Poll: Drink with meals?

Do you abstain from all liquids while you are eating? I am still having trouble with it and am drinking small amounts (only enough to rinse out my mouth) while I eat. It doesn't seem to be affecting my WL but I am scared that it will in the future. Any thoughts?

i drink a little at times..but as a general rule i do not, it has alot to do with what i am eating, some times you need a little sip and i see nothing wrong with that. 403 / 316 / 225

I also have to, at times, drink while I eat. I think as long as you keep it below a few oz., it won't effect our weight loss. I do wait one hour after eating to really drink fluids(fluid load) Roni

I drink just a few sips of water when I am out at a restaurant eating with others. When I am at home I do not drink with my meal. I wait an hour before and after to drink my water. I don't want to strech my pouch any more if I can help it. I have lost 60 lbs since January 4 and it has been an adjustment not to drink with my meals. I think it gets easier as time goes on. Love and Peace Anne B

Jenny, No I don't drink with any of my meals. The doctor told me not to and I am not. I was told however if I need to take a sip because something is dry in my mouth, not all the time though, that I could. I just haven't had to do that yet. Good luck, Becky P.

Hi! Most of the time I comply with this rule....since I am ALWAYS drinking something 24/7 it does not feel like such a big deal to put down the bottle for an hour or so....certainly can't say I am THIRSTY!!! When in public. like out to eat with a friend....I will take a few sips to normalize myself....and I admit to a few slugs of CC milk while eating PB and SF Jelly....but that's about it. Sher'

I drink with my meals. The docs here in Germany have a diffrent philosophy on the whole what you can drink and eat after surgery. My doc told me that if my stomach can tolerate it, then eat or drink it. He uses the whole listen to your stomach philosophy, and so far so good for me. Talk to you all later Kimberly

I try not to, but I usually fail. I have to sip a little water during the meal. Last night(mother's day) the family took me out to dinner. I had a shrimp coctail for my meal and I ordered a tea(unusual for me). The waitress kept coming by to refill my husband's glass(he chugs his drinks), but always gave me a funny look when mine was still full. I had three sips.

Mu surgeon told me that simply drinking too fast (gulping), drinking during or soon after meals will not stretch my pouch. He said that the lining of the stomach he used is the strongest, toughest part, and it takes a LOT of eating to stretch it abnormally and prematurely. He said our pouches WILL stretch at some point, allowing us to eat more normal portions. That is when it is up to me to decide how much I take in (using the tool that will tell me when I'm full and when I'm satisfied). Anyways, sometimes I drink a bit when I eat, usually I eat very spicy foods a lot, so I do drink a tad bit more than usual. However, I've always followed the 30/45 rule (30 min before eating I don't drink, 45 mins or more after eating I don't drink) that was the hardest part to learn about this surgery in my opinion. I honestly don't think we can stretch our pouches by drinking with meals. It's a personal opinion, and I say follow the advice of your surgeon. Do what he says, or else you will fail, IMO... ~*~*~Beth~*~*~ 329.4/263/140 http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=H1077226915

Hi all, I try not to drink anything with meals but am having a great deal of trouble progressing to harder foods. I am still not able to eat shrimp,chicken, pork, beef, lamb, hard cooked eggs, etc. I have to have most meats other than soft cheeses in soups or salads that have a lot of mayo/sf dressing. I had surgery Jan 25th. Some days even cottage cheese is too heavy. Last Friday I had esophageal spasms (ouch!!!!) thought I was having a heart attack and was admitted for two days of cardiac work up. Tomorrow at 0730 I am having an EGD and dilation of my pouch outlet. I have put this off because I didn't want to slow my weightloss down but this is getting rediculous. I have tried to follow the rules but had found if I didn't eat it in liquid it wasn't going down. Anyway...still glad I had the surgery down to 186lbs from 260lbs...so cannot really complain... I believe in following the Dr's advice though. One hard thing about this board is that we all have different surgeons and have been given slightly different advice from them. It can be a challenge to not be able to do what others can but I am trying to just follow my surgeons directions. Carolyn