5 Things to Avoid Following Bariatric Surgery

Each year, millions of people embark on a weight loss journey with the help of bariatric surgery. Consulting with the professionals at the Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado is a great way to find out if you can benefit from this type of weight loss surgery.

If these professionals do think you are a good candidate for this procedure, you will need to begin preparing your mind and body for bariatric surgery.

Once your surgery is complete, the medical professionals treating you will provide you with information on what you can expect in the days and weeks following this procedure. Here are some of the things you will need to avoid at all costs following bariatric surgery.

1. Don’t Eat Food With Empty Calories

The first thing you need to avoid following your bariatric surgery is food with empty calories. Following this procedure, your stomach will be the size of an egg. This means you will have to make wise decisions regarding the foods you put into your body.

Eating foods with virtually no nutritional value can leave you sick and malnourished. Rather than filling your body with these horrible foods, you need to focus on eating only nutrient-rich meals.

2. Avoid Putting Alcohol in Your Body

Not only is alcohol high in calories, it provides no nutritional value to your body. The absorption rate of alcohol is also greatly increased following this surgery which means you will get intoxicated quickly. Usually, the surgeon who performs this procedure will direct you to drink about eight glass of water each day.

Following these orders will help you get acclimated to the limitations of your new stomach. Failing to take these orders seriously can result in a variety of complications.

3. No Dry Foods

Dry foods like nuts and even granola can be extremely hard to swallow which is why your surgeon may ask you to avoid eating them after your weight loss procedure. Until you become familiar with what your body can ingest after weight loss surgery, you need to be mindful of the type of foods you ingest. Slowly introducing new foods into your diet is a good idea and can help you avoid complications following your surgery.

4. Cut Out Breads and Pasta

The starchy nature of foods like rice, pasta and bread means you will have a hard time eating them after bariatric surgery without liquids. In some instances, these starchy foods can block the stoma, which is the hole in the top of your new stomach. Over time, you will be able to eat small amounts of these starchy foods without issue.

5. Fibrous Fruits and Vegetables

While eating nutritious fruits and vegetables is an essential part of your post-bariatric surgery diet, there are some limitations. Generally, your surgeon will ask you steer clear of fibrous fruits and vegetables like celery, corn and cabbage. A great way to reintroduce these fibrous substances back into your body is by cooking them in soups.

Following the warnings your surgeon gives you can help you to avoid problems after a weight loss procedure. The last thing you want is to do damage to your body due to eating the wrong foods.