Lap Band Diet

When people are overweight and obese, there is a weight loss surgery which is carried out, which alters the anatomy of their stomach. This surgery is known as the Lap Band Surgery, which is a system that helps you eat less food due to the altered size of your stomach. In this system, there is a silicon belt or collar which is known as the adjustable gastric band. It is placed around the upper part of the stomach in such a way that your stomach's size is reduced to roughly the size of a "golf ball". After the lap band surgery, the stomach is capable of holding only an ounce of food, due to which your appetite decreases, making you full sooner and in turn reduces your weight. Since, this is a surgery which is completely related to your digestive system, there is a specific lap band diet which needs to be followed pre and post surgery. This lap band diet before surgery and after it, is mentioned in the coming up paragraphs, read on!

Lap Band Surgery Diet

Once you have gone through the lap band surgery, the amount of food which you require is always lesser than the usual. The body has to get used to this change and thus, it is always advised that you follow a strict lap band diet which will ensure this change. This diet is not only advised after the surgery, but also before it, so that the body does not go through a sudden difference in food quantity, but gradually gets used to it. When people are overweight and obsessed with losing weight anyhow, they follow unhealthy options like crash diets. This surgery, though not very healthy too, is a better weight loss option, since it is not permanent and can be adjusted with respect to your requirements. Therefore, there are a few lap band diet recipes which are mentioned below, for the foods which can be eaten before as well as after the surgery.

Pre Lap Band Diet
There has to be some uniformity in every diet and therefore, this lap band diet also has some foods which have to be eaten before the surgery takes place. You have to start with these foods about two weeks before the surgery. This pre-op diet is advised so that;

• The lap band surgery recovery time is shortened when the pre-op diet is followed, and there are no severe health effects.
• To reduce the fat around the liver and stomach so as to shrink the liver. The surgery is not held until the liver is large.
• To reduce the fatty triglycerides from around the liver and spleen and thus, to ensure lesser surgical bleeding.
• Increase the protein intake in the body, to protect and preserve the muscle tissue and produce enough energy till the operation.

Therefore, for all these necessary functions this lap band diet is to be administered. The foods included in this diet should be yogurt, fruit, cereal, eggs, oatmeal for breakfast and lean meat or fish with green vegetables for any two meals a day. This diet could be designed differently for every patient but protein supplements are to be included. Have low carb foods other than bread, rice, potatoes, reduce fatty intake of, butter, cheese. Fried food and whole milk dairy along with alcohol and cigarettes should be stopped completely.

Post Lap Band Diet
Your lap band diet after surgery has to be restricted, as your gastric capacity has been reduced to 2 to 7 ounces of food only. Therefore, after surgery, for at least the first few days, you have to limit yourself to certain types and amounts of food. You can't eat more than 240 ml of food at one time and can drink only 1 to 1.5 liters of water daily, after 30 minutes of meal ingestion. Make sure you avoid raw foods like apples, pear, mangoes, etc., seeded foods like blackberries, guava, kiwi, popcorn, nuts like peanuts, almonds, cashews, etc., and fibrous foods like Mandarin, orange and pineapple. This is because, they cause obstruction in the small intestine and are hard to digest. There are many lap band surgery side effects which result if proper care is not taken. Also make sure, you chew the food properly, don't stretch too much, maintain hygiene and gradually increase the level of physical activity. Have liquid, pureed and soft non-fattening foods for the next 5 weeks and go for regular checkups.

With this information about lap band diet, you can surely recover and get used to eating lesser food. Once you have healed completely, you can follow your regular food pattern and maintain your health with exercise. You will also be in complete shape in very short time, so enjoy your health!