The Lap-Band surgical procedure is normally performed laparoscopically, and consists of an adjustable silicone band clasped around the upper portion of the stomach. Lap-Band surgery makes a small, fist-sized pouch at the top of the stomach food as well as narrowing the opening to the larger part of the stomach situated underneath the band. Getting a Lap-Band is just the beginning -- following the right diet will ensure consistent weight loss in the months following the surgery.
Use Small Utensils and Plates
Eat like a toddler, suggests nutritionist Suzette Kroll, author of the website Your Personal Lap-Band Guide. Not that she's suggesting merrily flinging your Cheerios around the kitchen or wearing a bib. Kroll advocates small utensils, but if you feel silly using children's cutlery, a fancy cocktail fork and demitasse spoon work just as well. Cut up your food into tiny bites, the way mom did when you were a 2 year old. Thoroughly chew and savor those little bites. Kroll also recommends small bowls, cups and plates -- again, you don't have to raid a child's toy box for a miniature tea set. Cocktail or appetizer plates, sake cups, and mini sauce bowls are sophisticated and reinforce correct portion size, which is 1/2 to 1cup chewed food at each meal.
Avoid High-Calorie Drinks
Limit liquid calories for Lap-Band success, says Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., author of the book "Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery." Liquid calories lurk in many fancy coffee drinks, milkshakes, smoothies, alcoholic beverages, juices and energy drinks. "It is hard to keep track of how many calories you are really ingesting with liquid calories and the liquids slip right through the band, so they don't fill you up," says Ahroni. Alternatives include water, low- or no-calorie flavored beverages and sports drinks, teas and herb teas, diet hot chocolate, and coffee sweetened with sugar-free syrups and made with nonfat milk, if you are craving a latte.
Eat More Solid Foods
Stick to solid food after you have completed the healing process and restricted diet in the weeks following surgery. You may think a liquid or soft food diet will result in faster, greater weight loss, but that is not the way the Lap-Band device works. Solid foods remain in the pouch and above the band longer, leaving you feeling satiated and satisfied on smaller portions for longer. Liquids and soft foods slide through to the lower stomach, resulting in decreased sensations of fullness and hunger pangs. Choose tuna or a veggie burger over yogurt and soups, unless the soup is more of a hearty stew or chili consistency. Protein and produce at every meal keeps the pouch full and happy.
Separate Eating and Drinking
Drink only between meals. Because protein and produce fill your small upper pouch, the solid food turns to mush and slips quickly into the lower stomach if you eat and drink at the same time. You can drink low- or no-calorie beverages right up until the moment you start eating, but stop sipping once you start chewing. This can be a hard habit to break, so a good tactic is to remove your glass or cup from the table once the food is served. After the meal, wait at least 45 minutes before drinking.
References
- Lap Band: Know the Facts
- Diet for Lap Band: Portioning Tools
- Jessie Ahroni, Ph.D.; Clinical Coordinator, Northwest Weight Loss Surgery;Tacoma, Washington
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