why wait after drinking?

You know I've been following the don't eat for 1/2 hour after drinking, and don't drink for half hour after eating...but I never knew why? Does anyone know?
Recently finding myself drinking before the half hour is up. Couple of times needed to take a few sips to push down something I ate too fast. Don't want to do any damage...
Had another fill yesterday. The 4th. HOping this one will be my sweet spot. Had been still very hungry all the time, feeling like I'm really doing this all on my own. Can still eat large portions and still eat fast, and so I have to really work at eating slow and watching my portion sizes. Choices are still quite good 90% of the time...sweet tooth still lurking in the background...had icecream twice over summer. Skipped homemade blueberry pie one day just to eat a piece of zucchini bread the next : (
Still losing...just not as fast as I'd like. 2 to 3 pounds per month and I just hit my 6 month mark!
I lost more in the 3 months prior to surgery than I've lost in 6 since. Waiting to get to my right adjustment so I'll not be hungry and tempted all the time.
How are other banders doing? Find your sweet spot yet?
Diane

The drinking before..they think your stomach will be too full or fill you up too fast to take in what you need for food.  I have not found that problem though..mine goes right through.

Drinking DURING and AFTER is the bigger deal.   You can cause the food to swell (think of adding water to bread and what happens) and get stuck before it makes its way through the pouch.  If you are not at your best restriction you may be able to push food down with water but I would not do it...setting yourself up for a slip.  Think if water can get down and around and pu****then it can push your band as well.    My experience has been PB'ing if I try to drink anything after a meal for quite awhile.   I do drink before though.  

Diane...one thing that I found with the food peice (til you get used to it and then you will be a pro!)  Find the foods that fill you quickly and eat them first...everytime..all the time.  For me it was tuna, chili, chicken...the meats that I could eat..and then I would look for veggies and that would be so filling I could not even think of snacking.  What happens is some head stuff.   We WANT to eat more so we sometimes avoid the things we know will really fill us up with very low volume.   If I knew that a quarter of a breast of chicken was it for hours...it would make me grumpy.  It is all part of it!   Protein bars like PURE PROTEIN ..either the chocolate or choc pb would give me something as a snack that was very filling, good for me AND tastes good.   Make your proteins like this.  

Keep from getting bored by making new things.  Marinate chicken..make it in a stew or with tomatoe base.   Make a tuna or chicken salad (add your veggies for good flavor) ahead of time and have it in the fridge to put on some yummy crackers (for goodness sake..skip the cardboard tasting stuff...go for the seasoned stuff).   The individual cans of salmon are good!   Fish is always on the list..usually soft and so low cal you can a lot of it.   I would SNACK on these things.   What you perceive as a snack is a change also.   If I wanted a BIG salad..that is very filling...I would go for the good greens..feta cheese...and chicken chunks.     Some sweets to add can be pineapple chunks or throw a couple of slices of banana on the side.   When you get to your sweet spot you might find anything bready pretty near impossible..maybe a bite or two but not a lot...so finding things you like as a substitute is a good idea as well.  I went with roll up breads..and crackers.   LOVE gold fish crackers in my chili!   

Hang in..it is only the beginning.  I was there..I remember fighting the sweet tooth and head issues.  Now that I am at goal I have sweets once in awhile! I love ice cream..but am very happy with frozen strawberry yogurt..and yes I put some chocolate on there!  

It is so much easier if you keep in mind that is a lifestyle change and there is room for everything you like...just smaller portions and you can make it to maintance and enjoy occassional treats once the weight loss portion is gone!  Kick up your physical activity (walking is great) AND WATER if you can.  Those things make it so much easier as well.  I went with decaf GREEN TEA when I would get crabby...I love the smar****ers and drink a ton of them...the crystal light packets you can add to water are good as well.   I know it all sounds kind of "diety" but it is really just training yourself to make all these changes and be OK with it..knowing that your life will still be filled with things you like to eat and maybe it is time to find NEW things you like.    I am a tomato soup fiend now..that is like my YUM!   Never did that before! (oh like goldfish crackers in tomato soup too) ;-)

Thanks you so much for the ideas. And the encouragement. I am feeling more restriction since this fill and hoping it lasts. I'm just so tired of being hungry. But I'm so glad I have the band, otherwise I'd be gaining back all I lost.

Oh good..glad the restriction is kicking in.   Feel free to PM anytime you want.   Honestly I found the first 6 to 9 months the hardest  And it was more behaviour modification.   I kept myself busy..drank a lot of water and tea..bubble baths and long walks...anything to stop the WANT to snack feeling.  Trust me...I was a tad crabby.   It gets easier...promise!   If you have heard people talk about "head hunger" on the other forums..that is what a large part of that is.  Not really your body needing food but your head WANTING it.   It is real..and we feel it..but it is a withdrawl symptom of sorts.  Detoxing our body and mind from all the old habits.  They don't go away over night but when it does it is as part of your life as the old habits were.   Keep it up..and big hugs!

Hi Diane,

Another reason for not drinking before, during and after, is that they feel it may cause whatever food you have in your pouch to go through too easily. 

I know it is hard to stick to this "rule".  I find it very difficult sometimes.  I am thirsty most of the time, and I am so used to drinking so much all of the time. 

You are doing great, don't fool yourself.  I wish I was loosing 2 to 3 pounds a month!!  .  Sometimes I get very frustrated too.  I just keep reminding myself though, that I have not gained it all back and then some.  So just keep plugging away. 

Oh my goodness, I am feeling the same way.  I still feel hungry and eat larger portions.  Right after the surgery was my best time.  Today was my second fill, let's see how this works.  Keep on trying, it is a long road and I keep saying, it is one way, that is ahead.

I was the same way .Very slow at first.But after my 5th fill it started going much quicker.All your hard work trying to eat slow and small amounts will pay off when you hit good restriction.That was when I started to love my band.Your almost there!!I just had my 1 year anniversary,Ive lost 139 lbs so far.Good luck to you!