Dietary

Healthful eating is an integral key to success with bariatric surgery. Your eating habits will change as your body changes. Essentially, you have a “newborn” stomach; you have to retrain your body and mind to eat again. The purpose of the bariatric meal plan is to provide adequate nutrition to prevent malnourishment. Your new stomach pouch requires proper nutrition and portions to prevent further health problems after surgery. It is specifically designed to help prevent complications from your surgery and to promote weight loss, weight maintenance and good health.

Dietary Pre Op Requirements

Pre Op Checklist - Patients receive this during the initial dietary consult. This checklist serves as ‘homework’. Lifestyle changes to practice BEFORE surgery to make life easier AFTER surgery.

Pre Op Diet Class - This mandatory class is held on Thursday afternoons at 2:00 pm and is scheduled in relation to the surgery date. All patients are required to follow a diet 10 days prior to surgery. This allows the patient to adjust the small frequent meals and protein supplements that are necessary after surgery.

Be prepared to purchase nutritional supplements before your surgery to be used during the Pre Op diet and after surgery. Supplement options will be discussed during initial dietary consult. Think of the money you spend dining out or buying groceries…now you will use it for supplements.

Dietary Post Op Requirements

Post Op Diet - High protein meal replacements are absolutely necessary for safety, health, and successful weight loss after surgery. High protein meal replacements are the main source of nutrition after surgery and must be included every day for at least the first six weeks after surgery. It is essential for patients to start a regimen of vitamins and minerals in order to prevent a deficiency; these include a multivitamin with iron, vitamin B-12, calcium, and flax oil.

3-Month Post Op Nutrition Class – All patients are required to attend the 3-month post op nutrition class held twice a month. This class is a review of bariatric eating, food tolerance, protein requirements, healthy eating, and troubleshooting.

12-Month Post Op Nutrition Class – All patients are required to attend the 12-month post op nutrition class held twice a month. This class provides long-term nutrition tips and individualized guidance to help patients reach their weight goal and learn tools to maintaining their goal weight for life.

Follow Up - A dietary follow up appointment after surgery is strongly recommended for patients needing to get back on track or hitting a plateau in their weight loss. If any nutrition related issues arise, the patient will be contacted to schedule an appointment or discuss concerns with the Bariatric Dietitian.

Any questions or concerns can always be directed to the Bariatric Dietitian via email or phone (405) 360-7100.