The rule I'm referring to is drinking before and after you eat. My nutritionist told me not to drink twenty minutes before and to wait twenty minutes after you ate in order to prevent washing the food out and causing hunger.

Then I was on here and saw someone say something along the lines of 15 minutes before and 1 hour after! I did a little search to see what the rule was and everybody was saying different things. 45 before, 10 after. 20 before, 15 after. It was insane.

I was wondering if there scientifically-minded folks that might know something about digestion and have an idea what the ideal timing would be.

I realize it's not a huge matter, but I'm heavily reliant on drinking tons of Water right now and I don't want to do something counter-active. Especially when I'm getting to a stage that I'm starving a lot. If it's a matter of a few minutes difference, there's not much harm but there is a difference between 20 minutes and an hour.

Or if perhaps it is a matter of preference, I'd like to hear what you all have to say about it!

My nut. told me no drinking 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after eating. I have been following that and haven't experienced any problems.

My surgeon recommends 30-20-30. No drinking for 30 minutes before, do not drink while eating and eat for no longer than 20 minutes. Then, no drinking for 30 minutes after.

Even within the same office, though, the nutritionists don't totally agree. I've heard that you may be better off stopping drinking only 10 minutes before eating and then try not to drink again for a whole hour afterwards.

As w/most band 'rules', I don't think you'll find one that everyone agrees on. You have to do a little trial-and-error yourself. Personally, I have not found that drinking right up to a meal is a problem, but I do usually wait at least an hour after to keep my meal sticking w/me longer.

The longer you can go for after eating without drinking the longer you should stay satisfied. My Nut says a minimum of 1hr afterwards but longer if you can. The point is that you want the food to stay in the pouch for as long as possible so as to not feel hungry again. Drinking soon after eating washes the food through quicker and you will get hungry quicker.

At first an hour sounds like ages but it isn't really. Just make sure you have had a drink before you eat.I find it hardest in the morning when i am hanging out for my second cup of tea.

In the morning I get up, have a cup of tea, shower , get dressed and drop my son at the busstop. Then I can eat when I get home which means i have a 20 - 30 min gap between drinking and eating. I then tidy up, check emails , lapband talk etc and before I know it the time is up and I can have my cup of tea.

It may seem hard at first but you soon get used to it.

The longer you can go for after eating without drinking the longer you should stay satisfied. My Nut says a minimum of 1hr afterwards but longer if you can. The point is that you want the food to stay in the pouch for as long as possible so as to not feel hungry again. Drinking soon after eating washes the food through quicker and you will get hungry quicker.

At first an hour sounds like ages but it isn't really. Just make sure you have had a drink before you eat.I find it hardest in the morning when i am hanging out for my second cup of tea.

In the morning I get up, have a cup of tea, shower , get dressed and drop my son at the busstop. Then I can eat when I get home which means i have a 20 - 30 min gap between drinking and eating. I then tidy up, check emails , Lap Band Talk etc and before I know it the time is up and I can have my cup of tea.

It may seem hard at first but you soon get used to it.

My Dr. says no drinks 20 mins before and 1 hour after. It does seem like an hour lasts forever sometimes! I drink before I leave for work, which is a 20 minute drive--then I eat Breakfast when I get there. I've found the best way for me to know when to eat or drink is to use my calendar at work.

I set reminders for when I need to eat--after 20 minutes, then after I finish eating, I set a reminder to go off 60 minutes later. That really helps me know when to eat and drink.

my doctor's okay with drinking right up until eating, but not for 90 minutes after.

I'm a Registered Dietitian and was banded about 10 months ago. We (the few RDs where I live who see lap band patients) tell folks no fluids 30 minutes before, and 1 hour after meals. Others in this discussion have stated the reason for waiting an hour (or more) after eating well -- helps the food stay in your pouch longer, which makes you feel satisfied longer. From personal experience, when I follow this guideline, it is much easier to stay on track with portions.

As far as how long to wait before eating after you've had fluids, I think it depends on the person. If you "fill up on fluids" right before a meal you won't be able to hold the solids your body needs. And considering the small portions we are supposed to be eating, every bite counts as far as meeting your nutrient needs. Plus, you will probably get hungry sooner if you don't eat the portion your MD and/or RD suggests, especially in the beginning.

If you can drink something, wait 15 minutes, eat a 1/2 cup portion and stay somewhat satisfied for about 4 hours, then that obviously works for you. I personnaly need to wait 30 minutes before eating. Otherwise, I can't tolerate the solids very well. And that has been true from the beginning for me.

It is not an exact science (like many things in the medical field). The guidelines are certainly there for a reason, but I feel there is a little wiggle room to find what works best for you.

Keep up the good work!

I think it's really personal. What matters is how long you stay satisfied between meals. If you can drink 15 or 20 min after a meal, and not get hungry before the next meal, then great. If you find you're getting hungry earlier... wait an hour before drinking after the next meal and see how it goes. Or try 90 minutes.

My doctor was 30 before and an hour after, and that it wasn't just for not washing things through, but also to help ensure you get the calories and protien requirements instead of just filling up on water.....