Harrison General Surgery – Jason Harrison, MD, PA

The vertical sleeve gastrectomy – better known as the gastric sleeve procedure – is a restrictive form of weight loss surgery. And, like any weight loss surgery procedure, the gastric sleeve not only changes the shape and function of your stomach, it also changes your relationship with food. In a very real way, you will have to learn how to eat all over again. Unlike with the gastric bypass procedure, however, the outlet valve for your stomach remains intact, and your stomach –albeit much smaller – will continue to function normally. That means you have far fewer restrictions on the types of foods you can eat after surgery.

Health professionals at Cornell University’s Weill Cornell Weight Loss Surgery Program have compiled a text entitled Dietary Guidelines for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy that can serve as a helpful “textbook” for gastric sleeve patients, providing easy access to the specific dietary rules that you should follow.

The guidelines are centered on the “soft diet” – a range of easy-to-chew, easy-to-digest foods typical of the fare you were given in the hospital just before you were discharged. The team at Cornell suggests keeping to this diet for approximately three to four weeks, or until your surgeon or dietician says otherwise. The soft diet includes:

• pureed meat and poultry, soft poached eggs, and low fat cottage cheese for protein
• blended soft cooked vegetables (i.e., overcooked and mashed with a fork)
• oatmeal, grits, and farina for carbs
• sugar free puddings, unsweetened applesauce, pureed canned peaches (no syrup!), and mashed ripe bananas for sweets

In other words, you’ll be eating about four to six ounces of homemade baby food at each meal – which makes sense, since your new stomach is the size of a baby’s!

But don’t crawl back into the crib – the baby food phase only seems to last forever. Sooner than you think, you’ll be given the okay to leave the soft diet, at which point your food choices expand greatly:  more solid food, with emphasis on lean protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, and whole grains

(You’ll notice that fat and sugar play little part in your diet any more, since your reformed digestive system won’t tolerate them well.)

And changing what you eat is only one part of the process of learning this new lifestyle. You must also change the way you eat. Gone are your days of gulping down a quick meal in the car or munching snacks in front of the TV. You will need to learn to eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly, and avoid overeating. Yes, your stomach will stretch over time, but until its size becomes stable it’s important to stop eating the minute you feel comfortably satisfied – or risk vomiting. You should also avoid concentrated sugars, fats, and fried foods. And, be sure to drink 6-8 eight-ounce cups of water per day to prevent dehydration.

If you stick to these basic guidelines, you’ll experience rapid weight loss, increased vigor, and a general feeling of good health as you begin to bring your weight under control. And, always remember that you’re not in this alone. Our team is here for you, ready and willing to help you with the answers and care you need if you have any questions related to your operation or recovery. You can enjoy your new beginning with confidence, knowing that the staff of Harrison Bariatrics is behind you all the way.