Diet after surgery

I was just wondering what you eat after surgert and I hear everyone talking about protien and carbs ..and what about vitamins do you have to take them ? SHERRY

Oh boy,,, you said the D word. This will get'm going. To list here would take all night. I would suggest reading a lot of profiles. Some list what they eat sound to the amount the stir the crap they drink (like me) and they also list the suppliments. Yes you have to take vites - for the rest of your life after surgery. kp

Think high protein, low-carb. But other wise, you can still have bread (whole grain in moderation) rice (brown rice, preferably) pasta (in small amounts). You need to get your protein in first because that's the most important part of your nutrition. So think meat (beef, turkey, chicken pork, etc.), eggs, cheese, soy proteins, yogurt. Think about 80 to 90 grams a day. An egg is about 6 grams. Yes, you need to take vitamins ... your doctor will tell you which ones; some times you will need to take specific supplements because you will not absorb certain nutrients properly. I need to take iron and Vitamin C, for example; some other people need Vitamin B12 supplements. It's not so bad. I'll do whatever I have to do to stay healthy post-op. I wasn't healthy when I was fat. So if I have to take a few vitamins and supplements to keep myself healthy, that's OK. Eileen

lots of bariatric surgeons list their diets on their websites, do some research and look at several to get a general idea. their are several phases involved as right after surgery you won't be eating very much at all and it will be a few weeks before you start introducing solid foods back into your diet. yes diet. i've seen a few people fight the whole idea of "dieting" and it hasn't done them well. i took issue with one person who was telling people on this site that dieting is not necessary and that after WLS she will never have to diet again.. well that's wrong and if anyone tells you that, don't believe them. give them two to three years and then ask them again. you'll find they're singing a different song. this is a lifelong journey and WLS is not a free pass to disregard what you put in your mouth. vitamins are important as those of us who've had bypasses absorb less of what we eat and we eat less so we get less vitamins (and minerals) naturally. even after gastric bypass it's possible to gain weight and get fat if you don't be careful. it's much easier for us to lose weight and then maintain our weight but we have to do the right things and take care of ourselves. thankfully we are more easily satiated and can more easily be happy with less foods and without overindulging ourselves than we were before surgery. it's a good thing. WLS saved my life. I still love food. I still enjoy food and i still eat foods i like. But i can't eat everything and i can't lose sight of how many calories i take in.

Hi Sherry, If you're thinking about WLS I would SERIOUSLY suggest you pick up Weight Loss for DUmmies - or check it out from your local library. It has a WEALTH of information including the different kinds of sugeries available, what kinds of questions/how to screen a good surgeon, what to expect afterwards, etc. In addition to vitamins and calcium suppliments twice a day, I also have to take Iron once a day, Ursodiol twice a day to prevent gall bladder issues while losing weight. But vitamins and other suppliments will be a lifelong thing Good luck! Sydney

My surgeons office had a specific plan of action as far as what to eat after surgery. You may want to check with your surgeon. You can no longer think of it as a diet....it's a way of life. Stacey B

Thank you all for all the info ,you answered all the questions I had . I am so happy I found this sight ..like I said I have wanted this surgery for years ..now am going to make it happen !! I dont care what I have to do and how much it cost me ..am worth it . I have a orientation the 13th am so excited ..I just can not wait to get the ball rolling . I been over weight my whole life am 44 now and am ready to change it ..I have been on every diet out there ..went to topps for 2 years ..the gals there were so supportive but just could not lose it ..I would lose a couple pounds then gain it back !! just so stressfull . thank you all Sherry

I read about ten profiles a night for a month before my cut. That's where I got most of my prep for the surgery. I looked at the profiles that were current and looked for the ones who were making big strides. I remember reading Tami, Susan, Connie, Toni, Kevin Painter, Jen and Dan's in particular. They all had pretty clear paths as to what they did and didn't do. I found some who were not successful and took note of their mistakes. It all pointed to someone else who made them fail. The never really failed. They just gave up and gave in. BTW - It's forever so be prepared to change forever. kp