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After your bariatric surgery in Mexico, one of the most important things you’ll need to do is stay hydrated. During the first weeks after your surgery, this is pretty easy to do; your diet will be entirely or mostly liquid. However, once the liquid diet ends, the battle for proper hydration begins.
Dehydration after weight loss surgery is a real risk, given your reduced stomach capacity. It is easy to forget to drink and choose food over water. So, what can you do to make sure you stay hydrated?
Track your Consumption
Don’t rely on feelings of thirst to clue you in to when you need to drink or whether you have gotten enough fluids. By the time you feel thirst, you are at the start of dehydration. Instead, track your daily fluid intake just as you do your food and aim for 64 ounces a day.
Skip the Caffeine
Caffeine may be a great pick-me-up, but in addition to irritating the stomach (bad after bariatric surgery), it also is a diuretic. This means it pulls fluid out of the body. So, if you think that cup of coffee counts towards your fluid intake, think again.
Address Hunger With Water
While you could get a clear bariatric surgery protein drink, when hunger strikes, it’s a good idea to grab some water first. In many cases, thirst presents as hunger pains. If you are still hungry after drinking water, you can eat a small snack. Just be sure to space out your fluids and your food.
Try a Liquid Meal
A great way to get in more fluids in a day is to have one of your meals be liquid. Protein shakes and smoothies are hearty enough to fill you up but also include a lot of water, which helps ensure you are hydrated.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks should be avoided as much as possible given how bariatric surgery changes the way the body processes it. However, it also carries an additional risk—dehydration. Much like caffeine, alcohol can function as a diuretic, leading to dehydration.
Limit Sugary Beverages
You might think it is a good idea to get your fluids wherever you can find them. However, you should not avoid dehydration after weight loss surgery by consuming sugary drinks. While they might help avoid dehydration, they will also lead to weight gain.
Separate Food and Drinks
Finally, drink your beverages separate from your meals. This ensures your stomach isn’t filled with food, making it more likely that you will drink as much as you should.
Of course, this is all about post-surgery consumption. But what about the pre-bariatric surgery diet? Learn about this and more by getting in touch.
