nutritioin after gastric bypass

Question
I had gastric bypass surgery about 5 years ago.  I have gained much of the weight back and have been discouraged. Many foods that I once enjoyed are of course off limits, but also hard to digest.  Mostly meats, dairy, fats.
My yearly labs have always been normal and I take my vitamins and supplements as I should.  I'm very interested in a vegan diet, since much my food issues do with meats and dairy.  My concerns are regarding my getting all the nutrients that I need since I don't have the capability to digest normally anymore.  Is there anything extra I would have to do on top of my normal supplements and vitamins.   

Thank you,

Anji

Answer
Hi Anji,

It is very hard to be vegan with a gastric bypass - but not impossible.
Being vegan will mean that you need to increase your intake of protein (remember you need 50-60 grams per day of high quality protein), iron and B12. I would really consider some supplemental protein - even if it's just 10-20 grams/day. Vegan diets also tend to be relatively low in zinc - so you should make sure that your multivitamin has at least 15-30mg.

You clearly must be pretty conscious of your nutrition already if you are 5 years post-op and have maintained healthy vitamin levels - so this may not be a huge adjustment for you. I would be much more concerned if you said that you had been struggling with iron deficiency or other issues, but if you are not and I think that give you a better chance at success with a dramatic dietary change. I would just be sure that you continue to get your regular labs done and don't let your supplementation slide.

Finally, if you are really struggling with weight regain, I would ask if you have revisited your surgeon? The gastric bypass procedure can occasionally have failures that are surgical in nature - and if you had a problem that could in part be fixed you might want to know.

Hope this helps and good luck!

In Health,

Dr Jacques

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