Phase Two: The Bariatric Surgery Thick Liquid Diet

Duration: 7 to 10 Days Post-Surgery

We are discussing Phase 2 of the post-surgery meal plan; thick liquids. If you are moving on to Phase 2 of the meal plan, this means you are easily taking in 64 ounces of fluids, and you feel hungry or ready for the next phase. This portion of the post-op diet usually begins anywhere from 5 to 7 days post-surgery. It typically lasts for 7 to 10 days.

Approved Thick Liquids

• All foods from the previous stage
• Cream of Wheat
• Oatmeal
• Soup
• Almond milk
• Protein Powders
• Greek Yogurt (remember it needs to have more protein than sugar – Fage/Chobani plain Greek yogurt)
• Almond or Coconut Milk
• Natural Apple Sauce
• Vegetable juice (V8)
• Hot cereals like oatmeal/ cream of wheat/Kashi hot cereal
• Sugar-Free Pudding
• Soups (chose higher protein soups like bean soup, can take chunky soups and blend before eating)
• Avoid all carbonated beverages (fills the stomach with gas), sugar (extra calories that fight against weight loss), and coffee (it is acidic and may have problems with acid reflux after surgery. It is also a diuretic, causing you to be dehydrated)

Learn More: Can I Drink Coffee After Bariatric Surgery

The Goal of Phase Two: Protein Intake

The goal of phase 2 thick liquids is to continue to get 64 oz. of fluids but now you start focusing on getting the appropriate amount of protein as well.

The general range of protein is between 60 to 90 grams per day. If you want to know a more accurate value for you; you would take your ideal body weight and divide that by 2.2.

This the minimum amount of protein to maintain your current muscle mass.

Making sure you get the proper amount of protein is necessary. If you don’t then some of your weight loss could be from muscle instead of fat loss. The more muscle you lose, the harder it will be to reach your goal weight and keep it off. It also increases the amount of saggy skin you may have post-surgery.

For example: If your goal weight is 150 pounds then you would divide that by 2.2 and your recommended protein intake would be 68 grams per day.

150 / 2.2 = 68 Grams of Protein Intake per day

What Does “Thick Liquids” Mean?

Although you are getting your nutrients through liquids, you do not weigh your liquids. Your goal is still to consume 64 ounces of fluids per day. You do not start weighing your food until phase 3- soft solids. So what is considered a thick liquid? Anything that is the consistency that can go through a straw, but you do not want to use a straw.

You have to remember your stomach went from the size of a flattened football and was decreased to about the size of my thumb, and it will expand to about the size of a small egg. Because your pouch is so small; when you take in the air it can cause a lot of discomfort. Drinking from a straw causing you to take in a lot of air.

Bariatric Smoothie Recipes to Help Your Thick Liquid Diet

What We Recommend

During this phase, you can incorporate protein powders to make protein smoothies or pre-made protein drinks. Pureed soups, but be mindful of creamed soups; many people do not do well with milk after surgery and creamed soups are very high in fat. We recommend you stick with bean or chicken-based soups you can blend. I’d recommend using almond or coconut milk instead of regular milk.

Many people become lactose intolerant due to the sugar in the lactose after surgery and can diarrhea and discomfort. We recommend using either almond or coconut milk instead of regular dairy milk.

Moving to the Next Phase

You will stay in phase 2 until day 14 post-surgery and then move onto phase 3 soft solids. Feel free to join our Facebook support page for more information or view the post-surgical meal plan for specific guidelines that you can print out from our website; Links are below. Here at Mexico Bariatric Center, our goal is to take this journey with you and provide you with excellent care with both pre and post-surgical support.