The Surgical Associates of South Florida team has composed a dietary plan for patients undergoing our Easy-Step Sleeve Program™ to help them achieve optimal results. Our staff will be with you each step of the way to help you achieve your weight loss goals and ensure your recovery process is as smooth as possible. We typically recommend patients take an acid-blocking medication for at least the first 12 weeks after their surgery to reduce the risk of ulcers. Depending on the patient, we may also recommend other supplements or multivitamins be added into your post-procedure diet. All medications and supplements need to be discussed with your surgeon as some may not be good to take prior to surgery or during your healing process.
Contact our office in Miami today to schedule a consultation or for more information about our Easy-Step Sleeve Program™ dietary plan!
One to Two Weeks Prior to Surgery: Liquid Diet
In order to maximize the effectiveness of your Easy-Step Sleeve Program™ and ensure a successful surgery, we recommend patients go on a full liquid diet one (need to lose 50 pounds or less) to two (need to lose more than 50 pounds total) weeks prior to their procedure. We typically recommend patients try to lose between 5 and 15 pounds prior to their surgery to increase the effectiveness of the procedure. The more weight that is lost prior to a gastric sleeve surgery, the better the results will be post procedure.
Recommended Foods:
- Protein Shakes (Example: Premier Protein)
- Unsweetened Almond, Coconut, or Cashew milk (less than 3 gms of sugar per serving)
- Vegetable juice
- Soups (blend before eating and remove any chunks of solid food)
- Sugar-free beverages (Example: Sugar Free Gatorade with or without Protein, Crystal Light, NO FRUIT JUICE)
- Sugar-free gelatin
- Sugar-free popsicles
- Broth (Example: Ginger Miso Broth from TJ’s, InstaBroth from Amazon)
- Water
Right After Surgery to 72 Hours After Surgery: Clear Liquids Only – No Protein – No Caffeine – No Gas
For the first 0 to 72 hours after your gastric sleeve procedure, you should only consume clear liquids to allow your body to begin healing properly. It is important to drink very slowly and consume liquids in small amounts.
Recommended Liquids:
- Water
- Clear chicken, beef, or vegetable broth
- Ice chips
- Sugar-free popsicles
- Sugar-free Gatorade Zero
- Crystal Light
Week One (Day 3 – Day 7) Post Procedure: Clear Liquid Diet
The first week after your gastric sleeve surgery you should only consume clear liquids. Liquids should be a liquid consistency and free from any chunks, lumps, or seeds. During this stage of your post operative diet, be sure to consume liquids in small amounts and to stop when you begin feeling full. Be sure to consume lots of clear liquids between to make sure you are staying properly hydrated.
Recommended Foods:
- Sugar-free Gatorade Zero with or without Protein
- Crystal Light
- Sugar-free Popsicles
- Nutricia Pro-STAT clear protein
- Premier Protein Clear
- InstaBroth
- Broth of any kind – make sure to strain any particles out
- Sugar-free jello (stay away from anything with the red color)
Week Two (Day 7 to Day 14) Post Procedure: Full Liquid Diet
The 2nd week after your gastric sleeve surgery you should only consume clear and full liquids. Liquids should be a liquid consistency and free from any chunks, lumps, or seeds. During this stage of your post operative diet, be sure to consume liquids in small amounts and to stop when you begin feeling full. Be sure to consume lots of clear liquids between to make sure you are staying properly hydrated.
Recommended Foods:
- Crystal Light
- Sugar-free Popsicles
- Sugar-free jello (stay away from anything with the red color)
- Protein Shakes (Example – Premier Protein)
- Unsweetened Almond, Coconut, or Cashew milk (less than 3gms of sugar per serving)
- Vegetable juice – Make sure liquid without chunks of anything in it.
- Soups (blend before eating and remove any chunks of solid food)
- Sugar-free beverages (Example: Sugar Free Gatorade with or without Protein, Crystal Light, NO FRUIT JUICE)
- Broth (Example: Ginger Miso Broth from TJ’s, InstaBroth from Amazon)
- Water
Week Three (Day 14 – Day 21) Post Procedure: Pureed Foods
During the third week after your surgery, your system should be ready to digest pureed foods with a little more substance. This is an important step in your dietary plan as you move from a liquid diet to foods with more consistency. Continue to consume plenty of clear liquids in between meals to ensure you are staying hydrated. Try to wait about 30 min in between. Make sure to eat slowly and chew food thoroughly — at least 25 times, if possible. Any sugar-free food that you can puree, including lean protein sources and non-fibrous vegetables, are acceptable. It’s important to start increasing your protein intake. If you don’t like the taste of pureed lean protein sources, continue to drink no-sugar protein shakes or eat eggs daily. Continue to avoid chunked and solid foods, as well as caffeine, during this time. You should also stick to bland food with mild or no seasoning. Spices may contribute to heartburn.
Recommended Foods:
- Pureed vegetables
- Cottage cheese
- Low-sugar yogurt (Less than 3 grams of sugar per serving)
- Chicken, beef, or vegetable broth and pureed soups
- Toddler pouches or baby foods (less than 3 grams of sugar per serving)
- silken tofu
- soft scrambled or soft-boiled eggs
- cottage cheese (less than 3 grams of sugar per serving)
- hummus
- Pureed avocado
- Greek yogurt (less than 3 grams of sugar per serving)
Week Four (Day 21 – Day 28) Post Procedure: Soft Foods
You may be able to begin introducing soft, solid foods back into your diet after your gastric sleeve procedure. We recommend focusing on foods that are low-carb, low-calorie, and low sugar (less than 3 grams per serving) as you begin to work your way back into consuming solid foods. It is important to stay well-hydrated during each phase of your postoperative diet, please be sure to consume plenty of clear liquids in between meals. AVOID hard-to-digest foods such as steak, fibrous vegetables, nuts, pasta, white potatoes, and other high-carb options.
Recommended Foods:
- Canned tuna, chicken, or salmon
- Tofu
- Eggs
- Oatmeal
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Well-cooked white fish
- Well-cooked vegetables
Week Five (Day 28 – Day 35) Post Procedure: Solid Foods
As you work your way back into consuming solid foods, each food should be added into your diet one at a time. If at any point you feel any discomfort or sensation of fullness, slow down or stop eating. Raw and acidic foods will be more difficult for you to digest and should wait until month 3, so we recommend starting with cooked solid foods and slowly progressing. Try to keep protein to 60-90 grams each day, 600 calories on days you don’t work out and 800 calories on days that you sweat for at least 30min). Keep sugars to 3 grams or less per serving and keep carbs down. Try to log your food in MyFitness Pal so that you can bring to your follow-up appointments to discuss with your surgeon.
Recommended Foods:
- Lean meats
- Cooked vegetables
- Eggs
- Beans
- Greek yogurt
General Post-Operative Gastric Sleeve Dietary Guidelines
- Use a blender to puree foods.
- Learn to recognize the difference between hunger (physical) and appetite (mental/emotional).
- Don’t overeat — your stomach will stretch in time and stabilize in size.
- Chew slowly, and eat slowly.
- Avoid non-nutrient calories.
- Avoid sugars (3 grams per serving or less)
- Avoid trans fats and fried, processed, and fast foods.
- Avoid dehydration by sipping water or low-calorie versions of Gatorade and limiting your caffein intake
- Don’t eat and drink at the same time. Wait at least 30 min in between.
- Talk to your doctor about bariatric vitamins and supplements to decide what you should take, and when.
- Build movement into your life. Start with walking, and explore other exercises that you enjoy, such as swimming, dancing, and yoga.
- Avoid alcohol. Gastric sleeve surgery and other types of bariatric surgeries may increase, and quicken, alcohol’s effects.
- Avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen. These types of over-the-counter pain medications may reduce your stomach’s natural, protective coating. Speak to your surgeon before adding any medications 1-2 weeks prior to your surgery and for the first month after your surgery.
Contact our office in Miami today for further information about our pre and postoperative Easy-Step Sleeve Program™ dietary plan. We look forward to helping you achieve your weight loss goals!
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