The first few weeks after surgery can be challenging. But keep in mind: it's also the first step to a new, healthier you.

To allow the new stomach "pouch" time to properly heal, it is essential that you follow the recommendations you will be given following your surgery.

While there will be variations in the diet progression depending on the type of surgery you have, everyone will be on a liquid diet for two to four weeks after surgery. During this time we advise that you avoid ice, carbonation, and straws. Following the liquid period, you will eat pureed foods for two weeks before introducing "soft/regular" foods into your diet.

• Follow a liquid diet for three weeks after surgery and avoid carbonation, ice and straws.
• Move up to pureed foods and chewable vitamins in week four after surgery.
• Reintroduce "real" foods into your diet during week five. It's best to avoid foods such as bread, pasta, rice and dry meat.

After any operation for weight loss, you will always need to:

• Eat three small nutrient-rich meals each day
• Take small bites
• Chew every bite to applesauce consistency
• Take 20-30 minutes to eat each meal
• Avoid snacking between meals
• Never drink liquids with meals, and wait 30 minutes post-meal to resume drinking
• Drink 64 ounces of liquid each day
• Eat 60 grams of protein daily
• Eliminate or limit caffeine intake
• Avoid tobacco
• Avoid alcohol in excess, and no alcohol for the first year after surgery
• Beginning seven days post-surgery, exercise 30 minutes daily
• Take all recommended daily vitamins and supplements
• Avoid all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen products) forever

Discharge Instructions

For post-surgery discharge recommendations, select your procedure:

• Open Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass & Revision
• Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
• Laparoscopic Gastric Adjustable Banding

A step in the right direction

Weight loss surgery is only a first step in an entire lifestyle plan to treat obesity. Other components include:

• Eating well
• Moving more
• Committing to long-term follow up with your bariatric team
• Attending support groups

Those who make the necessary lifestyle changes can look forward to improved everyday health. They often have better self-esteem and relationships and an improved quality of life.