I had a revelation today about why it's so hard for me to drink more than even a minimal amount of water. It all comes down to which is more pleasurable.

The band rules from my doctor (I think they're pretty universal) say no water/liquids one-half hour before eating and no water/liquids one hour after eating. Since I eat either a meal or a snack just about every three hours, it feels like there's never any time to drink water (actually, I just figured it out on paper and in any given day there's at least 5 hours "available" for drinking water).

So...given the choice between eating or drinking, I pick eating--of course! Instead of thinking "I can't drink because I'm going to be eating," I need to change my thinking to "I can't eat because I'm going to be drinking." Just thought I'd pass along that ah-ha for me.

Good observation Willowcat:cool:

I find my water goes down a lot better if it is hot, with a tea bag and a little skim milk, especially in winter!

lol nice way of putting it.....in the end, whatever works for you and whatever is best for you. if you're happy with that plan then go ahead.....congrats.:frown:

I think of this often throughout the day. It was also an aa-ha moment for me. It really helps me get in those 64+ oz. a day. I know that I must drink a certain number of oz. before I eat anything again. In between breakfast and lunch I have a Diet Snapple. In between lunch and dinner a big bottle of water. After dinner another big bottle of water. It really does keep you from eating and often fills me up. Best wishes!!

May I ask the reason for not drinking before you eat? I understand why you can't drink during a meal and right after, to prevent flushing the food through the band. But why no drinking before you eat?

My surgeon says you can drink up until the second you put food in your mouth, and then it's no more liquids for one hour. Makes more sense to me.

I wondered about this too as it didn't seem to make any sense. There was even a thread about it and no-one came up with an answer.

When I saw my NUT a month or 2 back he explained to me that often when people go out for dinner they will keep on drinking right up until there meal comes. Then what quite frequently happens is that they will get stuck/not be able to eat as much as they normally can/have trouble with a food that is normally fine.This is because their pouch is still full with the liquid.I know it sounds weird as we think that the liquid goes straight though but apparently not. it does still need some time.

This explained for me why when I go out to eat I have sometimes had problems with foods that should have been fine. It doesn't always happen but there have been a number of occaisons when I have not been able to get my food down and the only explanation is that it is due to what i have just drunk.