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 Learn about the diet after Lap-Band Nutrition Facts The gastric bypass diet is designed to bring about significant weight loss. Learning new eating habits and following the diet correctly will help to maintain this weight loss over time. In general, the gastric bypass diet includes foods that are high in protein, and low in fat, fiber, calories, and sugar. Important vitamins and minerals are provided as supplements. Protein is the nutrient that the body uses to build new tissue. It is important to get enough protein right after surgery, to make sure that wounds heal properly. Over the long term, protein in the diet will help preserve muscle tissue, so that weight can be lost as fat instead. Foods like lean red meat or pork, chicken or turkey without the skin, fish of almost any type, eggs, and cottage cheese are high in protein and low in fat. Sugary foods include candy, cookies, ice cream, milkshakes or slushes, soda pop, sweetened juices or gelatin, and most desserts. The gastric bypass diet is low in sweet and sugary foods for three reasons. First, these foods are high in calories and fat. Even in small amounts, they could make weight loss difficult. Second, eating sweet or sugary foods promotes "dumping," a reaction which can occur after the gastric bypass operation. Experiencing the unpleasant symptoms of dumping syndrome may limit the desire to eat sweet foods. Finally, most sweet and sugary foods don't provide many vitamins or minerals for the calories they take up – and since calories are so limited on the gastric bypass diet, it is important that every food contribute its fair share of nutrients. Fat may be difficult to digest after gastric bypass surgery. Too much fat delays emptying of the stomach and may cause reflux, a back-up of stomach acid and food into the esophagus that causes heartburn. Fat may also cause diarrhea, nausea, or stomach discomfort. High-fat, fried foods and fatty meats are common offenders. Fiber, found in foods like bran, popcorn, raw vegetables, and dried beans, is also limited on the gastric bypass diet. There is less space in the stomach to hold these bulky foods, and less gastric acid available to digest them. Some kinds of fiber could get stuck in the pouch itself, or block the narrow opening into the small intestine. Do not take any fiber pills or laxatives without the advice of a physician. Vitamins & Minerals are an important part of the gastric bypass diet. Since the diet allows only small amounts of a limited variety of foods, it may be difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone. Deficiencies can develop in a matter of months. Iron, folate, vitamin B-12, and calcium are the nutrients most affected. Most physicians require their gastric bypass patients to take a multivitamin/mineral supplement.
The Gastric Bypass Diet The gastric bypass diet unfolds in several stages, from "liquids only" to small meals of soft, high-protein foods. Meals on the new menu will be much smaller than normal, and the foods eaten must be very smooth in texture. On all stages of the diet, it is especially important to drink enough water, and to take vitamin and mineral supplements as prescribed. 
The day after your surgery, you will receive your first tray of sugar-free clear liquids. These
include decaffeinated tea, diluted apple juice, broth and Crystal Light. A very special item will accompany
the fluids: a 30ml (1 ounce) cup. You will be instructed to drink only tiny sips from this cup so that it
takes you one hour to finish it!
This may seem very slow to you, and it is, but for a very good reason. Sipping slowly will allow your new stomach pouch to accept just the right amount of liquid it can tolerate, and will prevent you from feeling any nausea. Over the week, you will gradually increase the rate and amount of liquid, so that you are soon able to drink ½ cup over one hour. You will progress from clear liquids to full liquids on the fifth day post-surgery, adding low fat dairy products such as skim milk, Carnation Instant Breakfast, and a few teaspoons of no-added-sugar yogurt and hot cereal. Approximately one week after surgery, you will progress to a pureed diet. You will be adding such foods as soft scrambled eggs, low fat cottage cheese, pureed meats and vegetables, pureed fruit, and blenderized tuna. Our nutritionist will provide you with a meal plan to be sure you know exactly when and how much to eat. Remember, your new stomach will only hold about ½ cup of food per meal. You will follow a pattern of 3 meals, followed by 2-3 cups of liquids after each meal (you will now sip liquids at a rate of 1 cup over an hour) to maintain proper hydration. It is important to eat a high-quality protein food first at each meal, such as eggs, chicken, fish and cottage cheese. The daily protein goal for most patients is 60-90 grams per day, depending on their weight. Getting adequate protein ensures that your muscle tissue is preserved during weight loss and that proper wound healing can occur after surgery. Some of your liquids will be high-protein drinks to supplement the limited amount of protein your meals will provide. All foods and fluids on the gastric bypass diet must be low in sugar, as well as low in fat, to avoid the symptoms of Dumping Syndrome. For these reasons, you will be continuously reminded to avoid any foods or fluids that can lead to stomach or intestinal distress. About one week later, you will begin a soft/regular diet. You will gradually progress the texture of your foods, from well-cooked, very moist soft foods to most regular-textured foods. (Some foods may not be well-tolerated even long after surgery, such as red meats.) 
Our nutritionist will provide you with vitamin and mineral recommendations. Because of the limited
intake of your diet, and the decreased absorption of some nutrients after gastric bypass surgery, you will
likely be instructed to take a multivitamin/mineral supplement, as well as supplements of calcium, Vitamin
B-12 and. Iron (if needed).
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