No matter your age, weight or fitness level, keeping your body hydrated is critical for your health. Every cell, tissue and organ in your body depends on water to survive. Water helps your heart more easily pump blood throughout the body, maintains a healthy body temperature, removes toxins and waste and even keeps joints lubricated.
If you’ve had weight loss surgery, staying hydrated is key to your recovery and weight loss. Most bariatric surgeons recommend patients drink 64 ounces of water per day after surgery, but drinking water after bariatric surgery can be challenging for some patients. Gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and gastric banding are all procedures that limit the capacity of the stomach, allowing you to lose weight by eating less. But this reduced stomach capacity also limits the amount of fluid your stomach can hold.
Dehydration is one of the leading reasons patients are readmitted to the hospital following weight loss surgery. If you are preparing for weight loss surgery or have had weight loss surgery, here are some tips to help you stay hydrated.
- Don’t drink water with meals. Separating drinking and eating will keep you from filling up too quickly and missing out on essential nutrients in your meals. Wait at least 30 minutes after you finish eating to drink water.
- Start drinking water early in the day. Don’t try to “catch up” on your water at the end of the day.
- Carry water with you at work, in the car and while out and about. Sip on it all day — don’t take big gulps.
- Measure your fluids and keep track of the number of ounces you’re getting in.
- Avoid caffeine. Caffeinated beverages do not count toward your daily fluid intake, since caffeine is a diuretic and dehydrates you. If you are drinking enough water each day, drinking some caffeine is okay.
- Steer clear of carbonation. The bubbles in carbonated drinks can stretch out your stomach and cause discomfort and bloating.
- Flavor your water with lemon, lime or orange. Crystal light, decaf teas and coffee, Vitamin Water Zero and other zero-calorie, decaf and non-carbonated fluids are allowed.
- Put technology to good use. Try an app, such as the HY hydration timer or Water Drink Reminder apps to remind you when to take a sip of water. The Hidrate Spark Smart Bottle can also help you easily track your daily water intake.
Know the signs of dehydration (dry mouth, fatigue, thirst, decreased urine output, headache, dry skin, dizziness) and take steps to ensure you are properly hydrated. McCarty Weight Loss Center in Dallas, TX provides pre- and post-op support for patients to ensure they are getting the proper nutrition to reach their health goals.
