Are you considering gastric bypass surgery? You probably have a lot of different questions running through your head. One of these questions might be: Will my stomach stretch back to its normal size after my procedure? The short answer is yes. You can stretch your stomach after gastric bypass surgery.
After gastric bypass weight loss surgery, there will be a small stomach pouch used as your new stomach. This is where your food will go. Because it’s smaller, you should only require a small amount of food in order to feel full. This will enable you to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight over the long term.
Here’s how to prevent stretching of the pouch and establish healthy habits post-surgery.
#1: Avoid overeating.
Continual overeating is a recipe for disaster after gastric bypass. Even if you decide to splurge occasionally, beware that this could trigger old eating patterns.
It is best to avoid overeating all the time so you don’t risk stomach stretching.
You can drink all the way up until you take your first bite of food. Once you take your first bite, stop drinking, and wait one hour after eating before drinking again. Your stomach will need some time to digest fluid separately from your food.
#2: No snacks.
WeightWise does not recommend snacking throughout the day. Stick to your three meals per day in order to achieve the greatest weight loss benefits. Don’t skip meals, because then you’ll be ravenous for the next one and eat too much.
#3: Remember to heed advice from your doctor and dietitian
Transitioning to a new diet after gastric bypass surgery is a big step in your journey toward long-lasting health and wellbeing. Even occasional treats such as those containing carbohydrates or carbonation can stretch the stomach.
Thus, it is crucial that post-bariatric patients adjust to a “new normal” after gastric surgery. No more huge pieces of pie or bowls of ice cream after every meal. In consultation with your doctor, you’ll likely learn to monitor your food intake as a matter of course; that way you’ll avoid being tempted by Thanksgiving dinner with two helpings of mashed potatoes.
Talk to your bariatric surgeon and/or your dietitian after your surgery to get some ideas on what healthy treat options are out there. Just remember not to eat larger portions as some kind of reward after bariatric surgery.
Our team at WeightWise is dedicated to your weight loss success! We’ve guided many bariatric patients through the process of weight loss surgery.
Contact us today to learn more about gastric bypass, gastric sleeve surgery (or sleeved stomachs and food intake in general) or to enquire about what might be right for you.
It’s been 7 years since I had my surgery and within this last year or so I’ve gained almost 20 pounds. I need to get back on track….how?
Hey, Anthony! I recommend you contact your operating physician or dietitian, as they will be able to do a full evaluation because there are a lot of factors to consider. Each program also has different guidelines to follow with diet. At WeightWise we recommend making sure that you are taking small bite sizes (the size of a pinto bean), chewing well, pausing in between bites, and taking your time at meals (20-30 minutes). It is also important to follow through with your diet guidelines to ensure optimal health and weight loss. You can call our front desk as well, and they can set you up with a virtual appointment to visit one of our providers, at 405-359-2475.
I have been at the same weight for three weeks and I am 4 months out on the 13th
Hi, Andrea! I recommend you contact your operating physician or dietitian, as they will be able to do a full evaluation because there are a lot of factors to consider. Each program also has different guidelines to follow with diet. At WeightWise we have specific diet, fluid, and eating behavior recommendations such as, making sure that you are taking small bite sizes (the size of a pinto bean), chewing well, pausing in between bites, and taking your time at meals (20-30 minutes). It is also important to follow through with your fluid and diet guidelines to ensure optimal health and weight loss. You can call our front desk as well, and they can set you up with a virtual appointment to visit one of our providers, at 405-359-2475.
I had the surgery almost one yr ago and yes I had the same problem it will go in stages after a few months after surgery weight loss slows down tremendously it scared me my dietician said it’s normal you lose weight so quickly then all of a sudden your body stops to catch up with its self. So do not fear stay on your diet program keep in touch with your doc and fear not your fine. In a couple weeks it will go back to losing again.
I had surgery 5 weeks ago, and I was wondering…..Can smoothies stretch out your stomach pouch? I have one every morning and every now and then I take a gulp that feels a little too big and it’s very uncomfortable I am worried that I am stretching my pouch everytime I do that.
Hi, Christine, I recommend you contact your dietitian as different programs follow different diet guidelines. At WeightWise our patients follow a low-carb, low-fat, and high-protein diet. Our patients do not eat high carb diets as certain carbohydrates/grain may stretch the pouch out over time. Contact your dietitian/operating surgeon to find out exactly what your post-op diet entails. You can call our front desk and they can set you up with a virtual appointment to visit one of our providers, at 405-359-2475.
I had a Ruin-Y for a duodenal bleeding ulcer, At the time, I weighed a little over 100 pounds. I was never taught what to expect with this surgery and didn’t really understand what had been done. I was discharged home some days later from a different doctor on a regular diet. I got home and my husband was trying to soothe me with ice cream shakes (full of sugar). Nobody told me anything. I ended up back in the hospital with an illuis and pancreatitis. I think all together I was there in the hospital a month. The surgeon had to straighten out my small intestine inch by inch. I lost 20 pounds. The first year was horrible. Eating every two hours, I made it up to 95 pounds. occasionally back to 100 pounds, My stomach has not enlarged. I get nauseated, I don”t absorb nutrients correctly, occasional diarrhea still. No appetite. I developed the ulcer from using too much Ibuprofen for chronic back pain. This was six years ago. Should I have returned to normal by now or is this my destiny? If I overeat I throw up.
Hi, Gwen! It is best to contact your operating surgeon as they would have a better understanding of your medical history. With bariatric surgeries, all programs follow different guidelines for diet and eating behaviors to practice so it would be best to reach out to your operation surgeon/program since all programs evaluate post-op weight loss a little differently.