When you choose to have weight loss surgery, you need to physically prepare your body for the changes that occur after surgery.  Weight loss surgery is a commitment to improving and maintaining your health to allow weight loss.

The Lap Band surgery reduces your weight through the insertion of an adjustable band around your stomach.  Because of gastric banding, your stomach size is significantly reduced.  With a reduced stomach size, your portions decrease, and you experience more feelings of fullness.

When you feel full, you will not overeat due to your lessened feelings of hunger.  Another benefit of the Lap-Band surgery is that it is reversible with less permanent side effects than other weight-loss surgeries.

As with other bariatric surgeries, you should be aware that your diet plays a large role in your weight loss success.  There are some guidelines you should follow to promote the healthiest amount of weight loss possible.

Lap Band Post Op Diet Plan

For the first two weeks after weight loss surgery, you will be limited in the food consistency and the amount of food you can have.  Your first two weeks relies on a strict liquid-only diet.  This is vital to your healing process.

After Lap Band surgery, your small stomach pouch is new and needs time to adjust to your new digestive processes.  The foods you can have throughout your first two weeks after surgery include:

• Water
• Clear Broth
• Skim Milk or Non-Fat Powdered Milk
• Sugar-Free Liquid Yogurt
• Whey and Soy Protein Products
• Sugar-free Gelatin

Also, to change your liquids' texture, you can add ice to your drinks and blend them to create a slushy. This is a fun way to modify your food routine.

Lap Band Post Op Diet: Liquid Explained

During this period, you should always carry a large water bottle wherever you go to prevent dehydration, which is a concern immediately after surgery.  It is easy to feel dizzy or light-headed after surgery. Therefore you need to be aware and monitor your liquid intake constantly.

You should aim for 48 ounces of fluids daily.  Your goal is to consume 2 ounces every hour.  By day three, you should aim for 64 ounces of daily fluids.  You can achieve this goal by taking sips to avoid dehydration.

Do not be disappointed if you cannot reach this goal immediately after surgery.  This is a goal you are aiming to get eventually.

Once you reach day five after surgery, you can add more liquids to your diet.  You can add drinks that contain protein and vitamins into your body to help your healing process.  Be aware that your stomach is still healing within the first two weeks.

Lap Band Post Op Diet

Once you reach weeks 3 and 4 after your Lap-Band surgery, you can progress towards pureed food.

Pureed food is most similar to baby food in regards to consistency.  During this period, you should focus on maintaining your liquid intake and incorporating more protein into your diet.

Some protein-based meals you can use include:

• Pureed Chicken or Fish
• Cooked Pureed Vegetables
• Low-Fat Yogurt
• Low-Fat Cottage Cheese
• Refried Beans
• Low-Fat Cream Soups

To prepare pureed meals, you can either use a blender or food processor.  Your pureed food must be similar to applesauce or smooth mashed potato consistency.

Another vital elements to eating a pureed diet are to eat slowly. At the same time, you are introducing new food to your new stomach. You need to chew every piece of food slowly.

You are still recovering from surgery and cannot process solid food yet.

Lap Band Post Op Diet: Pureed Explained

If you happen to eat solid food, you run the risk of dislocating your band, which enlarges your gastric pouch.  Therefore if you can avoid solid food, you will be in a safer position in the long run.

Another helpful way to monitor your food at the pureed stage is beginning a food journal.  This helps you stay on track and meet your daily food and liquid goals.

It would help if you also refrained from drinking any liquids with your meals.  Liquids make your stomach expand and will not allow enough room for your pureed food.  Your food will pass quickly through your stomach without fully digesting, making your hungry sooner, and you will snack more often.

The rule to follow is stopping all drinking at least 30 minutes before every meal and not drinking again until 30 minutes after eating.

Lap Band Post Op Diet: Soft Foods

Once your progress successfully to a soft food diet, your options expand.  This stage occurs during weeks 5 and 6 after your Lap-Band surgery.

You do not have to puree your foods any longer during this stage, but you need to chew your food considerably before swallowing.

Some menu ideas to consider include:

• Fresh or Frozen Fish
• Cooked or Steam Veggies
• Skinned Fruit
• Eggs
• Beans
• Tuna, Chicken or Egg Salad

When you start a soft food diet, you should focus on food that your stomach can digest quickly, typically bland foods.  You will also experience food intolerances at this stage.  You do not need to worry. It merely means your stomach is still healing and is not ready for that particular food product yet.

Allow time for your body to heal and try the food item again. If your body still negatively reacts a second time, then you need to avoid that particular food for a bit of time.

Lap Band Post Op Diet: Solid Food

Once you have reached week seven after your Lap-Band surgery, you can begin introducing solid food to your diet.  To successfully progress to this stage, you need always to limit any snacking.

You should also chew your food to a pureed consistency before you swallow your food.  This habit allows your stomach to digest your food properly.  Also, make sure to take your time and not rush your eating.  If you overeat or drink too fast, you may vomit.

During this solid food stage, your need to focus not only on your protein intake but also on making well-balanced meals.  Incorporating healthy vegetables is essential to include the necessary nutrition into your daily diet.

Another critical component to the solid food stage is remembering to drink water as much as possible between meals.  Dehydration will always be considered after surgery, and developing a healthy habit of regular water intake will prevent any health complications.

Other helpful suggestions for successful Lap-Band surgery are listening to your body and stopping eating as soon as you are full.  Do not eat when you are not hungry, and use small plates to reduce your portion sizes.