You shouldn't drink with your meals. Though it's been a while since I read the books - I think water should be drunk in between meals... and it shouldn't be ice cold. If you have problems with constipation, you need to make sure you drink a lot, but it needs to be between meals, not during. Water can disrupt digestion of your food. It takes a little getting used too - but I don't even notice anymore. I just drink about 30 min before (to take my fiber and/or enzymes) and about an hour after.