Does anyone know the reason we have to space out our drinking with our meals? Is this something we have to do forever? I am 2 years out and haven't been doing it for a while now and wonder if it would help me get back on track. Someone had told me that was only while you were newly sleeved. I'm just trying to understand.

Always and forever. My understanding is that 1) it can stretch the pouch (whether or not that is true or not) and 2) the liquid will make the food run out of the stomach, causing you to feel less full.

The main issue is that if you drink while eating, the Water mixes with the food and flushes through your stomach more quickly and therefor you won't feel full as long and will be able to eat much more. It's basically a way of bypassing your restriction, making it easier for you to eat more food.

Drinking before eating can allegedly fill you up and make you eat less, and therefore not get ENOUGH food, but I find that theory to be pretty much BS, because I watched my post-op leak test and saw how fast liquid moved through my stomach. It was through in a matter of seconds, so the rule of not drinking for 20+ minutes before eating just seems like a surefire way to NOT get enough liquids in. I drink right up to the time I start eating.

Drinking after eating will just make you overfull and uncomfortable. If your stomach is full of food, there's nowhere for the liquid to go and it'll just sit on top of the food and possibly get backed up into your esophagus, which is NOT good.

But as I said, drinking WHILE eating is the most dangerous. Because when the food mixes with liquid to become a more apple-sauce like consistently, it passes through more quickly and makes it easier to eat more, defeating the whole purpose of the restriction.

You need to always time-out food and drink.

The reason is you will stretch your pouch if you drink with food.

I have heard that drinking during or 30 minutes after meals cause the pyloris to open up and let the food/water out... before your body has had a chance to feel full from the chemestry. Some even drink with meals so they can eat more! I often eat soups for dinner, so really, what is the difference of that and drinking with a meal... but if you want to get the biggest bang for your buck... do not drink with or 30 minutes after a solid meal.

I am 3 years out and my dr. Told me I could have a couple of sips. He said don't drink a whole glass of water but little sips so I don't feel like I am chocking. It works for me.

@@JamieLogical explained it very well. There are actually YouTube videos that kind of demonstrate it. I say "kind of", because the video uses a funnel with no simulated pyloric valve, so it's more in line with a bypass stomach. Sleevers have a pyloric valve, so there is something preventing the stomach contents from just pouring into the intestines.

All that being said and despite all the scientific explanations and surgeon recommendations, I have drank with my meals since about 6 months out. And I eat Soup all the time. I still lost over 100% of my excess weight and at 27 months out have kept it off. So no, although probably helpful for many, due to all the reasons listed above, it is not a totally necessary rule that you HAVE to follow. I found drinking with meals didn't make me too full or less full or hungry sooner. Besides, at this point in my journey it's my brain that decides what and how much and how often to eat, not my sleeve.

My docs said drink up to the meal but wait 30 min til after.

Pretty much as stated above. They told me it was de rig our previously for the 30 min on each side but has since been revised. And they are crazy strict with protocol.

@@Kindle Everyone has to figure out what works for them and they can live with long term. For me, not eating and drinking at the same time turned out to be a lot easier than Ithought, so I'v e had no issues keeping it up. But I could see how people with limited time or who can't keep water with them at their Job the whole day or whatever might need to fit all their drinking into their breaks, which is also when they need to fit in their food. In that case, the risks of dehydration probably outweigh the risks of eating and drinking at the same time.

I have the Lap Band....I CANNOT drink while eating...here's why.

While eating, the food passes slowly through my band....drinking any Water and I instantly increased the volume of what was already there....

Can stretch my pouch (pain) but most frequently, having nowhere to go, it will come right back up...and out!

Was also taught to wait 20 minutes after eating, just in case there should be any food still there.

But that's me with the band...don't know what the experiences are with other surgeries.

I asked my surgeon about it (VSG). She said it wasn't a big deal, it's just that your sleeve can only hold so much and if you drink, you won't have room for food. No issue with stretching or washing down your food.

Now and then I'll have a few sips of Water or wine with dinner. Never drink with Breakfast or lunch.

Does anyone know the reason we have to space out our drinking with our meals? Is this something we have to do forever? I am 2 years out and haven't been doing it for a while now and wonder if it would help me get back on track. Someone had told me that was only while you were newly sleeved. I'm just trying to understand.

I was told that when you drink with your meals you tend to eat more because you're drinking will liquefy your meals rather than just your body's natural juices.

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Always and forever. My understanding is that 1) it can stretch the pouch (whether or not that is true or not) and 2) the liquid will make the food run out of the stomach, causing you to feel less full.

Exactly

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The main issue is that if you drink while eating, the Water mixes with the food and flushes through your stomach more quickly and therefor you won't feel full as long and will be able to eat much more. It's basically a way of bypassing your restriction, making it easier for you to eat more food.

Drinking before eating can allegedly fill you up and make you eat less, and therefore not get ENOUGH food, but I find that theory to be pretty much BS, because I watched my post-op leak test and saw how fast liquid moved through my stomach. It was through in a matter of seconds, so the rule of not drinking for 20+ minutes before eating just seems like a surefire way to NOT get enough liquids in. I drink right up to the time I start eating.

Drinking after eating will just make you overfull and uncomfortable. If your stomach is full of food, there's nowhere for the liquid to go and it'll just sit on top of the food and possibly get backed up into your esophagus, which is NOT good.

But as I said, drinking WHILE eating is the most dangerous. Because when the food mixes with liquid to become a more apple-sauce like consistently, it passes through more quickly and makes it easier to eat more, defeating the whole purpose of the restriction.

Embrace the Restriction that's what we went through the surgery for.

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For what it's worth, it is this rule that has kept me from snacking for the most part. When I realize that I need to get in more fluids but want a snack, I realize that eating would make me have to wait longer to drink so I manage to convince myself the snack isn't worth it.