Having Lap Band surgery will set you on the road to a healthier you and a more confident you.
One of the keys in the post-surgery period is obtaining the proper diet and nutrition for you. This new diet can be worked out between you, your doctor and/or a nutritionist.
Lap Band Nutritional Needs
Immediately following Lap Band surgery one's nutritional intake will involve only liquids during the first week.
During this portion of the recovery, your stomach will only be able to work with liquids. Those liquids that are available to you during this period include water, fruit juices, skim milk, and chicken or beef broth, popsicles, and other likewise items.
From Liquids to Foods
Regarding week 1 the all-liquid diet that was necessary in the days after Lap Band surgery will be followed by only pureed foods.
Individuals can expect to eat only pureed foods for about one week after the all-liquid phase of the post-Lap Band surgery diet. Your doctor and/or nutritionist will closely monitor your food intake during this time to assist you in the process.
At this point you begin to introduce minimally textured foods. The consistency individuals will be searching for in acceptable foods is like that of baby food.
During this phase individuals should focus on eating foods rich in proteins first, and then allow for vegetables and fruits. Lap Band patients will be permitted to eat foods richer in calories during this period than later stages, because the idea at this time is on transition rather than weight loss. Pureed foods can include low-fat pudding or low-fat yogurt, pureed or mashed peas and thin mashed potatoes minus the butter.
For more information about Lap Band, call 1-800-953-5000.
