When you can eat solid foods without problems, you will need to pay close attention to your diet. Liquids will pass through the reduced stomach pouch quickly and will not make you feel full. You should avoid high-calorie drinks from this point on. Drink water, broth, tea, and coffee (without sugar).
Too much food or big chunks of food can block the stomach pouch outlet. You can avoid this problem by chewing food well and eating small bits at a time. Eat only three small meals a day. Make sure that these meals contain adequate nutrients. A healthy meal has vegetables, fruit, meat, bread, and/or dairy products.
Here are ten rules for eating, drinking, and exercise that will help you get the best results you can with the LAP-BAND System. How willing you are to follow a new way of eating is key to making the operation a success.
The LAP-BAND System creates a small stomach pouch that can hold only about half a cup (3 to 4 ounces) of food. If you try to eat more than this at one time you may become nauseous. You may also vomit. If you routinely eat too much, the small stomach pouch may stretch. That will cancel the effect of the operation. Frequent vomiting can also cause certain complications, such as stomach slippage. You need to learn how much your stomach pouch can hold comfortably and then not exceed this amount.
Food can pass through the new stoma only if it has been "chopped" into very small pieces. Always remember to take more time for your meals and chew your food very well.
Once your stomach is full, your body receives a signal that you have eaten enough. It takes time, though, for you to become aware of this signal. If you hurry your meal, you may eat more than you need. This can lead to nausea and vomiting. Take time over your meal. Try to recognize the feeling of fullness. Then stop eating at once.
This operation can work only if you eat solid food. If you drink at mealtimes, the food you have eaten becomes liquid. Then the effectiveness of the LAP BAND System is greatly reduced. You should not drink anything for one to two hours after a meal. That way you can keep the feeling of fullness as long as possible.
After a meal, do not eat anything else until the next meal. Eating snacks between meals is one of the major reasons for weight-loss failure. It is very important to break this habit.
With the LAP BAND System in place, you should be able to eat only a small amount. So the food you eat should be as healthy as possible. Do not fill your small stomach pouch with "junk" food that lacks vitamins and other important nutrients. Your meals should be high in protein and vitamins. Fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, and cereals are good foods to choose. Foods high in fat and sugar are not. You may eat apples and oranges, but try to avoid orange juice and apple juice. Ask your doctor or dietitian before you take any vitamin supplements.
Note: Solid food is more important than liquid food. The LAP-BAND System will have little or no effect if you eat only liquid food. Liquid food passes through the stomach outlet very quickly and does not make you feel full.
Food such as asparagus that contains many fibers can block the stoma. That's because you can't chew this food well enough to break it up into small pieces and your saliva can't break it down. Fibrous food should be avoided. If you would like to eat asparagus or other fibrous foods once in a while, then you must be sure to cook them well, cut them into very small pieces first and then chew thoroughly.
That results in waste products. You will need to drink large amounts of liquid every day in order to urinate more and excrete these waste products from your body. Individual needs will vary, but you should drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day. Remember: you should only drink water, tea, or coffee (without milk or cream and sugar). Also, keep your food and drinks completely separate during the day.
Drinks, including those containing calories, simply run through the narrow outlet created by the band. If you drink liquids high in calories, you will lose little weight, even if you otherwise follow your diet.
Since physical exercise consumes energy and bums calories, it is very important to successful weight loss.
Exercise can help improve your general health. Your size may make it hard for you to exercise as much as you should. But get started, even if it is a little at first. The more weight you lose, the easier it should get. Start with simple exercises, such as walking and swimming. Gradually expand your program to include more vigorous forms of exercise such as cycling, jogging, and aerobics
Increase your activity level in the course of daily living. For example: stand rather than sit, walk rather than stand, be outside rather than inside, walk rather than drive, climb the stairs rather than use the elevator, etc. (important: Always check with your doctor about the amount and type of exercise that is best for you.
Note: Although these rules restrict your food intake and the types of food you are able to eat, make sure to keep your diet as varied and balanced as possible.