Drinking before you eat???

I am curious if any of you were told to not drink for 20 - 30 minutes prior to eating?  I know not to drink after I eat, but I do remember reading somewhere about not drinking before.  I just can't remember where.  If you don't drink prior to eating do you feel that it makes a difference?  Thank you.

My surgeons practice stresses this, also. I don't always follow it, but is a good practice. If I am a bit tight due to stress or what ever I try to drink something hot before I eat. If it is very hot or I have not had anything to drink for a while I will try to get something about 15 minutes before. The 20-30 minute thing before meals acts like the time after, for the same reasons. You don't want your food to go into the slush of fluids in your pouch and be sent out faster. While I don't follow the rule all the time if you are having trouble with satiety that might help.

There's some thinking now that really the food doesn't stay in the upper stomach (or pouch as some call it) all that long.  

What's really happening is that eating slightly and temporarily stretches the wall of the upper stomach which stimulates the vagus nerve.  This signals to the brain that our stomachs are full and helps to shut down the appetite.

If not drinking before eating works for someone.. great.  If water loading works for another person.. that's great too.  :)  

I'm glad there's not a standard set of rules, while it can be confusing, I think we need flexibility as we are all so different and react to things and situations differently.

yes my doc told me the samething and I was very good about that for the first several months. Now, I drink right up to when I start eating and it hasnt done anything different for me. Now, I do wait the 30 min after I eat ,I am still very strict about that part , but I do not do the 30 min before meals.

I followed the 30/30 rule for a long time after I was banded, probably the first whole year.

Then I read a post somewhere that a long time bandster posited tha****er loading before eating is helpful to subdue appetite and also helps keep us hydrated and helps prevent stuckage.

I've since adopted that practice and extended my not drinking after eating to about an hour.  This works for me and I don't feel any hungrier.   If I did feel hungrier drinking right before I ate, I would go back to the 30/30 rule.

If you're a new bandster, try to follow your doctor's guidelines as closely as you can.  As you learn how the band works with your body, you can tweak things just a bit.

See my doctor said I can dring right up until I eat then I should stop.  I wish doctors would get together and come up with one set of universal rules for us to follow.  I never saw so many differing opinions. 

I have thought the same thing about all the different guidelines from doctors that are posted on here. That's why I trust and follow my doctors orders. Especially being a newbie....if I didn't have a good foundation with my doctor and her staff I would really be confused.

 My surgeon's rule is you can drink up until the first bite of food, but then stop and wait an hour after eating.

I have to admit, sometimes I fudge and wait 45 minutes.. :x