Hey everyone

I am 6 days post op and I just wonder how do you all manage without drinking while you eat? For me this might be the hardest thing to overcome.

It is my understanding that 30 minutes before and at least 1hr after is not permitted.

Feedback is appreciated and thanks!

M

that would be the hardest for me

i am finding it very difficult as i become very thirsty while eating. I also watch the clock and can't wait until my 1 hour is up to drink. I was banded on july 2 and wont have a fill until aug 4 so I'm thinking it will be easier when I have a fill.

That is a difficult one, and it applies to those of us with Different WLS's, as well as the Band.

I used to LOVE to guzzle. A while after surgery, I realized that my MAX limit was 5 swallows at once (30 minutes after eating, of course) , and I learned to live with that. I still count each swallow, kind of like in a cadence.

It's tough to get used to, but you HAVE to learn and play by the rules....it is CRUCIAL to the success of the band.

HH

i didn't worry about it before I got restriction. Once I started getting restricted it became increasingly easy for me because it physically HURTS me if I drink while eating. It's just a habit, really, and it's one that's easy to break. Just don't give yourself a beverage when you sit down to eat.

My doctor has me not drinking 30 minutes before a meal, no drinking during a meal of course, and no drinking for 30 minutes after a meal. That would be rough waiting an hour. It's been hard enough waiting 30 minutes. I just remember how they told me that if you drink with your food it turns everything into a slush that goes through your band faster and you will cancel the advantage of having a band. They said that that's how people cheat the band and end up gaining weight. You have to fill up your little pouch with about 1/2 cup of food and let it slowly digest or you will be starving and the band won't help you. They wanted me to do it for months before the surgery to get used to it but I was very bad and didn't really do it for more than a day but I am doing it now and I am getting more and more used to doing it. Sorry I said "doing it" so much. Hee Hee Hee! :)

It may turn some things into slush, but others...it's just volume. Chew a piece of chicken breast then put it with a swallow (about 1/2 ounce) of Water. DONT stir it! What you have is chicken breast and water. Keep doing that. The water takes up area in your pouch and HURTS! Not true with every food of course, but there are reasons to not drink while you eat beyond the "slush" theory. In fact, there are people who, when they are stuck, use a sip or two of water to get the old "PB" going.

I know some people drink while they eat (referring to people with good restriction) but I don't really know how they do it. I'm glad it hurts me; it really helps to NOT do something if it hurts you to do it!

I was also dreading this and have found it really easy. Sometimes I will have a drink upto 15 min before - but going for 1hr afterwards has actually been incredibly easy.

Its just a pain when I'm working as I get a 30min lunch break so can't eat and have a drink at lunchtime!

I'm 7 days post op and I find it hard as I am used to drinking a lot and often. I'm having to alternate drink-wait-meal and in the morning coffee always wins out but then I'm aware that I'm not getting my stomach up and running and burning off calories straight away.

For those of us that are just about a week post-op...we're not really eating right now, are we? Most of our sustenance is liquid, so I can't see how drinking would affect what's in our pouch too much. Besides, I don't know about you guys, but I start getting these little hiccup-like things when I've had enough to eat/drink, and I usually stop because I'm sure my body is telling me "no mas." As someone said above, it's when we start getting the real food in us that we have to worry about the pouch and drinking.

You get used to it because you have to.

Keep the glass off the table. Actually it's a great cost saver when you go to restaurants because you're not spending an additional $2 for a beverage.

I used to be a big liquid drinker w my meals. Probably 3-4 glasses of beverage. Its taken some work at the beginning, but now has become very easy. I do order my drink at restaurants, but get it in a "to go" cup so I can take it with me and enjoy later.

When I eat out I have found the easiest way for me is to order Water or other drink in a take-out cup with a lid. I do not put the straw into the cup until I leave. By the time I am in the car it has been the 30 minutes my Dr asks you to wait. I then enjoy the drink on the way home...

At home I just don't fix me one at the table....

Did find out mine is more habit than anything else......An easy habit to break.....

Suzdavis

I was concerned about this, but it seems to be working out. Also, my surgeon's instructions are less restrictive - stop drinking 5 minutes before eating and don't start again until 20 minutes after. He says that once I am used to the band I can try sipping with meals to see if I can handle it.

I work at home, so it is easy to pace myself. For Breakfast, I relax with my coffee, then will have a slice of quiche or some Cereal about an hour later. I try to drink liquids throughout the day, ahve something light in the afternoon. Before dinner, I relax with a "cocktail" - usually non-alcoholic, but sometimes a glass of wine. Sometimes its a glass of V-8, sometimes its half-bottle of Isopure - the blue raspberry looks so pretty in a martini glass.

i find it very interesting how different drs and offices are different. I was told that i can drink up until i start eating and then to wait 2 hours after a meal to drink again. I usually order water and drink as much as i can before my food gets there and then afterwards watch the clock for my 2 hours to get here to drink again! Which is a bit hard because they also want me to eat something every 2 hours.... its a vicious cycle!!!

I have gotten used to it, the only problem I am having is that after that 30 minutes I am not thirsty anymore and have to remind myself to take a sip.