In order to eat right, you need to have healthy foods available at your fingertips. To help with this, you need to… Stock Your Pantry With The Right Foods. Eating correctly really starts with shopping for the correct foods. The following list should help to give you an idea of what to keep on hand on a regular basis. Also, remember to read ALL food labels and avoid any foods that have more than 5g of fat per serving, and make sure that the sugar value is also under 10g of sugar per 100g as listed on the nutritional label.

Suggested Protein Foods

✓ Tuna (light, water packed)
✓ Salmon
✓ Cheese, low fat
✓ Cottage cheese
✓ Egg whites
✓ Chicken– more moist options
✓ Cooked Rotisserie Chicken
✓ Scallops
✓ Shrimp– fresh or frozen
✓ Fish fillets– fresh or frozen
✓ Tofu
✓ Deli sliced meat
✓ Yogurt (GREEK or SKIM)
✓ Nuts (Peanuts, cashew, almonds)

Despite recognition that Physical activity promotion is an important component of a comprehensive surgical weight loss program, there are currently no evidence-based preoperative or post-operative PA guidelines. However, several organizations have issued recommendations recently. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) recommends mild exercise (including aerobic conditioning and light resistance training) 20 min a day 3 to 4 days a week before surgery to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, reduce the risk of surgical complications, facilitate healing, and enhance post-operative recovery. The American Heart Association recommends a similar ‘‘mild’’ preoperative exercise regimen of low-to moderate-intensity A at least 20 min a day 3 to 4 days a week. The 2007 Expert Panel on Weight Loss Surgery recommends patients to be encouraged to increase preoperative to post-operative PA, in particular, low-to moderate-intensity exercise. In addition, evidence points out to a dose-response relationship between PA and both weight loss and long-term weight loss maintenance such that higher levels of PA translate to greater benefits.

Begin Slowly
It is important to begin your activity regimen at a slow pace. Start with light activity and work your way up.
Begin your exercise with walking or water aerobics. Low impact activity is still beneficial.
When your body is ready, increase the amount of time spent exercising or advance to a higher impact activity.

Stay Healthy
Always check with your doctor before starting a vigorous exercise program. Be aware of how your body feels. If something doesn’t feel right, slow down or stop. Choose well-respected facilities. When working with personal trainers or other staff, make sure they have the proper certifications for it. Always use the proper exercise equipment and gear to help prevent injuries. Keep hydrated

It is important to stay hydrated before, during and after exercise. You will need to hydrate yourself to replenish the fluids you have lost through sweat.

Stay hydrated, don’t wait until you’re thirsty. By the time you get thirsty, you’re most likely to dehydrate.

Avoid carbonated beverages and fruit drinks. These take longer to absorb liquids and can cause cramping, nausea and/or diarrhea. Cool or chilled fluids may work best. Cooler liquids help to lower and normalize the body’s elevated core temperature.

Protein
Make sure you are consistently maintaining your recommended protein requirements. Protein will help you build muscle as well as keep your energy at a high level. If you do not get your protein, you will feel tired and sluggish.

Preparation for bariatric surgery includes several steps to optimize the patient’s health in anticipation of an operation.

Stop all carbonated beverages
Stop all beverages with caffeine
Begin a routine exercise program approved by your physician.
Start the diet as guided
Practice Chewing
Stop smoking
Stop chewing gum
Establish a schedule for meals
Drink at least 2 liters of water a day
Begin the practice of not drinking with your meals.
Stop drinking 30 minutes before you eat and do not drink again until 30 minutes after you eat. This will be a requirement following your surgery and needs to become a lifetime habit.
Drink Protein supplements at least 40 grams a day.

If you’re taking medications, you must provide the complete list, so our physician can authorize which ones you can take during the week prior to surgery and which ones will need to stop taking.

• Avoid fried foods
• Drink at least 67 oz of water daily
• Substitute coffee for green tea. Only 1 cup per day.
• Eat dinner 1-2 hours before going to bed
• Do not allow yourself to be hungry. You must eat within a time frame of no more than 4 hours between each meal (ex: breakfast, lunch, mid-day snack, dinner, night snack).
• Eliminate all carbonated and soda beverages
• Eliminate cigarettes and cigars
• Avoid simple carbohydrates. Foods with simple carbs include white bread, potatoes, white rice, corn, peas and anything that is obviously full of sugar like candy, ice cream or donuts.
• Eat good carbs in small portions (along with your high amounts of protein), including vegetables, apples and the “brown foods” like whole-grain bread and brown rice. In addition to being good for your blood sugar level, they are often high in fiber, which makes you full faster and helps to regulate your bowel movements.
• Must drink FLUIDS (preferably, low calorie ones such as unsweetened, caffeine-free herbal tea) but not just water.
• A day prior to surgery the patient can only intake liquids (clear protein, such as isopure, Jell-O, sugar free popsicles, broth).
• Start fasting at 8pm.

HOW YOU PREPARE YOUR FOOD IS AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT YOU BUY:

• When cooking, bake, grill, poach or broil…don’t fry.
• Use skim milk and skim yogurt instead of whole milk.
• Use chicken or vegetable broth instead of oil.
• Add spices or lemon juice to add flavor instead of olive oil or butter.

Do Not Gain Weight
Gaining weight will make the surgery more challenging.
Start Getting Active

Start exercising as much as possible to help improve your circulation, prevent blood clots and improve your health. Proper exercise will be a very important part of your post-surgery weight loss plan. Start now.

Stop Smoking
Stop smoking 14 days prior to your surgery date. This will allow your lungs to provide better oxygen to your blood, which can help decrease the risk of infection and pneumonia. It also helps improve wound healing.

Stop Medications
Stop taking aspirin or related anti-inflammatory medicines (ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, etc.) 14 days prior to surgery. Anti-clotting drugs should be suspended 2 days prior to surgery, unless it’s indicated by the treating physician.
All other prescription medications should be communicated to your surgeon’s team prior to scheduling your surgery.

Stop Caffeine
Wean yourself off of caffeine 14 days prior surgery to avoid painful post-surgery headaches. Caffeine is a diuretic and may contribute to some dehydration during and after surgery which is not desirable for you.

Pre Surgery Weight
It is important for you to provide your exact weight and height. Approximate weights are unacceptable.
Please obtain an accurate weight by using a reliable scale. If you have gained a significant amount of weight from the time your surgery was scheduled and the time you arrive at the hospital, your surgeon may have to postpone surgery.

3 Days Prior Surgery
-Please take a single laxative only 1 time, 3 days before surgery to help with gas and constipation related to surgery.
-At this point, continue to follow your pre-operative diet guidelines to help prevent complications such as bloating, diarrhea and other symptoms. (Liquid diet).

All U.S. citizens must show proof of identity and proof of U.S. citizenship to get back into the U.S. from Mexico. You must have a valid I.D. issued by the U.S. Government (U.S. Passport Book, U.S. Passport Card or a Trusted Traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST), or an enhanced driver’s license.

If your passport has not arrived, you will need to show proof that you have applied for a passport (receipt of payment) along with I.D. (birth certificate and driver’s license) to get back into the U.S.

Your recommended return flight date is an approximate date. We suggest you purchase an airline ticket without restrictions, in case the doctor wants to monitor your health condition longer than normal.

Pack personal hygiene products (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.), robes, pajamas, sandals, and slippers.

Dress for comfort with loose clothing. Avoid bringing valuables and wearing jewelry. If you have any valuables and do not have a companion to leave them with, make sure to have your items put in the locker at the hospital.

If you want to do any shopping, cash works better than credit cards with the local vendors.

In case of revision surgery, Hiatal Hernia, BMI>45 or complications, you will need to bring extra cash, in case the cost will be more than what was originally quoted.

Your family may contact you by calling your cell phone. The hospitals are close to the border and most cell phones have good reception without roaming charges. They may call the hospital directly; all rooms have phones.