Question:
Can you eat more when your drinking water while eating meals?
I'm 4 months out of RNY sugery. I feel like lately I can eat alot more then I use to be able too. I started to looking at what I was doing wrong...and realized that I was drinking while eating my meals. Would this cause me to stretch my pouch? Or is it pushing the food through faster? I can eat alot, sometimes 1 and half to 2 cups of food at a meal. It scares me to think I'm done loosing weight. Can anyone shed some light on the matter for me? — Heidi L. (posted on February 5, 2002)
February 5, 2002
Yes, sipping & eating makes much more food pass through. Painless
pouch stretching. You never feel a thing. Drink too soon sometimes pushed
it through, but for many, it makes it HURT.
— vitalady
February 5, 2002
Everybody here says you can eat more while drinking, but I don'nt notice
any difference. I CAN NOT go without drinking during a meal! It is so
uncomfortable. I do compromise and drink as small amount as I can stand as
I don't want to take any chances. I did'nt go through this to be bull
headed and "try" to defeat it. lol
But honestly I don't notice I eat anymore when I drink with a meal. (And
yes, I did go without drinking a few meals to see).
— Danmark
February 5, 2002
A also find it very hard not to drink with meals. I try to limit it, but
I've noticed that when I do sip, I cannot even begin to eat as much as I
usually do. If I drink with breakfast, I can only eat half of my scrambled
eggs. I don't necessarily think it washes food away right there and then,
but I do notice I don't stay full as long. Just my two cents. I hope you
get this figured out. Try talking with your nutritionist too!
— Deborah W.
February 5, 2002
I can each MUCH more when I drink with my meals! I have clearly recognized
this, and as such realize that when the weight loss slows I must stop this.
I'll give you the example of how I know I eat much more while drinking.
I'm in the middle of a class for my bar exam, and so I always have a lot of
water with me (at least I'm drinking healthily! hehe). I also have to pick
dinner up on the way from work. So, I ordered a chicken soft taco sans
vegies and a bag of nachos with cheese. While listening to the lecture and
not paying attention, I ate the entire taco and nachos within 45 mins while
drinking. A few nights later I tried the same meal without drinking, and I
could only eat half of each and that was pushing it. It is a big
difference, and boy has it opened my eyes! However, unlike one other
poster mentioned, my doctor explains that this is NOT stretching the pouch.
The water (or drink) is pushing the food out of your anastomosis and into
the intestines. It is not all building up in the stomach and stretching it
out. So, he says there is not any permanent "damage" with such
drinking, just that it can sabotage your loss because you can eat more.
Just stay cognizant of this, and I think a sip here and there won't kill
ya. Best of luck.
— Tracy L.
February 5, 2002
I was told by the doctor and his staff to not EVER drink while eating my
meals - because it does push the food out (too fast) without your body
absorping any of its nutrients, and then it falsely allows you to eat more.
If you are further out post-op, it might not be too bad, but if early
post-op, it might slow down the weight loss. good luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
February 5, 2002
My surgeon does not believe that the pouch can stretch that easily. He
believes that it would have to be a painful process repeated many times. I
have been under goal weight for a long time and have actually needed to add
more calories. It was recommended to me to sip with my meals as this would
help me to eat a little more. (I believe I saw this in the pouch rules for
dummies, too). I do take very small sips and I do feel that this has helped
me to eat just a little more. I decided to not do this with every meal, so
I started with dinner to see if this made a difference. I have maintained
my weight now for the last 2 months. Just my experience...Shelley
— Shelley.
July 23, 2002
Well, I drink with my meals all the time because I am freaking thirsty if I
don't. I cannot stand not to drink with my meals. I am 3 years out and have
always done it... no problems here. :) I even drink carbonated diet pop
even though I know I'm not supposed to do so. Recently had an endoscopy and
he says it all looks fine.
— Laura H.
February 4, 2004
I agree with previous post I have to have my fluids. Right after surgery I
told my Doctor I would prefer drinking my fluids v eating if I cant eat and
drink to. He agreed that I could have my fluids with my meals. I have since
day one and I have never had a problem and I dont think its made any
difference in my food amount intake I do think it makes you get full faster
and you then may not beable to get as much food ate.
— niteshadow181
February 4, 2004
To add to my comments Ive noticed I can eat more whenever Im distracted
during meals such as tv. So I try not to have anything going on while I
comsume a meal other wise Im ignoring my feeling of fullness.
— niteshadow181
February 4, 2004
Hey Heidi, like you, I'm four months out and I don't drink with my meals.
I practiced that for months before I had surgery because I thought that
would be the hardest habit to break. I can usually eat only approx. 1/2
cup of food but I find that if it is at all liquid such as soup, I can eat
more of it. My doctor said don't drink with meals at all, at least until
you've lost all the weight you plan to lose. He said it would wash the
food out of the stomach more quickly and allow me to eat more. I'm finding
that if I chew thoroughly, there is usually enough liquid in my food that I
don't miss the added liquid.
— SCbabe B.
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