Hi. I'm Stephen Ellis and i am joining this group for my wife who had gastric bypass on 120/14/2025. We have been following the rules and the water requirements is so hard for my wife. If she drinks water following the 30-30-30 rule then she is still too full to eat. When she eats (now on solid foods) she cuts everything into small bites and chews till mush. It can take her over 60 minutes to eat 2 oz of beef tenderloin and 2 ounces of soft veggies. Do you have to drain the broth off all soups, eat the veggies then drink the broth 30 minutes later. This never seems to work. My wife is totally committed to this process.
Question on the 30-30-30 rule.
- Thread starter StephenSaved
- Start date
- Surgery
- Bariatric sleeve
- Date
- Sept 23, 2025
What is the 30-30-30 rule?
As we were told it means no drinking 30 before the meal, 30 minutes to eat and no drinks for 30 minutes after each meal.
- Surgery
- Gastric_Sleeve
- Date
- Oct 08, 2024
- Start Weight
- 300 lbs
- Goal Weight
- 200 lbs
- Currently
- 231 lbs
- Progress
- 69%
"Stop drinking 30 minutes before meals and wait 30 minutes after meals before drinking again. This prevents washing food through your pouch too quickly and helps you feel satisfied longer."
www.ambarinutrition.com
Complete Bariatric Diet Plan | Free PDF Download Included
Our bariatric diet plan guide walks you through every phase of the journey, plus the 30/30/30 rule, foods to avoid, and how to succeed 10 years post-op. Free bariatric diet plan pdf included.
www.ambarinutrition.com
- Surgery
- Bariatric sleeve
- Date
- Sept 23, 2025
I just don’t drink 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. I DONT take 30 minutes to eat
GlowF
Newbie
- Surgery
- gastric sleeve
- Date
- 12/12/2025
- Start Weight
- 240 lbs
- Goal Weight
- 135 lbs
- Currently
- 220 lbs
- Progress
- 19%
Oh my gosh, I don’t have all these issues. Wow, my only problem is that I forget about the surgery and try to drink instead of sipping my water. But I’m eating okay. I wait 15 minutes after eating before I drink, and that’s it. I feel bad because it doesn’t take long, actually. Are you all watching TV while eating? I concentrate on what I’m doing.
- Surgery
- Bariatric sleeve
- Date
- Sept 23, 2025
I’m 3 mos out from surgery and I struggle to get 48 oz a day. Mostly because I’m not hungry or thirsty after I eat and I just forget. But I have begun to drink 3 gulps. If I sip I put it down and forget about it…
Mimito3
Newbie
- Surgery
- Gastric_Bypass
- Date
- Dec 01, 2025
- Start Weight
- 290 lbs
- Goal Weight
- 160 lbs
- Currently
- 269 lbs
- Progress
- 16%
I'm 5 weeks out and struggling also. I despise artificial sweeteners of any kind. Low fat tastes awful! I'm struggling to get more than 35 oz of fluids in and half the protein. I used to gag down one 30 g protein drink in 2 hours.
- Surgery
- Bariatric sleeve
- Date
- Sept 23, 2025
I also do not think artificial sweeteners are good for they also make it more difficult to control urination. (Like you can hardly get your pants down when you’re going to sit to pee) (sorry about being specific). So I drink vitamin water but I water it down “half water” “half vitamin water” but I still don’t really like it. The lemonade one tastes the best. Anyway—still struggling and I reward myself with a coffee next day if I get to 64 oz. Yes I gave up coffee til I can get my hydration under control because coffee DE-hydrates you. Plus I’m losing weight very slowly. Sigh. And my hair is starting to fall out. I do take biotin and it’s in most of the vitamins I take too. Good part is I am losing weight and fitting in clothes I used to wear. You know what I mean. The things you save because you really liked them…
GiantsLola
Dedicated Contributor
- Date
- Dec 11, 2023
I have found having decaff drinks like cappuccinos made with nonfat milk help with protein and liquids.
GiantsLola
Dedicated Contributor
- Date
- Dec 11, 2023
The hair loss I was told by my surgeon will self correct. It's because of the hormone changes and kind of like hair loss after a pregnancy. I would make sure your amount is normal though if you're worried.
- Surgery
- Bariatric sleeve
- Date
- Sept 23, 2025
Thanks
GiantsLola
Dedicated Contributor
- Date
- Dec 11, 2023
Hi. Thanks for being such a support for your wife. I do not drain all the broth off. I find meats except filet mignon and ground extremely low fat sirloin ground beef that I puree a bit to be the easiest to eat. I'm a bit unclear when your wife had the surgery. I know for me I had gastric bypass and didn't have any tenderloin type foods for a very long time. Even solid chicken was a big wait. As long as her doctor's plan allows those foods I wouldn't worry.
Personally, I wouldn't have her eating for that long. I would maybe see what can be eaten in approximately 15 minutes. I would possibly have more frequent but small meals to help get the food and liquids in.
I hope this helps.
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