Can I Do Intermittent Fasting After Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is a major step, but there is a long journey ahead. Can intermittent fasting be part of that journey? Keep reading to find out.

After weight loss surgery, you’ll need to follow a special diet to make sure you stay on track with weight loss and get the nutrients you need. Intermittent fasting is a weight management strategy that may also have health benefits. Can the two go together?

Overview of Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting, or IF, is a hot topic. It involves periods of eating alternating with periods of fasting or of low food intake. These are some reasons why people turn to IF.

• To help with weight loss.
• To improve metabolic processes, such as lowering blood sugar and blood pressure
• To reduce chronic inflammation, which is a risk factor for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes

These may also be reasons to turn to bariatric surgery, so should you do IF after bariatric surgery? 

Intermittent Fasting Patterns

There are a few ways that you can do IF. Here are some common ones.

• Each day, have a 16-hour fast followed by a period of 8 hours during which you can eat.
• Have 5 days of normal eating each week, and 2 days of very low-calorie eating, such as 500 calories on those days.
• Alternate days of low calorie intake and normal calorie intake.

The idea is to limit the time during which you are eating. Overall, that can change metabolism and lead to weight loss.

During fasting periods that are 16 hours long, you can have water, black coffee, black and green tea, and herbal tea. You cannot have cream, milk, or sugar in your beverages. On days when you are fasting at a low level of calorie intake, you can spread your meals out how you like, being careful to stay at your goal calorie limit. 

During your eating periods, it’s best to keep in mind that you’re not supposed to eat nonstop for the whole time. Instead, eating moderately, such as a couple of meals and snacks, may be a better option. While IF doesn’t dictate what you eat, it’s better to choose more nutritious foods. They keep you fuller and also can help keep you nourished, especially when this may be a struggle after bariatric surgery.

Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery

Most bariatric surgery patients lose weight quickly after surgery even without IF. The bariatric diet is low in calories and high in protein. It may have three meals daily, or your surgeon or dietitian may suggest that you add snacks to your plan.

These are some reasons bariatric surgery can help you lose weight.

• The size of your stomach pouch or sleeve is smaller, so it can’t fit in as much food.
• Hormone levels may change so that you feel more satisfied and less hungry.
• You may have a malabsorptive procedure, such as gastric bypass, so that you get fewer calories from the foods you consume.

The amount of calories you may consume after bariatric surgery may be about 1,000 to 1,500 daily. The emphasis is on getting enough protein, which can be about 65 grams daily. You also need to be sure to get enough fluids to stay hydrated.

Risks of Intermittent Fasting After Bariatric Surgery

There may be some ways in which IF conflicts with healthy eating after bariatric surgery. First, it can be a struggle to get enough nutrients, especially protein, after bariatric surgery. With such a small stomach pouch or sleeve, you may need to consume protein often. It may not be possible to get enough protein within, say, an 8-hour eating window. In addition, if you have days in which you consume only 500 calories, it could be nearly impossible to get enough protein, which can put you at risk for protein deficiency and consequences such as infections, poor wound healing, and reduced metabolism.

While IF does not restrict fluid intake, it does increase the risk of dehydration. That can be serious for bariatric surgery patients, who are already at risk for dehydration due to trouble consuming enough liquids. Serious dehydration can land you in the emergency room, while mild dehydration could cause constipation, which is already a risk for bariatric surgery patients. 

It’s also important to consider long-term patterns. Bariatric surgery patients should ideally be establishing patterns they can keep up for life. Usually, this involves regular meals and the ability to adapt to social situations. IF may not be helpful in this regard. 

Using Principles of Intermittent Fasting After Bariatric Surgery

Even if you choose not to do IF after bariatric surgery, you can still benefit from knowing a bit about IF. Here are some ways you might use IF principles to help you lose weight.

• It can be good to shock your body sometimes, especially if you hit a plateau. Exercising a bit more, provided your healthcare provider approves, is one way to change up your plan.
• It can help to stop eating a little earlier at night, especially if you’ve been eating a bit more than you’d meant to.
• Choosing nutritious foods is always a good idea to help you feel more full and to keep your body in tip-top shape.
• Whether or not you choose IF, it’s important to watch your nutrient intake daily to make sure you get enough protein. In addition, it’s best to take your daily bariatric vitamins as your surgeon or dietitian suggests.

Bariatric surgery and intermittent fasting are both used for weight loss, but they don’t necessarily go hand in hand. No matter which intermittent fasting pattern you are talking about, the diet may be difficult for bariatric surgery patients to follow while they are already struggling to get enough protein and other nutrients. Before making any decision about changing your meal plan, it’s best to talk to your surgeon or dietitian to make sure it’s safe and appropriate for you.