Hey...just wondering what the deal is about not being able to drink with your meals after being banded. Anyone?

Hi:

Think about your band being like a belt tied around your waist. When the band is working it restricts the food from entering your stomach too fast. So, you eat some chicken, small bites of course, and chew it really well. It drops down to your stomach and the band restricts it from going directly to your stomach. Instead it stays in that little pouch above the band for a while (2 hours). By staying at the top of the stomach (pouch) longer it makes you feel full longer. The deal with drinking with meals is that it will wash the food right through instead of letting it sit in that pouch for two hours. So, by doing this you don't get the full sensation for two hours like you should. Also, if it washes through the band it allows you to eat more. So, it is the "devil" to the band. You won't lose weight like you should with the band if you drink with your meals.

Best wishes to you. I love my band. My only regret is that I didn't get it done ten years sooner!

Sue

Thanks for explaining that...well put. This is just one of many changes that I feel are going to be very difficult for me. I love my beverages!

dreamangel, I used to drink tons of water with my meals. I thought this would be the hardest thing to give up. Eventually (after a few fills) you are not really eating that much, so you are not as thirsty.

In addition to the reply above, if I drink while eating, I am in pain. So, if I'm really thirsty, I drink before my meal gets here and then if I need to I take very small sips.

It's a lot easier to get used to than I thought it would be.

Good luck!