|
Pre-Op: It is necessary to shrink your swollen, fatty stiff liver before surgery so it can be more easily retracted during surgery to expose the upper part of the stomach. If the liver cannot be retracted, surgery may have to be abandoned and the procedure not completed!!
To accomplish this, most surgeons place their patients on a strict pre-operative low calorie diet.
I do not place patients on a pre-operative liquid diet for two weeks before surgery.
Instead, I begin my patients on the South Beach Diet Phase One (the induction phase) about 7-10 days pre-op. This is a very low carb, low fat, sugar free diet that includes certain meats, vegetables, and fruits. I get the same results of liver shrinkage with this regimen as with the liquid diet... and at least you are still eating real food!!
Post-Op: During your pre-op visit, you will be given written detailed dietary guidelines to follow for the post-op period. Generally, week 1-thin liquids, including protein drinks; week 2- full liquids to 'mushy' foods; week 3 to week 4- soft to regular diet. There is no guesswork- everything is written down and given to you as a handout.
Long Term: You must choose healthy and nutritional foods high in protein and low in carbohydrates, fats, and sugars. I want you to fill up on just a small portion of protein and vegetables. I want you to stay full for longer periods of time so you will not have any desire to snack. Snacking between means is one of the major reasons for weight loss failure. Remember, the more you 'cheat' and are NOT compliant with these food choices, the less weight you will lose.
|
