Lap Band Surgery Diet

For those individuals who have undergone Lap-Band surgery or are thinking of having the Lap-Band surgery performed, there are a few things that one should know when it comes to diet and nutrition guidelines for these types of patients. Many people may think that once the surgery is performed the individual who has had it done can go about their day eating anything they so desire but this is not the case. Lap-Band patients need to follow certain diet and nutrition guidelines once the Lap-Band is in place. The following paragraphs will describe some of this diet and nutrition plans which should be followed by Lap Band Surgery patients.

The foods you eat and your eating behaviors will change after lap band surgery. Lap band patients will learn to make healthy food choices, eat only three small meals a day, eat slowly and chew foods thoroughly, limit snacking, and avoid high fat and high sugar foods.

Your diet will start to change before lap band surgery with your pre-op diet. Your doctor will put you on a special diet to get your body ready for surgery. After surgery, your diet will progress from liquids to soft foods until you are able to eat solid foods over the six week recovery period. It is important to follow your doctor's nutritional guidelines and food recommendations to get the most out of your lap band and maximize weight loss.

Foods to Avoid:

•#Sugar and sugary foods, including: high-calorie soft drinks, syrups, honey, jelly, jam, cakes, cookies, candy, ice-cream.

•#High-fat foods, including: chocolate, chips, pies, pastries, ice-cream, bacon, sausage, fried foods, cream soups, cream sauces.

•#High-calorie drinks, such as milkshakes, soda, beer, orange juice, apple juice, other fruit juices, whole milk.

•#Starchy and white flour foods, such as pasta, rice, and doughy breads.

•#Fats such as butter or oil should be restricted to 3 to 4 teaspoons per day.

•#Carbonated beverages - carbonated drinks (such as soda, carbonated water, champagne) can increase the size of the pouch and cause discomfort.

•#Fibrous foods - fibrous foods (such as asparagus, celery, corn, dried fruit, oranges, pineapples, sweet potatoes) can get stuck in the stoma (stomach opening created with LAP-BAND®).

•#Other problematic foods include nuts, popcorn, skins and seeds of fruits and vegetables, and tough meats such as steak, pork chops, and hamburger.

How to Eat Food:

One should eat slowly by making tiny bites. The new stomach is a baby stomach. It requires to take protein shakes and relearning of eating skills like a new baby learns to eat. Adding new foods should be slow in process.

The patient needs to make a habit to chew foods well. It will do the patient a world of good to cut the food items to small pieces and then chew it thoroughly. Otherwise complications will happen such as vomiting, stomach irritation and swelling and stoma obstruction.

One should go back to liquid diet if solid foods cause nausea and vomiting. Drinking of 6-8 cups of water per day between meals will keep one hydrated throughout the day. Three small meals a day with adequate nutrients is to be eaten. The stomach can only hold about 1/4 cup of food at a time. Easting has to be stopped when the hunger is gone.