Surprisingly, I have had no trouble not drinking while I eat, and I'm handling the no drinking for 30 minutes after eating. But, somehow I am forgetting to stop drinking 30 minutes before I eat.

That's always the hardest for me, too. I've read where others drink right up to their first bite. I don't know how big a difference it makes.

http://pfrc.med.nyu.edu/handouts/pdf/all/pfrc09-000041.pdf

go to page 8 and it instructs to stop 1/2 hour before eating and can resume liquids 1/2 hour after. I have personally been okay with sipping a little 10-15 minutes at times before a meal.

I drink right up until I take the first bite. I was never told not to. It's never been a problem for me.

I also drink right up until the first bite. I heard it didn't matter (the 30 minutes before) with the sleeve.

Yah! I'm going to start drinking just until food time then. I am very compliant with during and after. It's just the before that seems sort of pointless and difficult to adhere to. This will make my goal of 80+ ounces of fluid much easier to accomplish before midnight!

I was told (and given documents) that say no drinking 30 minutes before or after eating. The before is to make sure that you have room for your protein in your new tiny tummy and the after is to keep you from washing the food through quicker. Down the line the concern is you will wash the food through too quick and be hungry again sooner. I have ALWAYS been a huge drinker and I am unable to wait after eating. I have to have at least a few sips after I eat. I have managed to stop my kids and myself from drinking while I am getting dinner ready and we no longer drink ANYTHING during our meals. I have seen that the kids are eating better and are not as hungry later so I guess there is something to it.

I follow the rule of drinking right up until I take the first bite, and I'm compliant with the at least 30 minutes after (for the most part).

Once liquid enters the stomach, it pops open the pyloric valve and empties out of the stomach. We don't have pouches where food or liquid have to "seep" through a tiny opening. Therefore, the 30 minute before rule doesn't really make much sense since our stomach still functions normally. With the band/RNY, you have a pouch and a stoma. The 30 minute before rule makes sense because liquid does take up room for a longer period of time.

Yeah, some doctors say that and some don't. I get full really fast on small amounts of food so it doesn't seem to make a bit of difference that i drink right until I start eating. Water goes right through the stomach anyway.

I was also told to stop 30 minutes before and can resume 30 minutes after. This is what I did consistently the first 3 months. I then read where others drank right up until meal time and decided to try it. It's true, if I'm having a good restriction day, it does seem to limit how much I can eat at that meal, but since I don't follow their rule of only 3 meals per day, I can eat the rest of the meal later (for a snack). BUT I do continue to follow the no drinking until at least 30 minutes after I've finished and never drinking while eating.

My Doc said once I could start feeling when my stomach was empty I could drink closer to meal times...so I can drink up until about 10 minutes before I eat...

I drink right up until my food comes, don't drink during my meals, and wait at least 30-45 minutes after eating before drinking.

As a kid, we were never allowed to drink with our meals - my father's reasoning was that we wouldn't chew our food as well and would wash the food down - so I guess he was probably right.

To prevent myself from drinking with my meals (early on, not now), I leave all beverages in the kitchen away from the table.

I drink right up till I take the first bite. I do try and wait 30 minutes after eating to drink again.

I don't have any problems with not drinking. . . i have a water drinking problem anyhow, i'm trying though, but no i don't have a problem with stopping at 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. . . what i have to remember is to drink it ! hahahaha

I wasn't told anything about drinking fluids either, but i follow the rule you guys do because it makes sense to me. . . how could you fill up the tummy with water when it's so hard to stuff down the protein already. . . so i don't drink stuff before eating and after. . it's not bad. . .