The Lap Band Diet

Your surgeon may request you to lose weight or not to gain additional weight before the surgical placement of the gastric band. Losing weight before surgery can reduce the size of enlarged liver back to its normal size. An enlarged liver can make it difficult for the surgeon to place and position the Lap Band around your stomach.

It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions. Start by selecting healthier eating habits. The pre-surgical diet plan includes:

• High protein foods. Examples of lean proteins include chicken breast, turkey breast, fish, beef loin, and soy products.
• Vegetables that contain low in sodium and starch.
• Cutting back on high fat and high carbohydrates foods. Choose meals with low oil, starch, and sugar content. Avoid deep fried foods, chips, cookies, popcorn, cakes, pretzels, candy and sugary beverages.
• No sodas and alcoholic beverages, as they can be high in carbonation and calories.

*You are allowed only to consume fluids for a minimum of 24 hours prior to surgery.

Continue drinking fluids from the clear liquid diet. However, in this stage, you can add more liquid varieties to your daily intake. Keep in mid that your body still need to heal, thus only liquids are allowed and non-chunky/particles foods.

• Drink slowly, take a few sips, and do not use a straw
• Stay hydrated. Try to drink at least 8 cups (64 oz.) of liquids daily
• Do not force yourself to drink when you feel full
• Take vitamin supplements as instructed by your doctor or dietitian
• Avoid sugary, alcoholic, and carbonated drinks

Week seven and beyond, after the placement of the lap band, involves the transition from full liquid to solid foods. Chew thoroughly and swallow your food slowly. Now you can introduce new healthy solid foods, one at a time.

• Include lean protein in your meal. Protein helps you body to maintain muscle mass, prevent hair loss, and provide energy. Some of the examples are chicken breast, turkey breast, fish, and soy products.
• Do not over eat. Cut your food into small pieces and chew thoroughly. Wait 10 minutes and see if you are full. When you feel full, you should stop eating.
• Eat three meals daily.
• Avoid drinking water for at least 30 minutes before and after a meal.
• Avoid fried foods, sugary desserts, crackers, sodas, and alcoholic beverages.
• Stay away from heavy cream. If your recipe requires heavy cream, substitute with nonfat or low-fat version.
• Choose low-fat cheeses over regular or whole milk cheeses.
• Take daily multivitamins as directed by your physician.
• Plan on what you eat before going out.
• Track your daily intake by having a food log/diary.
• You can eat bread, rice, pasta, non-crunchy cereals, soft crackers in moderation.
• Choose easy to digest vegetables such as cooked beets, green beans, mushrooms, zucchinis, and eggplants.

After each band adjustment, you need to go back to a liquid diet for about three days, then progressing to solid foods. Contact your doctor if you experience vomiting after a meal. Follow up with your doctor regularly.