Everything You Need To Know About Losing Weight

1. A “normal-tummy” looks at the food pyramid from the bottom up –
six to eleven servings of grains, then fruits and vegetables – then the
protein groups: meat and beans and the milk group. The fats, oils and
sweets are incidental.
After gastric bypass we can read the pyramid from the top down.
Scoot to the side the fats, oils and sweets – we don’t eat those anymore.
Start with the protein groups – remember the rule – protein first! Then
have a sample from the fruits and vegetable groups. Then, only if there
is room, a taste from the grains group. Fats and oils will be incidental
to the diet; sweets should rarely be eaten. It is unlikely a tiny tummy
will ever meet the food pyramid quantity guidelines – six to 11 servings
from the grains group is totally unrealistic for a bariatric patient.
However, WLS patients can gain significant nutritional benefits and
satiation from incorporating foods from every group into their small
meals. The key is to create a healthy eating pattern using the Food Guide
Pyramid as a reference point for making sound nutritional choices.
Nutritional Benefits of each group:
Meat & Beans Group: Meat, poultry, fish and beans are the
healthful and hearty members of this food group. Fifty percent of food
intake after WLS will be protein from the meat and beans group. Animal
proteins provide a rich source of B vitamins, iron and zinc.
Nutritionally, it is best to choose meats low in fat and calories – lean
round steak, skinless poultry, fish and shellfish. Legumes – including
soy-based products – are a great meat substitute because they provide
protein and have added fiber without the extra cholesterol, fat and
calories found in meats. However, legumes are often difficult for the
patient to eat – they quickly fill the tiny tummy causing discomfort.
Some patients report an intolerance for beans and legumes that leads to
vomiting. Test your own tolerances and learn what your body likes.
Milk Group: Milk, eggs, cheese and yogurt comprise the milk
group. These foods are calcium rich and contain protein and other
vitamins and minerals. But these foods can also be high in fat. Most
bariatric patients report a very good tolerance for low-fat cottage
cheese and mozzarella cheeses. Patients should use caution as they
introduce foods from the dairy group back into their diet: many patients
report dumping or lactose intolerance from foods in this group.
Fruit Group: Fruits are nature’s gift of sweetness to us, and a
bonus, most fruits are low in fat and calories, but great sources of
soluble fiber and antioxidants. Unfortunately, the natural sugars in
fruit can cause a sugar (glucose) imbalance and dumping. The fiber in
fruits – particularly citrus – can cause discomfort to the tiny tummy.
Small bites must be taken as a patient re-introduces these foods to the
bariatric system. Most patients report favorable results eating melon.
Berries with seeds – such as raspberries or strawberries – should be
avoided immediately after surgery to avoid lodging the seeds in the
healing stomach seam. After healing is complete, many patients enjoy
berries in their diet. Apples have also received favorable results from
gastric bypass patients.

2. Vegetable Group: Vegetables add vitamins, fiber and flavor to the
diet. When meats are braised vegetables can be added to the pot to add
flavor and nutrition and a bit of natural moisture. Vegetables should be
served in the purest form, lightly steamed without added creams or
sauces. Raw vegetables, including leafy salads, can be difficult for the
tiny tummy to digest, and when poorly chewed may cause a temporary
blockage of the stomach exit. Some raw vegetables may cause gas or
bloating after gastric bypass surgery. As always, use caution when
introducing foods to the diet after gastric bypass.
Grains Group: This is the group of comforting energy giving
carbohydrates we love to eat – the pastas, breads, rice couscous and
other grains. As morbidly obese people most of the foods we loved
(sweets, breads, pastas) came from this group, but as recovering obese
people we must carefully control our intake of these foods. Science is
proving that these foods are most quickly converted to fat and stored by
body. The less food we intake from this group, the more our body is
forced to use the stored fat. When introducing foods from this group try
the purest forms: oatmeal cereal, one or two bites of whole-wheat bread,
one bite of rice. Be very careful with grains and carbohydrates from the
grains group: these foods can cause discomfort, dumping or worse – weight
gain.
Fats & Oils: Fats are extremely concentrated forms of energy that
contain little water and carry a lot of flavor. The body needs fat to
function properly. Dietary fat carries fat-soluble vitamins – vitamins A,
D, E and K – from food into the body. Bariatric patients report lost
desire for high fat foods. In addition, high fat greasy foods are poorly
tolerated and cause nausea. Patients will achieve a better quality of
health by focusing on foods made with unsaturated fats and reducing the
saturated fat intake in the diet. A way to include more unsaturated fat
in the diet is to sauté with olive oil instead of butter. Canola oil
should be used in baking. Replace bacon bits on salad with slivered
almonds or sunflower seeds – nuts are a wonderful source of natural
unsaturated fat. Avoid eating potato chips or processed crackers; they
are made with hydrogenated oils – a lethal fat. Use avocado slices in
place of cheese on sandwiches. Have fish – particularly omega-3 rich
salmon or mackerel – for your protein a couple of times a week.
For a collection of WLS friendly recipes go to
http://wlsrecipes.blogspot.com
Kaye Bailey © 2005 - All Rights Reserved
The Best Weight Loss Method:
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