Not drinking while eating....

Yes, this has been the hardest thing for me. I did not think it would be! I am trying to remember to drink in advance of my meal. But it is all worth it!
Carol

Thanks to everyone for their feed back. I think I will try eating with out drinking before the surgery to get used to it. I know I will probably miss it very much!

Hi Anne,

Nothing is forever at least for me.  I was very good about not drinking liquids during my "losing phase" and while I maintained my weight loss so a total of about 3 years.  For the last two years, I am able to eat and sip liquids when I feel like it.  I will have my five year bandiversary in April and I don't have to be so rigid with my food and drinks.  I easily maintain because I still have great restriction and I like being able to be flexible with my meals and drinks now. 
So my best advice is to keep to the basic rules and when your many years out you will figure out your own way of doing things that works for you.  That may include drinking with your meals so miss it for now, it may not be forever .  Karianne   

Anne,

I thought this would be the hardest rule to live by, but it turned out to be no big deal.

I drink up until I eat.  I don't put a drink on the table while I eat.  When I'm done eating, I set a timer for 30 minutes

After I eat, I brush my teeth, and once I get the taste of food out of my mouth, I'm fine.

Jean

I can't drink after I eat - I remember being told that it may enable you to eat more (washing the food through the band) - but for me, if I eat and then drink - it makes everything come back up.  I have to wait about 15-20 min before taking a sip or I'm running off to the bathroom!  I make the mistake every once in a while out of habit - and it's been over a year since my surgery!

It's hard, cause I'm thirsty after I eat.  Small price to pay I guess.