Bariatric Surgery Tips

Plan for Success

Get excited about your surgery journey! Being strategic about what you consume before and after surgery is crucial. Here are 8 fantastic nutrition tips to boost your recovery and outcomes post-surgery:

Before Surgery

1. Chat with your primary care provider about finding the perfect multivitamin/mineral just for you, and start taking it every day! Pre-surgery diets can be super restrictive, but by boosting your vitamin and mineral levels beforehand, you'll be setting yourself up for a fantastic recovery. Plus, you'll have a great reserve for those post-surgery days when you can't yet take a multivitamin or eat much food.

   
   

2. Stay Hydrated: Hydration is key, and it happens through the fluids in your food and drinks. As you cut back on calories to hit that pre-surgery weight goal, you might be eating less overall. If that's you, make sure you're drinking plenty of water! Upping your fluid intake can also help keep your appetite in check, as sometimes we confuse thirst with hunger.

   
   

3. Give the post-surgery diet phases a try! Pick a couple of protein drinks that you love and that will meet your needs after surgery. Keep a stash ready for when you get back home. Also, choose a few soft or pureed foods that you enjoy or don't mind eating, and have those on hand for after surgery as well.

   Note: Your food preferences might change after surgery, but having something available is way better than scrambling to figure it all out later!

   
   

4. Practice slowing down your drinking and eating pace. Habits don't change overnight; if you're a fast eater or drinker now, you'll likely start off the same way after surgery. Eating and drinking too quickly post-surgery can cause a lot of discomfort from swallowing air that can't easily escape and from gulping down chunks of food that your stomach isn't ready for yet.

   
   

5. If you're not active yet, now's the perfect moment to kick off a routine! If standing is a challenge, no worries—try marching in place while seated. Otherwise, lace up those shoes and start taking walks. The key is to get moving, and a fantastic starting goal is 10 minutes of marching in place or walking. Let's go!

After Surgery

1. Get excited about prioritizing your protein needs! Protein is crucial not just for building muscles, but for every single function in your body. Right after surgery, you won't be able to eat much, so make every bite count towards hitting your daily protein target!

   
   

2. Staying hydrated is your next big goal! You might even need some IV fluids, and that's perfectly okay. Keep an eye out for signs of dehydration like dry mouth, headaches, low blood pressure, and confusion. Don't worry about constipation just yet, as your intake right after surgery probably won't be enough for a solid bowel movement.

   
   

3. As soon as you get the green light, start taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement! Your food intake will be quite low for a while, and these supplements will help fill in the gaps for the nutrients you're missing.

   
   

4. Chat with your doctor and pharmacist about starting a fiber supplement! Getting enough fiber from food alone after surgery can be really tough, and for some, it's just not doable. A fiber supplement can be a fantastic way to support a healthy digestive system and favorable cholesterol levels!

   
   

5. Rally your support system! You'll be amazed at how the changes in your diet can impact social gatherings and your enjoyment of food. Having support makes all the difference!