Many of us quickly find ourselves at crossroads after bariatric surgery. If you give up on the bariatric diet and go back to eating the same way that made you overweight, guess what-you will become overweight again! Even though you had the weight loss surgery you can “undo” it by pushing your limits and not adjusting your eating habits.

The Number One Rule for a Bariatric Diet

The number one rule you will need to abide by is “protein is king.” Protein is the cornerstone of the bariatric diet. If you want to maintain your weight loss you will want to eat some sort of protein for each meal. It should account for half of each meal.

You should eat between 50 and 70 grams of protein per day. The other core principles behind the gastric bypass diet are low carb and low volume. For you to remain successfully slim these rules must be strictly followed.

The Three Types of Protein

With so much riding on your daily protein intake, how can you add a little variety to your meals? Protein comes in many forms. Animal protein is what most people think of immediately when they think of protein. Foods like poultry, fish and beef are three primary examples.

Dairy protein is another great choice. Cheese (low-fat is best) is a good option in this category. Plant protein is a third type of protein. Nuts, legumes (beans), and soy are solid diet additions for weight loss maintenance.

The Other Advantages of Protein for Your Weight Loss Diet

Protein maintains weight loss and generates long lasting energy. You will soon notice that your endurance levels will skyrocket, far more than when you were gorging on carbs.

Carbs are quick and cheap energy that burn fast and require elevated levels of consumption to remain effective. The carb cycle is what makes people overweight, as sugar is the byproduct when carbohydrates are metabolized.

Your diet should be lean protein from all of the categories listed above, keeping the carb intake low. Eating smaller meals more frequently also helps.

What About Sugar?

Sugar should be replaced with natural alternatives like Stevia or Chicolin, which are plant-derived natural sugar substitutes that are sweet and low glycemic. With these tools at your disposal, your bariatric diet will be successful.

For complete and well-rounded nutrition make sure that bariatric vitamins are included!