Life After LAP-BAND® Surgery
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Life after LAP-BAND® surgery involves a number of dietary changes and potential LAP-BAND® complications including possible weight gain.
LAP-BAND® Failure: Weight Gain
I've you've HAD the gastric band for a while keep reading.
If you're considering stomach band surgery keep reading. You should be well informed and know what to expect after your gastric band operation.
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Jump to my free professional advice and tips on how to follow the diet after stomach band surgery here.==============================
There MAY come a time in your life after LAP-BAND® surgery in which you stop losing weight (before you want to), or worse...
...start putting on weight.
Are you at that point now?
I HOPE NOT!
It is ENTIRELY possible to feel out of control with your eating at some point after your gastric band operation, and/or to stop losing and/or start gaining weight.
If/when that happens, immediate action is necessary.
If/when you're not losing weight or have started gaining weight, it's likely due to one of two reasons:
- Your stomach band is too tight.
- Operator error.
Life After LAP-BAND® Surgery: Is Your Gastric Band Properly Adjusted?
If your stomach band is too tight, then you'll only be able to eat soft foods and/or liquids. These foods pass the belly band very easily and don't fill you up.
That means you'll need more food (which means more calories) to feel satisfied.
Translation: slowed weight loss or even weight gain!
Life after LAP-BAND® surgery should involve regular follow up with your bariatric surgery center in order to manage your lap band fills so that your stomach band is never too tight or never too loose.
Life After LAP-BAND® Surgery: Are you guilty of "operator error?"
LAP-BAND® post op "operator error" is usually the more likely cause of slowed weight loss or weight gain after stomach band surgery.
YOU are the operator of your belly band.
Your gastric band is a tool. How you choose to use it is up to you.
You may have been highly motivated and willing to eat anything necessary in the beginning but found in your life after LAP-BAND® surgery it got easier to "cheat" a little here and there.
You may have slipped into eating out more frequently than you did on the initial diet after LAP-BAND® surgery. Or, you may have stopped stocking your house with the proper foods.
In my experience as a bariatric dietitian, I see my clients stop losing or start gaining after bariatric banding simply because they get away from following the basic guidelines of the gastric band diet.
You can always use my simple strategies and my sample menu below to easily replace any bad habits that may creep/have crept back up on you, and you'll be on track within the week.
It's as easy as 1-2-3...
- Establish a regular pattern of eating at planned intervals.
- Get back to gastric band diet basics.
- Keep a food journal.
Establish a regular pattern of eating
If you've started gaining or stopped losing weight since your stomach band was placed, chances are you've fallen into chaotic, random eating.
That's eating whatever you want, whenever you want.
Sure, you may only be able to eat small portions, but eating small portions, too frequently, adds up to too many calories!
That's why you should establish a planned pattern of eating. This will provide you little "stepping stones" to get through the day.
Ideally, eat within 1 hour of waking and plan to eat little meals every 3-4 hours thereafter.
A sample schedule might look like this:
7am: Breakfast
10am: Snack
1pm: Lunch
4pm: Snack
7pm: Dinner
Planning your meal times will also help you get a clear picture of how many meals/snacks to pack if you carry food with you. If you know you're going to leave the house to run errands after breakfast and not return until dinner time, you'd know to pack 3 mini meals according to the schedule above.
Life After LAP-BAND® Surgery: Get back to the gastric band diet basics
If it's been months or even years since your bariatric banding, you may have forgotten about the basics:
- Protein first
- Avoid drinking and eating at the same time
- Eat slowly and chew thoroughly
- Exercise
It's easy to get away from doing any one of these, but if you forget them all...
...HELLLLOOOOOO extra weight!
Refresh yourself on WHAT to eat after having stomach band surgery.
Refresh yourself on HOW to eat for life after LAP-BAND® surgery.
Keep a food journal
The best weight loss tool is not a treadmill! It's a pen.
According to research, if you write down everything you eat each day, you'll lose twice as much as if you didn't.
It just makes sense, because diet journaling makes you accountable for every lick, nibble and sip you take. It's highly likely mindless eating has played a role in the slowed weight loss or weight re-gain you've experienced in life after LAP-BAND® surgery.
Check out The Gastric Band Companion. It's a gastric band journal designed specifically for someone with a belly band!
It was designed and written by none other than yours truly :)
Life After LAP-BAND® Surgery: Jump Start Your Weight Loss Again
Limit your options by following a set menu for a short time. This will help you re-focus on proper portions and balanced meals. You'll be back on track in no time at all!
7am Breakfast
Protein Shake: 4-8 oz water + 1 scoop chocolate protein powder + 1/2 frozen banana + 1/2 Tbsp. p.b. + ice as desired
10am Snack
2 oz. sliced low sodium turkey lunch meat spread with 2 Tbsp. hummus. Roll and eat. Serve with 1 small apple.
1pm Lunch
1/2 - 1 cup salad topped with 2 oz. tuna salad (2 oz. tuna mixed with 1/2 Tbsp. mayo). Drizzle with 1/2 tsp. sesame oil and balsamic vinegar.
4pm Snack
2 hard boiled eggs. Remove yolks and stuff each half with 1 Tbsp. lowfat black bean dip.
7pm Dinner
2oz chicken
1/2 cup steamed broccoli
1 teaspoon butter for broccoli
You may THINK LAP-BAND® failure will never happen to you and that you'll never experience LAP-BAND® complications such as weight gain. I hope this is the case. However, it's a good idea to always be prepared and have a plan ready to put into action just in case.
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Everything You Need To Know About Gastric Band Diet
