Nutrition Guidelines  
                                                                                                                for Weight Loss Surgery
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                  Table of Contents
                   4 Introduction                                16 Protein 
                                                                       A necessary part of your diet
                   8 Nutrition Guidelines                        18 Protein Supplements
                                                                       They aren’t all the same!
                   9 Phase I                                     19 Foods That May Be Difficult  
                       Liquids                                         to Tolerate after Surgery
                 11 Phase II                                     21 Long-term Diet after  
                       Soft foods                                      Weight Loss Surgery
                 14 Phase III                                    22 Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
                       “Regular” bariatric diet
        Introduction:                                               Understanding the surgery is an important 
        Review of                                                   part of the process. Work with your bariatric 
                                                                    team to decide which operation is best for 
        Bariatric Surgery:                                          you. Remember that ALL surgeries are only a 
                                                                    tool, and you need to make healthy diet and 
        Types of Procedures                                         exercise changes. Below is a basic overview 
                                                                    about each procedure.
         Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass                                 Sleeve Gastreceomy
         This is the most common type of bariatric                This surgery is performed by removing 
         surgery. It is both restrictive and malabsorptive.       approximately 80% of your stomach. The 
         This means that the small pouch created will             remaining stomach is a tubular pouch that 
         decrease the amount of food you can consume              resembles a banana. 
         at one time. The “bypass” causes food to be              This will decrease the amount of food you are 
         rerouted past most of the stomach and part of            able to eat. It also effects the hormones that 
         the small intestine.                                     impact a number of factors, including hunger 
         This prevents some absorption of calories                and blood sugar control.
         and fat but also of important vitamins and               Studies show the sleeve is as effective as other 
         minerals. Because of this change in your                 bariatric procedures in terms of weight loss  
         digestive tract, you will get sick (dumping              and improvement or remission of diabetes.  
         syndrome — for more information see                      This procedure may be recommended to you  
         page 18) if you consume items too high in                by the surgeon for certain medical problems.
         sugar or fat. This surgery is known to have  
         a beneficial effect on diabetes.
                   Gastric Pouch                                         Esophagus
             Common Bile Duct
                                                                             Gastric “Sleeve”
            Biliopancreatic Limb           Roux Limb
                                                                        Pylorus
                                                                                                       Excised Portion  
                                                                                                        of Stomach
                                Common Channel
    4 | Nutrition Guidelines for Weight Loss Surgery