Drinking with (or shortly after) meals?

Hey Brothers,

I've heard all of the warnings about liquids washing the food out of your pouch, making you feel hungry again, etc.  But I wanted to see if anyone actually drinks (even if only a small amount) with or shortly after your meals.  I've done ok with this, but find myself as of late DYING for a drink with a meal.  I guess it because I've added new foods and the amount consumed has increased (I'm 6 months out).  My wife (also a WLSer) drinks about 2oz or so during her meals and swears that it makes her feel MORE full.  I've tried it and I can't tell that big of a difference either, but I don't want to freak up my progress.  The fact that I've been able to put it aside this long is amazing, I'm the guy who lived on Diet Pepsi (about 100oz a day) before WLS.  Anyone drink with meals with no ill effects?

Jason

320-299-215-200
highest-surgery-current-goal

Hey Jason,

I can and have drunk with my meals with no physical effects. On the other hand, I choose not to due to the following directive from the good folks at the Mayo Clinic:

"Avoid drinking with meals. Although it's important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, drinking with meals hastens the movement of food through the upper part of your digestive tract and reduces the absorption of nutrients. Instead, try to drink 30 minutes before or 60 minutes after you eat."

It's hard enough getting in enough nutrients via food, vitamins, etc. that I don't want to dick up the absorption by drinking with my meals.

Boner

I am also six months out and have to drink about 10 mins after I eat and I still feel full after meals for about 3-4 hours. It is hard not to before or after but it works for me. I guess everyone is different...

Thanks for posting the question.  I was also wondering the same thing.  It's a hard habit to break.  To me, it seems that sometimes you need "to wash something down".  Or sometimes your mouth gets dry so you take a sip of something.  Of all the things since surgery, that's the one thing that I have the most problem doing.  The other problem is avoiding "fizzy" drinks.  There's a lot of sugar free drinks out there, but 90% of them are carbonated.  So far I have not fallen into the temptation of "fizzy" drinks, although I get a little tired of Lipton diet green tea and water all the time.  I would like a little variety.

Sometimes I'll have a sip or two with myfood, especially if what I'm eating is really dry. Before WLS, I would have 2 or 3 glasses of tea with a meal.