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Clear Liquid Diet to Prepare for Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery requires you to consume a liquid diet before the procedure. This diet begins two full days before your surgery for a gastric bypass and only twenty four hours before a lap band procedure. This is good practice for the days after the surgery when you will not be able to consume any food for a much longer period.

  1. Clear Liquids

    • A clear liquid diet is just what the name implies. Any beverage that you cannot see through is not allowed on the clear liquid diet. The liquids that you can consume on this diet include broth, apple juice, weak tea without milk, ginger ale, and cranberry juice.
      Ice, gelatin, hard candy and popsicles can also be consumed on the clear liquid diet. The diet is not intended to give you all of the nutrition that your body requires. It provides salts and small amounts of nutrients for the few days before a gastric bypass surgery. This type of diet is also used before most major surgeries to avoid diarrhea or vomiting during or after the procedure.

    Planning

    • The clear liquid diet is not easy, but you should remember that you will be consuming the same diet after your gastric bypass surgery as well. Before the surgery, plan your liquid meals to keep your stomach full before the day of the surgery.
      In the morning, consume a glass of apple juice with a cup of weak tea without milk. Your lunch can consist of a bowl of clear broth and apple or cranberry juice. Add a popsicle to your lunch menu to help you get through the diet. Dinner may be more broth and juice. Have another cup of clear herbal tea later in the evening to fill your stomach.

    Keep Busy

    • The days after your gastric bypass surgery will be much easier for your diet. The surgery will shrink the size of your stomach and the smaller amount of liquids and eventually foods will satisfy your appetite. Before the surgery, you are still battling with hunger on a liquid meal plan. Plan to keep yourself busy before your procedure to avoid being tempted to eat.
      Take the time in the days before your surgery to prepare your home so that you can recover in a well-prepared clean environment. This will help to keep your mind off food so that you can get through these difficult days and severely restricted diet.

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