Hello everyone. Why do we have to drink Water prior to eating (15-45 min.) I know why were not supposed to drink while or after we eat due to the erosian effect. Is it to help us fill up or to have fluids in our system to prevent dehydration due to the eating.

If anyone can give me some advice I would greatly love to hear it. Thank you in advance for all your help.

I dont think anyone said you HAVE to drink Water before Eating. My doc says No liquids 30 mintues before or at least 30 mintues after a meal .

are you sure you did not misunderstand and they did not say NO Drinking 15-45 mintues prior to eating .

MIndy

I've never heard "drinking" and "erosion" in the same sentence before. I don't think any research has yet connected erosion rates with drinking Water during or after meals, either... and from where I sit that doesn't even make any sense.

Most surgeons tell you NOT to eat within a certain amount of time before, during, or after meals because the theory is that the water "funnels" the food through the pouch, emptying it sooner and reducing the body's ability to register the "full" sensation from the food sitting in the pouch.

I have been told the same thing about Water. No drinking 15 minutes before a meal and 1 hour after a meal. It is the funnel theory that was given to me that you won't stay full as long. I haven't heard of erosion... Erosion of what?

I'm having trouble not drinking during a meal and what effects this is having on me. I know I can eat more when I wash it down, which isn't good! I have to work harder on following these rules... I don't know why I am so stubborn about this and sabotaging myself by drinking water while eating... I guess I'm trying to avoid that "stuck" feeling at all costs... :eek:

In my support group, they gave me some ideas to help me stop this. One is to eat fruit with the meals and that the natural moisture will help you give up water. Another person chews gum right after eating... I really have to stop this sipping habit with my meals... Don't know if this helps or what you are looking for.... This is just my experience with water. Good luck!

Erosion is when the band erodes through the organ wall. It happens from the outside in, and I can't see for the life of me how drinking Water has anything to do with it. I think OP may have gotten some bad information or confused something with another.

I personally have never seen a difference in the quanitity I eat when I drink or don't drink, but I can't drink much when I'm restricted or it's painville. And the funnel theory doesn't make logical sense to me. But that's just me. If I'm thirsty and can do it, I drink (sips only, too much sneaks up on you very quicly). However this was mostly in the first year - 18 months. Nowadays I find that I'm just not that thirsty during meals.

Oh be careful with gum, if you go that route. One wrong swallow could land you in a world of trouble. I've done the fruit thing and the sauce thing, but more than anything I just go for a sip if I need it. (Would love to find a surgeon who could discuss the funnel theory with me and actually have it make some sense, because right now it's counterintuitive to my thoughts and -- physics, really).

I underestood it to be not so much of a funnel but that the water helps liquify the food you're eating making it go through the band faster and easier thus not not allowing you to keep the full feeling.

I've been told all the same--it's the full thing--drinking will trick you into thinking you're full when you're really not. I hate it too...actually I'm having trouble not drinking during my "meals" (which right now are only yogurt, pudding or malt o meal) but then I forget to drink water at other times!! Hang in there...it will all become clear. Keep asking questions!!!

I have gotten to use to not drinking after meals I forget TO drink . I have set timers to remind me . If you get into the habit of NOT Doing it it becomes just that a habit.

I do how ever drink up until my meal comes. Then no more drinking. When i have restriction If I drink and eat Im in big trouble. I learned that the hard way once and dont want to chance it again . It was WAY too painful ! i agree with Wheetsin about the Erosin stuff too. what she said LOL

Mindy

I agree about your comments about erosion & Water. It doesn't seem possible that drinking water would affect the band on the outside.

Wheetsin, this is how the funnel effect was described to me by the nutritionist and the Dr. Hope this helps you because I am a visual learner and I got this picture well in my head. As the band tightens it squeezes around and makes the opening to the stomach smaller. They showed us 3 funnels, all different sizes. Before banding, you have the large funnel and food easily goes right through. As you go through the fills the funnel sizes changes and gets smaller and smaller. Now visualize a food in three different stages, like an apple. Apple juice is a liquid and lots of calories and goes through any funnel size pretty darn quickly. You can drink a lot of calories if you go for the liquid. That is why they say don't drink anything with calories. If you go eat applesauce, it doesn't go down as quickly as the apple juice but it goes down easier then the apple. You can still eat more calories eating applesauce then you can eating the apple. It just goes through the funnel easier then an apple you have eaten. If you choose the apple over the applesauce or apple juice, you are going to get full faster. It isn't going to digest as quickly and go down through the funnel. It's going to sit there a long longer until it breaks down and able to pass through the smaller funnels. Therefore, you are always going to get less calories and stay full longer if you eat the "whole" food rather then a processed version of the food. It's pretty much physics when it comes to what your eating, how well your chewing and how tight the band is and if your drinking water. I totally get this that was explained to me and I understand the effects of drinking water during a meal and washing it down past the band and being able to eat more.... So, I don't understand why I mentally don't comply with this rule. It totally makes sense to me but I haven't held myself accountable and keep doing it. :tongue2: I'm going to really work on it tomorrow and try and have one day where I follow this rule EXACTLY! :biggrin: I guess it is one day at a time for me breaking this habit and seeing how it affects how much I'm eating. Hope this helps you!!! Good Luck! :cursing: