Gastric Sleeve Meal Size Plan
Gastric sleeve surgery has risen to the top choice for weight loss surgery around the world today. From the fast recovery it offers patients to its excellent weight loss results, patients all over have been very satisfied with their new body after gastric sleeve surgery. However, people often ask after gastric sleeve surgery “what gastric sleeve meal plan should I follow and what meal size should I be eating?”. With such important growing questions, come real answers based on science, medicine, and proven patient results.
Gastric sleeve surgery will change your hunger hormones, making you less hungry, have fewer cravings, and make you start to eat less than before surgery. But, the ultimate success can only be determined by how well you follow gastric sleeve meal planning. Let’s discover more about gastric sleeve meal planning, including the required before and after surgery meal sizes, and what you need to know about planning your meals during recovery!
Gastric Sleeve Meal Planning
Gastric sleeve meal planning is a requirement for patients to follow before and after surgery. There are many stages of the VSG diet (or vertical gastric sleeve diet). Patients have reported vitamin/nutrient deficiencies after gastric sleeve.
Diligently following the VSG meal plan can prevent such deficiencies in your body. VSG meal plans allow your body to adjust to eating less food as your metabolism changes, so your body can transition into safely digesting solid food after surgery.
Gastric Sleeve Meal Size and Plan: Pre Op
Gastric sleeve meal size and plan pre-operation (or before your surgery) serve as critical foundation to ensure your gastric sleeve surgery will be as safe and risk-free as possible.
- Starting this initial mean plan stage at 2-3 weeks before your surgery will allow your body to adjust to all the changes coming after surgery.
- Daily calorie intake should be between 800 to 1,200 calories.
- Stopping certain medications to avoid stomach problems or bleeding risk may be required.
Two days before your gastric sleeve surgery, you can only eat a clear liquid diet.
- This includes jello, broth, and no sugar/caffeine.
- Avoid eating or drinking 8 hours before the start of your gastric sleeve surgery.
- Your pre-op meal plan will mark the start of your commitment to developing new eating habits in your weight loss journey!
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Pre Op meal size goals
Pre-op meal size goals include:
- Reducing carbohydrates/sugars
- Reducing calories
- Reducing saturated fats
- Reducing portion sizes
- Reducing binge eating
- Increasing vitamin intake, daily multivitamins (vitamin D/folic acid/calcium)
- Increasing protein, at least 60 grams a day
- Avoid beverages with meals
- Avoiding alcohol and smoking
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Gastric Sleeve Meal Size and Plan: Post Op
Gastric sleeve meal size and plan post-operation (or after your surgery) require a strict diet in stages. The first 7 weeks after surgery are important. The Post-op diet ensures your body safely heals, so you can eat solid foods again.
Gastric sleeve meal size and plan after surgery
Gastric Sleeve Week 1:
- Description: Clear-liquid diet
- Instructions: Drink lots of water. Avoid caffeine and sugar. This is the same clear-liquid diet as before surgery with 48-64 fluid ounces a day and 60-80 grams of protein (5 to 6 shakes, 8 ounces each).
Gastric Sleeve Week 2:
- Description: Thick-liquid diet
- Instructions: Avoid solid foods, but drink heavy liquid foods. Cream soups, protein shakes, milk, and pudding (sugar-free) are options. Similar meal sizes as week 1.
Gastric Sleeve Week 3:
- Description: Pureed-soft foods
- Instructions: Chew food very well and eat slowly. Eating pureed lean proteins, low-fat or non-fibrous veggies are options. Greek yogurt, mashed bananas, and cottage cheese are possibilities. Drink 64 ounces a day of liquids and eat 60-80 grams of protein.
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Gastric Sleeve Week 4-5:
- Description: Adding few solid foods
- Instructions: Similar to week 3, but a few solid foods may be tested. Specific instructions can be at your physician’s discretion. Eat 1,000 to 1,400 calories a day, with 60-80 grams of protein and 64 liquid ounces.
Gastric Sleeve Week 6:
- Description: Natural Solid foods
- Instructions: Solid lean meats, chicken, and fish can be introduced. Healthy fats can be added. Keep drinking lots of water.
Gastric Sleeve Week 7:
- Description: Variety of solid foods
- Instructions: Cheeses, vegetables, lentils, sweet potatoes, fruits, and more protein can be added for a balanced diet. Keep avoiding sugar, carbohydrate-rich foods, carbonated drinks, and alcohol. Avoid nuts, seeds, popcorn, and bread. Preferred calorie intake should be less than 1,400 calories a day.
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Gastric Sleeve Meal Size and Plan: Post Recovery
Gastric sleeve meal size and plan at post-recovery (or after a year or more of your surgery) will help you maintain your weight loss. You can eat 3 balanced meals a day.
- Drink lots of water after a half-hour of eating or before a half-hour of eating.
- 3-4 months after surgery allows you to resume a normal healthy diet with caution.
- Avoid processed food, salty/fried/sugary food, bubbly drinks, chewing gum, but include small snacks between meals.
For two years or more after surgery, continue to eat low-sugar, high-protein, and low-fat foods.
- Eat your proteins first, veggies/fruits next, and lastly eat your pasta/rice/potatoes.
- Pasta substitutes, such as chickpea pasta or lentil pasta are preferred.
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Final Words on Gastric Sleeve Meal Plan
Gastric sleeve meal planning connect patient instructions to weight loss success. Patient safety and weight loss results can be at risk without following instructions. Specific meal plan instructions will be provided to you by your physician in accordance with nutritional recommendations.
Commitment to change and following medical instructions is an important part of achieving your goals in gastric sleeve surgery. Maintaining your gastric sleeve diet allows you to eat a balanced diet with variety, avoiding overeating, and manage your fluid intake, staying hydrated. If you would like more information about gastric sleeve meal sizes and plans, or if you have questions, contact Jet Medical Tourism® to find out more today!
References:
- Jet Medical Tourism®. 2021. Gastric Sleeve Diet: An Ultimate Guide on VSG Diet. Web. https://jetmedicaltourism.com/gastric-sleeve-diet/. Accessed: 20, Apr. 2021.
- Jet Medical Tourism®. 2021. Gastric Sleeve Surgery Post Op Diet. Web https://jetmedicaltourism.com/gastric-sleeve-surgery-post-op-diet/. Accessed: 20, Apr. 2021.
