Revised "no drinking 30 min before meal"

Hi! I was at the month-post-op class Wednesday in Ottawa and the nutritionist said that they changed their guideline regarding water intake before a meal and now we are allowed to drink up to the meal. The waiting 30 minutes after the meal to drink again is still in effect though.

Personally, this will help me get more water in my day. I've been working hard since last week on this and went from just under 1 litre a day to almost 2 litres and the scale started moving again, yeah! I was reminded that the only way those fat cells can leave our body is by drinking the required water and boy does it make a difference.

Heard that same thing from Windsor!

Glad they changed their guidelines, and congrats on getting more water in.

I was never restricted before meals; only after.

I'm still pre-op, so forgive my ignorance. I keep forgetting to ask why we don't drink for 30mins afterwards. I remember a vague reason of not flushing the food through the stomach but I feel there must be more to it than that. I was talking to someone this week about the not drinking with meals rule and they got quite annoyed with me, saying it was 'ridiculous and against common sense". She's bound to bring it up again and I'd like to have some decent information to fire back with.

She's one of those people that if it isn't her opinion, it's wrong. No wonder I haven't told her that I'm waiting for surgery.

It really is that simple. If you add water to the mix then you make slushie type stuff in there and it washes out faster.

Thanks Tracey, I guess I over think this stuff.

I'm pleased to know drinking up to meals is now allowed, I was always a with-meal drinker (I suppose many people are) and this will make it a little easier.

Can I also clarify: it's 30 minutes from when you finish, yes? that seems the most logical.

Yep 30 minutes after you finish eating. I use that time to clear the table, do dishes if I have to, etc and before you know it, it's 30 minutes.

I've always been drinking up to a couple of minutes before a meal...because...common sense. everyone else had it right...drinking with a meal will cause the stomach to empty much faster. If you have ever had a garborator you'll know thick food will not pass through unless you add water to it. For anyone getting an RNY food passing through the stomach too fast can = dumping and let me tell you it is not recommended. I once dumped for an hour by taking one big gulp of my protein shake. I did it twice in two days before i realized that is what was causing the dumping. Now I take it slow with my shakes and I'll never make the mistake of drinking with my meal. I wait 30 minutes from the end, but honestly you won't need to worry about that. You will feel full for hours so I have to remind myself to drink after a meal. I"ll think it was 30 minutes only to find it has been 90.

The water will push the food down in your intestine too much and too fast. You will end up with dumping. Think of a funnel. If the bottom is plugged the water will start coming back up. Not good!