Your stomach stretches to house sizable amounts of food and then shrinks back to its normal size once the food has moved into your digestive track. Even after weight loss surgery, your stomach continues to stretch and then contract. Rugae – folds of tissue in your stomach – stretch in response to the food you’ve eaten. When you overeat, the rugae stretches. With the continual flow of food, the stomach never returns to its regular size. This causes it to accommodate even greater quantities of food before feeling the sense of being full. If your pouch stretches, a pouch reset liquid diet is a great tool to get your stomach back to its post-surgery size.
How the Pouch Reset Diet Works
The pouch reset diet mimics your post bariatric surgery diet. The typical post weight loss surgery diet has 4 to 5 stages and lasts for 8 to 10 weeks. The pouch reset diet uses very similar parameters but only lasts 8 to 10 days. While you can certainly do your own pouch reset diet, it is best to do it under the observation of your bariatric surgeon because you are severely limiting your intake of food.
Day 1 – Only Clear Liquids
- Broth
- Water
- Sugar-free Jell-o
- Decaf coffee
- Decaf tea
- Non-carbonated sugar-free drinks
- Sugar-free popsicles
Days 2 and 3 – Full Liquids
- Sugar-free pudding
- Protein powder mixed with non-carbonated sugar-free clear liquid
- Non-fat yogurt
- Soup with soft noodles
- Sugar-free Carnation instant breakfast
- Very thin, non-chunky creamed soups
- Low-sugar, very thin oatmeal
- Sugar-free sorbet
- Non-fat sugar-free ice cream
- Diluted no-sugar-added juice
- Thinned applesauce
- To avoid stretching your stomach, eat or drink these in very small amounts and limit your intake to liquid/very thin consistency foods.
Days 4 through 6 – Pureed Foods
- Coconut milk or almond milk protein shakes
- Pureed foods
- Hummus
- Soft cereal (Allow your cereal to sit in non-fat milk until it softens.)
- Low-fat cottage cheese
- Non-chunky soups
- Scrambled eggs
Days 7 to 9 – Solid Foods
- Soft vegetables (Steamed or boiled)
- Soft cereals
- Soft cheese
- Ground beef or chicken (Add chicken or beef stock to help keep the meat soft.)
- Scrambled eggs
- Soups
- Soft, steamed fish
- Canned salmon or tuna. (You can add low-fat mayonnaise.)
- Mashed fruit like bananas, canned fruit or avocados. (Watch the sugar content.)
Day 10 and Beyond – Healthy Foods
- Typically, the post weight loss surgery diet focuses on vegetables and protein, but always consult with your bariatric surgeon.
- Introduce healthy foods slowly and in healthy portion sizes. Your entire meal should be the size of your fist.
- Drink liquids at a minimum of 30 minutes before eating and 20 minutes after your meal.
- Eat slowly, allowing at least 30 minutes per meal. Be sure to chew well.
- Fruits are usually okay in moderation.
- Avoid sugar and nutrient-lacking carbohydrates, like pasta.
- Track what you eat daily.