Pre-Gastric Bypass Diet

Gastric bypass surgery is a major operation and requires a lot of preparation. One of the most important steps in preparing for the procedure is following your pre-gastric bypass diet. This diet helps reduce the risk of postoperative complications after your surgery, as well as aiding in faster healing.

But the most beneficial aspect of the pre-gastric bypass diet, or any weight-loss surgery, is how it prepares both the mind and body for your lifestyle change. The more successful you are in the weeks and months before the surgery, the more you reduce the risk of complications and the better results you’ll have after the surgery.

Pre-Gastric Bypass Diet Benefits

The positives are twofold: first, you will probably have to lose some weight before the surgery as a matter of course. This diet will help you achieve those goals as well as prepare the body for your new food plan. This may include increasing physical activity as well.

Secondly, healthier eating habits now will make it much easier to adhere to the strict post-surgery diet. This can be one of the most difficult aspects of bariatric surgery, limiting what you can eat with a smaller stomach in the first few weeks and months after the procedure.

Also, by establishing a workout routine now, you’ll be better equipped to hit the ground running (so to speak) after the gastric bypass surgery. It‘s a big decision to have gastric bypass surgery, so it’s important to set yourself up for success beforehand.

Length of Time on Pre-Gastric Bypass Diet

Your pre-surgery diet will typically last around two weeks before your scheduled procedure. During this time, you will need to follow the guidelines set by your bariatric nutritionist and doctor very closely. The goal is to prepare your body for the drastic changes it will experience after the surgery so it can handle them better without any adverse effects or reactions.

However, you may be required to start a new diet in the months leading up to the procedure as well. Depending on how you weigh, you may need to lose up to 10% of your body weight before the surgery. This will all be discussed during the initial conversations you’ll have with your bariatric surgeon.

Meal Plan for Pre-Gastric Bypass Diet

Your diet in the month or two leading up to the procedure is determined in some part by how overweight you are. But no matter what your body mass index (BMI) says, you will begin preparing for gastric bypass surgery by watching what you eat. You should stick to lean high proteins (chicken, fish, some red meat) and non-starchy vegetables (carrots, green beans, broccoli, squash).

You will be required to reduce the amount of fat in your diet and avoid heavily processed meats (bologna, sausages, bacon), starchy vegetables, sugary foods and drinks, and fried foods. Your doctor may also recommend taking a multivitamin supplement every day, which helps reduce any nutritional deficiencies that could occur post-surgery.

Two Weeks Before Surgery

Your pre-op diet will become more strict in the last week or two before surgery. You will transition from solid foods into only liquids such as protein shakes, soups, broths, and vegetable juice. This is primarily due to the fact that this process helps trigger ketosis which, in turn, helps reduce the size of the liver, making it easier to perform surgery.

You will be limited to water, sugar-free beverages, non-carbonated drinks, sugar-free gelatin, sugar-free popsicles, protein drinks, etc. You will be required to drink at least 64 ounces of fluid a day for a week or two prior to surgery. Your post-op diet will see the amount of liquid increase in the weeks following as you follow an all-liquid diet.

It’s important that you stick with the guidelines provided by your doctor during this time. Everything you do in the weeks and months before surgery will have an impact on the surgery itself and the healing process afterward–both good and bad.

Gastric bypass surgery is a major life event that requires careful preparation beforehand. This includes following an appropriate pre-gastric sleeve diet plan tailored specifically for you by your doctor or nutritionist. These dietary instructions help make sure that everything goes smoothly when it comes time for the operation itself!

For more information about pre-gastric sleeve diets, or about any of our other weight-loss procedures, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Olde Del MarSurgical or schedule a consultation. Along with an improved diet and increased exercise, bariatric surgeries give you the best chance at losing excess weight and keeping it off. We’re ready to help you on your weight-loss journey.