Hello. I’m just wondering does any liquid count as your 64 oz of water need it to meet your goal for the day post-bypass surgery. Do I count the jello, broth, popsicles as part of my water intake?? I’m having a heart time finishing 32 oz of water a day. Also I’m managing only 30g of protein daily.
Full liquid diet question??
- Thread starter Lulu72
- Start date
I was told by the nutritionist to count the flavored water, yogurt etc but only for half of your goal. They will help you stay hydrated, but straight water helps flush your system. Hang in there.
Pink Julie
Member
I was also told that all liquids count, and I’ve never drank 64oz water a day. I normally only drink 8 to 16oz of cold water. But I do drink English tea all day long, and I also have a large coffee every day as well, so I do get plenty of liquids, I just don’t care for cold drinks (even though I live in Florida) lol
WazzuCoug
Member
For the liquids only phase, my nutrition team told me to count the water, flavored liquids and protein drinks, but you should be alternating between them regularly. When I moved to purees and started getting some protein that way, I started drinking more water, vitamin water and lower amounts of protein drinks. By the three week mark (today) I'm drinking well over 64oz of liquids, mostly water, but some vitamin water zero, decaf coffee, and I don't count the protein drinks. I just count them as protein.
The confusing part is each bariatric clinic gives slightly different advice, and each of us has had slightly different experiences. If you are drinking 32oz of water and 32oz of protein drinks, during the liquid diet, you are doing pretty well and shouldn't be worried about it. As you move toward the end of liquids and into purees you should look at increasing the water so you can get up to 64oz of water in addition to protein sources.
The confusing part is each bariatric clinic gives slightly different advice, and each of us has had slightly different experiences. If you are drinking 32oz of water and 32oz of protein drinks, during the liquid diet, you are doing pretty well and shouldn't be worried about it. As you move toward the end of liquids and into purees you should look at increasing the water so you can get up to 64oz of water in addition to protein sources.
missyinacage
Member
I was also told (by the hospital staff, my doctor and surgeon) that ANY intake (jello, sherbet, yogurt, broth etc) counts toward your water goal during the after surgery full liquid diet. The main goal is to stay hydrated and get your new stomach healed. Once you move on to puree, only water counts as water.
missyinacage
Member
If the liquid you are consuming contains any other substances besides water, that will affect your metabolism because your body has to deal with each ingredient. Some of those ingredients can be very bad for you. If I were you I would just put all the flavored drinks away and drink nothing but water and pay attention to when I'm thirsty. By the time you are thirsty you're usually starting to be dehydrated. Water performs an important function in weight loss. Protein drinks do not. Flavored Waters do not. Water is unadulterated and works with your system perfectly because you need water to digest food and to poop and to pee and to keep from being dehydrated, to keep your calories down and a million other things. That's my opinion anyway but I've been around for quite a long time and I was instructed strictly by my nutritionist and surgeon not to drink liquids and count them as water. I was required to drink 64 oz of water a day.
Alright, Diane. I have been reading your water posts, and mentally whining about how much better crystal light tastes lol BUT what you say makes sense. I make it a point to try to eat natural or less processed foods, so why am I drinking pure chemicals? However, since I am still mentally whining, how do lemon slices, basil leaves and other all natural infusions affect the effectiveness of water? BTW, thanks doing all the water research so we don't have to
WazzuCoug
Member
I'm one of those people who get really bored with water. I'm not motivated to drink it, even though I know it is the best thing for me as far as liquids go. I do try to get 1/2 to 3/4 of my water as plain water, but I also drink zero-calorie flavored water. My doctor had the following order of preference:
Artificially sweetened drinks can also make you crave more sweet things and carbs. It tricks your body into thinking it's getting something with sugar, but your body doesn't really get it, so it can send signals to your brain that you need more sugar. It's one of the reasons people who drink diet sodas aren't necessarily any less obese than regular soda drinkers. They get their calories elsewhere because their body still wants the real sugar/carbs.
As Diane mentioned, water is definitely the way to go, but early on in the liquid phase there is practically no way to do both 60g of protein drinks and 64oz of water. You can definitely count both during that time, but you need to start building up the water after you get out of the liquid phase and start getting protein from sources other than liquid shakes.
- Water
- Unsweetened "fruit essence" waters (these can be made at home with lemon, lime, orange, watermelon, etc)
- Artificially sweetened flavored waters
- Zero-calorie electrolyte drinks if diarrhea
Artificially sweetened drinks can also make you crave more sweet things and carbs. It tricks your body into thinking it's getting something with sugar, but your body doesn't really get it, so it can send signals to your brain that you need more sugar. It's one of the reasons people who drink diet sodas aren't necessarily any less obese than regular soda drinkers. They get their calories elsewhere because their body still wants the real sugar/carbs.
As Diane mentioned, water is definitely the way to go, but early on in the liquid phase there is practically no way to do both 60g of protein drinks and 64oz of water. You can definitely count both during that time, but you need to start building up the water after you get out of the liquid phase and start getting protein from sources other than liquid shakes.
Thank you all for sharing your knowledge. I’m on day 10 post surgery and It has been a challenge drinking the 64 oz. but my nutritionist also stated that it is really hard to get all that water and protein the first week after post surgery, that most can only do half bc your stomach is so small now. I just get full too fast. Sunday I start my purée stage and I’ll try harder to get those 64 oz of water daily. Again thank you all.
missyinacage
Member
Okay, quick water update. As I mentioned, I started just plain ole water yesterday. It wasn't nearly as bad as my whiny ass thought it would be lol It's actually pretty great ice cold. So, I didn't even need lemon slices or basil leaves. Although, I have to tell you, fresh basil leaves in lemonade .. YUM!