The gastric band makes the stomach capacity much smaller, so patients eat much less than before the surgery. You need to follow a special weight loss diet which consists of liquids only for the first 2-3 weeks, then, more solid food can be implemented gradually. The dietician from the clinic provides each patient with a detailed diet plan for the first months after the surgery. After the 1st stage of a diet (liquid diet), patients should eat a lot of vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. The “normal” diet usually starts in the 5th week after the surgery – it should be a low-calorie and protein-rich diet consisting of 3 main meals and 2 small snacks a day.
The recommended protein products are:
dairy products (semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, yogurts and yogurt drinks, low-fat custard, cottage cheese, low-fat cheese, milky puddings)
protein shakes
fish (soft white fish or canned fish)
eggs
meat (especially skinless chicken or turkey)
pulses (beans and lentils).
You can read more about the weight loss surgery diet HERE