No Liquid With Meals Is The Hardest

Anyone else feel this way?  I'm 3 months out, and I'm totally getting the hang of it.  But the hardest part by far is not having anything to drink with my meals.  I get so thirsty, and it doesn't feel natural to not put your food down and then pick up your beverage between bites.

I have had to learn the hard way, I now know that even the smallest sip of water with a meal will usually cause me to lose the whole thing.  I do try to wait 30 minutes after (and before), but sometimes that's not long enough.  

Even though I'm getting all my required fluids in each day... this part is really tough for me. 

Anyone else hate this part?

Corrie,

Yes this is a tough one for me as well. I'm a big drinker from way back so it's really hard. Important though. Good luck.

Robin

I don't believe it is necessary to wait 30 minutes Before you eat.  I always have my tea or whatever, then heat up my food and eat, maybe five minutes later.  I do wait 45 minutes to an hour After I eat to drink anything, even if I am thirsty.  If I remember to drink before I eat, I'm fine.  Just a new normal for us!

it's so hard!  I keep all beverages out of my reach because it's just reflex to grab them.  But it's become a habit to glance at the clock when I am through with dinner, to make note of when I can start drinking again.  I often set a timer on my phone, or a kitchen timer, so I know I can pick my water bottle back up! 

This was one of the hardest habits for me to break as well.  You are not alone!  xoxo

It was one of the hardest things for me too. I always drank a lot with meals. It took a while, and I finally got used to it.

Studies that have looked at regain after WLS say the number one issue is drinking with meals. Kick the habit and keep it kicked.

Good to know. I thought it was carbs.

Can you provide a link to these studies?  I searched the webs and didn't find anything.  It surprises me that drinking with meals - and not food choices - would be the primary cause of regain and I'd like to know more.

I am curious too.  I think the funnel video is pretty convincing about how liquids move the food through our pouches quickly and can lead to eating more than necessary.  But I wonder about drinking related to weight gain in general.  My college aged daughter is quite immersed in Korean culture through some volunteer work, language study, and friends. She has said several times that Koreans do not drink with their meals, and that they think Americans are fat because they do drink with their meals.  At first, I just chalked this up to cultural norms, but after WLS, and the instructions not to drink with meals, I wondered.

I'll look for the studies. The reason for regain is obviously eating too many calories. These studies were looking at the difference in habits between those with significant regain and those without. Drinking with meals was first, grazing was next. The foods themselves didn't seem to be the issue.