Bite Me! My solution to getting liquids in!

The Camel Back water bottle (model = Eddy) was, and continues to be, a godsend for getting in water!  Most of  our plans say no straws -- this particular bottle has a straw with a bite valve -- so you are not sucking in air with every sip.  You suck up the air til you feel the liquid get to the top, bite down, then exhale.  The water stays at the top of the straw, so you don't take in any additional air.

During the first few days, I could just lay in the recliner with the water bottle on my chest, and sip almost continuously.  You can take it a teeny sip, or larger, whatever you can tolerate, and just continue to do it.  It worked so well, that I bought a second one to take back to work with me -- lots of people carry water bottles around at my office, so it doesn't look that weird!

They are a little steep -- $20, but that was worth not ending up dehydrated and in the ER (I have a $150 ER copay if I'm not admitted!)

Another OH member I was mentioning this to said she already had some of these for her kids!  So you might have one laying around already.  And they sell replacement bite valves.  This is the same bite valve used for backpack hydration systems that hikers use -- so if have one of those already, you can just hook it up and walk around with it!

This was a huge help for me, and I found the info buried in a post here, so I thought I'd give it shout out since so many people are looking for ways to help get their water in.

These are 20 oz and insulated -- so they keep your drink warm or cold.  I love this thing (no - I don't own stock in the company!)

Best of luck you all!

Hi I am I am hoping to revise to the sleeve soon this sounds like a great Idea I would like to know where you can get this will be having my band out soon .Have to wait 2 months for my sleeve .This site has been so much help !Thanks Taz

Amazon.com sells a .75l size as well as other sizes.  The .75 liter size is just a hair more than 25 oz. and costs only $12.50.  If you bought 2 then you could get free shipping I think. 

http://www.amazon.com/CamelBak-BPA-Free-Better-Bottle-Valve/ product-reviews/B0019DCD7U/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8& showViewpoints=1

Drat!  Wish I'd thought of that!  We are REI members, so I just bought mine there.  I have to get in the habit of looking at Amazon first for everything!  Thanks!

I am doing great on 500 ml (17 oz) water bottles. I take 4 with me for the day at work and manage to get through them on most days. That's 68 oz right there. I have my protein coffee in the morning and that is usually around 14 oz and on the days that I go to the gym I drink another liter which is 33.8 oz (34..) and at home in the evening I have my tea which is another 10 oz. So usually I am over the goal with that. The bottles work for me because I can take them with me anywhere I go - to meetings, to movies, to the car, etc. I honestly never thought I would manage the liquids as well as I have.

This was The best advice EVER! Thank you. I bought one before surgery. I am day 6 post op and LOVE IT.  Thanks for sharing this tip.