OK, I can understand not drinking 1 hour after you have ate, but why are you not suppose to drink 30 minutes before you eat?

I was told that you would feel fuller on less food it you drink right before eating. Or drink while eating you flush the food out faster and get full faster.

You have to eat the required 3 oz of Protein at every meal. So they want you to have an empty pouch. This is especially true I heard after your fill(s). Same with an hour after to let the food slowly go down into the real stomach, you feel fuller longer.

Hope that helps

My doctor has no restriction re: drinking BEFORE eating. I'm free to drink up until it's time to eat....and then wait 1 hour after eating.

I guess some doctor's are more conservative and want to ensure that all liquid has indeed passed through the stoma before adding any food to the mix, to avoid any possibility of food being washed through too quickly. Just my quess. Good Luck!

Honestly that's the one band rule I don't follow. I usually drink right before I eat. My band is fairly loose, so I don't worry about the Water sticking around and making me get full faster.

The reason I usually drink right before the meal is that I haven't remembered to drink water for a while and I want to get it in before I have to wait after eating for a while.

I agree with shamrock, if you drink when you eat your not going to feel as full, as for an hour afterwards I was told 15 minutes before you eat have like a glass of water and then wait half an hour after food, which is lucky, I don't think I could wait an hour

I am only 6 days post op so im still on the liquid diet but i dont understand that either well i do understand the no water after eating but not the before part cuz the liquids should go right down right? or you would think so. But my doctor wants 30 min no liquids before you eat and 30 min no liquids after you eat. I guess ill just have to see when i get to that point.:thumbup::confused::laugh:

I can drink before.

I had to wait an hour after eating while on both liquid and mushies but now that I am on solids I only have to wait 30 minutes.

The drinking rule was confusing to me too and I'm following it now that I'm doing mushies. My Dr. says it's okay to stop drinking just before you eat (or 15 minutes) and start again 45 minutes after. Fluids go down easily and that's why some can drink up until the time you start to eat. I try to allow at least 5-10 minutes for the water to pass through the band, then I eat my meal, then I wait at least 45 min. before I drink again. Like everyone has mentioned, this rule is important so that we can make the most out of the band and allow our stomach to have that satisfied feeling. I think that drinking too soon after is very important, so that we don't wash all the food through the band. I do find it more challenging to get all my water into the day with this rule - but am getting at least 8 glasses.