Question:
Your thoughts regarding

In the "pouch rules" write up, I believe they prescribe the concept of "water loading" prior to eating wherein we become so full that we end up eating less and feeling the "full" feeling. I am not sure if my doc accepts this concept, but I was wondering if maybe being full of liquids, where they continue in their journey beyond the pouch, will help you have a sense of fullness on less actual food. At 8 months out, my weight loss has stood still. And I worry that I am snacking more in the evening. I know the rules: liquids, protein, and exercise - cut the carbs and sugars - be patient. Do some of you feel that the timing of the liquids may play a critical role for me? Thanks for your replys...Lynn    — Lynn P. (posted on February 4, 2004)

February 4, 2004
I'm only a little over four months out but some hunger has returned, so to keep from eating too much and hurting, I have started drinking my protein drink just before each meal. I use the Weider Tropical Punch protein mixed with Crystal Lite lemonade and about 1/4 cup of cranberry juice. I added the cranberry juice because I've had three successive UTIs since surgery and felt like I was getting another. I think my protein drink is yummy (it has about 175 calories though so I do have to be careful with how much of it I drink but it has 30g of protein) and it definitely does seem to give me a sense of fullness so if I eat immediately after that, I can eat a small amount and then stop eating with no problem. I'm able to eat about 1/2 cup this way. If I don't do the protein drink first, I find I can eat about 3/4 of a cup or if the food is less dense, even a cup. For me, the timing seems to be critical and this is working well but we are all different so it may not be the same for you. I do wait 30 minutes to an hour after I eat to start drinking but then I drink something constantly. I am not a snacker and never have been so I haven't had a problem with that and can't offer anything on that. I'm just trying to make sure that I get plenty of protein each meal so that I'm not hungry. Good luck on getting the weight loss started again.
   —  SCbabe B.

February 5, 2004
(I drink water betwen meals like crazy, I am in the bathroom all the time of course, but it keeps your system clean (so to speak) I never drink with meals, try getting som sf popsycles to snakc on int he evening, or chew on a oiece of beef jerky, I will be 2 years post-op on the 27th. of this month, and I probably go through a box of popsycles every two weeks , but it keeps me legal!!!
   — bikerchic