Is it ever ok to drink with meals? New twist on an old topic!

So, I don't know about most people, but I have to eat a TON of salad before I feel full.  Seriously, I can probably eat 3 cups of salad greens in a sitting and feel fine.  I think it's because salad itself is mostly water and when I chew it thoroughly, it slides right out of my pouch.  Actually, now that I think about it, many fruits and veggies are slider foods for me when they are chewed thoroughly. 

I eat the steak first and then have the salad when I go out. After the salad, I seldom feel the need to have liquid. You need to build a habit for life of doing this so don't make exceptions unless you have to for some reason. Do you need a drink of water that bad, or is it some other liquid that you know you should not have?

Larry, please understand, I do not need a drink of water during meals. That has been an easy transition. I do not have any intention of trying this, just wanted to know what everyone thought. Honestly, I just like my salad but I know my body needs the protein more than a few bites of greens.

julie

I have to agree with the majority, slippery slope for sure.  You are still fairly new post-op, later you will easily be able to eat a few bits of salad and a portion of your protein meal.

What about bringing the salad home and eating it at a later time with deli ham/turkey/chicken and other protein sources?

I do bring my salad home....along with about 90% of my meal. By the next day, the salad is pretty much unappealing. I am very comfortable with not drinking with or after meals. For the most part, I take that part of my guidelines to the extreme....not drinking sometimes up to 2 hours, just to make sure I get the most out of my full pouch feeling. My doctor and nut advocate the 3 meal a day rule, so that salad will not be used as an in between snack. I am not interested in developing bad habits, especially when I have worked so hard to change them.

julie

I'll tell you what I would do if I really wanted some salad.  I would eat a little salad and then if I couldn't eat three ounces of protein, just eat two ounces of protein.  Then, if I was falling short on protein for the day, I'd have a protein shake later to make sure I got enough protein.

That's pretty much what I do now.  I don't eat meat at all, and I often order salads when I go out to eat.  I just ask them to leave the chicken or whatever meat off it.  So it might have cheese or nuts on it, but it's not much protein.  I enjoy  my salad, and if I'm running low on protein that day, I have a protein shake later on to make up for it.

Ok, I am lazy so I haven't read the other replies.

The harm is two-fold in my opinion:

1. While it IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO STRETCH YOUR POUCH, drinking with meals can stretch your stoma, the opening from your pouch to your intestines. You do that and you basically have a 30 foot long stomach. Not a good look.

2. You should eat your protein first NOT your salad. This is against traditional eating, yes, but it's a habit you must pick up for long-term success. In order to make it a habit you have to be HABITual about it. So considering that, the rest is a moot point.

So far as the fiber and the no calories and all that, I don't mean to sound harsh but that kind of sounds like after the fact justifications (trust me, I am the queen of them so I can spot them a mile away). If you need fiber, find a way to incorporate it that follows the bariatric rules. If you need veggies, find a way to incorporate THEM by following the rules. Don't go outside the rules for the sake of that need. It is entirely possible to meet the need without breaking the rules.

But admittedly your first few months post-op have you eating protein almost to the exclusion of everything else. But guess what? (Again, this is going to sound tough) That's what you signed up for! Eventually you'll be able to eat more. But I don't advocate trying to work around the eating/drinking rule.

I am nearly five years out and I usually wait about 60-90 minutes after eating to drink again. The rule becomes even more important as you regain your ability to eat more and more varieties of food (especially ones you maybe should not eat).

What I would do is order a salad with protein (with say steak slices on it), instead of a whole meal.  Eat the steak first and then move on to the salad part for any leftover room.   I did this recently with chicken . . . I didn't eat much of the salad, but enough to feel satisfied that I had eaten the salad I enjoy.

Let's see....you had WLS to make your stomach smaller so you could not eat as much.  7 months later you are trying to figure out a way to eat more by washing away your salad.  It's just a salad....  Some how I don't think you needed WLS because you overate salad.  Stick with the plan.  Eat a couple bites of salad if you want then leave room for the steak.  In a few months you will have more room and maybe have room for more salad.  But if you are trying to eat around your surgery now,  you are in big trouble.  I hope you are in a support group/counseling.

I appreciate your concern but I'm not trying to eat around my surgery. I just want to find a way to incorporate a bit of salad when I have a steak dinner. And that only happens maybe once or twice a month. My reason for needing WLS is more of an exception than a rule for most of the posters on this site....so please don't assume anything. You don't know my situation.