Are you wondering how it is possible to gain weight after gastric bypass surgery, and the reasons why it occurs? We have all heard of a celebrity who had this procedure done, or we know someone personally who had gastric bypass surgery. Perhaps you had the surgery done or you are considering it. For a morbidly obese individual, the surgery is an excellent way to begin a real lifestyle change relative to food and exercise. The maintenance portion after the gastric bypass surgery is where some patients face an enormous challenge. After the gastric bypass surgery is performed, the patient is put on a special diet that is quite limited. The gastric bypass diet is designed to help the body to heal properly, and to allow the patient to become accustomed to eating the correct amounts of food on a daily basis.
The Diet
Initially, after gastric bypass surgery the diet begins with specific liquids, and then slowly progresses to solid foods over time. According to the Mayo Clinic, immediately following the surgery the patient is not allowed to eat for the first one to two days. After the one to two day period, while the patient is still hospitalized, he is transitioned into Phase One of the gastric bypass diet. This phase consists of eating semisolid food items and liquids served at room temperature. A few examples of foods that can be eaten are sugar-free gelatin, strained cream soup, and broth.
After the first days of the diet, you enter Phase Two which includes pureed foods. The patient remains in this phase for two to four weeks in length. In theory, he could have lean ground meat, but he would have to puree it with a liquid, like fat-free milk or broth. At this point, the digestive system may still experience sensitivity to certain foods.
Phase Three is the point where after your doctor has given you an official OK, you can move into eating soft solid foods. During this phase you can transition into eating things like canned fruits, vegetables and diced meats. Anything you eat must be finely chopped into small bits and pieces. This part of the gastric bypass diet lasts for around eight weeks.
The final step is Phase Four where the patient can return to solid foods, based upon what his body can tolerate. The Mayo Clinic says that you should avoid the following foods that are difficult to properly digest.
Granola
Popcorn Dried fruits
Sodas & carbonated beverages
Nuts & seeds
Vegetables, like celery, broccoli, corn & cabbage
Tough meats
Breads
Throughout all of the phases, the keys to success include slowly eating small portions and meals, taking the necessary vitamins and minerals, consuming liquids in between meals, and chewing thoroughly. Beyond these things you want to slowly reintroduce foods into your diet, focus on eating high protein foods, and it is recommended that you avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar content.
Results Following Gastric Bypass
Within the first two years following surgery, you can expect to lose 50 to 60 percent of your excess weight, if you follow the dietary and exercise recommendations. If you continue to follow these recommendations, you can keep most of that weight off long term.” As with any diet it is important to have the ability to manage portion control, and to be able to follow the restrictions, and to make sure you follow through relative to the exercise.
Why Patients Regain Weight
With the surgery, the space in your stomach in which your meals can fit is reduced to the size of a large walnut. If a person is eating in excess of what they should, the part of the stomach that holds the food can begin to stretch over time. Depending on how much an individual is eating, the portion of the stomach holding the food can stretch significantly over time, causing weight gain.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “People who regain weight after gastric bypass surgery usually are consuming too many high-calorie foods and beverages and don’t exercise enough. And rather than eating three meals a day and perhaps a planned healthy snack, some people eat food all day long.” Sticking to eating such small amounts of food that are low calorie can be challenging for people who are accustomed to eating fast food, and rich foods that are extremely high in fat. If a person is struggling with the diet and gaining weight, he can always seek the help of his physician.
In terms of the exercise, the best idea is probably to hire a personal trainer who comes to your house to pick you up, on your scheduled workout days. For the average person who is attempting to lose weight, a regular diet paired with exercise are often difficult to maintain. If you invest your time and money in gastric bypass surgery, you should do everything in your power to make sure that the results last.
Gastric bypass surgery sounds like an easy weight loss solution for a morbidly obese individual, but it is quite challenging for some people. It is certainly not the quick fix that many people believe it to be, because you have to alter your entire lifestyle for the gastric bypass surgery to be successful long term.
