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Is alcohol
safe to have after surgery?
It is essential to wait until your intake of solid food is
adequate before you consider alcohol consumption in any amount.
Alcohol, from a nutritional standpoint, may cause further
malabsorption of nutrients, particularly with Vitamin B12,
Folic Acid, and Thiamin. An occasional glass of wine should
be okay, but alcohol should never be substituted for other
more nutritional solid foods or beverages. Some patients report
that they will feel the effects of alcohol faster than any
other time in their life. You should always consult your physician
regarding safe alcohol intake post surgery.
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Is Chinese
food and pizza okay?
Each person’s tolerance to these foods
is very individual. Some people are lactose intolerant after
surgery, so pizza may cause diarrhea. Some people tolerate
Chinese food well-especially soups and lean chicken, beef
or seafood; However, some don’t tolerate Chinese food because
the food is fried and high in fat. All in all, if you do tolerate
these foods, make every effort to keep your choices low in
fat. Fat can cause stomach discomfort and prevent you from
losing more weight. If you are going to eat these foods, try
to limit the frequency in your diet or try to prepare them
at home.
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What
should I do if I become lactose intolerant after surgery?
Persons who become intolerant to the sugar in milk, lactose,
may develop symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, cramps,
or diarrhea after consuming dairy products. If you are lactose
intolerant, try Lactaid ® milk or soy milk. Also some people
who are “lactose intolerant” can consume yogurt and aged cheeses
without any symptoms. You may find that cereals like Shredded
Wheat ® and high sugar cereals like Fruit Loops ® when consumed
with milk may have contributed to the discomfort and diarrhea
as well. Hot cereal should not be a problem. The important
thing to remember is to keep your portions small, especially
when you are experimenting with adding new foods. Dairy products
provide important nutrients and you should consult a dietitian
if you are having difficulty.
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What
about carbonated beverages?
You should avoid these beverages as much as possible because
the bubbles may cause severe pain, and will enhance burping.
Also, soda can be a source of empty calories which can affect
weight loss. You will likely miss out on a more nutritious
beverage like non fat milk by consuming these high calorie
beverages. Soda is also a significant source of caffeine (see
below).
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What
about caffeine?
Caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea should be okay
in moderation unless you experience reflux; then caffeine
can make this condition worse. Too much of anything, including
caffeine, can have side effects. Caffeine is a stimulant,
and it can interfere with the absorption of some key nutrients.
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Are
artificial sweeteners okay?
Saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame K, and sucralose are not
real sugars so they do not contribute calories. However be
careful with sugar-free foods made with sorbitol, mannitol,
and xylitol (artificial sweeteners) because they can cause
diarrhea in some people. They are sugar alcohols, found in
sugar-free chocolate and hard candies.
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Can
I gain my weight back?
Unfortunately, yes! Poor food choices, lack of lifestyle change
and exercise seem to be the main reasons. Success and maintenance
of weight loss are as much related to you as the surgery itself.
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Is burping
throughout the day common?
Yes, this may be due to the fact that you swallow air throughout
the day. The air bubbles in your smaller stomach pouch may
cause you to feel the need to burp more frequently.
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Is it
possible to eat and drink at the same time?
Doing so may cause nausea or vomiting. However, some people
are able to do both at the same time and experience no discomfort.
To prevent discomfort, sip very small amounts of fluids with
meals as tolerated. Wait until you are done eating to begin
drinking larger amounts.
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Is there
a magic calorie level?
No, there is no specific level. Nutritional needs are very
individual. If you find that your weight loss is slowing down,
there can be many reasons for this. Diet is always one factor
to look at, but the body may actually plateau every so often.
See a dietitian to evaluate your current calorie needs.
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2004 Synergy Health & Fitness Associates, Incorporated |
