How are you able to drink all the liquid they recommend?

[MOBD 16]

I am almost 3 weeks post op...surgery 3/12. I just cannot drink all the fluids they want you to drink. I'm lucky if I get 40 oz in a day. That's Protein Shakes and Water...everything. I do eat a couple of sugar free popsicles everyday. I just can't figure out how you are able to drink 60 oz of liquids. I have something with me all the time but my stomach just can't take that much Fluid. I don't think I'm dehydrated...urine is pale yellow, so I'm not really worried about that. I just know that the more fluid the better right?

I've lost 22 lbs since surgery, so I'm doing ok. I just keep judging myself and trying to meet the goals that the doctor has recommended...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Mary6013 6]

I had a hard time with that the first couple months. I am about 3 1/2 months out and it has gotten much easier. I use crystal light and lots of ice. Hang in there....it gets better and easier.

[Sadtosaygoodbye 256]

Slow and steady wins the race, this unfortunately is a common problem we newbies have to overcome.

[No game 14,437]

You just need to keep working in it! It's kinda like a full time job... But an important one! try to up it a bit everyday. I've seen so many people end up back in the hospital just for dehydration!

Some people fill a shot glass and drink it every ten minutes . But I don't know that sounds a little tedious to me.

[JerseyGirl68 1,172]

It will get easier in the next few weeks. I found that I can drink more Vitamin Water zero than plain Water, and initially warm liquids were easier. The further I got from surgery, the more I was able to drink, Now I can get in at about 80oz. a day, if not more. Keeping a bottle with you , if you are able, always helps.

Congratulations, you are doing so well!!

[Fiddleman 4,376]

It is hard to meet Water goals in the beginning, especially before 3-4 months. It just hurts too much to drink faster then sips and like Laura says, drinking Water is a full time job. However, it gets easier as the months go by.

Start out drinking to a schedule and try to meet mini goals during the day. For me, my goals were really small in the first couple weeks. I was just trying to get through 2 ounces every hour. After you are in liquids phase, try and empty 3 blender cups a day. By solids at 5-6 weeks, try and hit 64 ounces ( 32 ounces by afternoon and 32 ounces by evening). At 3-4 months, try and make sure you can drink 90 ounces a day. This usually happens by trying to get through 32 ounces in between the 3 major meals.

The point is that increasing water intake is progressive over a long period of time. You want to be able to drink a lot of water a few months out in order to meet hydration needs from flushing toxins out of the body (translates into faster weight loss) and also to meet hydration needs for during and after exercising.

Add flavor to your water as soon as you can. It will make drinking water much much easier. Water was really hard to drink plain for me until month 6. I still flavor my water every day with Desani drops. Other posters like a variety of different types of water enhancers. It just tasted weird plain, lots of strong minerals in every type of water I tried, from tap water to Fuji water. Just could not do it without flavor.

At 9 months now, I think my daily water intake is 120+ ounces. Sure I spend a few extra times in the bathroom during the day, but it is worth it from all the benefits from staying well hydrated.

[buccoki 7]

Try starting your day with a cup of strong ginger tea. I swear by it for the first month . I helps decrease infalmation in the GI tract. Every time I tried to go with out it I would have trouble drinking Water until I drank my cup of tea and an hour later I was golden. I use Yumi tea, but any high end ginger tea will do as long as there is a lot of ginger in it. I really don't like the taste of the tea but it was worth it:)

[Tarah.HS 12]

Sip sip sip on Water all day long trust me its worth it. I had to go to the hospital and get I've fluids because I wasent drinking enough .. Even tho I felt like I was drinking all day

[mom2five 292]

I'm 10 weeks out... I have just recently been able to get nearly 64 oz of Water per day. Recently I noticed that I can take 2 or 3 drinks of Water at a time, if I am careful, without it hurting.

Early on, it seemed that warm liquids went down easier, but now I put flavor packets in my water and stick it in the freezer until it is slushy. That is how I am able to drink all my water... the colder the better! Flavoring makes it easier too. I LOVE the orange crush flavor packets.. They are my favorite.

If you are getting 40 oz at 3 weeks out, you are doing GREAT!

[sarahzamudio1091 185]

I buy the 4 oz lil Water bottles . It's easier for me , I hate water !!!