The full liquid diet is the second diet phase you will advance to after your lap band surgery. Full liquids are liquids that you cannot see through and include protein shakes, soups (smooth, no large pieces of food), drinkable yogurt like Lifeway Kefir (ideally Greek, non-fat), sugar free Jell-O, sugar-free pudding, sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast, etc. These full liquid enter your post LAP-BAND® diet on day 3 through approximately day 9. The goal is to slowly advance to foods with a thicker consistency and prep your lap band for solids and other appropriate foods.
During this period, the goal caloric intake is 600-800 kcal/day minimum although an overall goal of 1200 kcal should be reached by day 28. We recommend our patients start with protein shakes such as Bariatric Advantage Meal Replacement which we sell in the office or a quality whey-protein shake like Premier Protein. The minimum protein shake intake per day for women should be two servings and three for men. Don’t forget to start back on your vitamins at this phase as well! Chewable vitamins are recommended as they dissolve and won’t sit in the pouch above your band potentially causing irritation like a tablet would.
- Sip 2-3 ounces every 30-40 minutes. We recommend setting a reminder on your phone while you get used to the timeframe.
- Make sure you sit up to drink.
- Make sure you DO NOT use a straw for the first 2 weeks. Utilizing straws can introduce air into your LAP-BAND® pouch and make gas-pain worse.
- Be mindful of the temperature of your drinks. You can try cooler beverages, if you feel chest pressure, return to room temperature.
- Full liquids are building up from your clear liquids, so you can have any of the clear liquids [hyperlink to Clear Liquids post] we have discussed.
When it comes to full liquids, the items can get a little foggy. For example: Milk. We recommend skim milk, almond milk, or soy-milk. Add a sugar-free Carnation packet for a great breakfast option. Sugar-Free Jell-O, popsicles and pudding are great options for snacking. For lunch and dinner rely on soups – smooth, thin, strained cream – with no pieces of foods in them. A few example protein shakes are listed above but our dietitian, Lauren, can give you a list of other options.
The first few days can be difficult, transitioning form clear to full liquids can also be a little confusing, so feel free to contact us at 317-621-2500. Our team is here to make sure you are successful and have a strong start to your weight loss journey. Our dietitian, Lauren, leads a monthly support group for patients to help keep you on track and engaged!
For personalized information on LAP-BAND surgery click here and ORBERA click here.
To learn more about Dr. McEwen and the Community Surgery Center Hamilton team visit our facebook page or call our office at 317-621-2500.
Want more inspiration? Follow us on social media for a closer look at life with a LAP-BAND®!
Weight Loss Solutions 