Tips needed for not drinking while eating plz!

This was one of the hardest things for me!  Like the posters above, I drink throughout the day so by meal time I'm ready for just food.  

My rules are also drin****il you start eating. But then I have to wait an hour after I finish. I found it really hard before surgery to learn this, but now it's pretty easy, because I have a large drink before every meal. My dietician also recommended small bites and through chewing, which we should be doing anyway. I used to get very thirsty by eating but now the big drink helps a lot. Then I note the time once I've swallowed my last bite and know I can have more to drink in an hour. It's not usually a problem.

Yes the Registered Dietician at the Surgeon's office said it is 'less important' to stop drinking before a meal than during and after. If I am home, after my meal I will set the timer on the stove to remind me when I can start drinking again, and it helps to remind me to do it as well. I do try to drink at least 16oz of fluid before breakfast. I will start drinking water while I am taking my shower and getting ready. My breakfast is usually a protein shake(16oz). Later in the morning I will have 2 cups of tea or coffee. So I have had 6 cups of liquid before I even have lunch. Many days I have the full 64oz of water, and some days my protein shake and tea get counted in the 64oz. Depends what kind of day I am having. Dietician says we can count the protein shake and up to 16oz of coffee or tea. Can drink more coffee or than that, just can't count it. I just don't even put a drink at the table when I am eating. If I am thirsty, I will drink a cup of water before I actually start.

If you do not have a drink at the table, there is nothing to drink. Do your best to break this habit. Too many of my friends who have had huge regains drink with their meals. I know it is a big factor. Some people can get away with it and stay at goal but they are the exception and not the rule.

I either have nothing or have only an ice cube (or a small amount of crushed ice) in a glass on the table when I eat.  The ice is here just in case my mouth gets really dry and nothing on my plate has enough moisture to help alleviate the problem.  I usually try to have moist food (oor at least one high moisture item (e.g., green beans or a few small pieces of fruit)  at each meal, though.

Lora