Eating Tips
Remember - there is no painless way to "melt" the pounds away. Total calories eaten must be less than total calories expended in order for you to lose weight.
- It’s essential to avoid overeating. Overeating may cause you to vomit or stretch your pouch and decrease the effectiveness of your surgery. Indications of fullness are:
- A feeling of pressure or fullness just below your rib cage
- A feeling of nausea
- Pain in your shoulder area or upper chest
- Chew foods thoroughly before swallowing
- Eat slowly—30 chews per bite
- Use small plates and bowls; you may want to try a baby spoon
- Put your fork or spoon down on the table between bites
- STOP eating as soon as you feel full
- Drink six to eight cups of water per day between meals
- Sip slowly
- Don't drink carbonated beverages. These will stretch your stomach pouch over time.
- Avoid alcohol. Drinking alcohol can lead to stomach ulcers.
- Avoid acidic foods/beverages for 3 months after surgery and eat them sparingly thereafter. Eating acidic foods or drinking beverages with acidic preservatives can lead to ulcers.
- Avoid high calorie foods and beverages. Eat foods that provide nutrients in order to help prevent nutrient deficiencies and reach your health goals.
- Take vitamin and mineral supplements as directed
Vitamins
In addition to adapting new eating behaviors, lifetime vitamin supplementation, including multivitamin, iron, Vitamin B12, B-Complex and calcium with Vitamin D is required. Occasionally, others (vitamins A, D, and/or E) may also be needed. We monitor blood work on a yearly basis to determine appropriate doses of these vitamins.
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