Do not be surprised that after a weight loss surgery you will need a gastric sleeve diet. Gastric sleeve is the most effective way to lose weight significantly. Your stomach is smaller now, you want to eat less, your weight decreases day by day. But this is not the end of your journey, it’s only one important stage, and great progress is yet to come.
A smaller stomach can hold less food, but what makes the sleeve gastrectomy different from another procedure, such as a gastric bypass or gastric band, is what gets removed during a sleeve gastrectomy.
To preserve the amazing results of gastric sleeve surgery for life, you need a healthy diet. Less calories, more vitamins, and of course, besides diet, physical exercise should be your best friend. It’s really not that complicated in reality. Because we will help you make the perfect gastric sleeve diet plan!
Keeping Up Your Diet after Gastric Sleeve Surgery
After gastric sleeve surgery, your stomach is about one-quarter of its original size. And you should follow a strict diet that allows the body to recover and adjust to a smaller stomach capacity. These guidelines were carefully designed with the goal of limiting the amount of calories you consume, while providing balanced meals that help prevent nutrient deficiencies and preserve muscle tissue.
Diet recommendations after gastric sleeve surgery vary depending on your individual situation. However, there are general guidelines to follow:
- Eat balanced meals in small portions;
- Keep track of food, calories, and protein daily;
- Eat slowly, chewing food thoroughly;
- Avoid bread, rice, raw vegetables and fruits;
- Eat lean, protein-rich foods daily;
- Eat less meat that is difficult to chew;
- Avoid carbonated drinks;
- Avoid sugar, sugar-containing foods, and sweet drinks;
- On average, daily calories should not exceed 1,000 calories;
- Limit caffeine;
- Drink extra water between meals to avoid dehydration;
- Drink at least 2 liters of water daily;
- It is not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages. After surgery, alcohol is absorbed into your body much faster than before;
- Take vitamins and mineral supplements daily as directed by your health provider.
Remember that immediately after the procedure you can eat only liquid foods. The gastric sleeve diet usually follows a phased approach to help you get back to eating solid foods.
The pace at which you move from one step to the next depends on how quickly your body heals and adapts to changes in the structure of nutrition. Usually, patients can start eating regular foods about three months after surgery.
Gastric Sleeve Diet Step by Step
Although seemingly complex, the postoperative diet is easy enough to follow. Keep in mind that now you will be hungry less often. The following steps are typically recommendations after the gastric sleeve surgery:
- The first week after the procedure:
Clear liquids only (water, tea, broth, etc.). - Week 2 after the procedure:
Full liquid diet + protein shakes. - Week 3 after the procedure:
Soft-pureed foods (soups, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs). - Week 4 after the procedure:
Soft foods (fish, boiled chicken, mashed potatoes, cereal, etc.). - Week 5 after the procedure and beyond:
Introduce small amounts of usual foods.
It’s important to be patient, add a variety of foods to your diet gradually, watch how your stomach reacts to different foods. If you follow these steps, the recovery process will be quick and easy.
You also need to make sure that you get enough vitamins after the surgery. Talk to your doctor about vitamins, minerals, and supplements you need.
The 5-phase gastric sleeve diet will have you well on your way to meeting your goals in no time. It takes discipline and commitment, but you don’t have to do it alone. At SurgiCare Arts & Aesthetics, you will be accompanied by board-certified cosmetic surgeons with years of experience in weight loss surgery and post-operative care. In addition, all of our doctors are committed to highest quality of patient care with individual approach to each patient.
Angelina Postoev, MD, FACS, a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon, and Christopher Ibikunle, MD, FACS, offer gastric sleeve surgery to men and women in Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Johns Creek, and the surrounding areas of Georgia. To learn more about gastric sleeve surgery, contact us to schedule a consultation.
