LondonHawk

Not all carbonated drinks are unhealthy and make you fat. There's sparkling Water for example. I believe the assumption (no research has been done to prove it) is that carbonation could stretch the sleeve. It also often causes significant pain and discomfort. I would not drink carbonated drinks just in case of the possibility of stretching your pouch. I think that the OP was not referring to carbonated waters (they can correct me if I am wrong). My point was that VSG is not a solution, it is a tool and without significant life style changes it will become ineffective over time. The vast majority of us did not get to this point in our lives drinking carbonated waters. I am pretty sure that a lot of us here were addicited to the main stream carbonated drinks such as Coke and their diet or zero offerings. Those products were created to be addicitive are a big part of our obesity cycle. I don't want to fall back in to that trap so I am good with removing them from my life which is really hard but if the idea that it would hurt and that my NUT says they are verbotten, well that just helps. I am sure carbonated water could be fine and I am sure there are people who have 1 12oz Coke Zero a month and are fine. But I am going to guess that the folks that can have 1 Coke Zero a month are in the minority here. (It would be interesting to see just how many of us were or are addicted to those drinks and what quantities we consumed pre SVG. I was easily 1 gallon -2 gallons a day of Coke Zero!) Hi London! I'm the OP, and I'm about to correct you As a matter of fact, my question was not referencing soda's specifically. I have never been one to drink my calories. I didn't get fat from soda. I got fat from eating salty/savory things like fast food and popcorn. Sugar is not my wheelhouse. While I of course have had the occasional diet soda in my life, I am by no means addicted to them. I don't even really like them that much. I have a "sodastream" machine at home that I use to carbonate water. I then add something like Crystal Lite or on occasion a little bit of fruit juice to flavor it. That is was I was referring to when I mentioned that it would be hard to get used to not being able to have fizzie drinks. "Rather than ask why you can't do something the better question is given the decision to have A VGS why would you want to have carbonated drinks?" - to quote you specifically from an earlier post. I must admit that I do not appreciate this way of thinking, nor the implication behind it. In my opinion, we are having a major surgery, with major life-changes built in. It is of the UTMOST importance that we understand each of these changes and why they are necessary. Not knowing the consequence only makes you that much more likely to break the rule. And asking questions is the only way to get answers. I'm not sorry I asked, and I wasn't wrong to ask. And asking a question does not make me less committed to my surgery or to the lifestyle changes that are needed. I am sure you had good intentions, but really hope you know judgmental your post came across. I do hope that we can be friends. Open mouth and insert foot! LOL I am sorry if it came off judgmental, it was more a case of incredulity! My apologies for that. I don't think I am alone in thinking soda, when I hear the words fizzy or carbonated drinks. You are absolutely correct my intentions was to do whatever I could to discourage you from having a Coke Zero, diet coke etc if I could! Since you don't have that demon you obviously don't know what it is like but it is like being an alcoholic! It has a siren call of its own and it is everywhere. As for soda alone be the root of my cause, uh no, food was the root. Salty, savory, sweet it didn't matter. I can eat when I am full and that has always been the issue but I think diet soda and the chemicals have screwed my system up so that I no longer understand or feel the triggers that a normal person does. Sure I know that bloated I overate feeling but hey it seems a shame to let those last 2 ribs go to waste! Maybe some peeps can have soda in there lives and not have that issue. I unfortunately am not, for me it is no soda more control. ​

Not all carbonated drinks are unhealthy and make you fat. There's sparkling Water for example. I believe the assumption (no research has been done to prove it) is that carbonation could stretch the sleeve. It also often causes significant pain and discomfort. I would not drink carbonated drinks just in case of the possibility of stretching your pouch. I think that the OP was not referring to carbonated waters (they can correct me if I am wrong). My point was that VSG is not a solution, it is a tool and without significant life style changes it will become ineffective over time. The vast majority of us did not get to this point in our lives drinking carbonated waters. I am pretty sure that a lot of us here were addicited to the main stream carbonated drinks such as Coke and their diet or zero offerings. Those products were created to be addicitive are a big part of our obesity cycle. I don't want to fall back in to that trap so I am good with removing them from my life which is really hard but if the idea that it would hurt and that my NUT says they are verbotten, well that just helps. I am sure carbonated water could be fine and I am sure there are people who have 1 12oz Coke Zero a month and are fine. But I am going to guess that the folks that can have 1 Coke Zero a month are in the minority here. (It would be interesting to see just how many of us were or are addicted to those drinks and what quantities we consumed pre SVG. I was easily 1 gallon -2 gallons a day of Coke Zero!)

I was thinking to keep at least 2 meals a day liquid. One as Soup and one as a Protein drink.

That is good to know I am thinking that I will try to stay on a partially liquid diet as long as possible. Not sure if anyone else has done this?

I am 11 days out and I kind of feel like my sleeve isn't right as I don't feel the restriction that others seem too feel. I am still in phase 2 of my food so my daily looks like this. B 1/2 cup of Fairlife fat free milk w Inspire Protein, L 1/2 cup of homemade Soup with Protein mix and 1/2 Water (I dont manage to finish this) D 1/2 Breakstone's fat free cottage cheese S 1 Dannon Light and Fit yogurt I am managing somewhere between 50g and 70g of protein and getting 40-70 ozs of water.

One thing that I can suggest is to volunteer your time for a community project or charity preferably something that will keep you busy and with lots of people. I coach High School and Youth football so I don't have a ton of alone time when you combine that with having 2 children and a wife. This really makes big picture thinking easier for me because I recognize that it isn't about me and I am surrounding myself with as many life affirming people as possible. Plus it keeps me busy and increases my activity level all things that are consistent with the direction I want to take my life. Everyone has a different journey but helping others is a great way for me.

I have been making my own soups I put it in small containers and mix it with Protein powder and milk in the single serving Ninja. I made a big batch of roasted pepper, tomato and basil to get me through the first week. I cook the Soup mix it in the pot with a hand blender then Ninja the soup and after that run it through a fine mesh strainer. That is probably overkill but better safe than sorry. I feel better because the ingredients are all in my control along with spice and sodium content. So far this is working a half cup of soup this way has been dinner or lunch daily and I am getting pretty close to my 60g of protein.

In a nutshell carbonated drinks are to be avoided because they are unhealthy and make one fat and unhealthy! Rather than ask why you can't do something the better question is given the decision to have A VGS why would you want to have carbonated drinks? Especially if it is one of your favorite things? I don't know about you but I have the least amount of control over my favorites. I was a 2-3 liters of Coke Zero a day and trying to break myself was tough. I am treating it like rehab I just choose not to drink it today because I know where it will end. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Zoes I am 7 days post op right now. I had total buyers remorse in the hospital! It was a "what the hell have I done" moment. The discomfort and an overwhelming feeling of helplessness just did not sit well with me. My tool for getting myself through those moments is to ask questions. Why did I do this? What is my goal? etc. I find when I really think about the fact that I am doing this in an attempt to extend my life and deal with some diseases that are ultimately going to shorten my life it helps me fight through that overwhelming feeling of remorse. It is tough I love food. I love to cook. I love to eat out. I am a genuine foodie, but the truth is that I was slowly killing myself a bite at a time. I am trying to look at this whole process as a tool to give me some control over my relationship with food for the rest of my life. Rather than thinking I am never going to eat this or that again, I try to think when I eat that again it will be at a time of my choosing and in quantities within my control. There is no doubt the emotional and mental side of this whole thing is going the hardest part. You do what is best and right for you but realize you are only as alone as you want to be. There is always someone willing to listen and help. Good Luck