How Do I Meet My Water Goals?

This is a question I see a lot of people asking in the bariatric weight loss groups I belong to on Facebook. Not going to lie, I also struggle with this. I have a few tips and tricks as well as favorite products that I'm going to share today to help with getting your fluids in and making sure you stay hydrated!

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1. Take It Slow At First

Don't try to force it right after surgery. My surgeon recommended a 32 ounce per day goal when I first got home from the hospital. This seemed impossible for me, but I had to do it because I didn't want to end up back in the hospital to get IV fluids for dehydration. This is a common issue, and one the biggest reasons for re-admission after bariatric surgery.

You need to take tiny, tiny sips and not drink more than 3 ounces in an hour. My best tip is to get some of the Dixie brand cups like you use in the bathroom for brushing your teeth, and try to drink one of those every hour while you're recovering for the first few weeks. It makes it less intimidating and easier to track your intake this way.

2. Get Yourself a Fun Water Bottle

I have a collection of all types of water bottles - plastic, stainless steel, pretty colors, some even covered in glitter! Find one that you love and use it to keep yourself motivated to drink throughout the day. One of my favorites is a stainless steel bottle by Hydro Cell that's 40 ounces. You can find it here: https://amzn.to/3qZVcNn

3. Think Outside of Plain Water

I'm a huge fan of anything that has flavor, which I imagine most other people are too. I love the flavor packets, my favorite are the True Lemon brand because they are sweetened with Stevia instead of sucralose or aspartame. They have some packets that are unsweetened, but my favorites are the Watermelon Limeade and Strawberry Lemonade flavors! They are not caffeinated unless you buy the ones that are labeled "Energy". You want to stay away from caffeine, at least at first, because it can dehydrate you further.

Another thing I love to have on hand is decaffeinated iced tea bags, especially now that the weather is getting warmer and evenings spent on the front porch with family are coming. Luzianne makes great decaf iced tea bags, and even the Great Value brand at Walmart makes them as well. You should be able to find them at your local grocery or supercenter, but they are available to be ordered on Amazon as well. https://amzn.to/3k772nk

I also really like Vitamin Water Zero and Gatorade/Powerade Zero. My surgeon's office actually recommended the Gatorade/Powerade Zero or G2 for right after surgery when I was on clear liquids. Vitamin water I drink mostly for the flavor because it's not so sweet, not so much for the vitamin value of it. My fave flavor right now is Ice - Cool Blueberry Lavender.

Hint Water is awesome too! These are unsweetened with flavor essences. My fave is the Peppermint (it's so refreshing when it's ice cold)!

4. Get Yourself a Cirkul Subscription

This is something new for me but we LOVE it here at our house. We recently signed up for a Cirkul water subscription. How does it work? You choose your bottle and it has a special cap that fits their Sips, which are flavor cartridges that snap right into the lid. The cartridges last for around six refills in their 22 ounce bottle. You can adjust the intensity of the flavor with the dial on the cartridge, and they have dozens of different flavors! My favorite are the Pure Sips which just have fruit essence with no sweetener. The Apple is what I'm drinking now!

For a limited time you can get a free starter kit which includes the bottle and lid along with two Sips for FREE - just pay $5 shipping! Use my link to get $5 off your new subscription order as well! https://drinkcirkul.com/share/Katie-V3231064916058

5. Stay Away From Carbs - Carbonation That Is

One of the hardest habits to break, in my opinion, is getting off of carbonated drinks, even diet soda or sparkling waters. I used to love those Clear American flavored sparkling waters from Walmart. Trust me on this - drink at your own risk. It will hurt, some will say it will stretch your sleeve (or pouch if you've had gastric bypass), and it will give you uncomfortable gas that will make you wish you never drank it. At 10 months out I've finally learned my lesson and stay away at all costs. I can, however, tolerate a fountain drink over ice every once in a while, providing it has a chance to dilute with the ice and the fizz dies down quite a bit.

6. Try Your Water At Different Temperatures

I had so many people tell me to not drink my water cold, it would hurt my stomach too much, I should drink it at room temperature or opt for warm beverages. This was entirely opposite for me. In reality, I need my water ice cold or else I can't stomach it. Obviously this doesn't apply to drinks like Gatorade, etc. (who wants warm Gatorade - yuck) but if you are striving to get plain water in, then play around to find the temp that works best for you. Even though I enjoy flavored drinks like mentioned above, I still do try to get at least 16 ounces of plain water in per day. I feel like it helps flush the kidneys with all the protein I take in, as well as help to dilute any powdered drink packets I might use throughout the day. I'm terrified of developing kidney stones. My husband suffers from them and it is NOT fun!

You absolutely are not alone if you are struggling with your water intake. Talk to your nutritionist or dietician for more tips and tricks to help you meet your goal. It took me until 10 months, but I'm finally getting close to 64 ounces of liquids in a day. It will get easier as time goes on, and hopefully you'll use some of my advice above to help you find something you like!