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- Endocrine Practice: Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Nutritional, Metabolic, and Nonsurgical Support of the Bariatric Surgery Patient -- 2013 Update
- Endocrine Practice: Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Nutritional, Metabolic, and Nonsurgical Support of the Bariatric Surgery Patient -- 2013 Update
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How to Eat After a Gastric Sleeve
Gastric sleeve surgery, also called a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, is an option available to people who want to lose a large amount of weight 2. The procedure involves the removal of as much as 85 percent of the stomach, limiting the amount of food that you can eat at each meal. While the surgery helps to limit your intake, you must also follow your doctor’s instructions about your diet, nutrition and eating behavior. Poor eating habits after gastric sleeve surgery can slow weight loss and, in some cases, lead to regaining whatever weight you may have lost during the early months after the procedure.
Add New Foods Slowly
Your body needs about 3 months to heal, so after surgery you will begin by drinking small amounts of water and gradually progress to solid foods. For the first 1 to 2 days, you will likely be permitted clear liquids such as broth or tea. Over the next about 4 weeks, you will slowly add blended or pureed foods such as protein shakes, thinned mashed potatoes and sugar-free yogurt. After that stage, you will add semisolid foods and, finally, low-fat solid foods. At each stage, you should try 1 food at a time to make sure you can tolerate it before moving on to another. Follow your doctor's instructions exactly, as time frames and allowed foods may vary.
- Your body needs about 3 months to heal, so after surgery you will begin by drinking small amounts of water and gradually progress to solid foods.
- After that stage, you will add semisolid foods and, finally, low-fat solid foods.
Choose High-Quality Foods
Diet with 60 Grams of Protein After a Lap Band
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Your stomach will be about the size of an egg or a banana, depending on how much of it was removed during surgery. Your body, however, will need at least 60 grams of protein a day, according to the authors of an article published in the March-April 2013 issue of "Endocrine Practice." Therefore, each meal should include low-fat, protein-rich foods such as yogurt, meat, fish, protein shakes or beans. By the time you reach the solid food stage, you should be able to eat healthy foods from all food groups, including 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
- Your stomach will be about the size of an egg or a banana, depending on how much of it was removed during surgery.
- By the time you reach the solid food stage, you should be able to eat healthy foods from all food groups, including 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
Skip the Empty Calories
Even though your stomach is much smaller after surgery, it is still possible to take in too many calories if you choose the wrong foods. A low-fat, low-sugar, high-protein meal will fill you up and provide fuel for your daily activities. Pretzels, potato chips, hot dogs, ice cream, cookies, alcoholic beverages and sugary sodas will fill you up, too, but they will leave you short on protein and other nutrients.
Modify Your Eating Behaviors
Meals for Gastric Bypass Patients
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Gastric sleeve surgery helps you feel full after eating just a small amount of food, but it cannot make you stop eating at that point. Your job is to learn how to exchange your old habits for new ones. Instead of eating until you are stuffed, for example, you must pay attention to how you feel after each bite and stop as soon as you feel satisfied. Eating at a table, taking small bites, chewing thoroughly and making your meal last for at least 30 minutes can help you develop this new habit. Some people find it is helpful to use a salad plate and smaller utensils for meals and to turn off the television while eating.
- Gastric sleeve surgery helps you feel full after eating just a small amount of food, but it cannot make you stop eating at that point.
Related Articles
References
- Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases: ASMBS Allied Health Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient
- Floyd Center for Bariatric Services: Nutritional Guidelines After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
- Endocrine Practice: Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Nutritional, Metabolic, and Nonsurgical Support of the Bariatric Surgery Patient -- 2013 Update
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. (June 2018). Estimate of Bariatric Surgery Numbers, 2011-2018.
- UCLA Health. Gastric Sleeve FAQs.
- Wolfe BM, Kvach E, Eckel RH. Treatment of Obesity: Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery. Circ Res. 2016 May 27; 118(11): 1844–1855.doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.307591
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Bariatric surgery procedures.
- Lim RB. (Updated July 2020). Bariatric procedures for the management of severe obesity: Descriptions. Jones D, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate.
- Telem DA, Jones DB, Schauer PR, Brethauer SA, Rosenthal RJ, Provost D, Jones SB. (March 2020). Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). Updated Panel Report: Best Practices for the Surgical Treatment of Obesity.
- Rubino F et al. Metabolic Surgery in the Treatment Algorithm for Type 2 Diabetes: A Joint Statement by International Diabetes Organizations. Diabetes Care. 2016 Jun;39(6):861-77. doi:10.2337/dc16-0236
- Seeras K, Sankararaman S, Lopez PP. Sleeve Gastrectomy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Updated June 2020.
- Felsenreich DM et al. Reflux, Sleeve Dilation, and Barrett's Esophagus after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Long-Term Follow-Up. Obes Surg. 2017 Dec;27(12):3092-3101. doi: 10.1007/s11695-017-2748-9
- Sarkhosh K, Birch DW, Sharma A, Karmali S. Complications associated with laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity: a surgeon’s guide. Can J Surg. 2013 Oct; 56(5): 347–352.
- Mechanick JI et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the perioperative nutritional, metabolic, and nonsurgical support of the bariatric surgery patient--2013 update: cosponsored by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. Mar-Apr 2013;9(2):159-91. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2012.12.010
- UPMC. (2020). Preparing for Bariatric Surgery.
- Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Gastric Sleeve Surgery.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2020). Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Gastric Sleeve Surgery.
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Bariatric surgery FAQs.
- UCSF Health. Recovery from Bariatric Surgery.
- Hoyuela C. Five-year outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a primary procedure for morbid obesity: A prospective study. World J Gastrointest Surg. 2017 Apr 27; 9(4): 109–117. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v9.i4.109
- UPMC. (2020). About Post-Surgery Bariatric Vitamins & Bariatric Supplements.
- Hameed S. Beyond Weight Loss: Establishing a Postbariatric Surgery Patient Support Group—What Do Patients Want? J Obes. 2018; 2018: 8419120. doi:10.1155/2018/8419120
- Boza C, Daroch D, Barros D, León F, Funke R, Crovari F. Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a primary bariatric procedure. Surg Obes Relat Dis. Nov-Dec 2014;10(6):1129-33. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2014.03.024
- University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. Bariatric surgery risks, complications and side effects.
Writer Bio
Marcy Brinkley has been writing professionally since 2007. Her work has appeared in "Chicken Soup for the Soul," "Texas Health Law Reporter" and the "State Bar of Texas Health Law Section Report." Her degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; a Master of Business Administration; and a Doctor of Jurisprudence.