Carbonated beverages should always be avoided and this includes beer or champagne.

LAP-BAND® Diet Restrictions

Your LAP-BAND® diet should consist of healthy foods - foods that are low in calories and high in nutritional value. The LAP-BAND® helps to control the amount of food you can eat, but it is up to you to decide what food you eat. If you want to lose weight, it will be important to follow the diet and nutrition guidelines recommended by your doctor.

Foods to Avoid

Eating foods that are high in sugar content, high in fat content, and high in calories with little nutritional value will decrease your rate of weight loss. In order in increase your rate of weight loss, there are some foods you should avoid, including:

• Sugar and sugary foods, including: high-calorie soft drinks, syrups, honey, jelly, jam, cakes, cookies, candy, ice-cream.
• High-fat foods, including: chocolate, chips, pies, pastries, ice-cream, bacon, sausage, fried foods, cream soups, cream sauces.
• High-calorie drinks, such as milkshakes, soda, beer, orange juice, apple juice, other fruit juices, whole milk.
• Starchy and white flour foods, such as pasta, rice, and doughy breads.
• Fats such as butter or oil should be restricted to 3 to 4 teaspoons per day.

Some foods can be problematic with the LAP-BAND® and should be avoided as well, including:

• Carbonated beverages - carbonated drinks (such as soda, carbonated water, champagne) can increase the size of the pouch and cause discomfort.
• Fibrous foods - fibrous foods (such as asparagus, celery, corn, dried fruit, oranges, pineapples, sweet potatoes) can get stuck in the stoma (stomach opening created with LAP-BAND®).
• Other problematic foods include nuts, popcorn, skins and seeds of fruits and vegetables, and tough meats such as steak, pork chops, and hamburger.

Can I have alcoholic drinks with the LAP-BAND®?

Alcohol is not recommended because it is high in calories, breaks down vitamins, and has no nutritional value. However, an occasional small amount of wine or other alcoholic beverage may be tolerated with a few words of caution. Carbonated beverages should always be avoided and this includes beer or champagne. Also, since you shouldn't drink within an hour of eating, you will be drinking on an empty stomach and your tolerance will be low. The excess calories will also slow your rate of weight loss.

Can I have sugary foods with the LAP-BAND®?

Sugary foods should be avoided because they increase your calorie consumption without providing any nutritional value, but they will not make you sick or cause dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome occurs when sugar enters the lower intestine too quickly, resulting in cramps, sweating, rapid heart rate, and diarrhea. Dumping syndrome can occur with gastric bypass surgery, but not with LAP-BAND® because the stomach has not been bypassed and intestines have not been significantly altered. Although LAP-BAND® patients can tolerate sweets, it is important to limit empty calorie foods in your diet to help with weight loss.

Can I snack between meals with the LAP-BAND®?

With the LAP-BAND® you should eat three meals a day and you should not snack between meals. If you snack between meals you may eat too many calories and not lose weight. If your LAP-BAND® is adjusted properly, you should not feel hungry between meals.