I have such a hard time waiting 30 mins to drink after eating and sometimes drink and eat before waiting a full 30. Anyone else?

I've gotten used to it. If I get my Water in throughout the day and I'm well hydrated, then I don't physically need to drink while I eat. Plus now I eat so little, I don't find I want to drink during meals either. This was a big adjustment for me though. I used to drink sooo much while I ate. Now I only do it if I'm eating in a restaurant with people who don't know about the surgery. It helps me eat a bit more (not by much though) and look more normal.

im the same as you i find it very hard and am rarely able to do it

I always drink with my meals. The primary reason not to is because it washes your food down faster and you get hungrier quicker. I really tried the first few weeks, but I just can't choke down food without a drink. My doctor explained that as long as I'm cognizant of what I'm eating, the drinking with meals issue isn't going to hurt me it just might make losing weight take longer if I don't pay attention to calories. So far it's worked out fine.

Doesn't it also have something to do with absorption though? Like nutrients are better absorbed if we wait a bit before we drink?

I don't like not drinking either but I was taught that drinking while eating would limit your intake because you can only hold so much at a time and you need to get your Protein in before anything else. Also you will eventually stretch your stomach.

I do know that when I try to drink to soon after i have eaten it causes a pressure that makes me worry about stretching my stomach.

I am not going through this just to get back to my old eating habits. I take these warnings serious especially when my body confirms them by making me really uncomfortable.

Edited September 21, 201411 yr by mick

Anyone know where that video about drinking while eating is?

I agree with the rest. Drinking Water all day long (except for the hour around a meal) is the key to getting it all in. I bought two 24-oz Tervis tumblers – one for home and one for work. I drink one tumbler of Crystal Light (or generic) decaf iced tea throughout the morning, finishing it 30+ minutes before lunch; another throughout the afternoon, starting 30+ minutes after lunch (and finishing before snack); and finally one at home throughout the evening, starting 30+ minutes after dinner. That's 72 ounces a day, plus any coffee or tea I might also consume. I set drinks out for my family at dinner, but don't put one out for myself anymore. If I need a chaser to help get something down, I take a sip of their drink, or go into the kitchen and take a small sip of water. I hope this gives you some ideas – it's a system that works for me!

Edited September 24, 201411 yr by Rogofulm

Drinking with meals made me really uncomfortable for a long time. I do sip a little during my meals now but I am almost a year post op and I still am afraid to drink too much with food. I cut the 30 minutes down to about 15 by 6 months post.