Lap Band Surgery - Lap-Band Diet and Nutrition

When you are able to eat solid foods without problems, you will need to pay close attention to your diet. A healthy meal has vegetables, fruit, meat, bread and/or dairy products.

Eat only three small meals a day. The lap-band system creates a small stomach pouch that can hold only about half a cup of food. If you try to eat more than this at one time you may become nauseated or vomit. If you routinely eat too much, the small pouch may stretch. That will cancel the effect of the operation. Frequent vomiting can also cause certain complications, such as stomach slippage. You need to learn how much your stomach pouch can hold comfortably and then not exceed this amount.

Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Food can pass through the new stoma only if it has been broken into very small pieces. Always remember to take more time for your meals and chew your food very well.

Stop eating as soon as you feel full. Once your stomach is full, your body receives a signal that you have eaten enough. It takes time, though, for you to become aware of this signal. If you rush through your meal, you may eat more than you need. This can lead to nausea and vomiting. Take time to eat your meal. Try to recognize the feeling of fullness-then stop eating at once.

Do not drink while you are eating. This operation can work only if you eat solid food. If you drink at mealtimes, the food you have eaten becomes liquid and the effectiveness of the lap-band system is greatly reduced. You should not drink anything for one to two hours after a meal. This allows you to keep the feeling of fullness as long as possible.

Do not eat between meals. Snacking can definitely sabotage your weight loss and the usual snack foods are a no-no. If you're hungry you should try to have only protein. If you need something sweet, try some fruit (it has fiber). You may also "snack on water" since hydration is also important.

Patients with proper "fill" levels do not feel hungry in between meals. If you are, this may be a sign that your band is too loose and you should tell your clinician.

Eat only good quality food. With the lap-band system in place, you should be able to able to eat only a small amount so the food you eat should be as healthy as possible. Do not fill your small stomach pouch with junk food that lacks vitamins and other important nutrients. Your meals should be high in protein and vitamins. Fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and cereals are good foods to choose. Foods high in fat and sugar are not. Ask your doctor or dietician before you take any vitamin supplements.

Avoid fibrous food. Food such as asparagus that contains many fibers can block the stoma. If you would like to eat asparagus or other fibrous foods once in a while, then you must be sure to cook them well, cut them into very small pieces and them chew them thoroughly.

Drink enough fluids during the day. If you lose weight, your fat content will drop. This results in waste products. You will need to drink large amounts of liquid every day in order to urinate more and excrete these waste products from your body. Individual needs will vary, but you should drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.

Drink only low-calorie liquids. Drinks, including those containing calories, simply run through the narrow outlet created by the band. If you drink liquids high in calories, you will lose little weight, even if you otherwise follow your diet.

Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Since physical exercise consumes energy and burns calories, it is very important to successful weight loss. Exercise can help improve your general health. Your size may make it hard for you to exercise as much as you should. But get started, even if it is a little at first. The more weight you lose, the easier it should get. Start with simple exercises such as walking and swimming. Gradually expand your program to include more vigorous forms of exercise such as cycling, jogging and aerobics.

Increase your activity level in the course of daily living. For example, stand rather than sit, walk rather than stand, be outside rather than inside, walk rather than drive, climb the stairs rather than use the elevator, etc. Remember you should always check with your doctor about the amount and type of exercise that is best for you.