i'm finding myslef chewing gum way more then i used to. it's keeping my mouth busy without actually eating.

do you chew gum more then you used to?

I'm always afraid I will cough or something and swallow it. I hate getting stuck and just don't want to risk it.

wait - you can't drink while eating your meal???

ohhhhhhhhh that's gonna kill me - i usually drink 2 -3 glasses of Water during dinner.

never had a problem getting my 8 x 8oz in - i pretty much double it

Gum is against my surgeon's rules. Plus I don't like it, so that makes it an easy rule for me to follow.

Kurby...sorry if it is the first time you heard it..nope no drinking is allowed before, during or after you eat. The time before and after varies per doctor it seems. I wait 45 minutes to 1 hour before and 1 hour after.

I think one of the arguments against gum is the xylitol can cause gas? I haven't had any gas issues... I don't chew all the time though... every thing in moderation.

I NEVER drink soda... he he he don't like it anyhow LOL

Kurby...sorry if it is the first time you heard it..nope no drinking is allowed before, during or after you eat. The time before and after varies per doctor it seems. I wait 45 minutes to 1 hour before and 1 hour after.

what is the reason behind the no drinking? and is it for ever or like the liquid and mushy stage only for a few weeks?

It will always be that way in regards to the drinking. If you drink right before you eat you will be too full and will not be able to eat the protein that you so desperately need for energy. A lot of people including me will say that drinking while you eat can cause you to get stuck. If you drink as soon as you finish eating you will flush out the protein that you want to retain as long as you possibly can in order to keep you full otherwise you will get hungry quicker. What I suggest people to do that have issues or problems giving up drinking while they eat is to make a glass of ice just as set down to eat..when it melts then you can drink it. After a while you will no longer even take a glass to the table.

wow - good to know. that's gonna be a hard one for me to give up.

thanks for the tip about the ice. i can see myself watching it out of the corner of my eye until the last cube is melted LOL

That is too funny! Once you are banded you will be focused on chewing and making sure you are taking small bites to remember that haven't taken a drink. For me it takes so long for me to eat then I have a after dinner talk with my husband for a 10-15 minutes to catch up on the day..then I clear the table, wash the dishes, cleanup the kitchen and by the time I have all the done a good 1/2 hour has passed without watching the clock. Sometimes by this point 45 minutes and I don't even want a drink. I am in Florida so I grab a bottle of water and head outside to go play with my 3 year old. The point here is to occupy yourself with anything to make you forget about thinking of wanting to drink as well of eating when you "think" you are hungry.