Advice About Diet After Lap-band Surgery? Thinking About Diabetes Diet?

Updated on September 04, 2010
N.G. asks from Arlington, TX
9 answers

Hi Moms!

I'm having lap-band surgery on Tuesday. I'm very excited but also a bit nervous because I want so badly to get this right. Dr. Richard Carter here in Arlington is my surgeon. He suggested I choose a diet before I am able to eat solid foods so that I am familiar with it. I have chosen the diabetic diet, but oddly enough there aren't many books dedicated to it. I found "The Diabetes Diet" by Dr. Richard Bernstein, but all the local book stores are sold out of it. I can order it, but I thought I'd ask you Moms first- which diets did you choose after your lap band? Or, are you familiar with the diabetic diet and have a book to recommend? BTW, I'm not diabetic.

Also do any of you lap-band Moms have advice for me? I'll take all I can get!

Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thank you to the Moms who actually gave the advice I was asking for. Love how people share their unwanted opinions!!

More Answers

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S.S.

answers from Goldsboro on

My mom just had lap band done. Tomorrow will be two weeks. Her surgeon gave her a pretty specific list of what she can and can't eat. She's still on protein shakes right now. I think she likes the Atkins ones. She got tired of the chocolate, so she switched to the vanilla so she could add in flavors.
Did you meet with a dietician? They might could give some pointers.

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A.H.

answers from Dallas on

Hi N.,

I had the Gastric By-pass (6/8/10) instead of the Lap-band because I did not want to have to go back to the doctor for the rest of my life having to re-adjust it & I wanted mine permanent. I think the sleeve would have been a better choice, but too late for me... although I have no other regrets!

Vitamins ARE IMPORTANT, CHEWABLE ARE A MUST. Flintstones multi complete, Calcium (Caltrate plus) and B12 subliminal (under the tongue). I also take Vitamin C chewables (pretty tart though) which your Dr. should tell you any way.

Get Myoplex protein shakes, they have 42 grams of Protein (Sam's carries them) .
I was not really able to stay on a specfic diet , (which was the reason for the weight gain-battle would be a better word = > ) ...just educate yourself, read the back labels of everything you want & like.
Keep it at no more than 6 grams of sugar to none. (if you like sweets Blue Bell sugar free popsicles saved me!)
Use Splenda for everything.
Kroger's carries Carb-Watch yogurt in Vanilla, Peach, Cherry, and Blackberry, this is the best Yogurt that actually taste pretty good 12 grams of Protein & 3 grams of sugar.
Chicken, xtra lean Meat & mash potatoes will be the main course more so than not. Chew everything 100X, do not swallow anything bulky. You will be amazed at how little food we can really survive on and feel full!

NO breads, this includes thin crust Pizza, trust me they will NOT be your friend (very painful to eat & go through your system!) if you must, no more than a pinch, just to taste on the tongue and swallow.

No caffeine.

Good luck on your surgery & best wishes for a healthier you! = 0 )

G.R.

answers from Dallas on

hi N.

i can recomend you taking herbalife protein shake along with the herbal aloe .

te protein shake has 15g of protein and19 vitamins and only 300 calories!!
and he herabl aloe will help you with the healing after the surgery to be a little more fast than normal.

my email is ____@____.com
____@____.com
###-###-#### callme or text me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bup4yiIlmy4
www.herbalife.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.N.

answers from Dallas on

There is a lap band surgeon in Little Rock who will not even do the lap band surgery unless his patients are on this liquid nutrition. It is proven 97% absorbable and supplies their body with all the vitamins and essential minerals needed. If you email me, I will give you the link. I know him and I have heard him say this many times. A.

____@____.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from New York on

I don't know much about lap band surgery. However, I'm very familiar with the diabetic diet. There are lots of books out there, but I don't know the names. I recommend you check out the American Diabetes Association website. Here's a link for the mealing planning section. http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-me...

Good luck.

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M.L.

answers from Dallas on

Much congrats! I did the lap band with Dr. Carter 2 years ago and am still continuing to lose weight. I didn't follow a diet. I basically did the low fat, high protein thing. I actually have lost an additional 30 pound just in the last 2 months due to buying a new home and moving and other stressors. I am a single mom of twin 8 year olds with basically no outside support. I was 310 pound before and so love my new figure now.

I just returned from California this weekend and was I so happy not to have to worry about fitting in the close quarters of an airplane and having a sit belt that actually fit comfortably.

Much success in your lifestyle change. You will love it.

Mom in Arlington

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know about lap-band or the diabetic diet, but thought I'd suggest the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info).

My daughter and I started on it because she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (she's 6). I am doing it with her to support her. I have lost 25 lbs. in four months on this diet and that wasn't my intention (even though I need to lose around 50-60 lbs.

For the first two months, I never felt hungry. I had to force myself to eat. But I ate a good mix of fruit, vegetables and proteins, plus the SCD yogurt (you have to make it yourself). Then I "cheated" and had some chocolate. I've found my cravings come back when I cheat, but if I avoid the "illegals" of the diet, I don't have the cravings. It's fantastic!

It's a LOT of work, but if you have an issue with cravings like I do, it might be worth a shot. I stopped having the cravings the first week on the SCD.

Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.B.

answers from Dallas on

Contrary to what everyone has been led to believe about diets and low fat, etc. I have found, along with many others, that when you are diebetic and go low carb, the weight falls off and when I discussed it with my doctor and friends, they say I am right and it stays off. Low carbs are important because low carbs is where the energy is, you feel better and the weight comes off naturally. I found a new cook book called 500 Low Carb recipes by Dana Carpenter and it is amazing! It includes all areas of eating including deserts, cookies, ice cream, etc. with much lower carbs than the stuff we can buy. Sugar free cookies on the shelf at the grocery is a laugh because it is so high in carbs . It is in the flour and gluten that raises the carbs. Watch your carbs, no more then 10 carb choices per day (15 grams of carbs per choice or lower) and you will lose the weight. I have lost 50 pounds and 38 of that has been since May 22nd. Some diebetic cook books are OK but you still have to consider the carbs in each recipe. There is even a new low carb yogurt and unsweetened almond milk has only 40 calories, no sugar and 2 carbs. I love it and the chocolate is great hot in the winter for hot chocolate. Carob chips and carob powder are good and whole dates and almonds are a wonderful snack!Good Luck!
By the way-I wish you would call off the lap band proceedure-risky, unnessesary and the weight will come off naturally with the low carb diet and I will help you all the way if you will let me be an encourager and advisor on a private level. Everyone I know that had lap-band gained it all back within 2 years because they did not change their eating habits in the long run. You also have to deal with the emotional and psycological reasons we over eat before surgery or you will still eat later the same way and for all the wrong reasons!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from Dallas on

I've had a lap-band for 5 years...lost 100 pounds. The best type of diet is closer to an "Atkins" type. Low fat protein is the key and complex carbohydrates are important too. Remember the protocol about drinking fluids, and always stop drinking 30 minutes before eating and wait 30 minutes after eating to resume. Baylor offers free support groups which I still attend. You learn so much from the veterans, and the topics presented are also very helpful. There are also several on-line support groups. Each band manufacturer hosts their own. May you have great success in your new life.

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