Hey Bandsters, I am almost 4 weeks out and Iam doing pretty good. However, the last couple days I have been dying for a Diet Coke. Whats the deal with no soda? I don't see my surgeon for another week and would like some details and stories about anybody drinking or not drinking diet soda. Thank you:sleep:

Its my favorite drink but havent had any for a month. The reasoning is that it produces more gas in what is now a small stomach and may lead to band errosion. Sorry but hope you find something else to satisfy your need, like for me, peach tea, decaf of course:thumbup:

My doc said no carbonation or alcohol for 6 months, post surgery. So, there's hope - it might just require some waiting!

I'm looking forward to a margarita next month!

No alcohol? Really? I was well-versed on the no-carbonation thing (I miss you, Dr. Pepper), but didn't know alcohol was a no-no. I found a sugar-free margarita mix (Baha Bob's) and was looking forward to trying it, but now I guess I better ask first.

I'm confused about this too. I know 3 people who have had Lap Band. 2 of them still drink sodas and 1 of them does not.

I am going to say something that will probably get me blasted by a lot of people. I drink diet sodas. And am sitting here kinda buzzed on Mikes hard lemonade. No problem with band. Am down 60 pounds since January. So it is possible to drink sodas and alcohol.

Now.....i wouldnt recomend it on a regular basis. Diet sodas can most likely expand your pouch. The carbonation can give brutal gas/burping. And the alcohol is empty calories. But my feeling is that anything in moderation is OK if you realize what you are doing.I rarely drink and only have diet pepsi (not coke) occasionaly. I have lost weight steadily and plan on keeping it up. But if I deny myself totally I am more likely to fail.

I was @ least a 5 cans of diet coke per day habit before surgery 9 months ago. I gave it up and it was not as hard as I thought it would be. Lets face its not a good habit for anyone even those without the band science shows its horriable for our bones long term and I have arthritis, So why not change another unhealthy habit along with my overeating habit ? I said YES! I now have a subsitute Powerade Zero, its a sports drink with electrolites and no sugar...........change is a good thing

Soda CAN stretch the pouch out over the bag. I stress, it CAN. Will it? Nobody knows for sure. Everyone is different. Question you need to ask is, is it worth the risk. Personally, I drink a soda pop here and there since my surgery (maybe one a week, if I'm out), and I've not had a problem, but it's still a gamble every time you do it.

Coca cola slurpees kill my cravings.... and no carbonation :smile2:

For most of us it is eating and drinking processed and un-natural foods and swilling carbonated drinks that got us where were the day before banding.

Sodas are full of sugar and artificial flavourings, diet sodas are full of sugar substitutes and artificial flavorings. Many of these are suspected carcinogenics, not yet proved as doing us bad but definitely not doing us good, nothing good in them.

They also de-hydrate instead of re-hydrate.

The question should be 'why drink it' rather than 'why not'.

We have a limited capacity to put fuel into our stressed, overweight, sluggish bodies...why put this stuff in.

It never ceases to amaze me that we happily put this crap into our complicated machine of a body, finding it acceptable and blindly assuming it won't cause damage and yet considering any person trying to run their car on the wrong fuel as 'beyond stupid'. What's the difference? Stupid and stupider?

You are going through a series of big changes and now would be a good time to include this one. If you stay off this fizzy stuff for 3-6 months and then try a can you will be stunned that you ever enjoyed it. You are hooked because your taste buds are crooked.

Just wondering if the big companies have started working on an un-carbonated, concentrated version of these over-kill advertised drinks to capture the escaping banded market...wanna make a bet how long it'll take them??

BTW - ask your nutritionist...mine gave me the green light for diet coke about 3 months post-op.

I was a die-hard addict for decades before surgery---so I totally understand the craving. And my doc is a no-carbonation guy, too.

I've just crossed that six-month line---and while I've tried diet soda, it just doesn't do it for me any more. Aside from the carbonation being uncomfortable, after a period of time without it, my tastes have really changed.

It only took one sip for me to say, "Eh, this isn't something I will miss any more."

I've found that to be the case with many things that occupied my mind soon after surgery. We all have things we thought would be wonderful--but lots of times, a taste tells us, "Nah, not worth it. Not worth the mind space, and not worth eating."

Maybe you'll have the same experience--finding that it just doesn't do the trick for you any more.

Hi:

My name is Sue and I'm a diet Pepsi addict. I gave it up for a few weeks after my first banding and have been drinking a half flat diet coke daily since then. I open one up in the morning and leave it in the fridge opened. By the time I come home at night it's almost flat and I like it and it's not too gassy this way. My doctor said it's fine as long as the carbonation doesn't make you uncomfortable. It's a very thin liquid so it doesn't stay in the pouch at all, so it really can't stretch the pouch.

Best wishes to you.

Sue

My surgeon had not said no soda, but I've only seen him once so far, I have an appointment on Tuesday, so will ask then. I have not had surgery yet, still doing the pre op tests. I will be quite sad if I can never drink soda again. Well since I started not drinking with meals it has drastically reduced my soda intake, because I used to drink a can with lunch and dinner and wylers the rest of the day. I still have one every few days and don't want to give it up completely. I don't drink coffee or anything, so if I am really tired and I need some caffeine to wake me up a diet coke is all I really have for caffeine.

While I've had a carbonated drink every now and then since surgery, my doctor repeatedly tells me on fill visits to have NO CARBONATION. It hasn't killed me, but the explanation he gave me on my last visit finally made sense...the carbonation from the drink expands your small pouch, thereby needing more food to feel full. I'm dancing pretty close to restriction right now (8.5cc in a 14cc band) and it is AWESOME. I don't want to do anything to jeopardize my portion sizes, my full feeling, weight loss, etc. So while I'm not going to beat myself up from having an occasional Diet Coke (I was a DC whore pre-band), and alcoholic drinks have always been in moderation (although now I stick to screwdrivers instead of carbonated beer)...I'd rather let the LapBand work the way it's supposed to instead of potentially screwing myself.

Bands are going to slip, erode, tear, etc. for a BAJILLION reasons - why not just kick the habit? Will one Diet Coke every now and then (I'm talking once a month, maybe), kill my progress? Maybe not. But the old addiction of 100+ oz. of Diet Coke a day isn't worth any potential risks, to me.