Eating Meals w/o drinking

[bogiesmom]

I just have some questions that I have been obsessing over and analyzing backwards, forwards, and upside down (do the hoakie poakie and you turn yourself around...) I am hoping someone can help me with this. I understand that you cannot drink 30 minutes before or after a meal but...

1. Does this apply to the non-restiction, non-fill phase?

2. What if I have a salad and tomato soup for lunch? Does this mean I have to wait 30 minutes after I have had my salad to sip my tomato soup???? (I am a soup junkie so this is very important for me to know)

3.What if all I have for dinner is a bowl of soup (non-chunky) and nothing else Does that mean I have to wait 30 minutes before drinking water?

4. What about foods like cream of wheat, applesauce, jell-o, oatmeal...do I still wait 30 minutes?

5. Does it make a difference if the drink is hot or cold in terms of wait time? It seems like hot liquids would be okay.

Thanks for your help on this

[AngieB]

I just have some questions that I have been obsessing over and analyzing backwards, forwards, and upside down (do the hoakie poakie and you turn yourself around...) I am hoping someone can help me with this. I understand that you cannot drink 30 minutes before or after a meal but...

1. Does this apply to the non-restiction, non-fill phase?

2. What if I have a salad and tomato soup for lunch? Does this mean I have to wait 30 minutes after I have had my salad to sip my tomato soup???? (I am a soup junkie so this is very important for me to know)

3.What if all I have for dinner is a bowl of soup (non-chunky) and nothing else Does that mean I have to wait 30 minutes before drinking water?

4. What about foods like cream of wheat, applesauce, jell-o, oatmeal...do I still wait 30 minutes?

5. Does it make a difference if the drink is hot or cold in terms of wait time? It seems like hot liquids would be okay.

Thanks for your help on this

Disclaimer – this is what I understand to be true and I am still myself in a learning phase.

• For me, not drinking with my meals began before my surgery. I wanted to get myself in the mode of not doing it. Liquids flush food through the pouch. Also the more you are putting in the stoma the more the lining expands. It is best not to stretch it more than need be. (Take for instance a rubber band, the more you stretch it the looser it gets.) If you are drinking and eating, that is just more “stuff” you are putting in the stoma.

• The purpose of the stoma is to have food set there, which stimulates the nerves in the stoma to send signals to the brain that you are full. It is best IMHO to use the rules from the get go. Soups are not going to “set” in the pouch like a hard protein would. Doc O says always to eat your protein. If it where me, and I was eating a soup and salad I would have my soup first, then eat the salad. Again, this is not the “recommended” food for lap banders. As a follow up, you will find with increased restriction it is imperative to eat your protein first. Even at a cup of food, I have struggled to get the suggested amount of protein in.

• I wait to drink after everything I drink. So I would answer yes.

• See #3

• Hot or cold, it makes no difference. The wait time is still the same. What I’ve learned is that a warm or hot beverage, like coffee or tea, will help to open my band. I have no issues eating breakfast daily, if I drink something warm in the morning to clear the band and get her open for the day. If I don’t, my fill level is such that I will have an “issues” eating breakfast.

I’ve found this week, that I have been snacking more. This has cut into my zero calorie liquids intake. Not good! It’s my understanding that the stoma works best when it has breakfast, lunch, and dinner with no snacking in between. This gives the pouch a break and doesn’t keep it expanded all day. In addition it helps you get your suggested amount of water in per day.

Hope this helps.

Angie

It will be interesting to see some of the replies you get!

[jhawkchick75]

Hi there! Very good question! I started it right away so I could get in the habit. Also, even if you don't feel like you have restriction you do have a little bit so I wouldn't push it. You might still feel hungry but think about what that band looks like on your tummy and how it's making an 8 shape out of your tummy. So even w/o a fill there is restriction.

When it comes to say a straight liquid soup or protein shake I don't worry about it, but with softer stuff (applesauce, etc..) I still stick to the rule. When it comes to soups that are chunky I actually don't do those anymore. Well, let me clarify I do them but I drain all the liquid out and just eat the stuff out of it. I had a chunky veggie soup last night and just picked the veggies and stuff out. Nobody ever specifically said to do that, but I just figured mixing liquids and solids was not a good idea. Like Angie said, you don't want the food to slide through your pouch and also like they explained to me, when you eat the food is sitting on top of that pouch so if you drink after then that liquid is just filling up on top of that so you risk stretching it. Hot or cold I don't do either any different I still make sure I wait at least 45 minutes to an hour. I'll go more towards the 45 if it is stuff that might slide through faster.

Hope that helps!

[pinkfordyone]

I am learning soooo much! Thanks for all the questions and answers!

[bogiesmom]

OK Shelby, you have added a a whole nother demension to this conversation that I did not even think about.

So, my infamous taco soup that is chunky (loaded in protein)...does this mean I cannot eat it any more????? That would be the most terrible thing in the whole world. It is a liquid and it is a solid both.

How are we suppossed to handle foods that fall into both catagories???

So I am assuming Angie based on your reply that I should go with eating the soup first then move to the salad w/o the need to wait as long as the soup is a liquid w/o chunks. BUT whether I am sipping a soup by itself OR with an entree I still have to wait 30 - 45 minutes before drinking, correct?

Last question...Where is the freckin rule book and how to I get one?

Seriously, Angie you bring up so many things that I have no other reference to and I really need a rule book (Because I am typical Capricorn that does not know how to have fun without the rule book on having fun). Okay, if none exist that means you and I are officially business partners (we will bring Shelby in too) and we are going to get one published! Anyone reading this is not allowed to steal my idea