Lap Band Patients Have to Drink Smart, Too

Posted: Jun 22 in Post-Bariatric Diet by Staff

If you’re a patient of LAP-BAND surgery in Macon, Dr. Palmyra has already briefed you on the numerous mandatory lifestyle changes that will accompany your weight loss surgery. One of the biggest changes you will face is switching to a healthy and strictly-controlled diet.

Oftentimes, patients are prepared to change their habits when it comes to food consumption but tend to forget about the effects drinking certain beverages can have on their weight loss. Just like unhealthy foods, some beverages contain tons of sugar and calories that can inhibit weight loss and take up room in your reduced stomach. LAP-BAND patients must control the beverages they drink just as much as they control the amounts and types of food they eat.

Drinking beverages that are high in sugar content and calories with little nutritional value will only diminish your rate of weight loss. To stay on track with your weight loss efforts, there are certain beverages you should steer clear of, including:

• Milkshakes
• Soda
• Beer
• Orange juice
• Apple juice
• Whole milk
• Other high-calorie drinks

Restricting your intake of such drinks will not be easy, but with a little motivation can easily become a healthy habit. A recent survey led by a communications company in partnership with the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity revealed that while consumers know sugary drinks are not part of a healthy diet, many are still confused about what constitutes a sugary drink.

Unhealthy, high-calorie drinks may not always be easy to spot, so here are a few drinks on the market that have more calories than a regular soda.

Popular Sugary Drink Traps to Avoid

Arizona Raspberry Iced Tea – Just because it’s a tea with a fruity adjective in front of its name doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Just one of these cans contains three times the suggested serving size for tea and at 90 calories per 8 ounces, drinking the whole can will cost you a whopping 270 calories.

Snapple Apple Fruit Drink – Another healthy con artist on the market, this fruit juice drink has 100 calories in every eight ounces. The bottle however holds twice that amount so drinking the whole thing will add up to 200 calories.

Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino – This unhealthy rendition of coffee holds nine and a half ounces of unhealthy liquid that will add up to a scary 180 calories.

Minute Maid Lemonade – As you already know, fruit juices are some of the worst culprits for containing tons of sugar and calories. This little 12-ounce box may seem like a refreshing summer drink but will cost you approximately 150 calories—more than a regular can of Coke and the same as a can of Pepsi.

Dunkin’ Donuts Strawberry Coolatta – The 16-ounce smaller version of the regular sized icy fruit drink may be the worst of all, costing consumers nearly 230 calories.

LAP-BAND patients in Macon not only have to eat smart, they have to drink smart, too. Stay away from these high-calorie sugary drink traps and always remember to check the labels before consuming beverages. Many so-called healthy drinks are still packed with calories and offer LAP-BAND patients little nutritional value. If you’re unsure about a certain drink’s health benefits, don’t hesitate to ask Dr.