Question:
Question - are we supposed to sip forever?

I am 3 months post op RNY and am now able to drink liquids just as I did pre-op. In other words it causes no discomfort. I am assuing that it is just passing through my pouch. Are we supposed to keep sipping or is that just in the early post op stages? I don't drink during and after meals - I know that is a hard fast rule - but I wasn't sure about water.    — jannmyers (posted on April 13, 2008)

April 13, 2008
Hi Jann, No you don't have to sip forever. I am a month post op LapBand surgery and don't sip anymore. They tell you to sip so you can get used to taking small amounts at a time so you can tell when enough is enough. My doctor don't suggets gulping and drink mouthfuls at a time as when you gulp you drink more air than liquid and it can cause abdominal discomfort and extra gas.
   — Karen M.

April 13, 2008
I was 8 weeks before I could drink normal, but I found tht cold water is still harder to process than room tempature. I work out at the gym a lot and during the corose of an hour drink about 30 oz of water, between excersizes. I gulp water with no problem and I an take regular bariatric vitamins tablets rather than cheawables by the handfull, like I use to take my medication beforeI got off 95% of them. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

April 13, 2008
Sipping is a good process for drinking fluids. If you drink too fast, the drink may vomit quickly. Post ops I speak with at support meetings say they still sip foods too. I'm 2 years out, and I gulped one time and up it came like a rocket. So, I think I'll continue to sip, even on hot days coming this summer.
   — Dave Chambers

April 13, 2008
COngrats on hitting your 3 month mark. I hope all is well with you. I no longer sip my water..I drink normal size sip but they are not small anymore and I havent had any problems with that.
   — TattooGirl1982

April 13, 2008
hi there- and congrats t you- in answer to y9ur question, i am looking at the diverse answers. Its true, for every surgeon/Nutritionist there are as many differing answers to your question. I am just 4 years post op as of late march, and can tel you, have learned the easy way to just follow my hard and fast rules for life. Post op it was 1 oz every 5 minutes- and today its still that same amount. Discovered it maintains being hydrated, and is a constant for maintaining weight loss. So nope, I still sip, and with doing that and still only eating the amount I am allowed, which is 1/2 cup or 4 total ounces per meal, has kept me on the straight and narrow. Figured I worked too hard to lose the wt, not going to jinx myself now just because I can. These are all grey areas we have to decide for ourselves. I miss downing half a bottle of ice water when I am really hot, but know it isnt allowed, so i bite the bullet and just sip sip sip, but then again, my friends think I am crazy to continue to eat by the initial rules- but they havent lost 230 lbs and want to keep it off for life. Good luck on your journey Cindi 3.24.04 - 230 and maintaining same loss for 3 yrs
   — DollyDoodles