Ep 52: Three Tips for the Very Early Days Post Bariatric Surgery
This post is a companion to Episode 52 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
If you're in the very early days after bariatric surgery — or you're heading into surgery soon — this episode is for you. Three tips, kept simple, because simple is what you need right now.
Tip 1: Take It One Day at a Time
Those first few days can be genuinely hard. It can be uncomfortable, fluid is difficult to get down, and buyer's remorse can hit hard. You might wonder what you've gotten yourself into. Please know: this is not forever. From one day to the next, there can be significant improvement. Don't let your thoughts carry you into "is this how it's always going to be?" It is not. One day at a time. This too shall pass.
Tip 2: Fluid Is Your Priority
In those first weeks, your sole focus should be fluid. Not protein — that comes in gradually. Fluid first. Sip, sip, sip throughout the day. Dehydration is the most common reason people return to hospital after bariatric surgery. Track your fluid intake on paper if it helps — watching it build from day one to day seven is genuinely encouraging. Try different temperatures, different flavours. Find what works for you.
Tip 3: Go Slow Through Your Dietary Stages
Your bariatric centre will give you timelines for moving through the dietary stages — from fluids to purée to soft food to a full diet. These are guidelines, not hard deadlines. If you have a choice between going faster or slower, go slower. Listen to your body. Your gut is healing — it is swollen and sensitive and it needs gentleness, not rushing. Moving through the stages gradually, one food at a time, with patience, is what sets you up well for everything that comes next.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Listen to the full conversation on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and subscribe so you never miss a new episode every Monday!