water

I have noticed that i barely drink water or any other liquid throughout the day. I need to make a very concious effort to force myself to get at least some water in. Can you please remind me why drinking lots of water is helpful for us, specifically for DS'ers? 

Water is absorbed starting in the stomach. Since you now have a stomach the size of a small banana, or even smaller, you need to keep your system flooded with fluids.  Thoughts?

--gina 

i am three weeks post op and struggling to drink enough fluids as well. I am drinking about half of what I am supposed to be and getting no protein. I am going to try a boiled egg today.

Hey Merritt, at three weeks out, don't sweat to protein thing. If you can get in 30 grams you're good. That's usually 1 1/2 scoops of protein powder.

i remember having to consciously always have a water bottle in my hand in order to get fluids in me. This helped a lot. The bottle can be filled with any liquid, not jus****er.

Thanks Noreen. I di always have a bottle with me whereever I go. So far eating more solid foods has notvhad a bad effect either...so far.

Just my 2 cents. It's just easier for us to get dehydrated. Early on it's an issue of physically not being
able to get in enough water. As you go through the losing phase it's always helpful to flush your system.
On maintenance or close to goal I think you could cut back some - 2 reasons for that - Much less of a body
to keep hydrated and usually it becomes easier to drink more at any one time. I'm not sure what I needed 
to keep hydrated at over 400 lbs is the same amount I need at 240, but I do think there is still a minimum
you need to get in. I'm not sure if this is right just stuff  I think about too as I get closer to goal.

This is one of those TMI things, but how is your pee?  I think my three month post surgery body does not do as well with too much water.  It can give me the runs and also dramatically lessons the amount the protein I can take in.  YMMV.  

Dark yellow, strong smelling and small amounts is a sign of dehydration and is dangerous.  If you can pinch the skin on the back of your hand and it does not immediately flatten out again, you are dehydrated.  If you are constipated, you may be dehydrated, but even if you are not the extra water will help. 

No color and lots, lots, lots of it is probably a sign you are drinking too much water.  Some health people don't think there is such a thing as too much water others believe you should listen to your body and drink only when you are thirsty.   It probably depends upon a 1,000 factors.   As far as I know, science has not weighed in on the long term results. 

Obviously, your level of exercise factors into how much liquid you need.  Your diet is another factor that will change the amount of water you need.  Another thing is your diet.  A diet high in fruit needs less supplementation.  Your environment is another huge player in how much liquid you need.  Hot = more liquid unless you are always in a heated environment, in which case you need more liquid.  I remember being in the desert in August (Palm Springs, 115 degree heat) and I would stay in the pool until I got all pruned and then get out and watch the moisture sucked out in less than 5 minutes in the shade.  In mild and misty Seattle I can almost get by on just the air and my protein shakes. 

I think the fact that our body has a whole regulatory system built around this underlines the importance of this subject, but the questions that need to be asked are on an individual level. 

• How do you feel? 
• What is your body trying to tell you about your hydration level? 
• How does your body communicate thirst with you? 

One weird quirk I've noticed about myself if that I will start really jonesing for watermelon if I'm getting dehydrated.  A glass of water will make that craving go away.  It makes perfect sense, but it took me a while to figure it out. 

Good Luck!