About Weight Loss
Your weight is controlled by the number of calories you eat and the number of calories you use each day. To lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you use.
Healthy Eating: It's not that hard and why haven't you done it?
Learning the basics of nutrition can help with wt loss needed before surgery and gain an understand of the necessary changes after surgery.
Being Active
You can make your weight loss effort more successful by adding daily exercise to your routine. The bonus: Exercise offers more health benefits than just weight control.
All patients are required to have a nutritional evaluation one-on-one with the dietitian. You will also be required to attend classes preoperatively for post-op nutrition teaching.
Physician Directed Weight Loss
You may have to go through a three, six, or even twelve month period of physician directed weight loss. There will be a form in your packet when you come to the seminar to take to your physician and have him or her fill it out. Your insurance may also require you to be seen by a dietitian or nutritionist in conjunction with physician visits. It is YOUR responsibility to find this out.
Protein Guidelines
Protein shakes are a must! You need these for basic body functioning and the fluid in the shakes help prevent dehydration.
Lap Band Protein Shake Guidelines
- At least 15-20 grams of protein per serving
- No more than 5-10 grams of carbohydrate per serving
Gastric Bypass
- At least 24-30 grams of protein per serving
- No more than 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving
Vitamins and Minerals
After your surgery you will always need a multivitamin/mineral. For the first three months after surgery for lap band and first six months after surgery for gastric bypass your multivitamin needs to be chewable or liquid and must be say “complete” on the label.
Food Journal
It is very important for you to keep a food journal both before and after surgery. Take your food journal to all your doctor appointments. This way, you can show your doctor that you are following recommended dietary guidelines for weight loss before surgery. After surgery it will be important to help you determine tolerance for certain foods and amounts. If you have a problem after surgery, you must know what you ate!
For more information download the following booklets: