuts and seeds
• Popcorn
• Dried fruits
• Sodas and carbonated beverages
• Granola
• Stringy or fibrous vegetables, such as celery, broccoli, corn or cabbage
• Tough meats or meats with gristle
• Breads

8 - 12 weeks: Normal eating

At this stage, patients will be ready to progress from soft solids to regular consistency foods. Eventually, they will probably be able to eat most of the food that they were eating before surgery, only in much smaller amounts.

• A relatively normal food intake can resume as far as the texture food is concerned
• Consultations with dietitians can be of assistance when planning meals
• The stomach can only cope with smaller amounts of food - a child's plate or a tea plate can be used for portion control.
• Continue to take multivitamin/mineral and calcium supplements
• Bread, meat (minced meat is allowed) and rice should be avoided for the first 3 months after the operation
• Patients should not drink fizzy drinks or chew gum
• Food should be eaten very slowly & chewed well
• Certain foods may be difficult to tolerate e.g. nuts, pips, seeds and acidic foods so patients should be careful
• Semi skimmed milk can be swapped for skimmed milk as it is lower in calories and nutrients can now be obtained from the normal food being consumed
• Do not lie down immediately after a meal
• Patients should keep in mind that the remaining stomach pouch has a very small capacity – overeating can stretch it and cause discomfort and result in potentially dangerous consequences
• Breakfast
• • Small banana with low-fat yoghurt
  • Whole grain toast and sugar-free jam or fruit puree
  • All bran flakes and cereal bars
  • Fruit salad
• Lunch, dinner, and snack
• Cottage cheese
• Pasta
• Noodles
• Salmon with cucumber
• Tuna and baked beans or onion
• Egg salad
• Potato salad with low-fat dressing
• Roast sweet potato

Food diary

In order to monitor liquid and food intake, it is advised that patients make a note of what they have consumed on a daily basis in the form of a food diary. Any other information relevant to weight loss like exercise regimens etc can also be included.