Your new diet, Eating after Lap Band Surgery
Whenever you are able to ingest solid foods without a problem, you will need to pay special attention to your diet. Because liquids pass through the pouch quickly, you will eat or drink more than you need since you do not have the feeling of fullness. From now on, you need to avoid high-calorie beverages. Drink water, soups, teas, and coffee (without sugar).
Large amounts of foods or large food particles may block the external part (the stoma) of the pouch. Avoid this problem by chewing your food well and eating small portions each time. Eat only three small, nutrient-rich meals per day. A healthy meal includes vegetables, fruits, meats, bread, and/or milk products.
We will help you to create healthy meals that have adequate nutrients and a minimal amount of sugar and fats.
Am I candidate for Lap Band Surgery?
10 Important Rules to follow after a Lap Band Surgery
Here are 10 important rules about eating, drinking, and exercising that will help you to get the best results possible.
The key to success is your determination to follow new diet guidelines.
- Eat only three meals per day.
- Eat slowly and chew foods thoroughly (approximately 15-20 times).
- Stop eating immediately when you feel full.
- Do not drink while you eat.
- Do not eat between meals.
- Eat good quality foods only.
- Avoid foods high in fiber.
- Drink sufficient liquids during the day.
- Drink only low-calorie beverages.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes per day.
What are the advantages of the Lap Band System?
Why are these rules important and how can you make them work ?
Rule #1: Eat only three, small meals per day.
The Lap Band System creates a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach which can only hold ½ cup (3-4 ounces) of food. If you eat more than this amount, you will experience nausea and vomiting. If you eat excessively, the small pouch will extend and therefore counteract the surgery.
In order for your “new stomach” to feel comfortable, you need to find the right amount of food for you. Do not exceed this amount.
How much weight will I loose with the Lap Band?
Rule #2. Eat slowly and chew foods thoroughly.
The food you ingest can only pass through the small stoma if it has been chewed thoroughly. Always remember to take sufficient time for your meals and to chew all foods well.
Rule #3. Stop eating immediately when you feel full.
Once your stomach is full, your body receives a signal that you have eaten enough. Be conscious of this signal. If you eat quickly, you will not notice the signal and eat excessively, which will cause nausea and vomiting. Eating excessively also decreases weight loss.
Take enough time for your meals and recognize the feeling of fullness; then stop eating immediately.
Rule #4.Do not drink with your meals.
The Lap Band System can only work if you eat your meals without drinking. If you drink with your meals, the food turns into liquids, preventing you from noticing the feeling of fullness. This will cause the effectiveness of the gastric band to be significantly reduced.
Avoid drinking anything for one or two hours after your meals. This will result in a feeling of fullness for a longer time.
Solid foods are more important than liquids. Liquid foods pass through the pouch more quickly and therefore do not make you feel full.
Rule #5. Do not eat between meals.
Eating between meals is one of the greatest reasons why patients fail to lose weight. It is very important to break this habit.
Rule #6. Eat good quality foods only.
With the Lap Band System in place, you should be able to eat only small portions of food. Therefore, the food that you eat should be of good quality and should include proteins and vitamins. Do not fill the new pouch with poor quality foods that steal vitamins and other important nutrients.
Fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and cereals are good options for you, in contrary to the foods that are high in fats and sugars.
You may eat apples and oranges, but avoid drinking the juice thereof.
Ask your surgeon or dietitian before you take any vitamin supplements.
Rule #7. Avoid foods high in fiber.
Foods high in fiber can not be chewed well and saliva does not break them down; therefore, these foods may block the stoma.
If you wish to eat high-fiber foods every once in a while, make sure you cook the food really well, cut it in small pieces, and chew it thoroughly. (An example of a high-fiber food that could easily block the stoma is asparagus.)
Before and after Lap Band Surgery
Rule #8. Drink sufficient liquids during the day.
Losing weight causes your body fat to decrease and your waste products to increase. In order to urinate and eliminate the waste products, you need to drink a lot of fluids daily.
The amount a patient should be drinking varies; however, you should be drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day.
Remember to drink only water, tea, or coffee without sugar, creamer, or milk. Keep your meals and drinks completely separate during the day.
Rule #9. Drink low-calorie beverages only.
Beverages, including those that contain calories, simply pass through the new pouch. As a result, you will not feel full. If you drink high calorie beverages, you will lose less weight even if you follow your diet plan really closely.
Rule #10. Exercise at least 30 minutes per day.
This rule is just as important as the other nine rules are. Because physical exercise uses energy and burns fat, it is an important factor in the process of losing weight successfully. Exercise helps to be healthier in general.
Being obese can make it difficult to exercise as much as you should. However, start with what you are able to do, even if it is not much. The more weight you lose, the easier it will be to exercise.
Begin with simple exercises like walking and swimming. Gradually increase the challenges until you are able to do more vigorous exercises like bicycling, running, and aerobics.
Increase your level of activity during your daily life. For example, stand up instead of sitting down and take the stairs instead of the elevator, etc.
It is important to always check with your surgeon about the amount and the type of exercise appropriate for you.
Note: Although these rules restrict the amount and the types of foods you can eat, make sure your diet is as balanced and varied as possible.
Risks, possible complications, and adverse situations of the lap band procedure you should know
How is the Lap Band System placed on the stomach?
Lap Band Surgery Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
