The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz, etc.) filled cracker snacks such as Ritz Bits, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free cookies, cakes, and candy. You will notice these slider foods are often salty and cause a dry mouth so they must be ingested with liquid to be palatable. This is how they become slider foods. They are also, most often, void of nutritional value.
For weight loss surgery patients the process of digestion is different than those who have not undergone gastric surgery. When slider foods are consumed they go into the stomach pouch and exit directly into the jejunum where the simple carbohydrate slurry is quickly absorbed and stored by the body. There is little thermic effect in the digestion of simple carbohydrates like there is in the digestion of protein so little metabolic energy is expended. In most cases patients in the phase of weight loss who eat slider foods will experience a weight loss plateau and possibly the setback of weight gain. And sadly, they will begin to believe their surgical stomach pouch is not functioning properly because they never feel fullness or restriction like they experience when eating protein.
The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured, copious amounts of non-nutritional food without ever feeling uncomfortable.
Many patients turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein without liquids. Yet it is this very restriction that is the desired result of the surgery. The discomfort is intended to signal the cessation of eating. Remembering the “Protein First” rule is crucial to weight management with bariatric surgery.
Gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band) and gastric sleeve patients are instructed to follow a high protein diet to facilitate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers advise what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the “Four Rules” the most important of which is “Protein First.” That means of all nutrients (protein, veggies, complex carbohydrates, then fat and alcohol) the patient is required to eat protein first.
Protein is not always the most comfortable food choice for weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food. However, for the surgical tool to work correctly a diet rich in protein and low in simple carbohydrate slider foods must be observed. The high protein diet must be followed even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain.
Related Articles:
Bariatric Cookery – It’s Not Just About Eating Less!
5 Steps To Move Out Of A Weight-Loss Plateau
Gaining Weight – It Doesn’t Take Long
Portion Control: Not Just Wishful Shrinking
5 Ways To Get Off A Weight-Loss Plateau
5 Ways To Avoid Weight Gain After Bariatric Surgery- Treating Weight Regain After Surgery
Can You Stretch Your Pouch?
New Week, New You, New Challenge
Worried About Weight Regain?
Be Savvy About Sugar
In It for the Long Haul/Part 2
Carin Curtis says
This is a fantastic article thank you so much! I have been really upset because I have plateaued for 6 months!!! I had my gastric band 12 months ago and this article explains so much for me. I have just ordered the first cook book, plate and the vitamin b spray (because I feel quite tired).
I am hoping for some great results and I feel really positive.
xxxx
CAROL says
I’m so pleased that it has helped and that you now feel more empowered and positive about moving forward and cutting the ‘slider foods’ from your regime – I am confident you’ll see many advantages from doing so. The book, plate and vitamin spray are on their way to you and will also help enormously. Check in from time to time for more advice, recipes and updates – hopefully you’ve also registered for our free newsletter (register on home page top right hand corner if not). Do keep us posted with your progress if you get the time. C x
Donna McGovern says
Hi Carol thank you for your latest article. I am five weeks post op and doing well and your information is fantastic. I feel very supported when I look at all your information and I love your recipes also. Thanks for being there xxx
CAROL says
What a very kind thing to say Donna – thanks for taking the time and trouble to post – it means such a lot! Good luck with your on-going weight-loss and if there is anything in particular that you want to know or request then you know where I am. C x
Cherub says
Great article! I learned a lot. I was eating chips & salsa and not feeling full. I thought I had stretched my stomach out (I had a gastric sleeve). Thank you soooooo much!
Carol Dowsett says
I’m 8 years post-op (bypass) & was very proud of my 9 stone loss. After reading about slider foods, it all makes sense about why I had started to slip into regain territory. I’ve just looked up when my local support group meets & I’m going back to regular meetings. I knew it was happening but expected my bypass to cope, but my continual denial & emotional over eating resurfaced & it’s time to step up again. Great article, thanks.
Carol from Plymouth .
CAROL says
Carol, you’re not alone! Slider foods and old-behaviours play a large part of what so many tell me (and I experience too) with regain, even many years out. And whilst some tell me of ‘pouch resets’ and other put-it-right-quickly-regimes I know the only way forward long-term without the yo-yo-ing of past diet nightmares is to get back to basics. Hale the battle is recognising this (so hooray you’ve already done that) and then getting back into the saddle again and giving the surgery tool the chance to work again. Somewhat surprisingly it generally still does it just needs a bit of polishing-up and help to get it back up to speed. I shall continue to cover this in coming days (possibly even today’s blog) and over the coming months since it is a perpetual problem – the bypass itself can’t cope alone. And good for you to go back to your group – it’s a valuable step to being in charge again. All good wishes and thanks for the kind words. C x
Kathy Jo Miller taylor says
I am 15 years post op for RNY. I have lost 200 lbs and lost and gained 20 to 25 lbs at least 4 times since surgery. I need to lose another 55 lb to get to goal weight and have struggled for the past 10 years.
My “crack” food is cake, cookies, candy and cake. I see that this is also slider food. I need to get back to my original eating plan and stay away from slider or crack food.
I have gotten to about 193 lbs once but I pop back up and have done this 3 times. I just want to get to my goal weight. I weighed less than I did in the 9th grade and really cant grasp my ideal weight as an adult.
Thank you for the article.
CAROL says
Hi Kathy, thanks for the comment and I am pleased that you found the article helpful on ‘slider’ foods. You do have insight into what the problem is with your loss and regain which is a good start. The only way to deal with this I have found is to ditch the ‘slider’ foods which isn’t easy I know. Many patients also find that if they engage in some therapy to work out the underlying issues relating to their reliance and need for these foods and the strategies they can put into action to combat them, really does help. Maybe it’s worth some consideration.
C x
Gerda Huma says
I am doing the same and feel disappointed in myself.
Cynthia says
Same here ladies, I am in my seventh year post-op, and have gained at least 40 pounds altogether. I could blame it on a lot of things but emotional eating and lack of exercise is the main reason. I never did reach my ideal weight was 20 shy and didn’t get too upset. It was mentioned that not all of us will reach our target. Perhaps closer to our weight in high school.
I was just happy to be able to get out of the house and enjoy life. Go places with family with out being embarrassed to go to activities, family functions … it’s been a little over a year now that I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and am going through the process of finding the right medication for me.
Hopefully I can get my act together soon and get back on track. Wishing you all the best of luck Gerda and Kathy Jo. I love being on the losers bench.
Liz Bolam says
I’ve started to experience hypos in the last few months, which have gradually increased, causing me to visit my gp who has decided to do some tests to rule out adrenal tumours and several other possible causes. He actually commented that he didn’t feel my wls was at fault, so after getting home I eventually plucked up the courage and started to research this issue as my pancreas was mentioned, scaring me as my dad (age 72) and my maternal cousin (36) both died approx 20 years ago of pancreatic cancer.
I’m nearly 2 years post op of mini bypass surgery and still need to lose 20 kg to get to the expected target weight but I have discussed this with the medical team and my family that I’m not comfortable with that target preferring to lose only 10kg with up to a maximum of 15 kg at most which they are actually happy with as they say I am the one who has to feel comfortable with myself. I have gotten into the habit of eating crisps and other slider foods as they are “nice” “comforting” & “tasty” but definitely expensive rubbish following several operations related to arthritis including bilateral knee replacements, issues with long standing damp problems with my home and the landlords dragging their heels re repairs and several awful personal issues including the loss of our beautiful 1st granddaughter at only 8 hours old just over 6 months ago so with so many stressful issues causing severe depression I have sadly lapsed. The hypos have now given me a wake up call as I’m only 57 with the wish to live many more years to enjoy my small work pension lol and enjoy my new much slimmer body which is less than I was at 15-16 years old but never totally understood the reasons not to drink fizzy drinks or that the amount of crisps etc I could eat was so bad. So thank you so much for your “Bariatric for Dummies” information as that is what I’ve let myself be for too long, no disrespect to anyone else as I know I’ve been an idiot/dummy for far too long even with everything else that’s been going on. So hopefully I can take on board more info and enjoy your recipes.
Lillie Dudley says
This is all still so true. This article has made me come to terms with my issues. Thank you for writing it and leaving it out here for us.
Just love this, going to look around site more
CAROL says
So pleased Lillie that you found this helpful. Do have a browse around there’s lots more to read! Carol x
Laura says
The article was very informative. Answered a lot of my questions. I can see my problems. I now have a plan to start following. I hate to see people gain all their weight back. I have been so afraid of gaining back my weight . Most of the time ,the thought of food makes me sick.
Katie McIntosh says
I can’t figure out how to subscribe to your newsletter! This information was so useful. I am guilty of chips and salsa but was always taught milkshakes and ice cream were sliders to be careful of. I’d love to hear more from you!
CAROL says
Hi Katie, I have added you to the subscribers list so that you get the future newsletters. Glad that you find the information useful – there’s lots more to come! Carol x
Becky Hart says
Hi Carol, I was feeling like a faillure until I read your article. I’m 2 1/2 weeks post op and have stalled already but now I know it’s from the soft foods phase which are carbs like grits, oatmeal, sweet pineapple salsa, mashed potatos, all I’ve eaten and only one protein shake a day. I need to cut the slider foods and get back to the protein first. I’m going to sign up for this wonderful informative website of yours.
Thank you!!
Becky Hart
CAROL says
So happy that you have found this useful Becky and very good to have you on board! Hope you’ve signed up for the free newsletter too – lots of info and recipes/meal ideas in there and the next one is due out very soon. Carol x
Keri says
I am sooo THANKFUL to have found this article!
I have allowed slider foods to become part of my daily eating. And just this week I actually started gaining weight. I feel like such a failure. Slider foods brought me comfort because I could eat a lot of them. But your article gives me hope! I want to get back on track and I will welcome the slight pain I receive from high protein foods. Can you add me to your newsletter too?
CAROL says
Hi Keri, pleased that you found the article helpful and I am sure armed with this information you will quickly get back on track. I have also added you to the subscriber list to get the next newsletter etc – I am sending the Easter one hopefully out later today – look out for it in your inbox. Good luck. Carol x
Jessica says
Hi, thank you for this clarification. I am only 2.5 weeks post-op, but want to be ready for temptation when it comes. What do you suggest for those who strive to be vegan? Is there a way to do this with a whole foods, plant-based diet?
CAROL says
Look out for some recipes and advice coming up shortly Jessica. C x
Mary says
Hi, thank you for this clarification. I am 18 months post-OP and I am hungry most of time and I can finish a whole plate. Does this mean that my stomach has stretched ? Does any weight gain mean stretching or it can be due to poor diet. Does the tool work forever or not ?
Chris Rosenfels says
Please could you add me to the newsletter thank you
CAROL says
Done! Hope you enjoy. Carol x
Ally says
Since your original post, there have been a lot of “protein-enhanced” products that substitute for favorite slider foods.
Some examples: Quest Protein chips: https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Nutrition-Tortilla-Protein-Gluten/dp/B07C2S9KDT
Power Crunch Wafers: https://il.iherb.com/pr/bnrg-power-crunch-protein-energy-bar-peanut-butter-fudge-12-bars-1-4-oz-40-g-each/33110
(I am NOT an advertiser, just showing you what they are.)
I keep them in the house and somehow knowing that I CAN have these when I’m craving the junk helps keep me away from the “real thing.” And after having “indulged” in them when I first discovered them, I’m able to have them into the house without digging into them all the time. Do you think that’s OK, or stay away completely?
CAROL says
I think only you will know if you can keep these under control -and they do certainly make great substitutes if they are just occasional snacks. The danger of course is og letting them get too big a slice of your calorie allowance because many aren’t nutritionally superior to freshly-cooked food, fruit, veggies etc. It’s a bit like with alcohol – now and again as a treat is probably fine for most wls patients but when they become regulars and take the place of a meal the trouble starts – and most patients do secretly know if things have got out of hand. I have a stash of go-to ‘snacks’ like these but never have them on display and put on the top shelf of a cupboard so that I consciously have time to think about whether they are a good choice while seeking them out. Often works … sometimes doesn’t! Carol x
Wanda says
I have begun to eat slider foods more and more since am post-op of one year of my by pass surgery, and was wondering why I felt so full when eating a protein balance meal vs a slider meal (junk), thanks to this article now I know why, I began to blame my round mid-section on stress of returning back to work full-time at a desk job. While sitting at home eating a bag of chips, I had the notion to look up about slider food and stumbled up on this article and found it to be both very informative and helpful, it made become very aware about the weight gain I am now having, and how to change my eating habits so that my weight loss journey through bypass surgery won’t all be in vain. Surgery was the best thing for me it saved my life, now I can go back to eating right and continue on my journey, so far a 160 pound weight loss (here’s to all my “we don’t do slider food anymore friends”, we can do this!!!)