Bariatric Surgery - Know Regimen After It!

Bariatric surgery refers to the procedure by which excessive weight is gradually reduced over months after modification in size of stomach through a keyhole surgery.

The diet that must succeed a bariatric surgery changes with time. A post bariatric surgery diet will tentatively look like:

1. Initial stages: A liquid diet with added protein is suggested for 2 weeks to allow stomach tissue to heal. The bariatric dietitian usually advises portion control eating to avoid stretch on staple line and vomiting.
2. Intermediary stages: The diet must be changed post second till the sixth week as the meal is made thicker. Due to the surgery, it is only normal that you would feel full after small meal.
3. Final stages: Post sixth week, incorporating solid food in the diet is generally allowed. With the introduction of solid food, it is advisable to primarily focus on protein intake to reduce number of meals per day.  

Along with diet modification, you may also practice certain exercises to expedite weight loss and to avoid muscle loss usually associated with weight loss. Usually strength training exercises are preferred after surgery to improve muscle mass and to increase sustained calorie consumption.