Guzzling drinks...

Ok, so I have already changed what and how I eat. I am eating extremely healthy now. Very small portions, well small for a normal size stomach anyway. I take small bites and chew well and slowly. I have been doing this for over a month. I have also started exercising, walking 1x a day for about 50 mins, half of which is uphill.

I have made these changes and have adapted nicely. Having little difficulty. I've lost 18 pounds in the past 2 months.

NOW...my problem and what I think I'll have trouble with...

I guzzle my drink. I can't really figure out why I have to down a whole cup of water in one breath, but I do. I have done this all my life. I am finding it difficult to stop. When I am thirsty, I feel like that's the only way to quench my thirst. I don't feel sipping will do it for me. I have been working on this, I'm not sure if I'm making any progress with it.
Maybe if I constantly sip throughout the day I won't feel so thirsty that I feel the need to guzzle.

How have you guys done with this? 
How is your thirst post op?
Were any of you guzzlers pre op???

Congratulations on the changes you have made and the weight loss.  That is wonderful!

I was a guzzler.  Once you have surgery your stomach will no longer allow you to guzzle.  I can take two fairly large sips and then I have to wait.  I do wake up thirsty.  Really ice cold water quenches my thirst better than anything else.  I rarely get thirsty during the day because I drink all day long.

I do want to drink sometimes with my meals but I make it OK to wait.

It is an adjustment but one that sort of takes care of itself.  At least it did for me.

Sipping all day long will definitely help.  You are basically waiting until you are dehydrated to drink.  Sipping all day will be required long term, so go ahead and start now.  I work out a lot, and started 6 months before surgery, so I too was concerned about this. 

Sipping all day long really worked for me.  Now, 3 years later, I can drink a lot fast, but I really don't need to because I still sip all day long.

You are doing great, and will surely be a success by making these important ha*****anges now!  Keep up the great work and let me know if I can help in any way.

Kim

Congrats on your successes!  I too felt the need to slam every glass of water I had.  I talked with my bariatric psychologist and other surgeon group members about this several times before surgery as I was pretty concerned as well.  They all suggested to practice slowing down, but that ultimately it wasn't going to hurt me to keep doing it before surgery.  I didn't really like that advice, but was able to slow down by using a straw.  It frustrated me for a bit, but finally my brain started cooperating with me and I was able to do it.  You won't be able to do it right away after surgery most likely and if you do it out of habit, you won't probably do it again for awhile as it will hurt!  Try drinking with a straw all day long, hope that helps!

I wouldn't worry much about it now, if you can't sip you can't but post op your body will let you know you can't guzzle anymore. How? Because it HURTS! For the first few weeks after it is so painful if you take to big of a swallow that you learn very quickly to sip sip sip as if you're sipping hot tea.Guzzling will not be an option.

I worried about this, too. I wouldn't drink anything and then I would down a liter at one sitting. The concept of sipping was really foreign to me. However, it is possible to change and your body will also make it easy to do so. First, you'll be afraid to drink too fast in the beginning which will help you pay attention and not have too much. For me, it was easy because it hurt to have more than 3 sips in a row. Pain makes it easy to change. Now, nine months out, I can guzzle a little but I know my limits because if I have too much it still hurts. Just make a point to think about what you're doing. Don't use straws either, like they say, since that always made me hurt since I would take too much in. Don't worry too much...your body will be your guide and you'll be fine! Keep us posted on your progress! :)

I haven't had surgery yet, but I have a bottle of water or some low calorie, non-carbonated beverage with me all the time and I sip all day so I can get myself into the habit.  I make sure I drink even if I don't feel thirsty, and that seems to help a lot.

yes sipping all day long will quench your thirst....i am now a year post op and just this week, i have not been sipping like i have been,i have been doing alot of work on the pool patio and when i come in foabout for a quick break, i am famished and feel like i can drink a gallon of water...so i do down quite a bit at that time, but it is not super fast guzzle,so i have to get better about taking my water outside with me.....but yes just take your water with you where ever you go and just sip througout the day...it will get easier...but post op, your body will tell you when you cant guzzle like you use to..
debby

I'm not saying this is correct, or encouraging you to do this, but I do drink large amounts of water at one time and it does not bother me at all. I guess everyone is different. I still follow the no drinking rule for 30 minutes after eating.

Me too.  My after eating rule is 60 minutes...

I was concerned about this pre-op & while I can't guzzle down a whole liter, I can drink fast enough to satisfy thirst quickly.