I'm Muslim and were required to fast( no water no food) for a whole month from sunset to sunrise , although that has passed, there's some days that you're recommended to fast to repent and remove your sins..I'm 2 months post-op, and I just want to know if I'm allowed to fast? We normally fast from sunrise to sunset so about 13 hours, and then we eat...today is one of those recommended fasting days and I just want to know if i could fast ( if you're sick or you are not able to fast for medical reasons it's excused) so can anyone please answer ASAP?

I would check with your doctor to get his/her input. Good luck!

A lot of my family members are Muslim. When my niece, who had gastric bypass, was fasting for Ramadan, she consulted with her surgeon and her imam and the plan they came up with was for her to abstain for food from sunrise to sunset, but be allowed to drink water during the day. Because dehydration is such a risk after bariatric surgery, and we can't eat and drink enough during the non-fasting hours to make up for the missed fluid during the day, her doctor felt that it would be very risky and unhealthy to go that long without drinking. Her imam agreed that it would be perfectly permissible to do this sort of modified fast since she had physical limitations that made it dangerous to go that long without drinking. Good luck to you!

My program just had a blog post about this.

Fasting After Bariatric Surgery

Fasting After Bariatric Surgery

Posted: 21 Sep 2015 03:00 AM PDT

Christina Byrnes, MS, works as a clinical dietitian at Penn Bariatrics. In this article, she explains the challenges associated with not eating after undergoing weight-loss surgery.

After bariatric surgery your digestive tract is physically different and can no longer accommodate large amounts of food. However, it’s just as bad for you to consume no food.

You know that after bariatric surgery, it’s critical to have an adequate intake of fluids and nutrients. Because of the quick weight loss, you need to make sure you get all of the nutrients, Vitamins and minerals you need to recover.

People who observe a fast, whether for religious or lifestyle reasons, face several challenges.

Your new eating and drinking habits are being established. Since you can’t consume large amounts in one sitting, you should be sipping fluids throughout the day. A complete fast can put you at risk for dehydration and poor calorie and nutrient intake. Additionally, an inadequate intake of Protein can reduce lean body mass and metabolic rate.

Fasting for long periods of time could result in vomiting, compounding dehydration and poor nutritional intake. Foods that are usually eaten at the end of a religious fast are sweets, carbohydrates and fats that can also put you at risk for dumping syndrome and steatorrhoea (excess fat in feces caused by fat malabsorption). Sounds pleasant, right?

Moreover, the small amount of volume in the stomach may make it difficult to fit the proper amount of food, nutritional supplements and medications at meal times after a fast.

We recommend that you avoid the fast and stick to foods that are high in protein and low in fats and sugars. Protein is great because it builds tissue and regulates various bodily processes necessary for good health. You also don’t need to eat as large an amount to feel full.

If you have any questions about fasting or your diet, contact your doctor, nurse practitioner or bariatric dietitian.

If you want to learn more about weight-loss surgery and its results, sign up for a free informational session.