Got Water? Hydration Tips after Weight Loss Surgery

When your weight loss surgeon tells you that your stomach will be restricted after weight loss surgery, they aren’t exaggerating in the slightest. Your stomach will be able to hold only a fraction of the amount of food and liquid that it can beforehand. While this is great for your weight loss goals and ability to cope with hunger, it isn’t so ideal for your hydration level.

How often do you catch yourself being thirsty and fix the problem by downing a quick bottle of water or enjoying a large couple of gulps of Gatorade. Most people will say all the time—especially as you are starting to work out more. After all, when you are feeling overheated and thirsty, there is nothing like cooling off with a large glass of ice water, right?

Hydrating for Weight Loss Success

Staying hydrated after weight loss surgery is going to take a lot of planning ahead, and a lot of discipline. Once you undergo weight loss surgery you won’t be able to simply down a bottle of water any more. Instead, you’ll have to make sure that you are gradually sipping on water throughout the day. Drinking too much fluid too quickly can fill up your now restricted stomach pouch, potentially leading to nausea and sudden vomiting.

So, how can you make sure that you are staying hydrated after weight loss surgery? It will take some planning and commitment, but with a bit of strategy, it won’t be hard at all to stay ahead of the thirst and prevent dehydration.

Here are a few strategies for staying hydrated after surgery:

• Keep a water bottle with you at all times and take small sips throughout the day. It may be useful to get a water bottle with a straw of some sort so you don’t accidently take an overly large gulp.
• If you are at a desk all day at work, fill a large cup with ice first thing every morning and then sip through the water throughout the day.
• If you aren’t reminding yourself to drink throughout the day, and are finding yourself under-hydrated and thirsty by evening time, consider setting a small timer. Set the timer to go off every 30 minutes so you remember to take a sip of water.
• Set up an app on your phone to track your water intake, just as you are tracking your food intake and exercise level. The app can even give you regular reminders to drink more water!

Finally, while fruit juices and sodas may taste great, they aren’t a great way to get hydrated—especially after weight loss surgery. Stick to water, which will allow you to stay hydrated without adding any calories to your day. If you are worried you aren’t getting enough water, talk with your weight loss surgeon about the right amount of fluid intake for your personal needs.