Drinking Guidelines

when I was still on liquids and purees, I was told no drinking 30 minutes before and after. Once I moved on to solid food, they said I could drink up until the point I started eating, but to wait for an hour after. They later told me to try to wait 90 minutes if possible (not sure why, but....). I do wait 90 minutes most of the time, unless there's some reason that I can't. But I almost never wait less than an hour.

I didn't find out my clinic recommended 30 minutes before and after until I was well into maintenance and attended a support group with my RD. I have never avoided drinking up to the point of eating and I've never even had issues with feeling more full or being able to eat less due to drinking prior to eating. I honestly can't imagine managing food and water intake if you had to time the before AND the after. I often eat lunch sporadically between meetings at work and fluid consumption is always the challenge.

Unless what I'm eating is just a bite/taste I always wait at least 30 minutes to drink after eating. If nothing else, for me with having had VSG, it hurts like heck when I try to drink (which I've done mindlessly a few times).

My program stated drink right up to when you are going to eat and then no drinking while eating and wait a minimum of 30 minutes afterwards, but they would prefer 1 hour.

Don't drink with meals and wait at least 30 mins afterwards. If you are eating a dense protein to get the filling of fullness to last a long time, drinking with a meal with slide it right through and you will be hungry rather quickly.

Remember all of the countless times that we dieted pre-surgery and were told to "drink water before eating, it fills you up"? Makes sense doesn't it? Drinking water 30 minutes before eating would seem to occupy space in your pouch and not allow for maximum filling with good nutrition. I know for a fact that drinking with meals is forbidden, (not just because it is PAINFUL, have u ever tried it? OUCH), but because liquids SPEED UP gastric emptying time thus one feels full a shorter time and makes one prone to grazing. I believe this is also the reason for the 30 minutes after rule as well. All about the science. ;)