The Benefits of Planning Meals as a LAP-BAND Patient

Monday, 03 May 2010 08:06

Life after LAP-BAND surgery can be a difficult and enlightening experience, not to mention overwhelming. Completely changing your diet can be a hard process, especially if you attend a lot of social functions or still spend a lot of time dreaming about unhealthy food you can no longer eat. However, planning meals ahead of time can help you educate yourself about what foods are safe to eat and will keep you prepared for almost any situation.

As a weight loss surgery patient, it's crucial to bring food almost everywhere you go. Because your new stomach can only hold a limited amount of food, making sure it's only filled with the best food will help ensure the greatest amount of weight loss. Having food ready when hunger strikes can help fuel this success. Other alternatives include eating before a social gathering or looking at a restaurant's meal to decide what to eat beforehand.

In addition to planning 'to-go' food and snacks, planning meals will also help, especially since the rest of your family most likely won't be eating the same diet as you. Focus on getting the recommended amount of protein and vital nutrients your body needs each day. Most LAP-BAND and other weight loss patients need to use protein powder in their drinks and meals in order to meet daily requirements. Ask your bariatric surgeon about a diet plan to follow and consider purchasing bariatric cookbooks, like Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Patt Levine et. al and Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery by Margaret Furtado and Lynette Schultz.

When planning out meals, try to do it a week at a time in a notebook or on a dry erase board that hangs in the kitchen. Writing them out once a week will help save time, help you stay prepared and organized, and create less stress. The list of 'approved foods' for LAP-BAND patients may seem small at first, but looking up new recipes online or asking your support group can be a great way to keep your menu fresh.

Planning out meals can help you also stay in a routine of sticking to a healthy diet after surgery. Combined with a regular exercise routine, meal planning can help bariatric patients eat right in any situation and lose their excess weight. If you are having any problems planning meals and snacks or figuring out what is best to eat, consult your bariatric surgeon.