Responsibility 199, what is it?

Responsibility 199 is a belief; I believe that to be healthy and to increase my longevity I need to weigh 199 pounds or less...
Responsibility 199 is a need; I need to reduce my weight, reduce my percentage of body fat, and the elevated threat of disease my present condition presents...
Responsibility 199 is a mission; I recognize that achieving 199 will be a challenge, perhaps the hardest I have ever undertaken...
Responsibility 199 is a commitment; I acknowledge that I must commit to action, commit to change, commit to myself and those I love to achieve this mission, to increase my longevity...
Responsibility 199 is ME.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Day 307 - Drinking Water, When Should I?

Water, we hear from many sources we should drink 8 x 8 ounce glasses a day for weight loss/maintenance. Some opinions suggest more, some allot more, some less, some say it is not so relevant.

My mind is not on the topic of water as a whole, but rather more specifically does how we drink water before, during and after eating impact up or down weight loss / maintenance?

BEFORE:
A popular position seems to be that we should drink a glass or two of water 15 minutes or so before eating. Doing so helps to trick the mind into a sense of fullness so we eat less. Not only that but I have also been told that this helps excess acids in the stomach before digesting the food about to be eaten. Seems to me we'd like our food to fall right into a pool of acid waiting to get busy breaking that food down.

DURING:
On numerous occasions I have heard that it is not wise to drink while eating, not even water. Now I don't don't know if true or not, but what I do know is that if this is true I may not be able to just stop drinking while eating. I've been doing it for a foursome of decades. It is natural to drink while I eat in my mind. To eat a meal start to finish without drinking would be as foreign to me as getting a bikini wax; I am going to need some serious convincing to go there.

AFTER:
Hmmm, then there is the school of thought that we should not drink after eating for at two hours so that we do not wash away of mix up the stomach acids thus making it harder to digest food optimally. On one hand, makes some sense, on the other, I really don't want to believe the human machine is that easily diluted.

Honestly, I do not know what to believe. For know, I am just focusing on drinking more water and less low-quality drinks. And I drink my water whenever I please until I feel I have real reasons to up my discipline as to when I drink it.

What's your take?



Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

12 comments:

  1. Well, this if my perspective and it comes from the fact that I am a gastric bypass patient. We don't drink with meals, if we are following the rule. Out stomachs are very small. They start at the size of an egg. To get in enough food, we won't want to fill the pouch up with water for 30 minutes before we eat. Once we do eat, we don't drink for 30 minutes because fluids would wash the food on through to the small intestine and we would lose the feeling of satiety.

    As far as how much water get, I'm following Allan's plan for me. I get at least 100 ounces a day. My surgeon says 48 pounces minimum but now at 100 ounces, I am more than hydrated, my weight loss started again and I FEEL better when I'm really hydrated.

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  2. I have a gastric band and I was told not to drink anything 15mins before eating, none during and to wait an hour after we eat before drinking anything. Other than that I chug at least 100oz of water a day I don't drink anything else except the occasional diet 7up.
    If I don't drink a good amount of water a day I get horrible bloated. So for me it's a must to have alot a day.

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  3. I have to say Patrick that I drink water all day long, before meals, during meals and yes after meals! I'm too set in my ways to stop now :)

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  4. As a band patient, we don't drink with meals. I see the biological reason even for unbanded people though. The nerve that sends the message to the brain that you're full is at the stop of your stomach, so if you dilute your food on its way down, it doesn't stimulate that nerve as much. I don't think the whole during meals thing is a big a deal for nonWLS people though. Personally, I just try to get all my water in every day, regardless of when. I have a hard enough time as it is without focusing on WHEN I should be drinking it.

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  5. I drink water all day long, during meals, before bed, when I get up at night, before/during/after exercise, while in the car, etc. I don't track my total but I fill my 1L bottle at work at least 2x/day and usually 3x, so in addition to the water I drink at home I probably hit 3-4L/day. On weekends when I'm not sitting at a desk with water next to me, I drink less throughout the day and find myself thirsty and wanting to catch up at bedtime.

    Whether or not I'm supposed to drink so much, it's what feels right to me.

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  6. I am drinking more water each day. Mixing it up with a small amount of tea (hot for me) and in the summer I like to have just a little bit of the flavored non-calorie water. In recent weeks I have been waking up craving water, too, go figure! "Staying MOtivated"

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  7. I have a bottle of water with me all the time. Sometimes I sip it, sometimes I slurp it, sometimes I guzzle it. I don't drink much with meals, and usually not any for an hour or so after eating. I'm just doing what my body tells me. Somewhere I read that you shouldn't drink a lot while eating, but I can't remember the reason.

    So my answer is, I wing it!
    ;-)

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  8. I agree- I have to drink something when I eat. I used to drink tons of diet coke, but harldy do now. I drink 80+ ounces of water throughout the day... when I wake up, during and after workout, during the day, during means, and a ton after dinner... this is a good question.

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  9. I never eat a meal without a big glass of water. Not sure why exactly - habit I guess. Oh, and I'll get a bikini wax if you to - dare ya! LOL Cheers, Rick

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  10. I always try to drink water while I eat. Actually, I just drink water all the time! I really don't know when the best time is. I know when the best time isn't though and that's just before bed! Ha.

    Sarah
    notaneffingdiet.blogspot.com

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  11. When I started my weight loss journey I replaced all drinks in my diet with water and/or tea. It's really helped me drop the soda kick.

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  12. Just be glad you are trying to drink more water, and not waxing your bikini.

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