Hey guys: I am 1 month out, and have lost 20 and am happy. My weight loss has slowed down now.. and I am slowly adding food. I am having great difficulty not drinking (at least something) with my meal...my mouth gets so dry, and I just so want to drink at least a sip... Do all of you truly go through a meal without drinking? I have not been able to do it yet... I guess its a habit I am really having trouble breaking.... Will it really sabatoge my weightloss if I just have a "few" sips during my meal? I would really love to hear from you seasoned Lap Banders....

thanks for your time! Bullit

Try loading up on water before your meal. It helps giving you a full feeling also. But I think drinking a little water doesn't do any harm at all. Its whatever works for you!

I usually drink 30 minutes before my meals and then if i have something dry i try to eat something a little more moist with it. This works for me. Before my surgery i would not drink during my meals but would drink a whole glass of something following meals. Now with the doctor telling me not to drink during meals thats all i want to do!!!!!

I rinse my mouth with water,just swish it around and spit:)

This has been one of the hardest things for me but the rinsing seems to work great !!

C

I drink about 30 minutes before I eat usually. I don't drink with my meals for at least 30 minutes afterward. If I do, I will throw up. So, not wanting to throw up has helped me not drink with my meals lol.

I don't notice my food going slower through the pouch at 30 minutes vs 2 hours. I asked my nurse and she said 30 minutes is fine to wait. I will say though that if I just had an adjustment, I do wait 2 hours because food goes very slow after an adjustment

I have not drank during a meal yet. I'm 1 month post op. What helps me best is when I sit down to eat I make sure I have no drink in front of me..when I want to drink and see no drink there it reminds me of why I'm not drinking during meals. I was told by my doctor no drinking 1/2 hour before or after a meal and no drinking during a meal. I do however water load between meals which helps me get my water in and fills me up.

Hey Bullit,

You will do better in the long run if you stick with the bandster rules. Once you get used to not drinking with meals, you will think it odd that you ever missed it at all. I drink a cup of warm tea or a glass of Water about 20 minutes before I eat. THis way, I am not thirsty until one hour after. I dont sip or swish and sometimes I forget and I am really thirsty after a meal, but most of the time I remember to waterload before the meal.

Babs in TX

334/221/180

-113

6/23/03

I agree bb..........it is best to stick to the rules in this area. I order a water, if I go out to eat, just cause I get bugged by the waiter "are you sure you don't want anything to drink?........." but, it just sits there. I don't crave liquids with meals unless, I am eating something really spicy

This is hard for me sometimes as well but I have found that it is alot easier if you don't have anything in front of you. It just takes time to form new habits.Ginny