Some good reading.... - ThinnerTimes

U4REA · 11-09-2005, 07:14 AM

Some good reading I found...Enjoy

Life Gets Better
A guide to what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat. From post bariatric surgery through the rest of your life.

Weeks 1-2
The First Yes and No's of Your Diet.
At the beginning you'll be on a diet of soft foods - those that are pureed or blended. Blend the foods until they're smooth, making sure there aren't any lumps or seeds. Know this: the portions will be small. Which means you'll have to eat 4-5 times per day. Because protein is vitally important for your overall recovery, specifically for proper healing as well as maintaining your muscle mass during weight loss, each meal should include at least one item from the dairy or meat sections below.

That's because meats and dairy are high in protein. As Is Isopure Remember, It has 40 grams of the purest protein. And It will be a great help in your hydration. Which Is another critical element in your diet In fact, if you have to choose between taking liquids or food, side with the liquid.

You'll need 8 cups (2 quarts) of liquid each day to prevent dehydration and constipation. The Ideal choice: a liquid with a high protein content That's Isopure, of course.

A few other guidelines: Take vitamins every day with your meals for better absorption. Take an iron supplement with an acidic beverage like orange juice (diluted). Do not drink coffee, tea or diet cola with your meals. Speaking of which, here are your meal selections

Note: Please discuss serving size and number of servings with your doctor or registered dietitian.

Dairy:
good source of protein and calcium.

Skim, 1% low-fat, or low-fat Lactaid milk
Nonfat dry milk powder
Sugar-free Instant breakfast drink
Low-fat or nonfat cottage cheese
Part skim ricotta cheese
Low-fat, nonfat or artificially sweetened yogurt
Sugar-free pudding
No No's: whole milk, cream, ice cream, whipped cream, ice milk. Also remove pieces of fruit In yogurt

Meats:
good source of protein, energy, B vitamins and iron.

Blended chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef or veal
Water-packed tuna: blend with lowfat or nonfat mayo
Low-fat, smooth peanut butter
Low-fat cottage cheese
Egg substitute
No No's: fried eggs

Vegetables:
good sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Blended vegetables
Vegetable juice - tomato, carrot
No No's: broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower. They may cause abdominal discomfort, bloating and gas.

Fruits:
all good sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Unsweetened, blended fruit
100% unsweetened, diluted fruit Juice
No No's: full-strength fruit juice and toddler or Junior strained fruit or desserts. Too much sugar.

Starches:
good sources of energy, B vitamins and fortified Iron.

Low-fat well-blended soup
Cooked cereal
Starchy vegetables - winter squash, peas, potatoes
No No's: high-fat creamy soups.

Fats:

Regular and diet margarine, butter or oil
Low-fat mayo/salad dressing

No No's: high-fat content fried foods.

Snacks:

Sugar-free pudding, ice pops.
No No's: donuts, Banishes, fried and salty snacks.

Beverages:

Water
Decaffeinated, diet iced tea
Isopure. All 6 flavors - Passion Fruit, Apple Melon, Grape Frost, Alpine Punch, Icy Orange, and Blue Raspberry - have no sugar, preservatives, fat, carbs and lactose. They have a fresh, pure, invigorating taste. Filled with the purest, lightest, healthiest protein.
No No's: Whole milk, milk shakes, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices.

Weeks 2-6
After Your Surgery. Solid Foods Make Their Entrance.
You begin simply. By adding one new solid food each day. And once again, be patient It takes time to adapt it takes forbearance. And foresight Your tolerance will Improve gradually. So go at your own pace. Advance at your own temperament Some things to nibble on: continue to eat 4-5 small, liquid/blended meals each day. However, you can replace one of these meals with one solid, very soft food. After a while, you may find that having 4 meals a day is easily tolerated.

Should you have any trouble with a new food, wait about one week before trying it again. A step In the right direction: try a tiny bite

of your new food and chew really well. Wait 2-5 minutes. If there aren't any problems, take another bite and another, waiting the 2-5 minutes between each bite. If after 3 bites there aren't any problems, go ahead and finish eating the food. If at any time you feel full, nauseated or about to vomit stop eating and rest At the next meal have only clear liquids. Then add blended food the following meal. Try having another solid food again the next day.

A few reminders: please continue taking the chewable children's multi-vitamins each day. Chew foods until they're almost liquid before you swallow. Continue eating small amounts, slowly. And continue drinking 2 quarts of water or decaffeinated fluid between meals. Of course, continue taking your Isopure.

Dairy:
the same foods as in weeks 1-2 with the addition of:

Slices of low-fat cheese - American, part skim mozzarella
Meats:

Scrambled, soft-boiled egg
Soft cooked fish
Low-fat moist luncheon meat
Poultry/beef/pork - ground or cut up Into small pieces for use in stew, meatloaf and low- fat chill
Tuna, ham, chicken salad - made with fat-free mayo
Note: egg whites have the valuable protein; the yolks are mainly fat. Use fat-free gravy to add moisture to foods.

No No's: fried eggs.

Vegetables:

Soft cooked, blended vegetables
Vegetable juice - tomato, carrot
Softly-cooked beans
Note: Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts may cause abdominal discomfort and bleeding.

No No's: Avoid raw vegetables until 6-8 weeks after the surgery.

Fruits:
same foods as weeks 1-2 with the addition of:

Soft fruit without skin: peach, plum, pear
Starches:
same foods as weeks 1-2 with the addition of:

Saltine crackers
Unsweetened dry cereal
No No's: rice, pasta, bread, cereals with fruits or nuts.

Fats:
2-3 servings of same foods as weeks 1-2.

What's Next.
You're past the 6-week mark and on your way to trying new foods, with textures and taste that will add Interest to your die. A couple of Important points worth hi-fighting. First, what's right for one individual doesn't mean that Its right for you. Timings vary. So adjust your progress to fit your needs and desires. Second, try very small amounts of any new food. Sometimes they don't sit well. If that happens, try them again sometime down the road. Meanwhile, try something else.

As you enter the regular Gastric Bypass diet, you'll begin eating the same foods as the rest of your family, only In much smaller amounts. Meats and salads are wonderful. Spices will be added.

Vegetables are a go. It's important that you eat highly nutritious foods and don't fill up with empty calorie junk food. In other words, eat healthfully.

What's Worth Digesting.
Here are several nuggets to keep In mind:

Protein Is important for everyone but never more so than for you. Follow a high-protein meal plan for at least 6-8 months after your surgery. That's when the most rapid decrease of weight occurs. If you can consume 80-120 grams a day you'll probably not need protein supplements.
Don't forget that Isopure has 40 grams cal the purest protein in its 20oz. bottle. And 50 grams per serving of powdered protein in its 3 lb. container and 7.5 lb. bucket. Both give you 100% pure ion exchange whey protein isolate without any carbs, (very important - remember weight gain is not an option), no lactose (also important for those who are lactose intolerant), no fat, sugar and no preservatives.
Avoid high-fat foods. The more fat you eat, the more likely you'll get diarrhea.
Note: Isopure has no fat.

Avoid sugars. Say "no" to non-dietetic sodas, cookies, cake, Ice cream and candy. Another nod to Isopure - It has no sugar.
Take your vitamins, your calcium tablets, Iron sublingual vitamin B12 each day.
Record the foods you eat and the amounts, especially right after your surgery. Show these to your dietitian so that he/she can calculate the amount of calories and protein you're eating. And, if necessary, make adjustments.
Meet with your registered dietitian regularly after your surgery. A rule of thumb: meet more often at the start
- say, every couple of weeks - then less frequently as you get better and better. Always bring along your food diary.
Avoid reading or watching TV while eating. Really get into your food, enjoy it, focus on eating really slowly, chewing really thoroughly and being aware of when your stomach Is full.
An irritated stomach will stay irritated for a day or two. Drink only clear liquids for the next meal or two.
Try not to overeat Eat slowly. And chew thoroughly before swallowing.
Drink at least 2 quarts of liquids every day. Sip constantly to meet your fluid needs.
Exercise at least 3-4 times a week.
Do not skip a meal.

You've made a major change in your life. You've shown courage and perseverance as well as a capacity and willingness to take one day at a time no matter how long that day seems to last You know that your life will never be the same again. The fact Is, it will undoubtedly only get better and better with each day.

So enjoy life.If anyone deserves to, it's you.

RuthB · 11-09-2005, 07:24 AM

Very interesting and helpful, Thanks! I am saving this.

eyesthatkissu · 11-09-2005, 07:38 AM

Excellent info.... Thanks for posting it!

Realtor Linda · 11-09-2005, 08:59 AM

People ask for this information ALL THE TIME. Maybe you can find a way to post it under a heading that can be searched! I am sure that would be apprciated.

Bypassingme619 · 11-09-2005, 09:02 AM

Great post. I am sure a lot of people would find this very helpful, good looking out.