Hi--

I have just started researching the lapband. I have my inital consult next week with my surgeon but I have a question about life after banding:

I see 3 meals --no snacking---at least 64 oz of liquids.

I see a lot of talk about shakes.

Are the shakes considered the MEALS or are the shakes a supplemental protein??

Can someone who is banded post a general daily meal plan??

Thanks so much ---hope to be joining you soon!

Hi Beanie,

Different surgeons have different restrictions, so yours may permit snacks. At the appointment with your surgeon, he/she will most likely give you a list of what you can/can't eat pre/post surgery.

Most surgeons require a pre-op diet, although some don't. This can last from just a few days to 2 weeks (or more). The pre-op diet often consists of high protein shakes (and sometimes addl foods). After surgery, at some point you may be on shakes for a period of time.

During this pre/post op period, the shakes are usually a meal substitute. Onced on solid foods, many people continue using the shakes as a meal substitute for one or sometimes even two meals because of the convenience. This is especially common for breakfast, as the band is usually tighter then, so its easier to have a shake instead of solid food.

On one of the threads here, people post what they ate that day, so that should give you suggestions. But be forewarned, just because they post it, doesn't mean they are eating properly. Here's the link:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/share-ideas-what-did-you-eat-today-36828-new/

Also, if you scroll down to the Nutrition threads, you'll find recipes for all of the various food stages - liquids, mushies & solids.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your appointment.

Joan

i was told to eat 3 meals a day and at least 2 protein shakes. i have not had a fill as of yet so i get hungry between lunch and dinner and after dinner. i have a no sugar added popcicle to help out. good luck with your surgery. i wish you all the best.

It all depends on the doctor. I was told 3 meals a day no snacking and no liquid calories because they don't keep you full. And i do see alot of people on this forum that do protein shakes which i was told was a big no no that you should be able to get all your protein in your meals if you eat your protein foods first. But every doctor is different.

My doc told me the same as Reeneek! When you begin to eat reg. food, all of your protein should come from good solid nutrition. My doc also said no snacking, no sugar... 3 meals a day, try to eat lean soft proteins and greens.. stay away from starchy foods, and fruits..(fruits because of natural sugars) and eat one cup of food each meal. Also.. very important to take chewable multi Vitamins & calcium supplements.

I am just starting out but this is the advice that I was given.. And to me it makes perfect sense.....

I think once you get to your goal, you can eat pretty much eat what you want, in moderation.. and the key is only 1cup each meal. As long as you watch those portions & excercise.. You should do great.

Take a look at 2flyguys, she is almost at her goal weight.. She eats whatever she wants, but her success comes from portion size and excercise!

Hi--

I have just started researching the lapband. I have my inital consult next week with my surgeon but I have a question about life after banding:

I see 3 meals --no snacking---at least 64 oz of liquids.

I see a lot of talk about shakes.

Are the shakes considered the MEALS or are the shakes a supplemental protein??

Can someone who is banded post a general daily meal plan??

Thanks so much ---hope to be joining you soon!

I was on a pre-op diet 2 weeks before my surgery, which consisted of 3 protein shakes, small salad, V8, sugar free jello/pudding, oatmeal, sugar free applesauce and sugar free yogurt.

Stage 1 - My diet was just 3 protien shakes a day. 64oz of fluid a day (the shakes count as the fluids). Water, Crystal Light, Decaf Ice tea or hot tea, broth, Sugar free ice pops.

Stage 2- Mushie foods plus 3 8oz Protien shakes a day.

As everyone says it all depends on your doctor. My doctor says no snacking inbetween meals. Eat high protien meals (fish, chicken..ect) as your 3 main meals and try not to drink any fluids for at least an hour afterwards. The longer the food stays in your pouch the less hungry you will be. I am on 8oz protien shakes inbetween so that I don't get hungry. I have to wait 2 hours after my meal to have a protien shake. Except for the first shake that comes first in the morning (before my meal). Normally it's 4-6oz but my nutritionist said that I have to sip really slow. They did this because I get hungry inbetween and my first fill is not for 5 weeks yet.

My doctor didn't really put me on a "food plan". My doc is very different from many that I have heard about on this forum. My doc would tell me after each fill (until about the 5th fill) to to eat solid foods so that I would know if I had restriction. So I made my own food plan based on a 1200 calorie per day intake. I do protein shakes for breakfast because in the morning I am tight and eating food (except oatmeal) is uncomfortable. The shake holds me till my lunch at noon. For lunch I eat a Lean Cuisine which is quite satisfying since I hit my sweet spot. For dinner I find that if I get enough protein with dinner that I do not get hungry before bed. But, sometimes I am forced to have a snack between lunch and dinner because, before surgery one of my co-morbidities was Type 2 diatbetes. I stopped taking my meds (i.e., 1000 mg 2X a day) about 1 1/2 month after surgery. So, when I don't get enough calories for lunch I have on a few occasions become hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and had to eat a snack to get through the work day.

I would suggest that while our docs may be trying to guide us, we really need to listen to our bodies as well. I snack as often as is necessary to stay healthy. I consider myself to be a reasonable person, I know that overeating is what made me fat, so I make different choices when I have to eat more than I planned.