Bariatric apps for timing food/water??
There is no medical reason to wait 30 minutes after DRINKING to eat. All liquid exits out of the pouch very quickly (within about 5 minutes, depending on how much you drink).
if your plan calls for this, I would suggest asking whomever made the "rule" what the rationale is. Waiting to eat after you drink makes it difficult to get enough fluid in unless you are drinking quite a bit at one time.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
My nutritionist and my surgeon told me that waiting the 30 minutes after to drink my water was because the water can "wash" out the food I had eaten. It allows you to stay fuller longer. The only thing I haven't listened to them about was not drinking 30 min before I eat. I will drink right up until I start eating.
Yes, drinking AFTER eating will wash food out of your pouch. I was only questioning the part about waiting 30 minutes after drinking to eat. There is no reason to do that, and I am always very curious about WHY doctors say to do that (but either no one asks or they don't bother to post about it here.)
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
You may not need a timer for anything except for waiting to drink after meals (and, as already suggested, the timer on your phone (or microwave, or stove) will work just fine.
Many people are able to drink normally just a few days after surgery, and don't have any trouble getting in their water and don't need to take small sips every few minutes. I know that not everyone has the postop experience that I had, but I am always baffled (and a bit amazed) when I think of someone literally spending their entire day (for days on end) focused on taking a drink of water every 5 minutes!
Studies show that psychological expectations ARE related to post-op outcomes (not just specific to WLS). Don't create an unpleasant situation by expecting to have a hard time. Create the best possible outcome by expecting to be one of the ones who has NO trouble eating or drinking post-op.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Lora,
Thank you for your posts. I also wondered why the doctors say to stop drinking 30 minutes before and after eating. It was stressed again at my 1 week post op. I have been stepped up to pureed foods but having a difficult time getting my water in especially with the 30/30 rule. You answered a big question about how long the water stays in the pouch. It's liquid so I didn't think it was long. The 30 minutes after is understandable. I think with a small modification I might be able to get closer in getting my water in.
Carpe Diem!
Height: 5'5" HW: 237 SW: 237 CW:138 GW: 134 M1: -31 M2: -14 M3:-12 M4: -10 M5: -10 M6: -5 M7: -4 M8: -5 M9: -5 M10: -2 M11: 0 M12: -1
There is an app called Eat Slower. You can adjust time to one minute to two minutes and it will ding or vibrate to let you know when to take your next bite. It is to help you slow down eating and to chew thoroughly.