“The Gold Standard.” That is often the name given to gastric bypass Mexico because it is one of the safest forms of weight loss surgery that ensures optimal results. This type of bariatric procedure involves isolating a portion of the stomach with staples and, in some cases, bands. This creates a shape like a small pouch that becomes the stomach. Then, the surgeons make an attachment from the pouch to the small intestine. As a result, only small portions of food can be processed by the stomach and the small intestine.
Thanks to a gastric bypass procedure, within the first 2 years of surgery, patients typically lose 75% of their extra body weight. However, the amount of weight and the ability not to gain any of it back depends on how closely a patient follows new eating habits and guidelines provided by the doctor and nutritionist.
What Should Your Diet Be Like Before Gastric Bypass?
For both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve Mexico, it is recommended that a pre-op liquid diet be followed 7-14 days before the procedure. This will help reduce the amount of fat around the liver and spleen and ensure that a successful surgery and recovery.
When the liver is too large, it prevents the surgeon from visualizing specific organs during the gastric bypass Mexico. Therefore, a 1-2-week pre-op diet with the following foods and ingredients will counteract that effect:
- Replace meals for protein shakes
- Sugar-free liquids and beverages are allowed (some sugar substitutes can be used)
- Avoid caffeinated or carbonated beverages
- Broths or soups with no solid of food can be consumed
- Vegetable juices are nutritious and recommended
- Only extremely thin cream of wheat or cream of rice is allowed
- Lean meat like turkey breast and/or vegetables once or twice a day can be eaten under the supervision of your doctor.
Liquids or beverages should not be consumed together with meals. It is highly advisable to wait at least 30 minutes after a meal before consuming any type of liquid and not to drink them fast; they should be sipped very slowly.
This diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates will allow your body to go into ketosis prior to the gastric bypass procedure. Ketosis allows your body to use your fat stores as an energy source. As a result, the fat in your liver shrinks considerably in a short period.
What Should Your Diet Be Like After Gastric Bypass?
After a gastric bypass Mexico, a strict post-op diet plan must be implemented. Since there is now a staple line in your stomach, it must be allowed to heal. There are specific foods that can disrupt the healing process, put undue stress on the staple line. During the following 6 weeks, the diet gradually moves forward in the next 4 stages:
- Clear liquids (week 1). During the coming 1 to 7 days after the gastric bypass procedure, only clear liquids of one to two ounces should be consumed per hour. Of course, the nutritionist will decide how long this phase will last and suggest dietary guidelines such as introducing protein shakes with the surgeon’s approval. The recommended clear can include water, fat-free milk, fat-free broth, and sugar-free Jello.
- Pureed foods and protein shakes (weeks 2 and 3). Following the liquid diet, you can consume liquefied sources of protein. Since the patient’s stomach is much smaller, he should have several smaller meals throughout the day. The daily intake should be about 60-70 grams of protein that can include protein shakes, egg whites, pureed meat or fish, and non-fat cheese).
- Soft foods (weeks 4 and 5). At this stage, the diet can include gradually soft foods.
The rule of thumb is: if a food can be easily mashed with a fork, knife, or a spoon, then it is allowed as part of a diet after a gastric bypass Mexico. Some examples of soft meats are lean chicken, lean turkey, fish, egg whites, non-fat cheese, and tofu. Some of the cooked vegetables include potatoes, carrots, green beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, bananas, and avocados. The serving sizes should be of about 1 to 2 ounces and spread out in 3 to 6 small meals during the day.
- Solid foods (week 6). Yes, solid food can be incorporated at this point. Obviously, this does not mean you get to eat whatever you want and go back to the old ways. Yet, your new diet can include protein, vegetables, a limited amount of grains, and food and drinks containing refined sugars should be avoided as much as possible.
Of course, every patient is different, and the doctor and nutritionist will adjust the foods, ingredients, and periods according to each patient.
Other General Reminders and Suggestions
- Since you have a smaller stomach, try to eat balanced meals and smaller portions of food
- Avoid food high in calories, fats, and sugar-containing foods and beverages
- Write down in a journal your food portions and of your calorie and protein intake every day
- Take your time and chew small bites of food
- Try to avoid as much as possible rice, bread, raw vegetables, and fresh fruits, as well as meats that are not easily chewed. Ground meats are good options.
- Avoid drinking carbonated beverages, chew ice, or use straws since they can introduce air into your pouch and cause discomfort.
- Avoid fruit juices and concentrated sweets
- Stay hydrated by drinking extra water and low-calorie or calorie-free beverages between meals. Try to stay away from caffeinated drinks
- Specialists strongly warn against drinking any alcoholic beverages. Following any type of bariatric surgery, alcohol is absorbed into your system much more quickly, making its effects more difficult to control.
Finally, remember that any sacrifice you make to follow a healthy diet before and after weight loss surgery in Mexico is worth it. It will enable you to keep the weight off, reduce medications, become healthier, and live a longer, meaningful life.
For more information about gastric bypass Mexico, give us a call now to our Health & Wellness Bazaar call center at (858) 779-2552 or request a free quote.
