Balanced Diet

Eat a high-protein diet. Because the quantity of food you can consume at a meal is reduced, it is important that what you do eat be of good nutritional value. Eat foods from each of the four food groups, but focus on proteins.

SUGAR INFORMATION
You must not eat more than 6 grams of sugar per serving. This will help you avoid slow weight loss, weight creep, gas, diarrhea, or a condition which is called "dumping syndrome" (heart palpitations, light-headedness, sweats and sleepiness which can last 20 - 30 minutes and cause you to feel very ill).

Read Your Product Labels. IF SUGAR (OR A SUGAR DERIVATIVE) IS ONE OF THE FIRST FOUR INGREDIENTS, LEAVE THE PRODUCT IN THE STORE BECAUSE THERE IS TOO MUCH SUGAR IN IT!

EATING NON-CULTURED DAIRY PRODUCTS WILL ALSO CAUSE GAS, DIARRHEA AND DUMPING SYNDROME. Buttermilk may be used.

REMEMBER: If using fruit juices, we advise our patients to mix all fruit juices with 75% water and 25% fruit juice because of the natural sugar.

CLEAR LIQUIDS
You will be on clear liquids for the first 4 weeks after surgery. Clear liquids include Sugar-free Jello, sugar free popsicles, Crystal Lite (NO tea flavors because of caffeine), and broths (veggie, beef or chicken). If you drink clear 100% fruit juices, you must dilute 25% juice with 75% water because of the natural sugar.

You will begin eating pureed food after 4 weeks. At that time, you may eat anything that agrees with your stomach except for milk, sugar and high fat foods.

WATER INTAKE
You must drink 2-3 QUARTS of water daily in addition to other clear liquids you may drink.

You may drink all the liquids you want during the day. However - you must wait 30 minutes after drinking before you eat a meal. Then, after eating, you must wait another 1 1/2 - 2 hours before you resume taking liquids because food needs to stay in the pouch so that you can feel full. Drinking liquids too soon will push the food out of the pouch too quickly and you will feel hungry again. YOU ARE NOT TO EAT AND DRINK AT THE SAME TIME.

REMEMBER: The water used to mix with protein DOES NOT count towards your daily water intake.

FOOD MEASUREMENTS
Food is measured for every meal as soon as you begin the pureed stage and you will continue to measure your food until you hit goal weight. Measuring prevents the pouch from stretching.

The type of surgery you have determines how much you may eat.

Gastric Bypass patients may have 1 ounce 5 times a day.

Adjustable Gastric Band patients may have 1 ounce 3 times a day.