The first week after gastric bypass was a blur of tiny sips, protein goals, and figuring out what my new normal looked like. Here’s what helped me get through it.
Liquid phase
Protein shakes – You LIVE on protein shakes in the post-op phase. I tried so many different ones, but keep coming back to the Fairlife Protein Shakes. They are the only brand that doesn’t have that chalky protein aftertaste, they taste just like drinking chocolate milk. After surgery you already don’t feel like eating (first big change!), but you need to be hydrated and get your protein in, so it’s important to have a protein shake you actually like.
Sugar free jell-o: So enjoyable to have something semi-solid to eat when everything is liquid. There are also now so many different flavors that you never have to get bored! You can buy the prepared cups, or the powder to mix and match and make your own!
Sugar free hard candy: Sometimes I just wanted something that tasted different, and these were a lifesaver that I still carry around in my purse! Just be careful not to swallow any pieces in the early days, most times I just threw it out when it got too small. These don’t taste sugar free and are a nice treat to break up the monotony.
Sugar free popsicles: These were great because you could CHEW them and feel like you were actually eating something. The mental aspect of everything being liquid in the early days was HARD, so these made that a little bit easier.
Water Flavoring Packets: I don’t like water. I never have, it’s ALWAYS been a struggle to drink water on my best day. But after surgery when I didn’t wanna ingest anything? SO HARD! What saved me were water flavor packets. My absolute favorite is peach iced tea, but there are tons of flavors. They are sugar free, super low calorie (like 5 calories per packet), and it’s the only way I can get close to enough water.
Oath Protein Water: This was another lifesaver to get protein in, during the first week after gastric bypass. I didn’t even know clear protein existed until it was suggested by my nutritionist. The frosty lemonade and icy blue razz are my favorites, but they also have kiwi strawberry, caramel apple, raspberry lemonade, coconut colada, watermelon fresca, and peaches and cream!
Owala water bottle: I also bought myself a new water bottle to use after surgery (hey, whatever works!). I love the Owala FreeSip Sway. You can use the straw OR open spout in the same lid, has a big carry handle, the spout locks so I can just throw it in my bag, and it can fit in a cup holder. And they have TONS of color combos to choose from!
Tools that made the first weeks easier
Small portion containers/bowls and utensils: When you can only eat a few bites, it’s important to make some adjustments so mentally it feels like you are eating more. One trick I used was using smaller bowls, portion containers, and utensils. This actually tricks your brain into thinking you are eating more (which is important in the beginning when you’re not hungry but your brain thinks you are!). I didn’t want bowls that were labeled with cups, or pictures of food/etc. I just wanted smaller plain, cute bowls. These bowls from amazon were perfect! I also used these small glass portion containers to bring to work for my lunches, and these mini utensils to force myself to take smaller bites!
Ninja Creami: This was one of the best things I bought for my bariatric journey. Many times we are eating the same foods over and over. But this gives you the ability to make a variety of treats using protein powders or protein shakes. So fun to experiment!
Pill organizer: There are lots of supplements to take after surgery, and not just right after but for the rest of your life. I take my pills are four different times per day (some you can’t take together). This weekly pill organizer is great, it holds all my pills in one container, but I can remove individual containers to throw into my lunch bag to bring with me to work, or my purse on the weekends, to make sure I never miss a dose.
These are some of the things that helped me survive those first few weeks. It was nice to have things that made my life easier when everything was changing from what I had known for my whole life. I still use all of these things to this day in order to make sure I get in protein, stay hydrated, and continue losing weight so I can be my best self that I have committed to becoming.
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