Gastric Sleeve Diet

Gastric sleeve surgery or vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is an appetite-suppressing surgery, undergone by morbidly-obese people. It is mostly recommended for people who cannot have a gastric bypass or gastric band due to some complications.

In this surgery, the size of the stomach is reduced by 85%, by removing a section of the stomach, thereby leaving behind a thin tube or banana-shaped stomach. Since the size of the stomach is much smaller now, the person feels full after consuming a small amount of food. This in turn restricts the total amount of food ingested, and ultimately results in weight loss.

Moreover, after this surgery, the person feels less hungry. When the surgery is performed, the upper two-third portion of the stomach is removed, which is the region where the hunger-stimulating hormone, Gherlin is normally produced. This is why patients experience reduced hunger pangs after the surgery. In the first one year after surgery, a person loses about 50-60% of the excess body weight. However, this involves a lot of diet restriction. Let's find out about the diet restrictions involved in this surgery.

Diet restrictions begin at least two weeks prior to the gastric sleeve surgery. The restrictions are placed, so as to help the body cope well during the surgery. The diet prepares the digestive tract and the liver for the surgery. Moreover, this pre-surgery diet will also help prepare the body for the lifestyle changes one will have to follow, in terms of the restricted diet after surgery.

✦ Fatty foods
✦ Desserts/candy
✦ Fried foods
✦ Carbonated drinks
✦ Alcohol
✦ Whole milk products
✦ Sugar

✦ Oatmeal
✦ Yogurt
✦ Low-fat cottage cheese
✦ Fresh fruits and vegetables
✦ Lean meat
✦ Egg scramble (only egg white)
✦ Sugar-free gelatin
✦ Protein shakes
✦ Whole grain foods

One has to wave goodbye to binge eating, and say hello to 3 small, well-balanced meals. Two of these meals will be protein shakes, and for dinner one can have lean meat salad, etc. Protein is a crucial part of the pre-operation diet, because it encourages the body to get rid of the fat, while on a low-fat diet. Thus, protein shakes form important aspects of the pre-surgery diet.

These meals have to be consumed at the right time, and the food consumed must be chewed thoroughly to a paste-like consistency, to prevent blockage. Besides drinking lots of water, the patients are also advised to wean off carbonated drinks and coffee. Medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, herbal medicines, etc. have to be stopped a week before the surgery. Moreover, one shouldn't consume anything 8 hours prior to the surgery.

After surgery, the patient may feel nauseous, nevertheless, small quantities of clear liquids will be given to prevent dehydration. The different liquids given in small amounts are:

✦ Water
✦ Green tea
✦ Broth
✦ Gatorade
✦ Sugar-free jello
✦ Sugar-free popsicles
✦ Ice chips

These fluids have to be sipped very slowly, over an extended period of time. The patient is to stop drinking as soon as he or she feels full. A straw is never provided, because drinking too much fluid with the help of the straw can cause the stomach to expand.

The patient is still not allowed to take soft foods or solids, because solid foods can disrupt the staple lines in the stomach, thereby increasing the risk of a leak. The liquids recommended are as follows:

✦ Broth
✦ Green tea
✦ Water
✦ Clear, diluted juices
✦ Consommé
✦ Low-fat cream soups
✦ Skimmed milk
✦ Soy milk
✦ Light yogurt
✦ Sugar-free gelatin
✦ Protein drinks

Due to the danger of staple-line disruption, the patient is asked to strictly consume baby food or pureed foods. Moreover, chunks of food can get stuck in the opening of the stomach, and can cause searing pain and vomiting, which is why only perfectly pureed and mashed food is given at this stage. The different foods allowed at this stage are:

✦ Pureed poultry and meat
✦ Unsweetened applesauce
✦ Blended fish or scallops
✦ Pureed vegetables (boiled)
✦ Mashed fruits (bananas, pears, mango)

The patient will be asked to drink protein shakes in between the three small meals.

Now the patient is ready for soft foods. Almost all foods that come in the soft food list are allowed, provided they are low in sugar and fat content.

✦ Low-fat cottage cheese
✦ Oatmeal
✦ Blended, soft-cooked vegetables
✦ Unsweetened puddings
✦ Baked fish (without bones)
✦ Scrambled eggs

Protein foods are recommended. Moreover, the meals have to be spaced 4-5 hours apart and one should have the meal very slowly taking 30 minutes for each meal. Each meal will only comprise a few nibbles and one will take time to get adjusted to the new lifestyle.

The patient is gradually steered to a regular diet.

✦ Lean meats
✦ Soft, poached eggs
✦ Fruits
✦ Vegetables
✦ Grains

However, rice, pasta, or bread may not be tolerated as of now, due to their high starch content, and must be avoided. Moreover, the quantity one is able to consume will also be very small. After eating just a few bites one will feel very full, thereby enabling the desired weight loss. Moreover, these people cannot take fluids and solids at the same time.

For the first two years after surgery, the diet is restricted to 600 to 800 calories a day. This first year is when most of the weight loss takes place. After a gastric sleeve resection, the diet outlined will vary from one person to another depending on the tolerance level.

Depending on the tolerance levels, items will be added or subtracted from this diet. Before surgery and after surgery the patient is expected to maintain a regular exercise regime.

This is to maximize weight loss and prevent one from gaining more weight. Once adequate amount of weight loss is seen, the calorie intake is increased to 1000 - 1200 calories a day.

People who have undergone the gastric sleeve surgery can eat only small quantities of food all through their lives. Moreover, high-calorie foods, carbonated drinks, etc., should be avoided. The diet will be specified at the hospital, and must be followed the instructions given by the medical practitioner.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.