Allow me to introduce to those of you who are not familiar with, what I consider to be, the gold standards of weight loss surgery success habits. These are success habits developed by people way smarter than me who have defined the keys to achieving permanent weight loss with bariatric surgery.

Allow me to introduce to those of you who are not familiar with, what I consider to be, the gold standards of weight loss surgery success habits. These are success habits developed by people way smarter than me who have defined the keys to achieving permanent weight loss with bariatric surgery.

I feel these must be read and memorized by every bariatric surgery patient. My trinity of owner’s manuals for the bariatric surgery are:

The Bariatric Diet developed by Dr. E. E. Mason (the father of obesity surgery)

The Pouch Rules for Dummies adopted from Dr. E. E. Mason

The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients by Colleen Cook, based on research with patients successful with bariatric surgery

Here is a high-level of the success habits found in each text. You’ll need to read the full texts in order to reap the benefit. Just click through the links above.

The Bariatric Diet

The following is the gist of the bariatric diet developed by Dr. Edward E. Mason. Dr. Mason is an Iowa bariatric surgeon who is considered the “father of obesity surgery” and the bariatric diet is the gold standard for weight loss surgery patients to follow. The ideal meal for weight loss is:

• Fill one-half of your plate with two to four ounces of animal source, low-fat protein.

• Fill one-quarter of your plate with lightly-cooked or raw low starch vegetables.

• Fill the remaining quarter of your plate with fresh raw fruit.

These food choices are coarse, solid foods that should be cut finely and chewed well in order to be tolerated. They are likely to stay in the pouch longer and offer good nutritional value. Read How Does the Bariatric Diet Work for further details.

The Pouch Rules

The following is an overview of the pouch rules developed by Dr. Edward E. Mason. Read The Pouch Rules for Dummies for the complete instructions.

• Eat solid foods. Take very small bites of low-fat meats, crisp or raw vegetables, and solid fruits like apples or pears.

• Eat at least two ounces of meat with each meal.

• Try to finish your meal within 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure you still chew your food thoroughly. Don’t rush through the meal, but don’t linger at the table either.

• Avoid drinking with meals and for two hours afterwards.

• Start drinking when the feelings of hunger return to avoid thirst and minimize hunger between meals. Start with smaller sips, and increase the volume until you feel full again.

• Drink 8 to 12 ounces of water rapidly over 20 seconds, then top off with sips until you feel comfortably full. Do this whenever you feel hungry. This will keep the pouch distended and minimize hunger.

• Drink a full glass of water 15 minutes prior to eating. By drinking a lot of water before the meal, you shouldn’t need to drink during the meal or afterward.

• Avoid snacking since snacks usually do not eliminate hunger. They also are filled with empty calories.

• Minimize caloric liquids and softer foods. These foods are not off limits, but when you make exceptions you will likely get hungry sooner and have to deal with the consequences.

The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients

Colleen Cook had gastric bypass surgery in 1995 and went on to author the The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients. It is based on research conducted with patients who have been successful with bariatric surgery. I have found that I maintain my weight loss when I follow the success habits. When I slip up and stop using the habits, I gain weight fairly quickly. And I take off that weight when I return to the Success Principals:

• Success principal #1: Personal accountability (this is fundamental – you must “get” this principal before you can work the other principals into your new life)
  
• Success principal #2: Portion control
  
• Success principal #3: Nutrition
  
• Success principal #4: Fluid intake
  
• Success principal #5: Regular exercise
  
• Success principal #6: Vitamins and supplements
  

I find the chapter “Back on Track” particularly helpful. It’s for weight loss surgery patients who have regained weight. Colleen Cook shares an approach that has helped many patients turn it around, get back on track, lose the weight and keep it off by following these principals.

Weight-loss surgery is a big part of the solution, but it is not a cure-all. If you follow these success habits you will increase the amount of weight you lose as well as ensure a healthy weight for the rest of your life.

Living larger than ever,

My Bariatric Life

There are quite a few points that i disagree with... eg waiting 2 hours after eating before drinking!.. you would never get your fluids in... it also states to drink Fluid rapidly... this causes pain for some people.

Also adding fruit to make up a quarter of a your plate... this wouldn't apply to diabetics... thats way to much for each meal.. way to many sugars

Yes! I was told 45 after eating to drink Water, take sips, eat slowly at meals, limit veggies in the beginning Smh many differences. I'm looking for the articles I read that support the new gold standards.

Dawnie_doo

I think the difference is that you are describing guidelines for eating early after the surgery. For example, while drinking water rapidly cannot be tolerated in the beginning, water loading as it is called, is widely recommended. I would love to see any guidelines that you can find.

Drink Water rapidly? This is so wrong.

It is commonly a recommended practice, but only for the mature pouch.