Lap Band Diet: A Four-Week Program

A lap band diet is a kind of diet that is to be strictly observed by someone who goes through a lap band surgery. A lap band surgery is a medical procedure that adjusts the gastric band to help the patient lose excess body weight.

Unlike other forms of gastric surgery, a lap band system is a reversible kind of surgery. It does not require cutting of the stomach or stapling it. The lap band surgery is a reversible solution that only adjusts the size of the stomach. The lap band system is known to be the only weight loss surgery approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

How the Surgery is Done

In a lap band surgery, there is a silicone ring positioned in the upper part of the stomach. This is filled with saline in the inner portion. This procedure will result in a smaller stomach pouch. With a smaller stomach, a person feels "full" even after eating just a small percentage of his or her ususal humongous servings. Because of this situation, the person will naturally have less food intake and will lose excess weight.

The lap band approach is known to be the safest form of weight loss surgery since no cutting, stapling and gastrointestinal re-routes are being performed. It means less pain, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery. But it does not mean that the person can go back to the normal diet just as immediately after the operation. A lap band diet is a diet that should be strictly followed by a lap band patient for a long time.

Before the Surgery: the Lap Band Diet

In a lap band surgery, the lap band diet may vary depending on what the surgeon has prescribed. But generally, lap band diet starts around two weeks before the actual surgery is performed. The reason for this is that the fats in the stomach and liver portions should be eliminated before the surgery in order to ensure faster recovery of the patient. A high-protein fully liquid diet can help the person achieve the desired result during this period in time of operation. This is the pre-operation requirement of the lap band surgery.

After the Lap Band Surgery

In a postoperative lap band diet, the patient should strictly observe the diet for a one-month period. Beyond this, the lap band diet is still required but the patient can be more liberal in eating since pains from the surgery should have healed by this time.

First Week on a Lap Band Diet

During the first week after surgery the diet includes only liquid meals. Make sure that the liquids are high in nutritional value in order for the patient not to feel too weak. There is a kind of nutritional shake mix that can be bought from distributors. This is a high nutrition food supplement that can provide energy for the patient in the early time of his recovery. Look for the soya isolate content of the shake mix because this is the best possible source of protein that can be seen in the market today.

Second Week on a Lap Band Diet

On the second week of the diet, the patient should continue with the liquid meals. Slowly, soft solids should be incorporated in each meal. Test the ability of the patient to digest soft solids and do it carefully. You can try giving oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, cottage cheese and other soft and healthy foods. You have to pack the food with protein in order to provide the energy needed by the body.

Third and Fourth Weeks

Follow the same routine of the lap band diet on the third week adding more types of soft solids each time and testing the ability of the body to accept other kinds of food. On the fourth week of the lap band diet, the patient can start taking regular foods with much care. Always feel the body for reactions with each kind of food that you take. Slowly, the patient will start living the normal life again.

Upon recovering fully from the surgery, you can stop your lap band diet and move to a more normal diet. The patient, however, has to exercise discipline in his meals in order not to go back to the same size again. Eat the right food and supplement it with exercise. Also, it will be helpful to take vitamins and minerals that will help the body achieve the nutrients that can not be taken from the foods we eat. Take a lot of fiber rich food in order to eliminate the toxins that we usually store in the body even if we are not aware of them.