Lap band surgery reduces the amount of food that can be held by the stomach to four to six ounces. Nutrition and making the most of the small amount of food that can be consumed becomes very important after this weight loss surgery. Some foods must be avoided after the surgery, and others promote good health for recovery and weight loss.
Immediately After Surgery
For the first three to four days after surgery, lap band patients are instructed to stay on a liquid-only diet. This is an important part of the success of the surgery. The liquid diet prevents complications that can result from eating solid foods too quickly, such as slippage of the band and erosion of the band.
Avoid caffeine for three months after a lap band surgery as well.
Foods to Avoid
Avoid foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value after lap band surgery. It is possible to continue to take in enough calories after lap band surgery to maintain your current weight. Candy and sweets will provide the calories to prevent weight loss without causing you to feel full.
Remove carbonated beverages from your diet because they will increase the size of the pouch created by the lap band surgery and cause pain and discomfort. Fibrous foods like celery, dried fruits, pineapple, oranges, corn and asparagus can become stuck in the stomach opening and should not be eaten.
Meat such as steak and pork chops is too difficult to eat after surgery as well. Avoid these meats and popcorn, nuts and seeds.
Protein
Protein is an important part of a healthy diet. After lap band surgery, eat lean sources of protein such as skinless poultry and eggs. A lap band surgery patient must consume 50 to 60 grams of protein every day.
Eat
How you eat after lap band surgery is as important as what you eat. Three small meals a day is all you should need to eat. Snacking between meals is not recommended and will lead to taking in more calories than you need during the day and complicate weight loss.
Food should be chewed thoroughly to avoid any complication with the pouch that was created with the lap band. This will also help you to feel full when eating.
Eating too much at meals will cause nausea and vomiting. Stop eating when you feel full and do not drink while you are eating. Your stomach pouch does not have enough room for liquids and foods. Do not drink any liquids for 30 minutes before meals and after.
Consume plenty of low calorie non-carbonated liquids during the day to keep hydrated. At least six to eight glasses of water or other low calorie drink a day is the recommended amount after lap band surgery.
Future Choices
Lap band surgery is designed to help patients eat less. After the surgery, it is still up to the patient to make good choices in the foods that they eat. Choosing nutritious foods for meals will encourage a healthy weight loss.
