Water.

I need to get slapped on my hand because I have been a bad girl and not getting my water in. I have been drinking things like orange juice and apple juice but not enough. I think I chew on ice more than drink anything. Please slap me or beat me down, whatever you see fit to get me back on track. As I write I am sipping on apple juice. Well let me rephrase please be gentle.

Annette, I was allowed "diluted" apple, grape or cranberry juice as a new post-op. HOWEVER I was told to eliminate it once I was on solid food. The juices are loaded with sugar and empty calories. They aren't worth it. Surgeon felt orange juice was too high acid too for the new tummy (I'm allergic to it, so not an issue for me). I know many people have problems with water, but they are many good options that are low calorie or no calorie drinks like Propel water, crystal light, kool-aid made with Splenda, decaf tea, herbal tea, etc. Sometimes I take sugar free syrups (like you would use for a snow cone) and mix some in a big glass of water. It's really very good with lots of ice. Especially with the heat of the summer coming, don't take a chance with dehydration. Mary

Mary, what a super idea... mixing the water with SF syrup. I have a bunch of them left from the snowcone machine, which will start getting its workout shortly, I hope. (If it ever stops raining and warms up here!) It just seems that since WLS I can't tolerate the taste of plain water any more. I always used scoff at my daughter cause she drank flavored water only.... now I understand why. She said it would be ok eventually, but i"m still waiting. Thanks for the tip! Windy/Pat

Windy, I have heard many people say the same thing or that the flavored water is easier to swallow. I know for me, I can drink more Propel water than regular at times. The SF syrups give water a kool-aid like taste. I use my snow cone machine year round. It really gets a work-out from both Hal and I. My favorite is to take crystal light and make ice cubes with it and then put the cubes thru the snow cone machine. Very good, especially using raspberry peach flavor. Mary

One more quick note: Another thing that may help you is adding in lemon or lime juice to the water.

Mary, you are so full of good tips today! The crystal light ice cubes is a great idea for the snowcone machine. I've been doing the lemon juice thing already. I use a liquid fruit flavored protein and its way too sweet for my taste. A shot of lemon juice in the drink makes it more tolerable to me. I got a "lemon juice" in Sally's refrigerator game this morning... how ironic. I'll post her link in a separate message so everyone can have fun with it! Windy/Pat

Hey Girl, Take it from someone who knows. You need to drink, drink, drink! I was becoming dehydrated to the point of white flashes, almost passing out, wasn't urinating, weak, headaches, etc. You need to drink a minimum of 64 oz a day. My doc doesn't want us to have drinks with calories. They are high in sugar and add nothing to your weight loss. They could stall it actually. I drink sf tang that has vitamin C (I buy it at super walmart), crystal light, sf koolaid and occasionally water. I have 32 oz for breakfast. I mix 32 oz of sf tang with 1 1/2 scoops of Nectar Fuzzy Navel protein and drink that for breakfast. I have already had 1/2 of my minimum amount of liquid and 35 grams of protein. Works great. Then I make sure every time I have a protein drink I mix it with 32 oz of something. Now I am getting about 100 oz of liquid a day. I feel soooooo much better than I did a few days ago. No more white flashes, dizziness, weakness, etc. No slapping here. Just tender caring love. Remember, we all mess up. Love ya! Joanne

Thanks for all the ideas. I did buy some Propel water, black cherry and I do like that. I would love to find the SF Tang, my grandmother used to always have Tang in the house when we were growing up. And my picture is coming soon.