Tips on Clean Eating after Weight Loss Surgery this Holiday Season

About three months after undergoing bariatric surgery, you will be ready to progress from soft foods to regular-consistency foods. While this is an exciting time, clean eating after weight loss surgery can be a challenging transition. At first, you may not be able to tolerate the foods that you ate prior to surgery – and that is not uncommon. You should now be even more conscious to choose foods with good nutritional value, and you will eventually be able to consume most of the healthy foods you were eating before surgery. With the American holiday tradition of binge eating right around the corner, the team at Cernero Surgery & Aesthetics wants to help you be mentally and educationally prepared. Here at the top four lifelong eating techniques to keep in mind this holiday season.

1. FOCUS ON PROTEIN AND PRODUCE

Eat 3 ounces of lean protein with every meal, and then add vegetables and occasional fruit. The good thing about holiday dinners is that there are usually many options. If you are worried about having healthy choices, volunteer to bring sides to the party! Holidays are a great opportunity to introduce your loved ones to tasty, healthy recipes.

2. AVOID FOODS AND BEVERAGES HIGH IN SUGAR

Most foods high in added sugar do not provide vitamins or nutrients and are considered “empty calories”. This can backtrack your weight loss and also upset your stomach. Water is always the best option but you can consider bringing sugar free soft drinks and dairy products to liven up your drink selection.

3. LIMIT HIGH FAT FOODS

Other than slowing your weight loss progress or possibly leading to weight re-gain, these foods can make you feel nauseated. To remain looking and feeling healthy, stick to low fat foods and clean eating after weight loss surgery. If you do feel nauseated, Stage 4 of Dr. Cernero’s “Bariatric Sleeve Diet” provides tips, sets expectations, and advises when to contact your doctor.

4. LIMIT LIQUIDS TO 4 OZ. WITH A MEAL

For best practices, stop drinking fluids 30 minutes prior to eating, and wait 30 minutes after eating to resume fluid intake. This keeps you feeling full longer, prevents food from flushing through your stomach too quickly, and prevents overfilling of the stomach.

Before you jump into the holiday meal temptation, it’s best to introduce your stomach to one new food per day to see your body’s reaction. Eat slowly, be aware of when you feel full, and chew, chew, chew. For additional questions or to schedule a follow-up visit or consultation, contact Cernero Surgery & Aesthetics today.

*All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.

Posted in: Bariatric Surgery