Sleeved 12/24/2013 - definitely a newbie.

This is the one (and only, thankfully) MD recommendation I have some trouble with. I think because my appetite is nil, I will suddenly realize "Crap I haven't had enough Protein today!" Then I will make something happen, being less concerned with timing out 30 mins.

Anyone else have thoughts/experiences with this? Could this hinder my ability to drop pounds? Oh gosh...

I have found it very easy to stay within the rule set for me. no drinking 15 min before eating and 1 hour after. Once you start doing it it becomes second nature. Its odd when you goto restraunt and you say no drink.. Most times they say not even water>? I say no thank you i dont drink while i eat.. Thats all.

Another bit if advice is when you go out to eat get a "DOGGIE BAG" right up front and when food comes just put half in the box.. I know it sounds silly but it helps. I get KIDS MEALS also and a kids meal is like 2 meals.

Chris

Use a timer until you get used to it. You won't have much of an appetite but you need to be eating something every 2-3 hours since you can't eat much right now. As soon as you finish eating, set the timer for 30 minutes. At 30 minutes, set the timer for 2 hours and start drinking. When it goes off, set it for 30 minutes and stop drinking. When it goes off, eat.

Yes it is complicated but you won't need it long.

I had trouble with protein intake and liquid intake. After I started my soft solids I found out real quick what could happen if I drank too much within that 30 minute time frame. Everything came back up. Sorry if tmi. The drinking before is not as big of a concern but they want you to eat your calories and not drink them. If you drink too much before a meal then you won't eat as much. Good luck to you.

My nutritionist told me that not drinking 30 min before a meal is to ensure that the sleeve won't get stretched and stay the size it was.

Not sure if it is 100% true but since she said so, I will definitely try to ensure that i obey this rule. Probably, you can use this as your motivation?

As I understand it it is also one of the two rules that if you do not follow you will impeded or even reverse weight loss. Adding liquid will contribute to making all foods sliders - foods that do not "stick" to your stomach keeping you full.

I agree it is a PITA, but it is an absolute requirement.

Eat Protein first

Avoid liquid with the main 3 meals - 30 before/30 after

Drink at least 64oz liquid

bonus: Move daily if you are able

This formula will work for everyone who actually follows it from my readings here. Almost everyone who has major setbacks is NOT following these three points.

So, do you want to be healthy, look better? or not? Choose one and accept this is the price to be paid for good health / better appearance. You knew this going into the surgery. Embrace it. Accept it. Move on with life.

<p>As I understand it it is also one of the two rules that if you do not follow you will impeded or even reverse weight loss. Adding liquid will contribute to making all foods sliders - foods that do not "stick" to your stomach keeping you full.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I agree it is a PITA, but it is an absolute requirement.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Eat protein first</p>

<p>Avoid liquid with the main 3 meals - 30 before/30 after</p>

<p>Drink at least 64oz liquid</p>

<p>bonus: Move daily if you are able</p>

<p> </p>

<p>This formula will work for everyone who actually follows it from my readings here. Almost everyone who has major setbacks is NOT following these three points.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>So, do you want to be healthy, look better? or not? Choose one and accept this is the price to be paid for good health / better appearance. You knew this going into the surgery. Embrace it. Accept it. Move on with life.</p>

Thank you for your post!!

At first, I had to use post-it notes on my Water cup at work to remind myself of the 30 minute mark after eating because I struggled so much with remembering to separate my foods and liquids. What a PITA! I realized too late that I should have started practicing this pre-op (people at this site recommended I do that, but I just couldn't make it happen until it was imperative ). So I used the post its and marked the time so that I didn't pick up the bottle and take a big swig by accident. When home, I put my drink out of sight and mentally marked the time that I could go get it --this one I still do. Months later, separating food and liquids is finally becoming second nature.

Edited January 19, 201412 yr by Shells_Almost_There