How the hell do you get all your fluids in??

Hi friends:

I'm doing OK with the protein part of my diet; with a protein shake and regular foods I'm getting in about 70-80 gm per day. The NUT wants me to get between 70-105 gm per day. 

It's the liquids; I'm thirsty all the time. I carry a drink with me wherever I go but this sipping thing is not satisfying my thirst. I get in about 40-50 oz per day. I know it's not nearly enough but with all the time I have to wait around meals in order to drink, I don't know how else I'm going to get it in.

Any tips?

Yes, it is hard in the beginning... I didn't feel I could drink 'normal' as in pre-surgery until I hit the one year mark. I counted all liquids including my protein drinks. Some days that was the best I could do, other days I had more fluids so counting the protein drink didn't matter.

For me I used 16oz mason jars and 16oz travel cups with straws to keep count. I had a mason jar on my nightstand and would start drinking as soon as I woke up and was taking my shower and stuff and getting ready. I would have 8-16oz in before I even headed to the kitchen. Then it was mental math... OK I need to get 16oz in between Breakfast and lunch. 24oz in between lunch and dinner, 8 oz in at night... what ever it is. Some days are easier than others.

I found it easier to drink out of cups with straws, and once you are more than a couple of weeks out that shouldn't be a problem. You can really drink as fast as you feel comfortable with. You aren't going to damage anything by taking more than a sip at a time.

I never worried about not drinking before eating... I usually stopped maybe 15 minutes before...but again didn't worry if I didn't. Then after I ate I would set a 30 minute alarm either on the stove or my phone to remember to start drinking again. I still do that quite frequently.

Stay on top of it, it is important.

With RNY there is no reason not to drink up until you take your first bite of food.  It is important not to drink for 30 minutes after eating.  I always get in about 12-16 ounces of water before meals.

My surgeon and plan say no drinking 30 min BEFORE  or  30 min AFTER. That's and hour "down time"  for every meal and snack, which really cuts down on your available drinking time during the day.  Very weird how things differ so much person to person. 

Prioritization. Fluids are more important that protein, so I realized that I needed to eat fewer meals to allow more time for drinking. I spent the entire first year perpetually thirsty honestly. I am finally at the point that I feel like I am actually drinking enough. It is tough. Straws help, but I did not like using them until I was a few months out.

I was told not to use straws because I'd swallow too much air. It's amazing the differences between surgeon's protocols. :)

This is one of those controversial areas which basically has no scientific evidence to support, like avoiding carbonation and caffeine. I suspect that surgeons just tell patients to avoid them so that they don't get more phone calls complaining about discomfort. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. But plenty of other post-ops do with no trouble. I was rather cautious for the first six months, which is a really good idea because you need to heal, but after that, I figured out which things did or did not bother me.

I don't see when you had your surgery - but for the first 3 months, follow all the most conservative rules until everything heals. (I did not venture off the post-WLS diet until I reached my goal - stats are that 30% of WLS people have inadequate weight loss - that was not going to be me). 

There is an article on straws on the OH homepage. I started on straws about 3 weeks out. If it makes it easier to drink, and it isn't causing you any discomfort...I would use it. It is about comfort, not damaging anything.

You don't have to sip. If drinking a little faster is comfortable, go for it. Sipping is suggested because some have a hard time swallowing. Advice is generally geared toward those having problems. Like straws. If they don'the bother you, use them