We’ve all heard it: Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. For most weight loss surgery (WLS) patients, the daily water intake recommendation is between 64 and 100 ounces a day. However, there are also other challenges, such as not drinking water with meals or, in some cases, not closer than 30 minutes before a meal. After a meal, good luck if you can get any water into the restricted stomach space.
I like water, but it has always been a challenge for me to get in the recommended amounts on a daily basis. The women who run the group I’m connected to post weekly challenges for us. Last week, the challenge was achieving adequate hydration every day. For many days I improved my water intake but didn’t reach the goal I’d set for myself – 80 ounces minimum a day. I do better on days that include a rowing workout because I’ll go through 20 ounces during the workout or immediately after.
A book of daily writings for WLS peeps offered some suggestions a few days ago. The book suggested creating strategies for how I could improve my water intake. Oh, before I forget, most doctors that I’ve heard of count water or decaffeinated tea without anything added. Anything else doesn’t count to the total goal. A few other doctors apparently count any fluid.
Anyway, after reading that entry, I thought and thought about what worked for me and what might work even more effectively. I knew if I kept a glass filled with water on my desk, I was more likely to regularly sip on it while working. So, I decided that having a larger glass might naturally lead to me drinking more, plus I’d have to make fewer trips to refill.
A few days ago when shopping at the supermarket, I passed the small section of refillable water bottles and glasses. I spotted the perfect new plastic glass. It holds 32 ounces, has a handle and a lid for a tight seal (a necessity in an office environment that includes curious cats), plus a reuseable, washable straw. I laughed when I saw that it was appropriately called The Bubba. I grabbed that glass and added it to my cart in a heartbeat.
Let me tell you that The Bubba has become my best tool in my determined effort to achieve proper hydration. With its help, I’ve absorbed between 92 and 100 ounces of water each day for the last two days.
I truly have noticed that all of this hydration brings benefits. It makes my muscles feel good, particularly when I’ve done intense workouts. It flushes out my system which is an asset when working on losing weight. I also see and feel less puffiness in my joints. I also don’t experience the 3 p.m. sleepiness that happens your brain isn’t hydrated enough.
Being a WLS patient is a lot of work with many different things to remember. Setting myself up for success with planning and The Bubba makes it a little simpler as I strive to reach my daily hydration goals.
Weighty Matters 
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