Diet after a gastric band

The entire goal of a gastric band operation is to enable a person to enjoy whatever foods they enjoy, while helping them to regulate their intake and lose weight in the process. However, as with any other surgical procedure, in the weeks immediately following there will be limits to what you can consume safely. 

Pre-operation

This can change from individual to individual, and you should receive advice from your surgeon. Some individuals may have to stick to a liquid-only diet, to enable their liver to shrink ahead of surgery.

0-2 weeks after a gastric band

In the immediate period following a gastric band, you will not be able to consume solid food until your stomach recovers. It is usual for people to feel hungry in this period – The receptors in your stomach that detect if it is full would have been upset by the procedure,. This will, however, pass. As you cannot eat solid food it is vitally important that you consume fluids that fulfill all your nutritional requirements. Anything that can be consumed through a straw should be ok.

• It is vital that you consume some sort of multivitamin, mineral and calcium supplement during this period, to support your body’s recovery. A wide range of chewable supplements are available – it is important that they contain both vitamins and minerals.
   
• You should ensure that you are consuming 2.5 – 3.5 liters of fluid per day, spread evenly throughout the day. Fizzy drinks should not be consumed – The gas can cause bloating and trap wind, which can distort the shape of the stomach during the healing process and cause the gastric band to slip. One test to see if your drinking enough water (this applies for anyone, regardless of if they have had a gastric band operation) is to look at your urine when you use the toilet. If it is clear or pale, then you are consuming enough water. If it is dark (As in, the same colour as straw, or darker), or if there is not a lot, then you are not drinking enough. Try keeping a large bottle in the fridge that you can refill daily, and make sure you have consumed it by the end of the day.
   
• You should not chew gum, at any stage after the gastric band operation.

One option during this period is the Clinikcal shakes, created by The Hospital Group. These shakes have been custom designed for people who have just had a Gastric Band.

Other suggestions are;

A pint of Semi Skimmed Milk – You can fortify this with skimmed milk powder to add protein and nutrients

Juice, Low Calorie Squash

Soups – Make sure there are no solids in your soup. There are plenty of highly nutritious options out there

Milkshake– Something along the lines of Slimfast is designed to be a full nutritious liquid meal, and is perfect for the period immediately after a Gastric Band Operation.

One other thing to consider is any medication you may take – you should ask your doctor if a liquid alternative is available.

2-4 weeks after a gastric band

At this time, you can now begin to introduce soft food to your diet. As a guideline, anything that can be easily broken with a fork should be ok. Think Scrambled Egg or Porridge for breakfast, Soups or well-cooked pasta and sauce for lunch, Shepherds pie for dinner and Jelly for dessert. Make sure there is a decent protein source in every meal - your body is still recovering and it needs the protein to repair (And, besides, it’s good basic nutrition to do this anyway)

At this stage is that youshould not drink fluids with your meal, only beforehand.

Ideas; Scrambled Eggs, Mince meat and blended casserole, Cottage Pie, Low Fat Cottage Cheese, Cauliflower Cheese with Fish and Parsley Sauce, Pureed vegetables and a fish pie, Soft Pasta in a Tomato sauce.

After 4 weeks

You should be able to resume normal eating at this stage. You should avoid Bread, Meat like Chicken (Minced Meat is ok) and Rice until your dietitian gives you the OK (These foods can sometimes cause blockage, leading to a slippage of the gastric band).

One of the psychological benefits of surgery and the process immediately following is that it gives you no choice but to break old negative eating habits, and now is the time to get into much healthier habits that, as well as helping you along your weight loss journey, will leave you feeling much healthier and happier in your day to day life. Most decent practitioners, like The Hospital Group, will supply the services of a trained specialist dietitian, who will monitor your progress and guide, help and support you in forming healthier and happier habits for the rest of your life.

This article was written on behalf of The Hospital Group, who perform, amongst other cosmetics surgery procedures, Gastric Band Operations