Find A Support And Accountability System
We recommend that bariatric patients find a support system it can be friends, family, or a group of current/past patients at your bariatric clinic. By enlisting support, you are not only holding yourself accountable, but others are holding you accountable. We have seen it first hand patients who decide to do it all on their own are not as successful with their weight loss as those are who find support.
Avoid These Foods Before Weight Loss Surgery
A last hurrah of all your old favorite foods may be tempting, but know that not adhering to diet instructions from your weight loss physician increases your risk of complications during surgery. A fatty liver makes weight loss surgery more dangerous. Stay safe by steering clear of these foods.
- Foods high in carbohydrates and starches. Bread, pasta, potatoes, pizza, cereal and rice should also be avoided.
- Foods high in sugar. Besides chocolatey desserts, cakes, cookies and the like, do not allow sugary fruit drinks to enter your liquid diet. You should not only avoid packaged fruit drinks, but avoid the appeal of juicing fruit, since this can cause your daily caloric intake to increase quickly because of the amount of fruits you need for a small serving of juice.
- Foods high in fat. Cheese, fried foods and fatty meats are all high in fat and calories and can wreak havoc on your digestive system.
If youre used to eating these types of foods, you may face some mental difficulties when you begin your pre-op diet. The good news is, these decrease over time, and feel-good effects will start to supplant any hunger or cravings you have. As your body starts to burn more body fat for energy rather than high-calorie sugar and carbs, those cravings will also decrease. A study of the effects of a high-protein diet found that swapping protein calories for sugar/fat/carb calories increases satiety and appetite control, which contributes to more effective long-term weight loss.
Main Reasons For Losing Weight Before Bariatric Surgery Are:
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Pre Bariatric Surgery Diet Guidelines
Your 3 month pre bariatric surgery diet is not only meant to help you prepare for your forthcoming weight loss journey, but also to train your body and mind for a new, healthier way of eating. Your surgeon or a certified dietician will be able to provide you detailed pre bariatric surgery diet guidelines tailored to your unique needs.
In general, the guidelines will cover the following aspects of your eating plan.
- Reduce or eliminate the intake of processed, fried, fatty, oily and other saturated fat rich foods
- Minimize the consumption of high-carb foods, such as bread, pasta, potatoes and sweetened desserts
- Increase the amount of lean proteins in your daily pre bariatric surgery diet plan
- Focus more on nutrient-packed foods such as veggies, fruits, fish, chicken, and beans
- Limit your meal portions
- Eat slowly, take small bites, and chew well
- Avoid empty calorie foods and beverages
- Do not smoke and cut down on alcohol
- Intensify your diet control gradually so that it peaks by the time of your bariatric surgery 2 week pre op diet
- Avoid drinking water or beverages during meals or 30 minutes before and after the meal
- Take your multivitamins and other supplements as directed by your surgeon
Can I Eat Any Solid Food

While pre-op diets consist mostly of liquids during the week or two prior to surgery, youll be able to eat solids up until that point. In some cases, you may also be allowed some solids or semi-solids before your operation, but liquid intake will be more of a priority the closer to surgery you get. It will also continue for a while post-op, after which youll start to slowly phase in solids.
Some of the solid foods you might be allowed to consume are:
- Watered down hot cereal, such as cream of wheat, grits, or oatmeal
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Calorie Pre Bariatric Surgery Diet
Your goal during your 3 month pre bariatric surgery diet should be to emphasize more on lean proteins, protein shakes, and easy-to-digest foods that are low on calories and high on nutrients. Proteins will strengthen your muscle mass so that your body becomes more resilient to sustain the weight loss surgery and recovers faster after the surgery.
Your nutritionist will help you craft a personalized 1,200 calorie pre bariatric surgery diet plan to get you ready for a safe and successful procedure.
Carbohydrates in a 1,200 calorie pre bariatric surgery diet
- Carbohydrates will give you the energy to remain fit and active
- You can have about 6 to 8 servings of carbs per day
- Eat the carbs in your plate after you have finished the proteins
- Break down your daily carb intake into 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks
- Choose healthy carbs, such as whole wheat products, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and milk in your pre bariatric diet
Proteins in a 1200 calorie pre bariatric surgery diet
Proteins are the building blocks that give you a robust body Include at least 65 to 80 g of proteins in your pre bariatric diet Eat the proteins first in your plate at every meal before other foods Flavored protein shakes are an easy way to maintain daily intake Focus on lean protein foods, such as lean meats, fish, eggs, poultry, cottage cheese, tofu, beans, lentils, and nuts
Role Of Diet In Gastric Bypass
Before undergoing gastric bypass surgery, you must first qualify for the surgery and understand the risks and benefits involved.
Adults eligible for this surgery are typically more than 100 pounds overweight or have a body mass index over 35.
You may also be eligible if your BMI is between 30 and 35, your health is at risk due to your weight, and making lifestyle changes hasnt led to weight loss, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery .
To be a viable candidate, you should also be ready to re-learn your dietary habits. New dietary habits can help ensure the surgery has positive and lifelong effects.
Before your surgery, you need to make plans for a special diet to follow both pre- and post-surgery.
The pre-surgery diet is geared toward reducing the amount of fat in and around your liver. This reduces the risk of complications during the surgery.
After the surgery, your doctor will tailor the general diet guidelines for you. The post-surgery diet usually consists of several weekly phases. It helps you recover, meet the needs of your now smaller stomach, and gain healthier eating habits.
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Pre Bariatric Surgery Diet Menu And Meal Plan
To help you comply with your 3 month pre bariatric surgery diet, your nutritionist can create a well-defined menu and meal plan that is customized to your taste and health requirements. When you have a ready pre bariatric surgery diet menu before you, it will ensure you eat measured portions and yet meet your daily nutrition and calorie requirements. You may also ask for a few delicious pre bariatric surgery diet recipes from your dietitian.
1200 calorie pre bariatric surgery diet menu Sample meal plan
Breakfast
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Plan Ahead For Success
Leading up to the days you will be participating in the liquid diet, we recommend that you go to the grocery store to stock up on all the items you will need throughout the two weeks. Waiting to buy the protein shakes, gelatin, and broths until the last minute can lead to failure in adhering to the plan. You want to make sure you set yourself up for success from day one.
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Month Bariatric Surgery Diet Supervised Program
Patients will come once every 3-5 weeks for 6 consecutive months. Initial consultation will be 45 minutes- 1 hour and follow- ups ~30 minutes.
Goal: Patients will display understanding and competence in the expectations set forth for them pre and post bariatric surgery. Pre surgery weight loss goals will be met.
Each visit the following will be assessed/documented:
- Patient education
- Patients adherence to program and assessment at each visit
- Long term goals to attain over 6 months as well as short term for in between each sessions: each visit will end with goal setting
Month 1 Initial Consultation Mainly reviewing medical history, past diet attempts, getting idea of patients lifestyle and eating habits, 24 hour food recall. Discuss weight / lifestyle goals for 6 month program. Have patient start replacing 1 meal with protein shake most days and discuss 1 other nutrition or lifestyle goal
Month 2 Protein education.
Month 3 Carbohydrate education.
Month 4 Fat education. Discuss fluid needs and appropriate sources.
Month 5 Pre op diet, eating first 2 weeks post surgery, and vitamin education. Patients will purchase vitamins, Creamsicle, and pre op diet shakes.
Month 6 Review session: pre operative diet, weight loss goals, macronutrients, eating during the first few weeks after surgery. Patients will purchase more pre op shakes and vitamins as needed. Last minute questions will be answered. Schedule follow up with RD for 3 weeks post op.
What Is A Gastric Sleeve
The gastric sleeve is the functional part of the stomach after gastric sleeve surgery, also called a gastrectomy. It represents about 15% of the stomachs original volume. The sleeve is separated from the rest of the organ, which plays no further role in the bodys digestive process. Its small size reduces appetite and aids in long-term weight control. Gastric sleeve surgery is permanent it cannot be reversed.
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Gastric Sleeve Diet: Pre
Gastric sleeve surgery is a safe and clinically proven method for reducing body weight. The procedure involves decreasing stomach size by separating the upper part of the stomach, called the fundus, from the rest of the organ. A smaller stomach means a smaller appetite. You get full quicker and are therefore less likely to overeat.
The effectiveness of gastric sleeve surgery depends a great deal on your pre-op and post-op diet. Below are some guidelines on maximizing the gains from a leading weight-loss procedure.
Pre Bariatric Surgery Liquid Diet

Liquids will comprise a major part of your 3 month pre bariatric surgery diet. Throughout this phase, you should be conscious about drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Avoid caffeinated, carbonated, sugary and alcoholic beverages as much as possible, but focus on water, protein shakes, broth, clear soups, sugar-free juices, and gelatins.
Pre bariatric surgery liquid diet Full liquids
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Stage : Soft Foods Diet
Youll probably eat nothing but puréed food for several weeks. Once your doctor decides youre ready, you can start building soft, easy-to-chew foods into your diet. These may include:
- soft-boiled eggs
- baked or steamed white fish
- canned fruits, such as peaches or pears
It is important to eat small bites. Eat a little at a time and practice good portion control.
What Should I Eat Before Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The pre-op diet is your food-consumption plan for the period leading up to your gastric sleeve procedure. Your diet is critical to the surgerys success for three reasons:
- It makes the procedure safer and easier. The pre-op diet helps reduce fatty deposits around the liver, which improves surgical access to the stomach.
- It lowers the risk of complications. Obesity increases the risk of medical complications during and after surgery weight loss can counteract that risk.
-
It starts you on the habits youll need to make a lifelong commitment to weight control. Youll gain the confidence that comes with settings goals and achieving them.
In many cases, you should begin your pre-op diet for a gastric sleeve surgery three weeks before your procedure. Please talk to your program dietician or coordinator for more details on when to begin your diet.
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Disciplined Diet Before And After Weight
The decision to undergo bariatric surgery isnt easy. People suffering from obesity and its side effects come to this decision after years of struggling and failing to lose weight through diet and exercise.
Aside from choosing to undergo surgery after consulting with a physician, your biggest requirement is commitment to a lifestyle change of eating the right foods in the right portions, losing weight and keeping the weight off for the rest of your life. And that change must begin before surgery.
Phase 2b: Bariatric Pureed Diet
The second part of stage 2 also lasts 15 days . Finally it is time to add pureed food to your menu. It is very important that the allowed food has the consistency of baby food , without any solid pieces of pulp, seeds or skin.
Phase 2B allowed foods in bariatric pureed diet:
Eating tips for bariatric pureed diet:
- At this stage, the daily caloric intake is around 500 calories a day
- Each weight loss patient should eat four to eight very small meals a day
- The portion size should be equal to one quarter cup for mashed food and half cup for liquids
- Add one new type of pureed food at a time to check the tolerance.
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What Does The Pre
Two weeks before surgery, youll go on a mostly liquid diet, though some solids may be permitted depending on your situation. In general, your diet will consist of:
- Protein powder in low-calorie fluids>
- Other high-protein, low-calorie fluids and foods
The goal is to keep your calorie and carbohydrate intake to a minimum while also increasing protein. By reducing calories, youll shrink your liver, which is perhaps the most important goal here. This is because obese patients often have whats called fatty liver disease, and your surgeon will need to get around your liver to access your stomach for surgery.
Lifestyle Changes After Your Surgery
You may feel motivated to begin or resume an exercise program. Right after surgery, you need to let your body heal. Go slowly.
Low-impact exercises are a good option for the first month. These include walking and swimming. You may also benefit from simple yoga poses, stretching, and deep breathing exercises.
Over the next several months, you can slowly build up to strength training and cardio workouts.
Think in terms of movement as well as exercise. Simple lifestyle changes can be physical fitness boosters, such as:
- walking instead of riding the bus
- parking farther away from your destination
- taking the stairs instead of the elevator
Following the proper pre- and post-surgery diets can help you avoid complications, such as dehydration, nausea, and constipation.
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Bariatric Diet Before Surgery
Why should you lose some pounds before weight loss surgery? Obese people have larger liver due to the excess fat stored in the abdominal region, in and all around the liver.
Even if the laparoscopic procedure is minimal invasive, during the surgery, the bariatric surgeon has to move apart the liver. If that organ is too large complications may occur.
In order to lower any risk, your dietitian will prescribe you a specific bariatric diet before surgery high in protein and based on liquid food. Usually the pre-op diet allows you to consume up to 1200 calories a day.
Diet For The First Two Weeks Post

You will begin adding thicker liquids that are high in protein and low in fat and sugar. You may use high-protein, low-calorie liquid supplement drinks or powders to meet your protein requirements during this period.
The goal is to consume small portions that will empty easily from your pouch. Begin with 1 tablespoon portion sizes and increase to 2 tablespoons as tolerated. Begin drinking 1/4 cup of liquid at a time and increase to a 1/2 cup as tolerated. Your daily caloric intake should not exceed 400 calories.
It is also very important to stay well hydrated. Drink 1 to 1.5 liters of water or other non-caloric liquids per day.
Recommended thicker liquids:
- Nonfat or 1% milk, if you can tolerate milk
- Lactose-free or soy-based low-calorie drinks
- Sugar-free pudding
- Low-fat cottage cheese
- Blended broth-based soup or other low-fat soups
- Refined hot cereals that are low in fiber, such as cream of rice or cream of wheat. Make them with extra liquid to create a soup-like consistency. Do not eat oatmeal.
- Optional high-protein, low-calorie liquid supplement drinks .
To increase your protein intake, add 2 tablespoons non-fat dry milk powder, egg substitute or powered egg, or other protein powder to each 1/2 cup of nonfat or low-fat milk. You can also add these to soups, hot cereal and other thick liquids.
Remember to drink 1 cup of water or other non-caloric fluids between meals. Take a multivitamin supplement every day.
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Recommended Meal Plan For Two To Six Months Post
Consume 900 to 1,000 calories and at least 65 to 75 grams of protein a day. For balanced nutrient intake, your daily servings should include:
- 3 servings milk and dairy products
- 3 servings meat or meat alternative
- 3 servings starch
- 1 serving fruit
- 2 servings vegetable
Recommended portion sizes are 1/4 cup for solids and 1/2 cup for liquids.
Discontinue taking high-protein liquid supplement drinks or powders if possible. We recommend meeting your protein needs with food.
Sample Menu
This sample menu includes different foods that are safe for you to eat. You may adjust the menu to fit your tastes and tolerance.
Breakfast1 egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute1/2 cup hot cereal