1. Eat 3 meals per day. Do not skip meals.
   
2. Avoid snacking. Snacking or gazing throughout the day may prevent you from losing weight or cause weight gain due to excess calorie intake.
   
3. Eat small amounts.
   
4. Eat Slowly. Each meal should last 30-45 minutes.
   
5. Do not gulp foods or fluids.
   
6. Remember to chew, chew, chew your foods. Chew all to a paste consistency. Sallowing chucks of food may obstruct the outlet of the pouch.
   
7. Use a small fork or spoon to help control your portion size.
   
8. Put your utensil down between each bite. Wait for 1 minute between bites.
   
9. Stop eating as soon as you feel fill. Signs of fullness include nausea, pain in upper chest, or pressure (sense of) fullness below the rib cage.
   
10. Do not drink with meals. Liquids will cause the food to pass or wash through your stomach to quickly. You may consume liquids 30-45 minutes prior to a meal and 45-60 minutes after a meal.
    
11. Drink plenty of non-caloric liquids (i.e. Water) between meals. Remember to sip, sip, sip your fluids slowly.
    
12. Avoid high calorie liquids, which provide absorb-able calories without providing the feeling of fullness.
    
13. Avoid foods high in sugar and fat.
    
14. Eat a well-balanced diet.
    

Edited May 3, 200818 yr by andyisbanded

Andy,

Thanks for all the advice that you have given. It will be very helpful to me. The one thing I have been having a problem with is getting in my fluids. I just can't get the sip, sip, sip part. How do you sip all day and get in 64 ounces of Water?

Hey Andy, I am having trouble with my Water since I have been banded. I love water and never had a problem drinking it. I used to drink 60 oz at work and come home and drink another 16 oz or more. Now with me sipping I am lucky to get in 32 oz. I just am not craving water anymore. I have always craved ice-cold water, even as a kid. Now I am forcing myself to drink it. I have flavors and all that stuff, not helping.

My Primary care physician says that I am dehydrated and that I have to find a way to get more fluids in. I just can't get the water in and I don't sip I take regular swallows of water. I use to run the the bathroom all day long now to urinate but now I am lucky to go twice a day. (once whn Iget up and one in early evening. I am taking milk of magnesia to help with the other and that isn't working either. I only do that maybe once a week. I think for me this is the hardest part. (ha! Ha!) This truly is the part I struggle with. Any suggestions?

Its important to follow your own surgeon's guidelines. My surgeon has told me to have 5 small meal breaks a day - 3 meals and 2 snacks, to keep blood sugar levels evan. My dietitian has told me to have liquid 10 minutes before food or wait 30 minutes after. Obviously, there are differing opinions out there.

Hello there my name is Agnes I was banded on December 5th of this year and I am so excited. Still hurting a little be but doing ok. My question for you right now is how come they ask me to drink 80 ozs of water per day? I can't even take in 40. Then the other question is is it ok to drink the propel waters?

Its important to follow your own surgeon's guidelines. I have new heard of drink 80 oz of water. Most guidelines I have read recommends at leat 64 oz of water a day. Just remember you will get some water from other sources of food. So if you fail to drink only 60 oz of water, you proably will still be getting over 64 oz of water in a day. Also know your body is healing from surgery. It may take a week or more for your body to adjust to your new friend the Lap-Band and allow you to get to 60-80 oz a day. I would think the propel would be okay as long as it contains no sugar. I drink water or Diet green tea. I took a bottle of my deit green tea (use Kroger or Lipton) to let my doctor review to insure it was okay. He said it was a good healthy choice. I hope this helps you.

Andy, Dr. Britt did my surgery also. 10/2007. I have lost around 90 lbs. still going down, but very slow. I just am trying to eat better. The band is great, but I have got to quit eatting slidder foods and in between meals. My choice, no one to blame. I do feel wonderful. What is your goal?

Andy, Dr. Britt did my surgery also. 10/2007. I have lost around 90 lbs. still going down, but very slow. I just am trying to eat better. The band is great, but I have got to quit eatting slidder foods and in between meals. My choice, no one to blame. I do feel wonderful. What is your goal?