If you feel you cannot lose weight no matter what you do, and you could be classified as morbidly obese, Lap-Band surgery might be the right option for you. However, if you do undergo a procedure like this, you have to be committed to changing your lifestyle and eating habits completely.
Once you have undergone the procedure, you may receive a visit from the hospital dietitian who will go over the required diet for patients recovering from this process. It is important to fully understand the diet before you decide on this type of weight loss surgery.
For the first three to four days following surgery, patients must follow a clear liquid diet. Failure to follow the prescribed diet can cause complications such as band erosion or slippage that require additional surgery.
If you are a regular coffee, tea, or soda drinker, you should be aware that no caffeine is permitted for the first three months after surgery. Carbonated beverages, both diet and regular, may cause gas, bloating, and an increase in stomach size due to the carbonation and are not recommended at any time for those who have had the surgery.
If you do, you could develop serious complications. It can be very painful, and should be avoided at all costs.
The second phase of the diet consists of five to six weeks of a modified full liquid diet. The key component of this phase is consuming two ounces of a protein shake every hour, for ten to twelve hours a day, with two ounces of other liquids such as soup, baby food, or sugar-free gelatin three times a day.
As you can see, this is not a very fun or exciting diet. You have to decide to be fully committed to it if you are going to move forward.
During the second six weeks following surgery, patients may eat food that is shredded in a food processor prior to eating. The basic foods which are acceptable include meats, or other forms of protein, vegetables, and salads.
For the most part, the diet does not include most bread, potatoes, and other starchy vegetables. The length of these phases may be altered according a patient's personal weight, and weight loss goals.
Protein is especially important following after undergoing this procedure. After surgery, the stomach will never hold more than four to six ounces per meal, so making every bite count is essential for healthy and nutritionally rounded weight loss success.
Patients are advised to consume fifty to sixty grams of protein daily to avoid protein deficiency. Protein deficiency causes hair loss, fatigue, edema, muscle weakness, and a delay in wound healing.
A lack of adequate protein may also lead to depression, anxiety, irritability, apathy, and other mental health conditions, as well as cause a number of physical health issues from gallstones to colds, headaches, low blood pressure, anemia, irregular hear rates, and, in extreme cases, death.
As you can see, being fully committed is essential.
A lab can measure the amount of protein in your blood by performing a serum albumin blood test. Eating after you have a Lap-Band means taking tiny bites, and eating very slowly.
You should think of your new stomach as a "baby" stomach. You will be drinking protein shakes and re-learning eating skills much the same way as a new baby eats formula (or breast milk), and slowly adds new foods from blended baby foods to chunkier baby foods.
Certain foods may never be well tolerated after the process. Consider if you are willing to give up these foods for good before you commit.
These foods include meats that are especially tough such as steak and pork chops. Some patients have difficulty digesting other meats that contain gristle such as hamburger.
Oranges and grapefruits may not be tolerated unless the membrane is removed before eating. The seeds and/or skins of all fruits and vegetables, high fiber vegetables such as celery and sweet potatoes, spicy foods, and fried foods are also included.
Certain spices including cinnamon, pepper, or onion or garlic salt are also on the bad list. If you are unable to tolerate milk, it is important to add other calcium and protein rich foods such as cottage cheese.
Talk to your doctor about if this is a good option for you. If you are ready for the change, it could be a great step in your life.
Author Resource:-
Terry Daniels has been a plastic surgeon for over 20 years and has written hundreds of articles relating to plastic surgery. He recommends plastic surgery Utah for your plastic surgery needs.
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