Eating a proper diet after the Lap-Band gastric banding procedure is necessary to ensure that you lose the weight you need to lose and that you stay healthy while losing it. While the specifics of your diet may vary slightly based on your individual case, the basis of the diet remains the same for all Lap-Band patients.
Purpose
Initially, the purpose of the Lap-Band diet is to let the stomach heal from the procedure. As the stomach heals, the Lap-Band diet slowly reintroduces solid foods into your diet and teaches you how to eat properly. Staying on the diet long-term enables you to lose weight while providing you with all the nutrition you need for your body to function properly.
Time Frame
A clear liquid diet is necessary for the first two weeks after the Lap-Band is placed. During this time, the stomach is healing, so the goal of the diet is to prevent stomach spasms that are associated with vomiting. Weeks three and four are when you start to add some pureed foods, such as pudding or pureed meat, into the diet. During the fifth week, soft foods, such as tender cooked fish are added to the diet. After the fifth week, solid foods are added to the diet. This is the diet you will follow permanently.
Prevention/Solution
Once you start eating solid foods, you must chew your food thoroughly, according to Lap-Band. Particles of food that aren't thoroughly chewed may block the opening of the stomach. If particles remain in the stomach pouch or if they block the opening of the stomach, surgery may be required to correct the problem. Chewing your food thoroughly also gives you the chance to realize when you are full. Your stomach pouch will hold only a small amount of food, usually 3- to 6-oz. If you continue eating once you are full, you risk stretching the pouch or vomiting.
Considerations
Liquids that you consume while eating will flush foods through the stomach pouch at a fast rate. This means that your body doesn't have time to fully digest the foods and get all the nutrients from them. Also, you aren't likely to feel full with the food going through the stomach so fast. As such, you shouldn't drink anything for at least 30 to 45 minutes before you eat or after you finish a meal.
Warning
Because the Lap-Band constricts a portion of the stomach, hard-to-digest foods must be avoided, even once you are on the solid-food diet. Grapes, pineapple, nuts, seeds, popcorn and rhubarb are some of the foods you should avoid. Some tough meats and some breads may be difficult for your body to digest. Hamburger meat should be avoided because the gristle in the meat is difficult to digest, notes The International Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery Team. Spicy foods and fried foods may cause problems after the Lap-Band procedure.
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