Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Drinking Fluids With Meals



Recommended Posts

I have read in a couple of places about how you are not supposed to drink liquids with meals when you finally begin to eat solid food - wait an hour and then drink. Is this helpful? :ranger: Also, I read about foods lap-banders can't tolerate, and I am wondering how you know if you can't tolerate something - is it just a tummy ache, or actual barfing? :sick Thanks!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You should wait at least 1 hour after a meal before drinking is because it will essentially flush all of the food through the band. This defeats the whole purpose of the band, which is to restrict your intake and make you full on less food. If you've flushed the food through your band, you're going to get hungry sooner than you should.

I just got my band Thursday so I don't know the answer to your other question.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The drinking think, doesnt really make a difference to me, so I dont really get pedantic about it, I drink when I want to. But overtime, with increasing fill I've found myself not drinking with meals or immediately after because it does make me feel stuck or blocked up. Normally I let my food go down a bit first before I drink.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had my band for about 5 weeks now. My surgeon and nutritionist both told me that it would be okay to start taking small sips of Water 30 min. after eating a meal and that should be okay. So I try to wait between 30-45 minutes and then I usually am good. And with the food thing that lap banders cant tolerate it feels like something is actually stuck sitting there and when this happens, I noticed that is usually comes back up within a few minutes.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I pretty much follow the 1/2 hr before and 1 hr after rule for drinking.

I havent found any food I cannot tolerate, but have given up bread, except toasted whole wheat pitas, rice, potatoes, mangos and beef/pork. So far I have not missed any of them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I pretty much follow the 1/2 hr before and 1 hr after rule for drinking.

I havent found any food I cannot tolerate, but have given up bread, except toasted whole wheat pitas, rice, potatoes, mangos and beef/pork. So far I have not missed any of them.

I follow the same rules with drinking, I found if i wait 30 mintues to drink after a meal i will get hungry faster and sooner.

So i wait an hour after i eat. I do drink right up until I eat ( more so when im eating out and then I do not even drink half of a glass , usually half of half a glass LOL ) But if I drink after an hour of eating I stay full longer .

HTH

Mindy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Do you get the same benefit from drinking Crystal Lite as you do from drinking plain Water?

Yep, Just a very few calories with the crystal light, but it adds variety to the daily Water intake. Plus I take the single packs with me everywhere in case I am out and want a change from plain water.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Dave. A friend told me that if I add anything at all to my Water that it would not count toward the 64 oz. that are recommended.

Crystal Light sure makes it easier to get down.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It was a big challenge to give up drinking originally. I still order one with a meal, but I weaned down to 1-2 TINY sips per meal (it looks like I never touched my drink).. and then I always get it to go (unsweet tea with lots of lemon!).

At first it was hard, but honestly after a fill or two, its HARD to drink while eating. If I ever try to really have a sip of something while eating, I get a painful knot in my stomach. So I went from dying to have drinks while eating, to not caring for it. But I always have it for later!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes...Crystal Light DOES count toward your Water. No cals, no sugar - absolutely.

It's the caffeinated drinks that can't be counted.

As for drinking with meals...as much as you may want to - you may soon discover how uncomfortable it can be.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I drink a hot liquid--like coffee--before I eat in the morning.

I drink my Water before I eat and take little sips all day long.

I have trouble eating dense meats like steak. Bummer.

Darr

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I drink a hot liquid--like coffee--before I eat in the morning.

I drink my Water before I eat and take little sips all day long.

I have trouble eating dense meats like steak. Bummer.

Darr

i also have a problem with steaks... the only steak i can possibly have is well Filet mingon... and those are small to beginning with(not to mention expensive) If i really have a bad craving ill buy it but i got over it

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am finding this terribly difficult. All my life I've been told not to drink with my meals, and now again! Boy, it takes concentration, I still catch myself with a glass in my hand. I have no fill so far, so its not too drastic, but I'm in training for my first fill, as barfing and me - we don't get on!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×