Separating food and drink

 Hello, all!
I was wondering how long everyone continues to separate the eating and drinking processes... I am still pretty vigilant about it, except if I am out to eat and have a glass of wine with dinner. But, as a rule, I am still waiting 30 minutes after my last swallow of food before my fist sip.

I am about 16 months out and 143 pounds down, and firmly in maintenance.

So, what are you long-term maintainers doing?

Lauri

 I actually haven't for a few months. It started as an experiment, and I've found that it doesn't increase my capacity. I still only drink a little, though. 

My surgeon never made a big deal about the drinking. Nevertheless I did what everyone else on here does, I withheld drink with my meals and just eliminated a glass of anything on the table. I never watched the clock but would just naturally start back on my water about a half hour later. It seems like second nature to me now, which is odd, as I was the one that HAD to have 2 glasses of ice-cold milk with every meal. I could not swallow a bite without my ice-cold milk. I am OK now, and it has sure turned out to be a great fat-killer---to not drink any calories whatsoever. I am like the poster above, if I feel like sipping my coffee after I leave the breakfast table, I go ahead and do it. And, like her, I have not noticed any change in my appetite suppression or capacity.

I still follow the rules and I'm over 3 years out.  I am too full to drink with meals.  I seem to stay fuller longer too and that is a good thing!

Laura

I still separate fluids from my meals. I find that I don't have room for fluids after I eat. Plus, I want the food to stay in my sleeve for as long as possible. I don't want to wa**** out. Sometimes, I might have a few sips, but that is all.

Gail

I don't think of myself as a long-term maintainer (yet), I'm just a few months ahead of you.  I still separate eating and drinking.  Like PPs, sometimes I'll drink a little something with food, usually when I'm having my regular snack, which these days is cashews.  A Crystal Lite seems to go with them.  But main meals, no, I don't drink with them.  As others have said, I'm too full to drink.  (I also still get a bubbly sensation in my sleeve if I put liquid in there while food's still there.  It causes me to have bubbly, foamy burps, which I don't like.)

If I drink too soon after eating, it just puts me over the top capacity wise. I would get nauseous or feel like I have to vomit. So I just don't do it. I might have a couple tiny sips after if I am extremely thirsty but for any significant amount of water I just wait.

3.5  years out.

Don't drink with meals, try to wait 45 minutes after before I start drinking but sometimes I don't.

I can definitely feel that I have the capacity to eat more if I start drinking 15-30 minutes after eating. But normally I don't feel hungry and don't eat just because I can feel my sleeve emptying. But sometimes I do. Which is why I try not to drin****il later.

I still wait 45 minutes or so. If I'm out, I'm might sip some wine, but usually I keep eating and drinking separate. It's 2nd nature for me now...
Lizanne

i do but don't wait as long as i used to before and after. and i have been know to eat cheese with wine. so there.  diane