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There
are many food plans that you may follow. The important thing to
remember is, to eat plenty of protein and vegetables in your diet.
We understand that following a certain diet perfectly is almost
impossible. That is why we don't want to give you a strict food
plan to follow while you are loosing weight. Your diet will change
automatically due to the Lapband being placed around your stomach.
Your intake of food will be cut drastically and you won't be hungry.
That is why it is very important to eat protein first, veggies
second, and starches third. You will loose weight even if you
don't eat protein, but you will have other serious problems. You
may become anemic, your hair will fall out, and you can loose
muscle mass. Your body requires protein to operate efficiently.
You
can get protein from many sources, for example:
- Yogurt, protein shakes, eggs, fish, chicken, pork, red meat, beans,
cheese, etc. You may find it easier to eat one type of protein
than another. You can have fun learning about different types
of foods and which ones have protein (and how many grams of protein
they have). Some foods have a higher amount of protein in them
then others. Give it a try.
Vegetables:
There are lots of different vegetables to choose from. We recommend
that you stay away from starchy veggies. One way to remember which
are starchy and which ones aren't, is:
- The color, if it is white or yellow it is most likely starchy.
If it is green or leafy it is a better choice. Though beans are
starchy, they usually have a higher level of protein therefore
beans are a good choice. Peas are the exception to the rule, they
are green and considered a bean, but really are just a starchy
vegetable.
Starches:
The reason starches are not recommended, they break down to a
simple sugar and store as fat in the body. Sugar does the same
thing. That is why we want you to eat less starches and sweets,
and more of the healthy foods. There are some foods that contain
a large amount of starch, such as:
- Potatoes, peas, corn, pasta and breads.
Of course sweets are to be avoided while trying to loose weight
and should never be eaten on a regular basis.
We understand that it is difficult to abstain from starches and
sugars. But if you choose to eat protein first, vegetables second
and starches third. You won't have that strong desire to eat the
things that hurt you more then help you.
There
are no absolutes in a diet. You can't do it perfect. It is important
to follow the "one day at a time" approach to healthier
eating. If you eat the wrong type of food at breakfast, try
to eat the proper way for lunch and dinner. You deserve to take
care of yourself and provide yourself with the proper nutrition.
Don't feel like you have to throw in the towel, because you
make a mistake. It just means you learn from that mistake and
be careful not to put yourself in that situation again. The
only success one can find, is in not giving up. No one is perfect
though we strive for perfection.
Please
feel free to contact us if you have any more questions about
the recommended food plan. |