Dietary Plan

Nutritional Counseling

Our dietitians are experts in nutrition and also address some of your behavioural eating patterns.

When a patient makes a decision to undergo weight loss surgery, dieticians are required pre-operatively to assess a patient’s dietary and eating habits.

These assessments help your surgeon decide if you are ready for the surgery.

Initial Dietary Assessment

Our dietician will perform an initial assessment that involves:
  • Tracking the change in your eating habits
  • Assessing your efforts to change your eating habits and live a healthy lifestyle over time
  • Collecting information regarding your dietary habits which may cause problems after surgery,
  • Guide you through pre-operative very low-calorie diet (Optifat) so that you can complete the 2 weeks program.

Post Operative Diet Planning

Your after-surgery diet has a major influence on your weight loss success. Our dietitians will provide you with nutritional counselling and a personalized nutrition plan. 

They will reevaluate your:
  • nutritional needs,
  • teach you to make healthy choices. 
Even after your hospital stay, you may contact your dietitian to discuss your dietary concerns.

Your Healthy Diet

With the Help of a Bariatric Dietitian, your post-operative diet will work.

Key elements include eating:
  • smaller portions, that are
  • well-balanced and nutritious
We provide patients with a bariatric dietician to help transition to new, healthier eating habits.

What Proper Nutrition Looks Like

Dietary timeline after bariatric surgery:
  • the first three weeks - all-liquid diet,
  • the second three weeks - sees the gradual progression to a diet consisting of pureed foods, and advancing to a diet consisting of soft foods
  • the Third three weeks - a diet consisting of soft foods advancing to the solid healthy diet 
At this point, individuals should be eating smaller portions of healthy solid foods, which they should continue to do for the rest of their lives.

Dietary and Weight Loss Success Factors

In order to be successful in achieving and maintaining weight-loss goals, it is imperative that patients adhere to the health and dietary guidelines established by the bariatric dietician.

These guidelines include three main objectives: 
  • consuming an adequate amount of protein, 
  • getting a sufficient amount of all vitamins and
  • exercising consistently, while consuming fewer calories than before surgery. 
Specifically, individuals must consume:
  • a minimum of 50-60 grams of lean protein each day
  • avoid consuming foods with a high glycemic index (GI) such as certain carbohydrates.
  • avoid smoking - as smoking can cause stomach ulcers.

Your Personal Eating Plan

To help patients stay on the right dietary track and get the proper amount of nutrients, our dietician creates a customized Healthy Eating Plan that is high in nutrients and low in unnecessary, or “empty,” calories for each individual.

Every six months, our team will monitor your levels of 
  • vitamins, 
  • minerals, 
  • electrolytes, 
  • liver enzymes, 
  • thyroid hormones and 
  • hemoglobin 
to minimize the chance of suffering from malnutrition and maximize the chance of weight loss success.

Failure is Not an Option

Failing to follow an appropriate diet after surgery and consuming certain foods such as high-GI carbohydrates can result in unpleasant symptoms, including 
  • diarrhea, 
  • nausea and 
  • abdominal cramping, comprising what is known as “dumping syndrome.” 
Also, eating too much or too quickly and mixing liquids with solids can cause vomiting or an intense pain underneath the breastbone.

Are Vitamin Supplements Required After Surgery?

If you follow the postoperative dietary guidelines lifelong vitamin supplements are not required for Gastric Sleeve or Gastric Band procedures. However, we do recommend taking a daily multivitamin tablet to ensure you still receive your daily vitamin and mineral requirements given that you will be eating less.

If your procedure was Gastric Bypass patients must take vitamins and protein supplements to prevent nutrient deficiencies. Failing to do so can cause temporary hair loss or other symptoms of malnutrition.

What if I Go Out to Eat?

Eating out is no problem postoperatively. Order only a small amount of food, such as an entree. Eat slowly, and don’t forget to chew well. Finish at the same time as your table companions. Never feel compelled to eat the same amount of food as the others.

Can I Still Enjoy a Glass of Wine?

Weight Loss surgery is about achieving a better quality of life. A glass of wine with a meal is for many people a quintessential part of living well, and there is no reason why you cannot continue to enjoy this.

An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage is not considered harmful to weight loss. Moderation is the key, just be aware that alcohol contains a high number of calories, hence we strongly recommend to avoid unnecessary calorie intake until the weight goal achieved, maybe for the first 6-8 months postoperatively.

Can I Eat Anything in Moderation?

The aim of Weight Loss surgery is not to reduce your range of food choices, just the quantity you need to feel full. Provided you chew well and eat slowly, patients can eat almost anything.

There is a couple of problem foods, these include: fresh white bread and chewy steak can get stuck, and are probably best avoided.

However wholemeal bread, toast, crackers, soft red meats, mince, chicken, fish, pasta, rice, salads, etc, are generally fine for most patients. 

Just ask our dieticians - we’re here to help.

What Foods Should be Avoided

Be aware that liquids and soft foods that are high in calories including 
  • chocolate, 
  • ice cream, 
  • milkshakes, 
  • soft-drinks, etc 
These high-calorie foods are easily consumed and do not provide the same sense of satisfaction that solid foods do.

Your weight loss may be greatly reduced or cancelled if you regularly consume these types of foods. We encourage you to eat real solid food, which will provide the best results.

Can I Eat on an Airplane?

Eating at altitude after weight loss surgery. Normal atmospheric pressure changes should not affect you greatly. Patients who have had a Gastric Band can feel a bit tighter whilst flying.

As the plane descends any minor sensation would reduce. Airline travel will become more comfortable as fitting into seats, overcoming jet-lag, and moving about the airport carrying luggage becomes far easier.
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