As you get ready for weight-loss surgery, creating a food and hydration plan for your post-surgery wellness is key! Our bodies are made up of over 50% water, but with a smaller stomach, it’s going to take strategy and discipline to ensure that you’re getting the amount of hydration that your body needs.
Luckily, the experts at Cooper University Health Care’s Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Center in Voorhees, NJ, are here with tips for the best ways to stay hydrated after weight-loss surgery.
Choose Water
Hydration helps with healing, and water is the best fluid we can consume for hydration. While you’re recovering from weight-loss surgery, avoid sodas and other sugary drinks or fruit juices, which can’t hydrate like water can and often carry added sugar and calories. You’ll also want to limit your intake of caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, which can actually lead to dehydration.
Keep a Water Bottle Handy
Once you’ve spoken to your post-surgery expert and figured out how much water you should be drinking after your procedure, invest in a refillable water bottle that you can keep with you. Based on the size of your water bottle and your doctor’s recommendation, you’ll know how many refills you need to drink each day to meet your hydration needs.
For example, if you have a 20-ounce water bottle and your doctor recommends that you drink 60 ounces of water each day, you know that you need to drink three refills of your water bottle. With this goal in mind, you can monitor your progress and make sure you’re drinking enough water.
Take Small Sips Throughout the Day
After weight-loss surgery, you’ll need to get used to reducing the amount of food and liquids you take in. This applies to your water intake, too! Your stomach will be smaller, so it’s best to take small sips of water consistently throughout the day. This will allow you to stay hydrated without drinking too much at one time, which could make you feel nauseated.
Know the Signs of Dehydration
In the days, months, and years after weight-loss surgery, you’ll need to pay close attention to how you feel. Knowing the early signs of dehydration and responding accordingly can help you to get back on track and know when something’s not quite right. You may not be getting enough water if you:
- Feel thirsty
- Experience lightheadedness or a headache
- Feel tired or irritable
Maintain Hydration to Meet Your Weight-Loss Goals
Staying hydrated is an important part of your recovery and wellness after weight-loss surgery and in life! Following these tips will help you to build healthy hydration habits after your procedure and return to your daily activities feeling great while you work toward losing weight.
If you live in South Jersey or the Delaware Valley and still have questions about how to best prepare for your weight-loss procedure, consider attending one of Cooper’s free weight-loss surgery seminars.
These information-packed sessions are run by Cooper University Health Care’s highly qualified bariatric surgeons and can help to answer any questions you may have about minimally invasive weight-loss procedures. View our list of upcoming seminars and register for a free session today!