Drinking and Eating Together....How do YOU see it???

Hi there Gang! OK, ever since our surgeries, we were told of the evils of eating and drinking together, and all of the associated reasons why we shouldn't do it.  And in retrospect, all of those reasons that were given to us really do make good sense.  However, since I am in the maintenance phase of my new life (got past my goal in early 2005), I have always been a little bit "loose" on this subject.  For example, when eating a piece of grilled chicken, if my mouth or throat got a bit too dry, I would take the TINIEST LITTLE SIP of water with lemon, just enough to "wet" things back to being comfortable.  I always differentiated this from actually drinking mouthfuls of liquid with a meal. Now, all over the internet, more and more studies are being done with post RNY folks who eat & drink together.  And now, people are being told to avoid the following foods as POOR choices: Soups and Sauces Stews Cereal & Milk Heck, this list goes on and on, so I won't bore you with it now.  What I will say is that this got me thinking, as I was sitting here actually enjoying my lunch.  Today, I was having a frozen Smart Ones entree - the Turkey Medallions with Green Beans.  This is a great frozen meal, the portion is just right, there is 18 grams of protein, and 9 carbs (from the green beans), all packed into 200 delicious, nutritious calories.  The snafu?  The fact that the turkey is covered in low-fat mushroom gravy, and the green beans are in a very light (but liquidy) sauce.  As delicious as this meal is, how would you consider it? Do you think that foods (proteins) when served with gravy is similar to eating and drinking?  How about the green beans?  Now, again, I am not as much of a stickler on this issue, since I am still well below goal, and actually trying to gain a bit of weight.  But some folks would be shaking their fingers at me and telling me that this was "not compliant".  How do you feel? My main reason for asking this, is quite simply that I am truly interested in what other people feel and think about this issue.  I already know where I stand - but I think it is an interesting topic. For example - HEAVEN FORBID, I actually ENJOY having 1 cup of Hi-Lo Soy Protein Cereal covered in 1 cup of Chocolate Low-Fat Soy Milk.  Amazing protein, super low carb - but yes, VERY liquidy.  Am I "breaking the law" so to speak? I am sure there will be a variety of opinions on this topic.  And, of course, I think a lot of it also has to do with what particular stage of the surgery/journey that you are on.  I think that someone who is at goal and on maintenance will handle this a lot differently than someone who is still in their losing stages and is trying to get closer to their goals. So, there you have it!  What do YOU think about this, and how do YOU define "eating and drinking"..... Have a great day, everyone! - Mike --------------------------- Starting Weight: 408 Original Goal: 220 Current Weight: 158 Life is GOOD! ---------------------------

Hi Mike,

I've always eaten those foods, but while doing so, have thought, "What the heck is the difference between eating this and drinking liquid while eating?" Obviously, no difference.

I can't hold much of any of those, so while I'm not sure that they will "stretch" the pouch, they probably don't allow you to get much nutrition in. I sip lipquid sometimes while eating, too.

Dave

One would think if all the labs came out ok there should not be a issue.  I am wondering if those rules are more for people who are beginning to about 6 months out.  As long as there is no malabsorbtion issues then I would think there shouldn't be a problem.  Brian

My understanding is that the no eating/drinking thing has two different purposes.  Early on after surgery, it's because the stomach is tiny and somewhat fragile and piling liquid on food can cause stress, and may cause you to eat less at a time when you can barely eat anything anyway (and many people aren't ever hungry for the first couple months).  Later it's to insure that the food isn't flushed out of the pouch, which can reduce the full sensation, allow more eating, and in some people increase the chances of dumping (if carbs were consumed). So early on, yes, avoid eating and drinking together.  Later?  I think it depends on how you're doing maintaining the calorie intake you want.  If you are maintaining your ideal weight and drinking a bit with meals doesn't change that, then it's not a big deal.  If you are eating too much and often feel hungry, then cutting out the liquids around meal time is probably a good first step to getting things under control.  Same goes for soups, gravies, sauces.  Enjoy them if you can, cut them if you're not happy with your weight. It's an odd dynamic we RNYers have.  For most people, if they need to lose weight, they are told to cut dense foods like, say, fatty meats and nuts.  For us, those rich foods might be the ones that leave us satisfied the longest, and just cutting drinking or soups might result in a lower calorie intake without feeling like we are denying ourselves. I personally don't observe the no drink rule faithfully.  That said, I now always have plain water with meals, and I rarely lower the water level on the glass more than an inch or two, and that's mostly done before the meal.

I agree 100% with your take on it....I don't believe in the neccessity for sayin NEVER drink, rather avoid it, but if you feel thirsty and it doesn't make you sick, then take a few sips...I avoid it...I don't order drinks  and I try to observe the 30 min before and after eating moratorium on drinking, but I don't stress about it anymore...but like you said, if I do get thirsty and drink with a meal, you won't see my glass go down more then an inch or two...

This is not an issue DSers have..because we have our pyloric valves in place, but my take on it is this.....that if you are able to maintain by eating and drinking at the same time, then do it.  If you can't, or you find yourself hungry very quickly after you eat, then don't do it.     the bottom line now is to make sure that you don't do things that will cause you to regain weight long term, and I think thats an individual thing.  As a post op DSer, I do eat and drink at the same time...I consider drinking to be liquids such as a glass of water, not sauce on the food.  Most RNYers that I know, cannot eat dry meats, so it is necessary for them to be very tender or have a good "gravy" on it.   I would not consider this "eating and drinking' at the same time.   If your a big soup eater, and soup fills you up and you don't then eat a meal after the soup, I'd say eat soup and stew or whatever.  If you eat soup, and are hungry 10 minutes later, I'd say forget eating soup....same goes with cereal and such.  Liquids don't fill me up for long, I generally tend to rely on dense proteins to do that...I will eat sous but in general I do not expect them to satisfy me for long. Scott

My nut told me that the reason not to drink with meals is because it flushes out the stomach before everything is absorbed. The only thing I eat that I drink almost right after is popcorn. I figure that the popcorn really isn't doing much for me besides filling me up. With that said, I eat alot of chili. Wendy's chili is a staple when I need something outside thehouse. Wendy's chili tends to be more thin than most others. if I do have soup, I make sure it is a hearty, meaty soup and don't take that much broth and if there is alot of broth, I don't drink it at the end.

Hmm.......eating and drinking. I drink as little as possible while I eat but I do drink.  Bottom line, I have to eat stuff moist. If I eat something dry, it comes back. My chosen poison: Kool-Aid sweetened with Splenda. I down about a gallon a day. I'm sure my insides are dyed red.  I'm jealous of your ability to chow Wendy's chili. before the surgery, i liked it. I head it was a good thing to eat post-op. Unfortunately, for some reason, the fat content is too high for me and when I eat it, I feel like complete **** My poor eating punishments keep me honest.  Too much sugar: Carb coma Too much fat: Yucky, sluggy, just overall blech ( you know, like ****! LOL )

Hm...yeah, me too, I usually drink water with dinner only. It doesn't seem to have affected me in the least, I still feel "full" after about 4 to 6 oz of food... I really don't know the "why" other than as mentionned here, maybe the newness of the pouch righ after the WLS is something to consider.... That all said, I've lost 175 lbs and am like 4 lbs from my goal...so I dont think it's affected my "success" either... Dunno really....Dx whyn't you chime in on this one..... Jim

I tend to wonder too. WHy have cereal with milk then, and why was that recommended to me then by my crappy NUT?  Is that bad to do too?