Helpful Hints... post surgery

Helpful Hints

1. Chew your food to a mushy consistency.  Do not swallow chunks of food. 
2. Never skip meals.  Eat three small means (Meal = 1-2 ounce serving size) daily to ensure adequate nutrition. 
3. Drink 8 cuts of fluid per day to prevent dehydration.
4. Sit up straight while eating and always eat at the table.  Avoid talking and watching TV while eating. 
5. Eat slowly, enjoy the flavor, texture and consistency of foods. 
6. Stop eating prior to feeling full; overeating may cause discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea.  
7. Avoid eating and drinking at the same time because this may cause vomiting.  Start sipping fluids slowly 15-30 minutes after a meal and stop drinking 15-30 minutes before the next meal.
8. Measure your foods - remember your stomach pouch can only hold one ounce.
9. Use a small plate or saucer to give the impression of having more on your plate than there really is.
10. Remember - if you eat too much too fast you may experience vomiting or dumping syndrome.
11. Always eat protein foods first.  Refer to the protein needs chart for your individual goal.
12. Limit sugar and fat intake.
13. Avoid alcohol for 6 - 12 months. 
14. Take your Iron and Multivitamin together if you would like, but never take either of those WITH you calcium.  It will cause you to lose most of the nutrients that you need.  Calcium should be taken separately.  

 Follow these guidelines for avoiding specific foods:


Food/Beverage                                                                Length of time to avoid
Fresh fruits & vegetables                                                                  1 - 2 months
Bread, pasta and/or rice                                                                    3 -4 months
Alcohol                                                                                                    6 - 12 months


The number one reason why people gain their weight back after surgery is due to them drinking and eating at the same time (consuming fluids with their food) or making poor food choices that are high in sugars and fat.  


Vitamin-Mineral Supplementation Following Gastric Bypass Surgery


Vitamin-mineral supplementation is important now that you are unable to consume enough food to meet 100% of the DRI's (Dietary Reference Intakes).  The DRI's chart is provided for you to review and compare to your multivitamin-mineral label.  Below are the recommendation for vitamin/mineral supplementation after your GBS (Gastric Bypass Surgery).


Multivitamin-Mineral:     
Take two chewable vitamins daily for the first month.  Take them at separate times of the day (morning and night).  After the bottle is finished, take two of Dr. Felix's (or whatever your doctor gives to you if you didn't see Dr. Felix) vitamins daily.

Calcium:                                
Should be in the form of calcium citrate.  Chewable form for the first month.  

Iron: 
Take one a day for the first month until bottle is finished.   

      

                        

Your Protein Needs

                              WOMEN:

Height:                              Protein Grams Needed Daily:

4'8                                                        42-46

4'9                                                        43-47

4'10                                                      44-48

4'11                                                      45-50

5'0                                                        46-51

5'1                                                        48-53

5'2                                                        50-55

5'3                                                        52-57

5'4                                                        55-61

5'5                                                        57-63

5'6                                                        59-65

5'7                                                        61-67

5'8                                                        64-70

5'9                                                        66-73

5'10                                                      68-75

5'11                                                      71-78

6'0                                                        73-80

6'1                                                        75-83

6'2                                                        77-85

                           MEN: 

Height:                       Protein grams needed daily:  

5'0                                                        48-53

5'1                                                        51-56

5'2                                                        54-59

5'3                                                        56-62

5'4                                                        59-65

5'5                                                        62-68

5'6                                                        65-72

5'7                                                        67-74

5'8                                                        70-77

5'9                                                        73-80

5'10                                                      76-84

5'11                                                      78-86

6'0                                                        81-89

6'1                                                        84-92

6'2                                                        86-95

6'3                                                        89-98

6'4                                                        92-101

6'5                                                        95-105

6'6                                                        97-107

Excess protein is not advised and can lead to kidney failure, liver failure, and calcium loss from bones.  You are also at greater risk for dehydration because it takes a tremendous amount of water to break down protein.  Stick with your individual goal and don't go overboard!