Rules were made to be broken?

[rebhousley]

This water intake is driving me crazy. I try really hard but because I eat 5 small meals a day and have to stop drinking 20 minutes before and not drink 40 minutes after, my window of hydration is so limited.
So... has anyone broken the rule on this and drink with or right before or right after and if so... has it helped hurt... what?
Thanks for the input!

[Janet56]

I have and it makes me eat less, sometime I need a tiny sip to get through a meal. I either get my protein or liquid in each day, never had a day with both so far!

[michelleb]

When you're still on the liquid phase you don't need to wait, it's only when you're eating mushy or solid foods.

Drinking while eating before and straight after can 1) fill you up quicker, 2) wash the food down quicker so you get hungry sooner and eat more and 3) make you throw up.

[xrystyl26]

The whole reason behind not drinking and eating at the same time or minutes before or after is because the liquid messes with your digestion of food. You won't digest all your needed nutrients if you flush it down with liquid. I have started teaching my kids this in hope that they will have better habits. It may fill you up quicker but you will get hungry again sooner. Try really hard not to eat and drink at the same time. Once in a while I have to if I feel something is stuck, but otherwise I stay clear of the two together.

Good Luck....its a challenge !

[Minnie Mouse]

I don't worry about it anymore after 11 months. I seperate the two, but I drink right before or after I eat. It gets better in time and becomes routine...Bonnie

[jerzeygirl]

I agree with everyone who posted! I wanted to say, Ditto". It does get better because I'm trying to make it a "normal" part of my day. I used to drive myself crazy with all the "rules" associated with this journey, i.e., don't drink now, drink now, too much for my day (: The farther out I am post-op, the more I can begin to listen to my body and chart my progress, stalls, whatever is put in my way to the end of the journey. As much as I am looking forward to the end of the journey, there will be another journey; LIFE. I'm looking at this as the honeymoon period, easier to lose more pounds, motivated, etc., however; I am already finding iit more difficult to lose as quickly. Now I'm thinking, "maintenance". The ramblings boil down to, "You'll find what's best for you using all the tools at your disposal, all the information you gain and most important, at least to me personally, experience with life after WLS. Contined success !

[Grace]

It's become a habit to not drink with meals or just after but darned if I can remember to not drink before! But I know it when I do, the food goes down and hits a block and I have to wait to finish my meal. Afterward seems easier..