6 Week PostOp Diet

[MarinaBleu]

Here is the PostOp Diet I got from Michigan Obesity Surgical Specialists.

I was banded on Aug 21. 2008

Week 1 Foods (day 1-7)

• Water
  
• Sugar Free Jell-O
  
• Chicken, beef or Veg stock broth (low sodium is a better choice)
  
• Crystal Light - Minute Maid Lite - Diet Snapple
  
• Sugar Free Popsicles
  

Start Protein Drinks on day 3. Try to get between 50-70 grams of protein a day.

Week 2 Foods (day 8-15)

Thickened Liquids

• Reduced sugar yogurt
  
• Sugar free pudding
  
• Creamy soups (cream of potato, cream of broccoli, cream of tomato) - no clam chowder
  
• STRAIN ALL CHUNKS FROM SOUP
  
• healthy shakes: use a blender to mix a low fat yogurt, protein powder, ice and 3 - 4 ounced of skim milk.
  
• Sugar free fudgesicles
  
• Sugar Free creamsicles
  
• All of week 1 items.
  

Week 3 (day 16-22)

Soft Foods

Proteins & Fats

• Eggs - you may prepare virtually in any way. Be sure to take small bites and chew thoroughly. This is an outstanding source of protein
  
• "Soft Cheese" - these are high in protein, moderate fat and generaly low in carbs
  
• -cottage cheese
  
• -soft cheddar
  
• -soft mozzarella
  
• Soy
  
• Tofu
  
• Hummus
  
• Carbohydrates
  
• Mashed potatos, regular or sweet - limit your volume to 1/2 - 1 cup per day
  
• Cream of wheat
  
• Cream of rice
  
• Unsweatened Oatmeal - INSTANT, NOT OLD FASHION (it expands too much) - do not add brown sugar or honey
  
• Grits
  
• Farina
  
• Baby Food - may patients like the small sizes, the broad choices and convenient packaging.
  

Week 4 (day 23-29)

Soft Meats

• Fish: salmon, whitefish, tilapia, tuna
  
• - try baking or broiling
  
• -use light may of light Miracle Whip
  
• Seafood: Shrimp, lobster, crab - use lemons, NO butter
  
• -steamed, broiled or barbecued (No Deep Frying)
  
• Turkey/Chicken - These meats should be prepared so the food is moist. Patients will often mistake their first difficult episode with turkey or chicken as intolerance when in reality the meat is simply too dry.
  
• Beans and Nuts: (6 to 10 Nuts = 1 Fat) - Unsalted peanuts and cashews are an excellent source of proteins as are beans
  

Red Meat or beef is not recommend at this stage because it can be very difficult to pass through the band. After the sixth postop week you can begin to try ground beef and advance slowly to other cuts

Deli Meat - start off eating 86% Fat Free, not 98% Fat Free.

Week 5 (day 30-36)

Fruits & Vegetables

At this point begin to reintroduce fruits and veggies into your diet. It is wise to begin with cooked vegetables and soft fruits. Fruits and vegetables have high fiber content and can be difficult for some patients to pass through the band. Items that have a peel, like and apple, should initially be peeled until you are certain the the fiber content is not too much. Again, the key is CHEWING WELL.

Salads and raw vegetables are OK as long as they are chewed finely before swallowing. Although this sounds trivial, eave easy, this is usually the most difficult adjustment for patients to make. It takes a conscious effort to do it right. Just like any habit, once established you will no linger need to be as mindful.

(side note: be careful of Fruits: grapes & blueberries - Vegetables: corn, peas, romaine lettuce - these seem to have a higher risk of getting stuck)

Week 6 and Beyond

Red Meat & Breads

Congratulations! You've finally made it!

At this point you can reintroduce red meat. Start with ground beef before moving on to cutes of beef. The importance of chewing well cannot be overemphasized. Keep in mind that 3-4 small bites will probably be all you an accommodate.

Starches, like bread, pasta and rice can be reintroduced. Some patients will tolerate these items and some will have a difficulty almost every time they try to ear bread or rice. It is common for patients to experience the sensation of pouch distension (with resulting pain and discomfort) or the sensation of these items "getting stuck". Some patients may find that toasting bread makes all the difference. If you should experience this, slow down, take a few slow seep breaths and the symptom swill usually subside. If the symptoms continue then have a very small sip of water to help the food pass through the band, If the bites are too large the fluid can cause bread and rice to expand and the only way for them to pass is by vomiting, This should be viewed as a lesson and not a treatment. NEVER INDUCE VOMITING. If your body needs to vomit to expel the ingest foods it will do it on its own.

Avoid excessive starches. Breads and crackers made from whole wheat or multi grain are much better choices because they have much lower sugar. White breads and refined crackers (Wonder Bread and Saltines) should be avoided.

Side note: Angel hair pasta & Spaghetti are ok - be careful of Lasagna, Fettuccine Alfredo, Rotinni

This was copied from the information packed from Great Lakes Weight Loss Center

41 yrs old - Height 5'8"

Pre Op Weight - 243.5 lbs

One week pre op diet - 237.5 lbs

Day 8 - 226 lbs

NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN FEELS

[CottonwoodAZ]

Thank you so much for the suggestions.

[Kittycat]

Congratulations on your surgery!!

I was banded in Canada on June 10th and had a very similar pre-op diet.

Best of Luck on your new life!!

[jhawkchick75]

Is this similar to the diet Dr. Ortiz will give me? I have all the pre-op diet info, but have not recieved any specifics n post-op. I've got a while, but just trying to wrap my brain around what to expect early.

Thanks!!!

[nicolek]

Jhawkchick

The guidelines from the Occ are totally different.

Dr Miranda will give them to you at the clinic before surgery don't worry.

Nicolek

[MarinaBleu]

Jhawkchick

The guidelines from the Occ are totally different.

Dr Miranda will give them to you at the clinic before surgery don't worry.

Nicolek

What is the OCC plan?

[jhawkchick75]

Jhawkchick

The guidelines from the Occ are totally different.

Dr Miranda will give them to you at the clinic before surgery don't worry.

Nicolek

Will they get ahold of me before hand or should I call them and ask for it. I want to hit the store before I go so that when I get home i'm all set. I won't have anyone to help me post-op so I have to make sure I have everything in line. I'm worried a bit about being on my own. I heard I can't lift anything over 10 lbs for a while and I think my purse weighs that much!

Thanks!!

[Cujo]

OCC's diet is much simpler: following the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Silly

week one

clear liquids

juices, broth etc

week two

full liquids - add your cream soups

add a drinkable yogurt

week three

add one protein shake a day

Day 22:

Solid foods

No "mushies" phase

Listen to the man himself:

[Guest CaraMBA09]

Here is the PostOp Diet I got from Michigan Obesity Surgical Specialists.

I was banded on Aug 21. 2008

Week 1 Foods (day 1-7)

• Water
  
• Sugar Free Jell-O
  
• Chicken, beef or Veg stock broth (low sodium is a better choice)
  
• Crystal Light - Minute Maid Lite - Diet Snapple
  
• Sugar Free Popsicles
  

Start Protein Drinks on day 3. Try to get between 50-70 grams of protein a day.

Week 2 Foods (day 8-15)

Thickened Liquids

• Reduced sugar yogurt
  
• Sugar free pudding
  
• Creamy soups (cream of potato, cream of broccoli, cream of tomato) - no clam chowder
  
• STRAIN ALL CHUNKS FROM SOUP
  
• healthy shakes: use a blender to mix a low fat yogurt, protein powder, ice and 3 - 4 ounced of skim milk.
  
• Sugar free fudgesicles
  
• Sugar Free creamsicles
  
• All of week 1 items.
  

Week 3 (day 16-22)

Soft Foods

Proteins & Fats

• Eggs - you may prepare virtually in any way. Be sure to take small bites and chew thoroughly. This is an outstanding source of protein
  
• "Soft Cheese" - these are high in protein, moderate fat and generaly low in carbs
  
• -cottage cheese
  
• -soft cheddar
  
• -soft mozzarella
  
• Soy
  
• Tofu
  
• Hummus
  
• Carbohydrates
  
• Mashed potatos, regular or sweet - limit your volume to 1/2 - 1 cup per day
  
• Cream of wheat
  
• Cream of rice
  
• Unsweatened Oatmeal - INSTANT, NOT OLD FASHION (it expands too much) - do not add brown sugar or honey
  
• Grits
  
• Farina
  
• Baby Food - may patients like the small sizes, the broad choices and convenient packaging.
  

Week 4 (day 23-29)

Soft Meats

• Fish: salmon, whitefish, tilapia, tuna
  
• - try baking or broiling
  
• -use light may of light Miracle Whip
  
• Seafood: Shrimp, lobster, crab - use lemons, NO butter
  
• -steamed, broiled or barbecued (No Deep Frying)
  
• Turkey/Chicken - These meats should be prepared so the food is moist. Patients will often mistake their first difficult episode with turkey or chicken as intolerance when in reality the meat is simply too dry.
  
• Beans and Nuts: (6 to 10 Nuts = 1 Fat) - Unsalted peanuts and cashews are an excellent source of proteins as are beans
  

Red Meat or beef is not recommend at this stage because it can be very difficult to pass through the band. After the sixth postop week you can begin to try ground beef and advance slowly to other cuts

Deli Meat - start off eating 86% Fat Free, not 98% Fat Free.

Week 5 (day 30-36)

Fruits & Vegetables

At this point begin to reintroduce fruits and veggies into your diet. It is wise to begin with cooked vegetables and soft fruits. Fruits and vegetables have high fiber content and can be difficult for some patients to pass through the band. Items that have a peel, like and apple, should initially be peeled until you are certain the the fiber content is not too much. Again, the key is CHEWING WELL.

Salads and raw vegetables are OK as long as they are chewed finely before swallowing. Although this sounds trivial, eave easy, this is usually the most difficult adjustment for patients to make. It takes a conscious effort to do it right. Just like any habit, once established you will no linger need to be as mindful.

(side note: be careful of Fruits: grapes & blueberries - Vegetables: corn, peas, romaine lettuce - these seem to have a higher risk of getting stuck)

Week 6 and Beyond

Red Meat & Breads

Congratulations! You've finally made it!

At this point you can reintroduce red meat. Start with ground beef before moving on to cutes of beef. The importance of chewing well cannot be overemphasized. Keep in mind that 3-4 small bites will probably be all you an accommodate.

Starches, like bread, pasta and rice can be reintroduced. Some patients will tolerate these items and some will have a difficulty almost every time they try to ear bread or rice. It is common for patients to experience the sensation of pouch distension (with resulting pain and discomfort) or the sensation of these items "getting stuck". Some patients may find that toasting bread makes all the difference. If you should experience this, slow down, take a few slow seep breaths and the symptom swill usually subside. If the symptoms continue then have a very small sip of water to help the food pass through the band, If the bites are too large the fluid can cause bread and rice to expand and the only way for them to pass is by vomiting, This should be viewed as a lesson and not a treatment. NEVER INDUCE VOMITING. If your body needs to vomit to expel the ingest foods it will do it on its own.

Avoid excessive starches. Breads and crackers made from whole wheat or multi grain are much better choices because they have much lower sugar. White breads and refined crackers (Wonder Bread and Saltines) should be avoided.

Side note: Angel hair pasta & Spaghetti are ok - be careful of Lasagna, Fettuccine Alfredo, Rotinni

This was copied from the information packed from Great Lakes Weight Loss Center

41 yrs old - Height 5'8"

Pre Op Weight - 243.5 lbs

One week pre op diet - 237.5 lbs

Day 8 - 226 lbs

NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN FEELS

HOLY guacamole!

THAT is the best and most thorough list I have seen yet!

Thanks for the info!

C

[stormy]

Well that doesnt look to bad as a post op diet, I think I can do that. Here I was freaking out. Seems lik I can have something in my mouth. I wonder though, if you get the feeling that you want to chew something, has anyone just chewed gum, just for that feeling. Maybe that would keep the sores out too, that I keep hearing about.

[Patti]

I was banded on 8-22-08 and am on the mushy food stage.

It seems like I can eat anything!

Today I weighed myself, and I gained 5 pounds!!

I feel really disheartened!!

(

[doinitagann]

Well that doesnt look to bad as a post op diet, I think I can do that. Here I was freaking out. Seems lik I can have something in my mouth. I wonder though, if you get the feeling that you want to chew something, has anyone just chewed gum, just for that feeling. Maybe that would keep the sores out too, that I keep hearing about.

Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Miranda were very clear that they want us to follow their post op diet. He says many do differently but in the long run these 3 weeks are important to the long term goal of the band. Spending this much money, I do not want to take a chance.

[julieburns]

Well that doesnt look to bad as a post op diet, I think I can do that. Here I was freaking out. Seems lik I can have something in my mouth. I wonder though, if you get the feeling that you want to chew something, has anyone just chewed gum, just for that feeling. Maybe that would keep the sores out too, that I keep hearing about.

Yes you do start craving that "chewing experience when on liquids, I did and I have read many others have. Gum is good, also chewing on ice can help, just be careful not to hurt your teeth with the ice. The frozen stuff like popsicles also give you a chance to chew.

I never had any mouth sores and I havn't heard of many people having them who have gotten the band. Maybe I missed some posts but I just havn't heard of it as a frequent problem. Maybe I'm just lucky. Perhaps those with bypass get them more, not bandsters.

[julieburns]

I was banded on 8-22-08 and am on the mushy food stage.

It seems like I can eat anything!

Today I weighed myself, and I gained 5 pounds!!

I feel really disheartened!!

(

Where were you banded? If it was the OCC you should only be eating LIQUIDS until day 22. If not banded at the OCC I know you may have other instructions. The weight gain is common when you reintroduce foods after having only liquids if you are actually eating foods. Are you drinking enough water?