Hey Everyone!!

I am having a VERY hard time with waiting to drink after meals. This is one of the hardest habits I think to break! How have you all been able to do it? I am trying my best but sometimes I slip up and take a swig of Water. I know its completely defeating the purpose so I need to stop. I need ideas to help!!!

THANK YOU!!!

It is very hard.... But so beneficial to adhere to this rule. I don't even have a glass of anything nearby to tempt me when I am eating. At a restaurant I ask them to take it away. It's just a habit... You can break it. Best of luck!

I physically CAN'T drink while eating - I will throw it all up. I've learned the hard way, especially with soda (yes, I KNOW I'm not sposed to drink it but I occasionally have sips of my hubbys). If I eat food and then drink a sip of anything, I'm immediately in the bathroom. So it's never really been a problem for me. But, when I go out to Mexican or something spicy, I sure do miss a swig of water!

Just drink a big glass before you eat (I can drink right up till the time I eat) and get it out of the way. Good luck to u!

Marci

This isn’t helpful I know but I’ve had my band since 2007 and never really broke the habit... I know most call it “cheating” but between the food and a glass of milk, ice tea, Water or ginger ale with my meal make me feel “normal” when I have a chow.

When I have that glass of water or ice tea etc with my meal I never drink all of it anyway. I usually have ¼ of a glass with my meal and that’s it.

In the beginning I was perfect and then started to have a sip or two. When I went out for Chinese food I totally had the hot tea. I had a fill on Friday and saw the dietitian and she and the doctor said no drinks 30 minutes before and 45 minutes after. When I went to a restaurant for lunch today I had nothing to drink until 45 minutes after I finished. Hard habit to break but the doctors know best and you have to listen. No soda, also.

They say it takes a month to break a habit (& a month to make a habit) so if you don't drink with your meals for a month then it will be your new habit.

I apologize if I am missing something... but it is not OK to drink water after eating? I am currently an avid water drinker and I am concerned about being thirsty... Is is harmful to drink water after eating? if so, I don't understand how it could possibly be harmful? thanks in advance....

i dont have any tips, i just (stop) drinking before i eat and wait 20-30 after.

i just do it..you have more control over yourself then you know, i truly believe that.

If you are drinking with your meal you are just washing your food down. Not drinking will help to keep it there longer thus helping to keep hunger away.

I apologize if I am missing something... but it is not OK to drink Water after eating? I am currently an avid water drinker and I am concerned about being thirsty... Is is harmful to drink water after eating? if so, I don't understand how it could possibly be harmful? thanks in advance....

It's probly the #1 rule of the lapband - never drink while eating and up to 30-60 minutes afterwards. It's on page 1 of the rule book, I believe! It's sposed to wash the food out of your tummy quicker, making you not full as quickly. As for me (as I wrote above) I can't drink while eating and up to 45 minutes afterwards cuz it brings everything back up. My nurse calls it the Cork Effect. When the food is sitting in my esophagus and you add water to it, it has no where to go but back up.

I would stongly advise you to stop drinking with your meals. I'm not the perfect bandster (by far, I break many, many rules!), but this is 1 I follow (and I have no choice in the matter, really!)

Good luck!

Marci

I apologize if I am missing something... but it is not OK to drink Water after eating? I am currently an avid water drinker and I am concerned about being thirsty... Is is harmful to drink water after eating? if so, I don't understand how it could possibly be harmful? thanks in advance....

Some doctors require you to not drink before, during & after eating a meal. Ask your doctor what they want you to do. My doctor says as long as you wait 1 minute after a bit it is okay to drink. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't drink during or 30 minutes after.

Always follow your doctors order, so check with your doctor.

I apologize if I am missing something... but it is not OK to drink Water after eating? I am currently an avid water drinker and I am concerned about being thirsty... Is is harmful to drink water after eating? if so, I don't understand how it could possibly be harmful? thanks in advance....

I have always heard that fluids during or after eating is "cheating" because it makes the food you eat slip thru the band faster and in effect defeats the band. I don’t think this is true because if I eat too much solids and drink too much I will still slim and puke.

wow, thanks for the quick replies.... I am still just pre-surgery, so doing research... I just had no idea this was one of the rules... I have to admit it worries me a lot!! I guess I always just had the impression that water was always good. I'm sure when I get closer to the surgery and get all my surgery-specific info I will hear about it. thanks again!

Actually this is a debated subject in the medical community right now. Doctors are starting to change their tune about drinking and eating with the band. So it is important to check with your doctor and follow those orders.

Here's a different take on the drinking while eating question? This new concept hasn't been around long enough for USA bandsters to even realize if it works or not? For some, drinking and eating do not work at all. I understand this. But Dr O'Brien seems to destroy the idea that sipping one minute after a bite washes food through the pouch. See for yourself:

Rule 5 Liquids

I want to add, that I learned the old fashioned way. It was difficult for me to not drink in the beginning but I got used to it and it's really no problem now. Occasionally I'll have(sip) a beer or glass of wine with dinner. Never with Bfast or lunch though. I notice no difference in satiation either way.

But this journey is different for each and every one of us so follow your doctors orders. Maybe when you feel like you've got a grasp on how this all works with you, the band and your results, experiment a little.

tmf