WATER AND MEALS!

How long did it take you to learn to quit drinking water a couple of hours before eating? And then not drink for a hour or so after eating? I think this is going to be my BIGGEST CHALLENGE! I simply adore water and drink at least 130-150 ounces of it every day. I usually don't drink anything else. But. . . I love water with my meals. HELP!! Judy (whohassurgeryonapriltwentyseventh)

Judy: Maybe your doctor is different than mine, but the timing for us is not the lengths you've put down. The time before eating is about 30 minutes before a meal and the time after is 45 minutes to an hour. I think this may be difficult, too, but maybe the first few weeks of all that sipping and getting in protein will help us adjust. Take care, Pam

Thanks Pam. I am hoping I have the timing incorrect. Even 30 minutes either way is gonna be difficult for me!! Judy

During the liquid phase, post-op, it didn't matter. But once I started pureed/soft food phase, it mattered!!! At first I didn't know what was causing me to have this tight feeling in my chest causing me to spit up my food, but it was the fact that I was drinking water too close to meal time. I STILL have to set timers to remind myself NOT to drink before meal times and a 1/2 hour after meal time. I unconsciously do it because I drink a lot of water (not as much as you ... you ROCK!!!). But I'm almost 5 weeks out and I'm still retraining myself. Your body will REJECT food if you try EATING soon after drinking. It sucks and you learn quickly!

I havent gotton to the food stage yet but it is going to be hard for me too. It is hard to try to retrain yourself to do something differently you were taught to do from the time you started eating, in my case 46 years, now I gotta learn to do it differently. Its gonna be fun trying this one out...LOL Sandy