Gastric Sleeve Post Op Diet

One of the biggest questions running in the minds of patients, after a gastric sleeve surgery is what kind of diet they should follow. You cannot start eating everything right away naturally, but instead should follow a strict gastric sleeve post op diet to avoid side effects, complications and facilitate weight loss.

4 Stages Of Gastric Sleeve Post Op Diet

There are 4 important diet stages you need to follow after surgery and each of these stages have been described below.

1. Clear Liquid Diet

A clear liquid diet provides healing time to help ensure your body can tolerate anything taken by mouth. This stage should continue for at least 5 days after surgery. You should take fluids, about 2 ounces at a time, every half hour. Keep increasing your fluid intake to about 6 ounces every hour. Avoid gulping and drink very slowly.

Liquids that you can include:

• Water
• Flavored water
• Ice chips
• Broth (beef or chicken)
• Sugar free popsicles
• Sugar free Jell O
• Diluted or light juices (cranberry, white grape, apple)
• Herbal Teas

Things to Remember:

• Consume liquids in small sips.
• Take enough liquid to avoid dehydration. Keep a record of your daily intake.
• Carbonated beverages, caffeinated and sugar drinks can result in complications, and so must be completely avoided.
• If your mouth is dry or your urine is dark then you are not taking enough fluids.

2. Full Liquid Diet

This stage includes lots of protein supplements and liquids. This will allow your new digestive system and stomach to heal well and your pouch gets time to adjust to the new diet. The full liquid diet stage should last through 5 – 14 days after surgery.

Liquids that you can include:

• Everything from previous stage
• Natural apple sauce
• Protein powers
• Vegetable juice (V8)
• Coconut or Almond milk
• Sugar free pudding
• Soups

Things to Remember:

• It is important for you to have high quality protein supplement during this stage
• Opt for supplements that are low in carbohydrates, and less than 150 calories, but still offers you at least 15gms protein.

3. Soft Foods Diet

Make sure you chew your foods really well at this stage, or else you might experience vomiting, swelling and stomach irritation. If you find solid foods causing vomiting or nausea, you can move back to your liquid diet stage. Include soft foods slowly and later move to solid foods. This stage continues from 15-21 days after surgery.

Soft foods that you can include (make sure to include only one food at a time):

• Egg salad
• Scrambled egg (boiled, poached, soft)
• Salmon moistened using mayo
• Cottage cheese
• Tofu
• Cheese
• Fruit (mashed, anything soft)
• Veggies (mashed, slow cooked and tenderized)
• Greek Yogurt
• Bananas
• Potatoes and sweet potatoes (mashed only)

Things to Remember:

• You should consume three meals everyday, though some patients may also have 5 meals.
• Your 3 meals should also include a shake. Eat until you feel satisfied, and do not overeat.

4. Solid Food Diet

Your stomach will be ready to handle solid foods. The foods that you will have on this 4th stage of gastric sleeve post op diet, it will continue throughout life. Every meal you have must comprise at least 3 ounces proteins. This stage starts 21 days after surgery and shall continue forever.

Foods that you can include:

• Tofu
• Fish
• Shrimp
• Beans
• Eggs
• Cottage Cheese
• Chicken
• Low-sugar Greek yogurt
• Beans
• Frozen cooked or fresh veggies
• Fresh fruits with skin peeled
• Essential fats and oils

Things to Remember:

• Add one of the above mentioned foods at a time.
• Avoid starchy food like pasta, bread, and white rice.
• Chew foods slowly and completely.
• In between, your meals drink at least 6-8 cups water, and other non-carbonated beverages.

After first two months of surgery and after having followed the gastric sleeve post op diet, you can have any food without suffering discomfort, but it will be best to eat healthy foods and in proper moderation. Even though there is nothing that is forbidden now, but if you want to stay healthy, make sure you always eat healthy.