Chapter 1
Fueling the New You:
Ingredients for Success
In This Chapter
▶ Taking a look at your new healthy eating plan
▶ Setting up and preparing your kitchen for success
I
n order to make the most of your surgery, you need to change your
lifestyle after you have your procedure. This doesn’t have to be a chore —
in fact, when you see how good you feel when you give your body all the
nutrients it needs, you’ll want to continue doing it.Establishing new eating and exercise habits is an essential part of achieving
and maintaining a healthier weight. Each patient is expected to change the
foods eaten, the amount of food eaten, and how that food is eaten, in order
to provide the body with the nutrition it needs and to promote weight loss.
These dietary changes and nutritional guidelines are meant to be followed for
the rest of your life.In this chapter and throughout this book, we start you at the beginning, from
your first day at the hospital, through your transition to solid foods, to
sticking with a healthy eating plan for life. We outline portion sizes and
general guidelines to assist in making your transition as easy as possible.A weight loss surgery lifestyle includes planning and preparing small, high-
protein meals, chewing every bite thoroughly, exercising, keeping a diet and
exercise diary, and more. Your bariatric team will provide nutrition and fitness
guidance and help you develop plans that will work best for you.When it comes to food, different people have different tastes and schedules.
Listen to your body and your surgeon’s directions and call your bariatric
team if you have a question about your specific situation.