Discharge Diet Through the First Three Weeks

Protein Supplementation

In the first three weeks after your surgery you are restricted to liquids only.

A high-protein, low-sugar beverage should be chosen to aid you in meeting your liquid nutrition goal of 40-60 grams of protein per day.

Following are some options:

• Boost High Protein or Ensure High Protein
• Sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast with eight ounces skim or 1 percent milk
• Eight ounces skim or 1 percent milk with 1/3-cup non-fat dry milk powder (16 total grams protein)
• Low sugar Ensure (Glucerna) (available at the grocery store)
• Any low sugar whey or soy protein shake (Carb Solutions, Spiru-tein, Designer Whey, Isopure, Revival soy.) These can be found in the grocery and nutrition specialty stores such as GNC.
• EAS high protein low sugar drinks and shakes (www.eas.com)
• Nectar high protein low sugar drink
• Isopure available at nutrition specialty stores

Look for a protein supplement with no more than 15 to 20 grams of sugar and at least 13 grams of protein in eight fluid ounces.

If you do not tolerate a protein drink after surgery it is usually due to the sugar content and you will want to reevaluate the amount of sugar in your chosen protein drink.

Remember: You will be required to drink two ounce or ¼ of a cup of a high protein beverage every hour. Try a variety of these options to find one you will be happy with for three weeks. You will need to drink 24-32 fluid ounces of this beverage daily to meet your protein goal.

Preventing Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the most common complications after bariatric surgery. In addition to drinking two ounces of a high protein fluid every hour you are required to consume two ounces of a calorie free, caffeine free, non-carbonated beverage, every 15 minutes while awake; taking a minimum of 64 fluid ounces per day. Using the following schedule it will take you about 12-15 hours each day to reach your fluid goal.

Following are some options:

• Crystal Light
• Sugar free Kool-Aid
• Unsweetened, decaffeinated tea
• Decaffeinated coffee
• Fruit 2o
• Propel Fitness Water
• Sugar free popsicle
• Diet Snapple

Sample Fluid Schedule for First Three Weeks

8 a.m. 2 oz. high protein liquid
8:15 a.m. 2 oz. water
8:30 a.m. 2 oz. non-caloric liquid (ex. Crystal light)
8:45 a.m. 2 oz. water
9 a.m. 2 oz. high protein liquid

Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation

Due to the change in your stomach and the limited amount of food you will be able to consume, you will need to take a multivitamin and calcium supplement for the rest of your life. After three weeks, you no longer need take these in the chewable form. Obtain a good multivitamin -- preferable with minerals including iron. Your multivitamin must include a minimum of the following 18 mg iron, 15 mg zinc, and 400 mg folic acid.

Calcium

When you are three weeks post-op you will need to start taking at least 1,000 mg calcium per day. Calcium citrate is recommended since it is the best-absorbed form of calcium for your new stomach. For best absorption, take no more than 500-600 mg of calcium at a time (ex 500-600 mg in the a.m. and another 500-600 mg at bedtime).

The Bariatric Surgery Diet Manual