There are a lot of misconceptions and assumptions when it comes to weight loss surgery. Understanding what’s real and fake is essential to having a successful weight loss journey. Here are the top 8 bariatric myths that patients always ask us to help them choose the best options.
1. Will My Stomach Stretch Back To Its Original Size?
False: It is actually natural and healthy for your stomach pouch to stretch over time to properly recover from the surgery. However, your stomach pouch won’t stretch back to its original size. You can do the pouch test to see how much your stomach pouch has changed, but stretching your pouch isn’t dangerous and does not stop weight loss.
Check out the 10-Day Pouch Reset Diet Guide Here
Stretching Your Pouch/Sleeve
Your pouch will naturally stretch a little over time, but you can take some steps to manage your stomach pouch or sleeve to help you maintain a healthy weight:
– Avoid overeating
– Do not skip meals
– Watch out for emotional eating
– Protect your stoma (new stomach pouch)
2. Should I Avoid Carbonated Drinks?
True: Avoid soda and sparkling soft drinks. Regular sodas and carbonated drinks contain a lot of sugar and calories, which can cause you to gain weight quickly. Diet sodas with zero calories can also trigger certain hormonal reactions, which can lead to storing more fat in your body. Stick with water, tea without caffeine, coffee (in moderation), and other non-carbonated drinks for better results.
See guidelines for drinking coffee and caffeine after gastric sleeve surgery.
3. Should I NOT Drink From a Straw?
True: Using straws or chewing gum can introduce air into your new stomach pouch, creating painful air bubbles that will rise or fall based on your recovery. This can also make you feel full and take up space in your pouch, which should be filled with proteins.
DO NOT USE A STRAW AFTER SURGERY.
4. Will I Get Nauseous If I Drink Soda?
True: If you have had gastric bypass surgery, eating or drinking anything high in sugar can stimulate dumping syndrome. This is caused by the sugar in your diet entering the small intestine at an abnormally fast rate, which can lead to nausea, cold sweats, paleness, heart problems, and diarrhea. Avoid dumping syndrome by choosing sugary foods and liquids that are low in fat. Also, make sure to eat and drink slowly so that the sugars can be absorbed properly.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) patients should avoid sweetened drinks to lose weight effectively and not sabotage their procedure. In other words, don’t drink your calories as the liquid runs through your sleeve effortlessly.
Learn more: 10 Practical and Effective Tips to Stop Drinking Soda and Energy Drinks
5. Can I Eat Larger Amounts of Food?
True: AVOID OVEREATING! While the pouch makes you feel full with less food, overeating can cause your stomach pouch to stretch excessively, making it easier to gain weight. You can prevent this by measuring your food, taking your time during meals, and being mindful of when you feel full. When you feel full, try writing down exactly how much you’ve eaten to determine your limits.
Learn more: Risks of Overeating – Before & After Weight Loss Surgery
6. Can I Eat and Drink at the Same Time?
True: You can, BUT drinking during a meal, especially a soda, can push food through your stomach faster and make you feel less full. Wait 30-60 minutes before or after any meal to drink again.
Learn more: Dumping Syndrome Guide: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options
7. Do I Need to Eat Protein Before Every Meal?
False: It isn’t required, but eating protein-rich foods before a meal can help make you feel full and balance blood sugar and insulin levels. Try adding lean cuts of beef, chicken, pork, fish, and beans to your diet. Low-fat cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt are also good sources of protein.
Learn more: How to Track Macros After Gastric Sleeve Surgery – Carbs, Protein, & Fats
8. Can I Take Extended-Release Pills?
False: Bariatric surgery reduces the surface of the stomach, which causes problems with certain medications and the absorption of vitamins/minerals. Immediate-release products are better options compared to Extended-release and sustained-release products because the essential medicine is better absorbed into the body.
Learn More: What medications should I avoid post-op?
Medications to Avoid
There are certain medications and multi-symptom products that you should avoid after surgery, including aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These can irritate your stomach after surgery and increase your chances of developing a gastric ulcer.
Contact us today to learn more!
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This was very helpful and to the point that I needed to know. I am 10 days post op from gastric bypass surgery and on the puréed food stage. If any food doesn’t agree with me, my surgeon told me to go back to previous stage for few days before I try again.