The diet restrictions after Lap-band weight loss surgery

The Day of Lap-band surgery : A sip of water

You can take a sip of water or suck on an ice cube after surgery for a few hours. It can take a little more fluid but only a small amount at a time. To prevent nausea and vomiting, don't drink too much.

1- 2 Weeks after Lap-band surgery : Liquid Diet

Only liquids can be tolerated. It's important to your body hydrated. Such foods include, but are not limited to : Water, Broth, Skim milk, Fruit juice.

Weight loss methods

3 - 4 Weeks after Lap-band surgery : Pureed Foods

You can start having foods that are slightly thicker, the consistency of baby food. Eat protein-rich foods first and then move on to fruits and vegetables. Such foods include, but are not limited to : Pieces of meat, Pureed skinless fish and chicken, Vitamin-rich mashed vegetables, Yogurt.

5 Week after Lap-band surgery : Soft Foods

You can eat almost anything that you want now. However, you gradually progress from a soft food diet, eventually transitioning to solid regular food until your body is ready for it. You must make it a habit to chew your food thoroughly. Otherwise complications will happen such as vomiting, stomach irritation and swelling and stoma obstruction.

Long-term diet restrictions after Lap-band surgery

  1. Eat slowly. Spent about 30 minutes resting for each meal.
    The stomach opening with the lap band is very small and large chunks of food or poorly chewed food could block the opening. When food gets stuck it is very uncomfortable but usually not dangerous. So you need to eat slowly.
  2. Avoid drinking fluids while eating. Not drink anything with your meals or for 30 minutes either before or after eating.
    Eating and drinking at the same time causes food to move through the digestive system a little too quickly, you may feel more hungry. However, it is important that you drink between meals in order to keep your digestive tract moving.
  3. 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. Eat only three small meals a day and make sure that these meals contain adequate nutrients.
  4. Avoid to carbonated beverages.
    Both diet and regular may cause gas, bloating, and an increase in stomach size due to the carbonation and are not recommended at any time for Lap-Band patients. If you can't live without the taste, you can even use Flat diet orange soda as the base for a protein shake.
  5. Alcohol is strongly discouraged.
    An occasional, small amount of alcohol is ok, but keep in mind that it's high in calories, slips past the stomach band quickly, Alcohol will significantly slow your weight loss.
  6. Avoid to high in sugar, fat and calories foods. It will decrease your chances of successful weight loss.
    Such foods include, but are not limited to : High-calorie soft drinks, Syrups, Cakes, Biscuits, Sweets, Jam, Marmalade, Honey, Chocolate, Pies, Chips pastries.
  7. Avoid fibrous foods. It can block the stoma.
    You can't chew this food well enough to break it up into small pieces and your saliva can't break it down. Such foods include, but are not limited to : Aasparagus, Celery, Corn, Dried Fruit, Oranges, Pineapples, Sweet Potatoes Other problematic foods include nuts and seeds, popcorn, the skin of fruits and vegetables, and tougher cuts of meat like beef and pork.