Met with the nutritionist and she gave me the blow by blow. I'm finding most of it surprisingly easy to follow (swearing off carbonated fluids and caffeine, I don't really need them), so I've basically been drinking all Water. The thing that's hard is not having water with my meals because I'm so thirsty. It feels stupid waiting around for the 45 minutes to pass just so I can have a drink, and I often can't do it. I found myself eating more once just because I was thirsty and trying to get fluid/etc. out of the food. How solid is this rule for "no water during meals"? If you have water with your meals, will it stretch out your stomach and will you regain all the weight? This just feels horrible not to at least be able to sate my thirst that the food brings on...

My homemade smoothies are 24-32 oz and always Protein based...25-45g depending on my base flavor. My chocolate and vanilla bases will have 35-45g because I use milk to mix my Syntrax Matrix or Muscle Milk protein powder and the milk adds a lot of protein (real dairy milk is best) I also dilute the RTD Premier chocolate, vanilla and strawberry with 12oz. milk for a smoothie base. I used to use skim milk, but upped to 1% or 2% since passing goal. I use Water to mix my Syntrax nectar and Garden of Life Raw Fit powders for my lighter, fruity smoothie bases. These only have 25-30g protein.

I then add my Fiber supplement (Sunsweet Suprafiber or Metamucil + benefiber). From there, anything goes.....Torani SF syrups, berries, bananas, PB2, coffee, fruit juices..... (I did discover that pineapple does not go well with the milk based smoothies ). I have no idea what the calorie or carb count is because I've never kept track of anything except fluids and protein. At 7 months out I still have a protein smoothie everyday. It's easy and yummy and I know I'm getting 1/3 to 2/3 of my daily protein and fluids in a single drink.

Edited July 26, 201412 yr by Kindle

I have heard that it's because it washes the food through so you don't feel full and long and even watched the YouTube demonstrations explaining this....but my experience is different.

I am almost 8 months out. I was out of town recently working in a very hot outdoor environment. Previously I have always avoided drinking and eating together. But this particular day I had let myself get too hot and hadn't eaten enough or had enough to drink. When I sat down at the restaurant table to eat, I drank most of the full glass of Water they set in front of me. Then, less than 10 mins later I had food in front of me--nothing I hasn't eaten regularly before, all stuff that agrees with me.

Took about four or five bites and had to rush to the bathroom in pain! Doubled over and throwing up. There was no room in the inn.

So the best advice is what is said all the time on this board--the one thing we all have in common is we are all different.

I will never eat and drink and the same time again! But your mileage may vary =)

BTW I eat soup all the time with no issues and find it very filling. I also do homemade smoothies based on Protein powder, greek yogert, coconut water, frozen fruit and most of the things Kindle lists above and have no issues.

BTW--Kindle you say you add Benefiber + Metamucil...I have only been adding Benefiber. Is there something the Metamucil adds that I am missing??? I need all the help I can get in that arena!

Jess9395,

"the one thing we all have in common is we are all different."

First of all, let me say that this is one of the best things I've read on here....it should be gospel at the top of the BP website!

As for the Metamucil, it has soluble and insoluble fiber where benefiber just has soluble fiber. It will add a funny texture and maybe even settle out a little bit, where the benefiber doesn't do that. The other supplement. I alternate with is Sunsweet SupraFiber that I found at Walmart. Instead of psyllium husks and wheat dextrin, it gets it's fiber (both soluble and insoluble) from prunes, apple, acacia, blueberry, pomegranate and acai.

=)

Thanks for the fiber tip! I will have to try that Sunsweet one sounds great! My NUT also reccomended prune wafers but I haven't tried those yet either.

I hadn't heard a thing before surgery about when to drink fluids until I joined this board. So when I had my first consult after surgery I asked. My NUT said there are no rules on drinking as far as they were concerned. I drink during meals and have had no problems. I had my surgery May 21st and I'm down almost 50 pounds with no complications.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I try drinking when I'm eating a meal post-op, it HURTS!

its a def factor in regain. people who continue to drink with food are most likely to regain. (or so my nut says)

I do not have a physical issue with drinking small amounts before and during meals. I usually limit it to before I'm served, though. Most of the time I don't want to drink during or after. It doesn't seem to affect my hunger in any way.

As to being "most likely to regain" I am not sure there would be any reliable way to measure that…but I'd be interested to see why.

I was one of those people who would regularly down multiple diet cokes with a meal, so there's a huge volume difference!

I physically cannot eat and drink at the same time. When I do, I immediately get nauseated. Some people can eat and drink at the same time, some can't. My best advice to you is to always follow your surgeons instructions, no matter how silly or unneeded you might think they are. They are there to keep you from hurting yourself and your new stomach!

As to being "most likely to regain" I am not sure there would be any reliable way to measure that…but I'd be interested to see why. I was one of those people who would regularly down multiple diet cokes with a meal, so there's a huge volume difference!

i think it most likely has to do with multiple factors... people who dont follow post op plans, stomach emptying faster due to liquid in there and getting hungry faster, being able to fit more in the stomach due to the lubrication of the fluids and gradual stretching of the sleeve... i believe my nut was discussing what she has seen in people who have regained or returned to the hospital for help.

Makes sense! Had lunch yesterday with a fellow sleever and I noticed immediately that we have the same eating style. (And are both successful.) Couldn't agree more that you just have to follow what your practice advises. Mine doesn't seem to be so stringent about the drinking/eating…as long as it is tolerated.

its a def factor in regain. people who continue to drink with food are most likely to regain. (or so my nut says)

That's what my NUT told me as well. Besides, I cannot drink when I eat because it actually hurts my stomach.