Gastric Balloon Dietary Information
Having a gastric balloon fitted is a fantastic tool to help you manage your food intake. You will feel fuller faster and for longer, therefore be able to reduce your portion sizes and snacking, so that you will lose weight.
However, for continued weight loss, it is vital to learn the patterns of sensible healthy eating for life.
Your gastric balloon diet is in 3 stages
- 0 - 3 days - Liquid ONLY
- 3 - 10 days - Soft Food ONLY
- 10 days and thereafter - “Normal” Eating
First 3 days - Liquids ONLY
For the first three days you should have liquids only.
Even if you don’t feel like it, after 8-10 hours, you must make sure you drink small amounts of cold clear fluid regularly, slowly increasing the amount of liquid as you are able to avoid dehydration and to ensure the balloon 'sits' properly in your stomach.
Aim for 8 cups per day and have the drinks in small, regular sips.
Drinks to choose are:
- Semi-skimmed milk - 600ml (1 pint) per day
- Low calorie / reduced sugar squash
- Tea / herbal teas
- Coffee
- Diluted fruit juice (1/2 juice, 1/2 water)
- Bovril, Oxo, Marmite diluted in water
3 - 10 days - Soft Food
You will be able to introduce blended/soft foods into your diet in very small portions (using a tea plate instead of a dinner plate can be helpful):
- Start by progressing onto thicker foods such as jellies and thicker soup; gradually building back up to a normal healthy diet
- Your food should be taken as 3-4 small meals a day.
- Highly seasoned foods and hard fruit/vegetables should be avoided
- Continue to drink semi-skimmed milk - 300ml (1/2 pint) per day
- Avoid alcohol and fizzy drinks at this stage
Make sure to drink after each meal to rinse the balloon and to keep the balloon in the correct position in your stomach
10 days and over - “Normal” diet
After around 10 days, you can resume a more normal diet. However, everyone is different. Some people adapt to the balloon earlier and can go onto a normal diet after 7 days, while others remain on a liquid diet for over 2 weeks. Listen to your body and if in doubt, consult your Dietitian.
The Balloon works by stimulating the nerves at the top of your stomach so you feel full early.
- To keep the balloon 'high' you need good fluid intake
- It is important after 7-10 days you move onto textured crunchy foods which will build on top of the balloon in your stomach and reach the nerves to tell you you're full.
The following guidelines will apply:
- Don’t snack – remember to have 3-4 smaller meals per day which doesn’t leave room for snacking
- Aim for 5 portions of fruit and/or vegetables per day. You can puree or stew fruits and vegetables to a more comfortable consistency without losing too much of their ‘goodness’
- Choose low fat options / cut down on cooking oils and trim any excess fat off meat before cooking
- Avoid food with hidden fat and sugar e.g. pastry, cheese, crisps, biscuits, cakes and sweets
- Protein helps you to feel fuller so try and include a portion with every meal. Meat/fish/egg portions, or vegetarian substitutes, should be no bigger than the palm of your hand at any one meal
- Carbohydrates e.g. bread, potato, rice and cereals should make up at least a third of your meal. Include higher fibre versions of these which help you to stay fuller for longer e.g wholemeal bread, wholegrain rice or porridge as a breakfast cereal. Pasta has a tendency to ‘stick’ and may be best avoided.
Vitamins & Supplements
It is important that you take a daily multivitamin and multi-mineral supplement while the balloon is in place.
We recommend Centrum Chewable (1/day) and Calcichew (1/day). Take these for the 6 months that the balloon is inserted.
