The Post Op Meal Plan from My Bariatric Center of Excellence

Why do you assumne that "conservative" translates to "successful"?!?

Lora

I do not assume that anything is successful for someone else.  If an intervention was unsuccessful, being with complications, then that person would have said problems were encountered. 

My surgeon practices at a Bariatric Center of Excellence but this was not my plan.

I did nothing 24 hours post-surgery then went straight to purees. At 2 weeks I was cleared for whatever foods I wanted to try.

It's amazing the variance...

Wow Nik...I was SO surprised they advance their patients so quickly. I love your site!! Awesome place for info and recipes.

My post-op is a 5-Stage program. Right now I'm on Stage 4 of puree/blended/soft foods; should be advancing to the final stage of Stage 5 next week posibly. I too am in a program at a Bariatric Center of Excellence. My surgeon is phenomenal and all the literature/education they give us is awesome.

Terry

Like Nik, I too was allowed nothing by mouth for the first 24 hours.  Then a barium swallow test was done to check for leaks.  Once cleared it was on to clear liquids for the first week. 

Then full liquids for weeks 2-3.

Weeks 3-6 was soft foods.  After week six you go into the maintenace phase which is 1/4 to 1/2 cup per meal, 3 meals a day, liquids between meals, no snacking, 60 grams of protein and 64 oz if liquid.  Cleared for Raw fruit with peelings, seedy fruits, raw vegetables, bread, cereal, rice, pasta, crackers, pickles, nuts, seeds and popcorn.

It IS amazing at the variety in the plans.

My surgeon too is at a Bariatric Center of Excellence.

My plan was sure different than everyone elses.  It went like this

DAY 1 post op Clear liquids
DAY 2 post op Pureed
DAY 3 post op Soft foods (2 tablespoon max limit per meal, 3 meals per day,  no snacks, no protein shakes, 50 percent of meal to be protein)
DAY 4-7 same as day 3 but at home  instead of in hospital
Week 2 post op regular consistency foods
weeks 3- 52 post op add 1 teaspoon every week to max limit  all other restrictions as stated on DAY 3 to be maintained 

Protein shakes MAY be added at anytime IF the nutritionist believes weight loss to be too rapid.  (visits to Nutritionist at week 2, month 3, month 6, month 9, and month 12)

By week 52 and then for life after max limit will be equal to 1 cup total volume all other restrictions as stated on DAY 3 in place


Edited to add: Each week had a list of new foods to incorporate like nuts, cooked veggies,  certain raw veggies etc.

Yes ncmgirl, 
Your plan looks nice and very realistic.  I am enjoying reading the differences.  Thank you so much for your sharing and details with the protein, fluids and exercise!

Janet

WOW!  Amazing details.  This is great!  I am loving these comparisons and am happy to see many centers do indeed take the time to be careful with the diet plans. 

Thank you so much Redbedhead!  This is really appreciated!!

Janet

Oh!  I forgot to add 

They do not have protein gram goals just that each meal be 50% protein.  They did have a minimum water goal of 64 ounces a day, however.

My Center was also a center of excellence.  

Thank you all for sharing your postoperative meal plans.  We were fortunate to have wonderful patient education on nutrition.  I am hopeful that newbies will be able to come here and see  our center's plans and strategies..... only if they need it.