Gastric Bypass Diet Plan

Following a healthy gastric bypass diet is essential to the success of your bariatric bypass surgery results. Adhering to a proper diet and food quantity intake will greatly reduce the risk of complications. Medical studies have shown that the first 3 months after your operation are the most crucial. During this time period you will undergo a great deal of physical and emotional changes. A special diet is necessary to help with the healing process. The stapled stomach needs to heal before expansion begins. A gastric bypass diet will also help your body smoothly become adapted to the physiological changes you will undergo.

A post operation bypass diet will generally start off with liquid food only, and begin transitioning to solid ingestion at about 8 weeks.

First Phase: Liquids Only

After the bariatric weight loss surgery you will need to fast for 48 hours to ensure proper healing of the stapled area. Next, you will be able to start ingesting liquids and some semi-solid food to see how well you do with them. These liquids need to be consumed at room temperature and in portions of two to three ounces. Some of the liquid and semi-solid foods you can start having are fruit juices, chicken broth, milk, strained soups, and Jello (sugar-free).

Second Phase: Ground or Blended Foods

After doing well with liquids for a few days, you will be ready to move on to the next level of the gastric bypass surgery diet - ground up food. This period will last for 2 - 4 weeks before you graduate to the next level. Any food you consume at this time cannot have a single bit or chunk of actual food in it. It will need to be close to a liquid, or at least have the consistency of a paste. Yummy!

Remember that you can't just grind up anything. You will want to select foods that will be easy to blend. Sorry, no Cheeseburgers.

Some good selections would be yogurts, fruits, vegetables, and lean ground meats. Adding water, juice, or broth to the blender will aid in the blending process.

Third Phase: Soft Foods

After a few weeks your doctor should give you the green light to begin phase 3 of the post-op gastric bypass diet; consuming soft, solid food. Something that can be mashed with a utensil is typically considered soft. At this point you will be able to eat soft, fresh fruits, well cooked vegetables, and ground meat. Your physician will probably have you stay on this phase for about 8 weeks before moving on to the final phase.

Fourth Phase: The Transition to Solid Foods

Once you have done well with soft foods for about 2 months, your doctor will allow you to start moving towards solid food. Remember not to make any drastic changes though. You should make the transition slowly. Always make sure to chew your food thoroughly before swallowing to minimize the complication risks. You should also always avoid certain types of food like nuts, popcorn, and sodas. It's a great idea to do some research on gastric bypass recipes.

The fourth phase is the final phase, and it is everlasting. This means that you cannot go back to old eating habits of unhealthy foods and large portions. Adhering to a proper gastric bypass diet will help you avoid any surgical complications, and ultimately lead to a healthy, happier life. As with many kinds of weight loss surgeries, the rewards can often outweigh the risks.