Post-operative Diet

A whole new approach to eating

For the adjustable gastric band to work effectively, you must be willing to follow nutritional guidelines that will help your body get used to the changes in your digestive system – and help you lose weight and stay healthy.

Our on-staff nutritionist will guide you through the changes you’ll need to make to your lifestyle and eating habits. Right after your procedure, we will give you very specific instructions for how and what you should eat and drink. Follow these to the letter; they are designed to help you adapt to your adjustable gastric band and start losing weight.

In the first few weeks after your procedure, you’ll be on a liquid diet; at first, your stomach will only be able to handle thin liquids. As you heal, you’ll progress to pureed foods, then soft foods, and then, after about six weeks, solids.

Guidelines for weight loss success

Once you start eating solid foods, we recommend having no more than three very small meals a day. Our nutritionist will teach you how to make good food choices and help you avoid problem foods like high-fat, dry or high-fibre foods, which are hard for your small stomach pouch to digest. Learn to eat slowly and chew your food very thoroughly, and stop eating the moment you feel full.

Eat fruits and vegetables, lean protein, some bread and cereal, and some dairy products. Avoid foods that have lots of calories but no nutritional value, like milkshakes, syrups, jam, and pastries.

Please also be careful when drinking liquids. Don’t drink during or immediately after a meal; the liquid will flush the food through your smaller stomach pouch and you won’t feel full (and so will not be satisfied with eating less.) However, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated is important to your health.