Even though I usually have to make myself eat "real" food, I have made the following observation.  If I don't get in around 100 ounces of fluids a day, I seem to get somewhat of a hunger feeling or a light craving for food.  Looking back over my journal, there is definitely a pattern to it - less than about 100 ounces of fluid intake, I get to wanting food, if I get in 100 ounces or more - no cravings for food.  I really do believe that staying hydrated throughout the day is one of the major keys (along with adequate protein intake and regular exercise) to fighting hunger and being successful at achieving and maintaining weight loss. I wonder if some of the folks who say they have cravings or get really hungry are possibly lacking in their daily fluid intake.

I got to searching the internet and found the following article, which I thought is pretty good and may help someone.

How to Control Cravings With Hydration

By Rhyah Fletcher, eHow Editor

Weight loss isn’t easy and food cravings make dieters kick themselves when they give into them. However, if you’re trying to lose weight and have uncontrollable food cravings, you're body might be thirsty rather than hungry. The brain control centers for thirst and hunger are next to each other, and the signals sometimes overlap. What you think is a craving for food, may actually be your body’s cry for water.

  Step 1 Keep a food journal that tracks how often you eat and how much you drink. Take special notes about food cravings and write down the time you feel the craving.
Step 2 Write down how you handle food cravings in your journal. Record whether you ignore the cravings, eat what you’re craving or drink something. If you notice that you feed your craving but still crave food a short while later, you’re probably thirsty.   Step 3 Drink a glass of water an hour before every meal and an hour after every meal. Water is an appetite suppressant and drinking before and after a meal keeps you from munching   Step 4 Fill your diet with foods that naturally contain high water content. These consist mostly of fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, grapefruit, tomato, watermelon, cantaloupe, papaya, apples, peaches, blackberries, carrots, celery, cranberries, apricots and oranges. Eating these hydrates you and some of them can cure a sweet craving.   Step 5 Carry water with you when you workout or go outside. Sipping water throughout the day keeps you hydrated and helps fight off mid-afternoon cravings.   Step 6 Eat high fiber snacks, such as almonds, with a glass of water. Not only will the water hydrate you, but the water also causes the fiber to expand in your stomach making you feel full longer.   Step 7 Switch caffeinated drinks for water-based juices such as Crystal Light because caffeine speeds up dehydration. The same is true for alcohol, so enjoy alcoholic beverages sparingly. If you do drink either caffeine or alcohol in excess, drink extra water the next day to fight dehydration.

I think you make a really good point. I agree 100% with hydration being part of the trifecta of WLS success (that being: water, protein and exercise).

Last night I had a bad headache and didn't know if I was hungry or what. So I made myself a big cup of green tea and then had a second cup. By the second cup my headache was gone and I felt satisfied and skipped my late night routine of having a bowl of cereal.

It's funny how easily we overlook the simple and obvious, like drinking a glass of water!

Thanks for the thread, I think it's worth a reminder like this once a month for all the guys wondering about stalls and not feeling satisfied shortly after eating.

Excellent....excellent post! And thanks so much for such an important, informative article. Been havin alot of trouble lately with head hunger and grazing and its startin to worry me. I was thinking about increasing my fluid intake to combat this so your post came just in time to help me and give me the positive message to drink more to fight cravings. Thanks again!!

Thanks Brian and John. Glad you found some value in this.  Keeping the daily journal is really helpful to spot trends or problems like this.  After reviewing and finding that less fluid intake seemed to correspond with my feelings of hunger, I just got to thinking that maybe we might sometimes stray from the obvious things that will help us to be successful. 

Like they say - "Back to the basics" and "KISS" (keep it simple stupid)!

I agree with you and though I've never read that article by Rhyah Fletcher, that is exactly how I eat . drink minus the journal part and obviously i dont drink/eat at the same time. 

When I feel hungry or to avoid hunger I drink a 32 ounce Powerade or water and usually about an hour before each meal and usually about another 16 ounces an hour or two after my meals....in between that I have healthy snacks, usually protein like nuts, oatmeal w/ protein powder and peanutbutter or veggies like baby carrots dipped in ranch or maybe some cheese.

I think that drinking 100-200 oz of fluids and 100-200 gms of protein per day definitely contributed to my losing the weight so quickly....unfortunately not everyone can get that in post-op, some of us are just "lucky" and can eat / drink without issues like nausea/vomiting.

Man, I try and try and try and have so much trouble putting down some fluids. I've found using a straw helps me drink more. I don't know why though. I know i'm not getting nearly enough water, but it's like i forget to drink even when my lips are parched and sippies are right next to me.

My experience agrees 100% with what your posting. The problem at a year out is that your'e bored with water and your bored with Crystal Light and your bored with tea  just about everything else that you've been drinking. It's a battle. But it's gotta be mind over matter this time. Gotta be.

Awesome and inspiring information.  Many people forget to do the simple things over time = sliding back into bad habits.  I think sometimes the food we eat, liquids we drink, and exercise that we do becomes so automatic, that over time when we do start to cut corners = changing fluid amounts we drink, skipping exercise at the gym or cutting out and leaving 30 minutes early, snacking on foods we shouldn't or wouldn't have touched when we all first started our weightloss journey, we end up making hugh mistakes in how we treat our bodies.  Occasionally we need that swift kick in the ARSE to remind us of where are, where we've been, and where we don't want to end back up at again.  

If you don't remeber anything else, remember this.  Everyone of us who were overwieght and needed this surgery are just like alcoholics who are in recovery.  An alcoholic will always and forever be a recovering alcoholic - they are never ever fully cured.  It is a life long struggle and battle each and everyday.  Weightloss people are the same way - recovering Foodaholics.  We will never be fully cured and thus we need the support and education that many of us provide to each other each and everyday.  We must always stick to the plan and work the tool our surgeons have given us.  You must continue to workout and watch what you eat always.  Don't ever become complacent or think you have won the battle totally.  You have to keep fighting weight regain each and everyday.

Bama, thanks for the reminder about something so simple, but so easily forgotten.

Taz