Drinking enough water is essential for everyone, not especially for people who had bariatric surgery. Staying hydrated after weight loss surgery is, however, a very crucial part of the recovery so patients should follow a strict liquid-consumption diet. During the summer season, we drink a lot of water because of the heat, however, during the winter season, we may forget to drink water for long hours. We will give you 4 ways to stay hydrated for your recovery of the weight loss surgery.
Know The Signs of the Dehydration
Common signs of dehydration are:
- Feeling thirsty
- Feeling nauseous or dizzy
- Having a headache or a rapid heart rate
- Having dark, concentrated urine
- Feeling tired or irritable
Hydration Motivation
You should drink at least 8 cups of water which is approximately 64 ounces every day to maintain a healthy body. With your new small stomach, it can be hard to accomplish your hydration goal at first. You should motivate yourself every day to remind you to drink water and there are some ways to that:
- Carry your water bottle wherever you go so that you will remember to drink.
- You can set a timer that rings every 30 minutes to remind you to drink water.
- You can log your drinking times to track your water intake.
- During the summer you can freeze your cleat liquids or protein shakes to suck on throughout the day.
Not All Liquids are Created Equal
You should limit your consumption in terms of some beverages such as carbonated beverages. These bubbly drinks can cause harm to the stomach such as nausea and gas while the stomach is healing. However, every person is not the same so one can tolerate bubble beverages better than others. But it is important to keep in mind that carbonated beverages like beer and soda can be high in added sugars and calories and difficult to fit withing your daily calorie goals.
Drink Measuredly
The alcohol’s effect on the body changes after bariatric surgery. Thus, alcohol consumption should be avoided at least 6 months after weight loss surgery. And when you drink alcohol, make sure you have a friend who you can trust in case something happens.
When you drink liquid, you should take small sips and not drink too quickly. You have to be mindful when you drink or eat after bariatric surgery in order not to feel sick. Your new stomach is much smaller than used to be so it can not hold the same volume of food as it used to. Another important thing that you should be careful about is separating your drinking and eating apart. You should not eat and drink at the same time. If you fill your stomach with liquid, there will be no room for the amount of protein your body needs.
