Not drinking while you eat

This is going to be the hardest part for me. Can anyone explain why a glass of water with food is a bad idea?

Our stomachs only have so much space, so you don't want to waste it on liquid when you should be focusing on protein.  

I also think it's a lot easier than I feared it would be.  I just don't put a glass out for myself at meals.  

I asked the same thing.....It is because it will stretch our new stomach out.  We don't want a big stomach!

My doctor told me that there is a valve that opens wide with fluids but stays closed with dense protein/ foods allowing for slow digestion. So, he said if you drink while eating the food doesn't have time to sit in the stomach and digest and you stay hungry.  Made sense to me...

This is what my NUT told me too.

My surgeon had a great way of explaining it.  He said to imagine a funnel.  If you put a bunch of food in it, then immediately pour water on top, the water will splash out.  Same thing with the new tiny stomach- it will come back up on you!

My nutritionist also said that it can flush the food you're eating out of your stomach, making you able to eat more than you would without drinking. Not drinking while I eat is the only thing I think I still haven't mastered, but I try! lol

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/5267171/Frisco-Pyloric -Valve-101-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-replay/

I was also concerned with this. I couldn't imagine not drinking with my meals. I thought I would choke! And I still have friends that don't understand how I can do it. Now, it's just my normal routine, and you'll get there too. I began when I was pre op, trying to train myself not to drink. I stopped having a drink beside me at the table. If it was there, I might be tempted to take a drink. But now, I can have one beside me and I don't even realize it's there. Good luck to you!

Don't let this worry you.  At home this isn't a problem for me as I thought it might be.  Chewing as much as we do makes things plenty moist.  I haven't had a problem with gagging or choking on my food.  Going to a restaurant is the hard part.  First thing they ask is what do you want to drink.  I've ordered unsweet tea with lemon out of habit but the last time I think I took 2 or 3 drinks before my meal and I really hate paying for something and not be able to drink it so I'll be ordering water from now on.  That way if I don't touch it, it hasn't cost me an extra $2.50!