I'm doing all my pre-op homework and making healthy changes. Of all the changes: exercising regularly, no snacking, staying away from processed foods, etc., the one change that gives me pause is giving up my delicious Diet Pepsi. I confess that I don't want to stop drinking it.

So I ask...do any of you that are post op drink soda?

Pre-surgery I was all about diet Pepsi....haven't had one since and its been 5 weeks. I tried but it actually hurt to drink it. I have noticed a big change in my taste and appetite but really I was able to give it up because it just doesnt feel good to drink soda.

I am 3 weeks post op...and dying for a coke. I am comforted by the thought that I will eventually be able to have a sip of one in the future. I know a few people with WLS who drink Soda and wine (months and years after surgery though). I just would not advise it all before your tummy is ready. I had a sip of mineral Water and it hurt!! I can't even drink them if I tried right now. That taught me and I think I will wait a good 6 months before I try again. The upside is I have now banned soda's in the house and the kids will benefit. And I miss beer too!

Edited August 5, 201412 yr by Menina

There are great herbal tea varieties that I have discovered! It's a nice change of pace...give them a try!

The only thing I ever wanted was a coke zero, I made myself wait 6 mths to have one, my surgeon was fine with it and it doesn't effect my sleeve at all... And for whatever reason I only drink it on the weekends!!!

Reminds me a story...I went to the orientation meeting with the surgeon that I ended up dumping. We walked in sipping a Diet Sprite from a straw. At the start of the presentation, he mentioned he was a gastric sleeve patient himself - I thought, "Wow, this guy went thru what I'm about to go thru. This is cool."

Then came the part out post-op living...he mentioned that we will have to give up soda and drinking from a straw AS HE IS SIPPING HIS SODA FROM A STRAW! HIs response when asked about that was, "It doesn't bother me." Interesting.

I was also a diet Pepsi addict for many years. I have been temporarily successful on other diets but never gave up diet soda. I drank it all the way up to the pre surgery liquid phase. I haven't really even been tempted post op. I probably could handle a few sips but it's more mental for me now. One habit change I never made before and am making now.

What I have been drinking is Vitamin Water zero over ice always. Helps me get in my water and I really enjoy the different flavors. The only thing I have done is spike maybe 1/4 of my drink over ice with the diet energy drinks my husband gets.

For a little caffeine boost. But I am a little worried that's becoming habitual I just hate coffee! But the carbonation doesn't seem to bother me. Only once I didn't let it sit long enough or stir it and I felt real discomfort.

Edited August 7, 201412 yr by squeaker31

I hope it tastes like beer after surgery. That'll make it easy to never drink it again.

LOVE diet soda! The one thing I find hard to give up. Thank goodness we can have it flat.

I am with you on the beer thing - I can't stand beer. If it tastes like that to me, there won't be any soda drinking, even if it is flat.

I am still pre-op, but the biggest mental hurdle for me was giving up pop. I wasn't sure if I would be able to survive without it. I have. I started by switching to tea to get the caffeine kick. Now I am reducing the tea and focusing on Water. It wasn't nearly as hard as I had anticipated.

YES! I've started drinking decaf sun tea and found I really like it. Very refreshing and I don't have to wait for the carbonation to go away.

I'm doing all my pre-op homework and making healthy changes. Of all the changes: exercising regularly, no snacking, staying away from processed foods, etc., the one change that gives me pause is giving up my delicious Diet Pepsi. I confess that I don't want to stop drinking it.

So I ask...do any of you that are post op drink soda?

NO. It is a CHOICE.

Mmmm...Diet Pepsi. I gotta tell you, I don't think I've even thought about it since my surgery. And this is coming from a girl who regularly drank a 2 liter bottle of the stuff every day.

@*Lexie* I was a major Diet Coke addict up to the surgery. I was so worried I would crave them and it would drive me crazy but I'll tell you... haven't wanted one, haven't craved one since, no desire for them at all. I'm not sure why -- I haven't tasted one to realize my taste has changed and I've seen them in the vending machines and see people drinking them. The desire to have one is just gone.

So -- don't stress too much -- it might end up being a non-issue.

nice thread with honest answers. I am still going thru the process now, but I quit cold turkey. The hardest part was giving up the bourbon too. what a great combo! I am sure that is the reason I got to where I am today. I figured the sacrifice is well worth it. my wls center is very relaxed and permit soda after a certain time period beyond surgery, but I am just gonna quit for good. I have transitioned into iced tea and other mixed drinks like crystal light. oh, I can't wait for surgery....

@*Lexie* I was a major Diet Coke addict up to the surgery. I was so worried I would crave them and it would drive me crazy but I'll tell you... haven't wanted one, haven't craved one since, no desire for them at all. I'm not sure why -- I haven't tasted one to realize my taste has changed and I've seen them in the vending machines and see people drinking them. The desire to have one is just gone.

So -- don't stress too much -- it might end up being a non-issue.

Ginger,

This is great to hear. It gives me hope that maybe my tastes will change post-op and I will no longer have the craving for a Diet Coke. Crossing my fingers.

As a general rule I don't order or buy carbonated drinks for myself anymore. I used to drink multiple "big hurts" at a restaurant. Loved nothing more than ordering a fountain diet coke or diet Dr. Pepper. Fortunately, almost all restaurants serve unsweetened regular or herbal iced tea. Yes, I can pour sodas out over ice occasionally, and do sometimes when I just want that taste. But since surgery? Maybe 2 or 3, total.

I did, however, bring beers and Kill Cliffs to my gym the other day to Celebrate my one-year anniversary at CrossFit, and drank half a beer with everyone else, straight from the bottle. I find that right after a workout my stomach can do things it doesn't normally do. Why? Who knows. It was a hard workout, and that made the beer DELICIOUS. But hey, I think everyone's a little different here.

I also used to love margaritas and since the surgery they're just too acidic and back right up on me. I don't know why, and not having them for 9-10 months means I don't crave them anymore.

If you're still weeks or months pre-op, it's much easier to slowly make these lifestyle changes over time. I made a pre-op list of my lifestyle changes and implemented them over months. One was quitting diet soda. I once drank about 2 liters of Diet Coke a day. I don't miss it at all. I've noticed that once I started changing my eating and drinking choices, I really didn't miss the processed foods and diet sodas.

Waiting until the surgery or pre-op diet to 'give up' all these things (remember that you're not giving it up unhealthy foods, you're making a choice) is much harder than spreading it out. Remember that you are empowering yourself to make these healthy choices. Embrace that.

Good luck and best wishes to all!

Edited August 7, 201412 yr by AlwaysVegas