How different is Your Diet after Lap Band Surgery?

When you decide to have lap band surgery, you are making a significant commitment to change your life. Most people in Tampa also need to change their eating habits after surgery to ensure successful weight loss. Here are some guidelines for modifying your diet to adjust to a gastric band.

You will be eating about half a cup of food at mealtime, and you should avoid snacking in between meals. Do not drink liquids during your meals, or for one to two hours after you eat. Throughout the rest of the day, drink plenty of water and low-calorie drinks. Your diet should focus on fruit, vegetables, meat and cereal with some dairy, while avoiding fats.

During a typical day, aim to eat one to two servings of fruit and two to three servings of vegetables. In addition, incorporate one small portion of cereal for breakfast and one to two slices of rye or whole wheat bread during the day. For protein, eat one to two ounces of poultry, fish or meat, or one egg, by steaming, grilling, microwaving or boiling your choice. Try to consume up to two cups of skim milk or low-fat yogurt and an ounce of cheese each day, as these products have needed calcium.

Many foods will not be appropriate after lap band surgery. You can have three to four teaspoons of butter, margarine or oil per day, but most other high-fat foods should be avoided. You should also avoid calorie-laden drinks and focus on water, clear soup, tea or black coffee and low-calorie beverages without carbonation. Focus on foods with high nutritional value and avoid high-fat foods and sweets such as cakes, chips, chocolate and biscuits. Alcohol should be consumed only in moderation.