OK. I admit I am a bad patient. I'm a nurse and they say that nurses are the worst patients. I was banded on 8/24 with first fill about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I've always had restriction but got hungry again about 2 hours after eating. Thought I just needed another fill BUT I've always drank some with my meals. (I know the band rules but thought it would not make that much of a differance.) Yesterday I tryed eating without drinking during the meal and then drank water about 1 hour after I ate. I stayed full for soooo long and actually got fuller. I did the same today and it has made a world of differance. Just thought I'd let everyone know who is having the same problem that it really makes a differance.:smile:

Good to hear ! Glad someone did some experimenting with it and that you're here to share.

This is often something that people don't take seiously, but you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. If I drink I can 'wash stuff through' my band. But no drink and I am full for HOURS. It is the best well-known, but often ignored secret of banded life.

Amazing how that works, eh? ;o)

You're so right. Drinking while eating washes everything down so you eat more and you're hungry sooner. It's simple physics. When you don't wash the food down, the nerves tell the brain the pouch is distended and that cuts off hunger with a feeling of fullness.

I found this list for gastric by-pass patients, but I am going to give it a try, with the exception of rule # 3, because I cannot chew/eat fast without the PB effect.

IDEAL MEAL PROCESS (rules of the pouch):

1. The patient must time meals five hours apart or the patient will get too hungry in between.

2. The patient needs to eat finely cut meat and raw or slightly cooked veggies with each meal.

3. The patient must eat the entire meal in 5-15 minutes. A 30-45 minute meal will cause failure.

4. No liquids for 1 ½ hours to 2 hours after each meal.

5. After 1 ½ to 2 hours, begin sipping water and over the next three hours slowly increase water intake.

6. 3 hours after last meal, begin drinking LOTS of water/fluids.

7. 15 minutes before the next meal, drink as much as possible as fast as possible. This is called "water loading,"

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DRINKING OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS, THIS 'WATER LOADING' WILL NOT WORK.

8. You can water load at any time 2-3 hours before your next meal if you get hungry, which will cause a strong feeling of fullness.

Edited October 25, 200817 yr by DesertRose