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We’ve all noticed it. The numbers on the scale slowly creeping up or our clothes progressively getting tighter. We know that we have picked up some not-so-great eating habits along the way but we aren’t exactly sure how to get back on track. It is time for a reset.
About a year after bariatric surgery your weight will plateau, and it may seem more difficult to lose weight. It’s important to remember that your surgery is still working, and additional weight can be lost. Your stomach(pouch) originally could only hold a few ounces of food. After a few years, it has stretched out some. Your pouch should hold only 1-½ cups of food a few years after surgery.
By going back to the basics and following the post-surgery diet plan, you should be able to get back that feeling of fullness with 1-½ cups of food.
How do I go back to the basics?
The easiest way to get back to the basics is to go back to your original post-bariatric diet. The system I use is to go through all 4 phases over the course of two weeks. I have used this bariatric pouch reset method almost every year and have been able to maintain over a 300-pound weight loss for 20 years.
This reset helps me to get rid of sugar cravings and stop drinking soda, Diet Coke is my weakness. I will start to cut down on soda and caffeine about 2 weeks before I start so I do not have withdrawal as I am resetting my stomach.
What is a Bariatric Pouch Reset?
Before surgery, your stomach stretches to accommodate large amounts of food and then shrinks back to its normal size as the food is passed into the digestive tract. After bariatric surgery, the stomach continues to stretch and then contract but on a smaller scale.
When you overeat your pouch stretches, and with a constant flow of food it never returns to its normal size. This causes your pouch to accommodate larger and larger amounts of food before you feel a sense of fullness. A bariatric pouch reset is used to get your pouch back to its immediate post-surgery size. This is done by severely reducing your food intake for a short amount of time.
How Does it Work?
The bariatric pouch reset diet is similar to your immediate post-surgery diet. Your post-bariatric surgery diet typically has four stages and lasts from 8 to 10 weeks. The bariatric reset uses similar guidelines but only lasts for 14 days. With this reset, you are restricting your food intake so it’s a good idea to let your bariatric surgeon or primary care physician know that you are doing it.
The Plan
This is an overview of the reset that I do once a year:
Clear Liquids – Days 1, 2, 3, 4
This is definitely the hardest phase. You will feel a little tired and rundown. I found that Gatorade Zero Sugar really helped with keeping my energy up. I suggest staying away from energy drinks, even the sugar-free ones because you are also trying to get away from caffeine.
Pureed Foods – Days 5,6,7,8
Watch the sugars, there are a lot of hidden sugars in food. Learn to read labels. The goal is to not eat or drink anything that is going to stretch your stomach. Drink or eat these foods in small amounts and limit your intake to very thin/liquid consistency foods. If you can puree the food, it’s acceptable as long as it’s healthy and easy to digest. It’s best to stay away from meat at this point. Again, you are trying to reduce the size of your stomach so no solid foods at this point.
Soft Foods – Days 9,10,11,12
Now we are moving on to soft foods. You will be starting to incorporate more real food back into your diet. Remember to take it slow and don’t overeat. When adding fruit into your diet make sure you are checking the sugar content. There is a lot of natural sugars in fruit. Remember to chew your food well. One food breakfast option is Egg Cups. Be sure to keep it to just egg and cheese or you can add onions and bell peppers if they have been sautéed first.
Regular Food – Day 13 and Beyond
You will now be eating normal food again. Start introducing healthy foods slowly and in small portions. The size of your fist should be the size of an entire meal. Stop drinking liquids at least 30 minutes prior to eating and 30 minutes after eating. Eat slowly and chew well. Fruits are typically OK in moderation. Stay away from sugar and nutrient-lacking carbohydrates (pasta). The ideal bariatric meal consists of the following:
- ½ of the meal is a low-fat protein
- ¼ is raw or lightly cooked low starch vegetables
- ¼ is raw fruit
This type of meal will stay in the stomach for a long time and keep you feeling full. A good option for dinner is fish. It is high in protein and easy to digest. Try my Curry Rubbed Tilapia for a spicy dinner. I recommend the Thai Kitchen brand.
By doing a bariatric pouch reset yearly I have been able to maintain my weight loss and fight regain for almost 20 years. There are many people who don’t think you should have to go back to your post-surgery diet and just be able to eat “normal” but sometimes it takes a jump start to get us back on track. I know that is what works best for me. I have had years that I haven’t done the reset and have seen my weight slowly creep up.
The bariatric pouch reset is not easy. You’ll need support and some serious willpower. But it can be done, and you can get back on track. Doing this every year is a good way to keep your weight in check and to ensure that your tool is still working for you.