Managing Your Diet After Bariatric Surgery-7 Tips

The success of your weight loss surgery depends on many factors, one of which is diet. The changes made to your gastrointestinal tract during surgery will require permanent changes in your eating habits that must be followed. Your bariatric surgeon will lay out your specific diet and it's important to follow these guidelines strictly, especially immediately after your surgery. The following are some of the generally accepted dietary guidelines for a healthy diet after bariatric surgery:

• When you start eating solid food again, remember to chew your food thoroughly and eat very slowly.
• Remember to wait two to three minutes after swallowing before putting taking another bite.
• When it comes to steaks or similar meats, you won't be able to digest them if they are not ground or chewed thoroughly.
• Don't drink liquids while eating as they can make you feel full before you have consumed enough food.
• Avoid desserts and other items with sugar if they have more than 3 to 5 grams per serving size.
• Avoid carbonated drinks, high-calorie nutritional supplements, milk shakes and foods high in fat.
• Avoid alcohol, beer and wine.