Am I the only one that is driven nuts by the contraindications in what we are suppose to do. How are sugar free drinks any different from sugar free jello, pudding, popsicles, yogurt ect. Artifical sweetners are artificial sweetners, how does it matter in which form they come in. I do not drink them all day long and I try and keep my water up. I drink a galon of liquids a day. I have one packet a day and it is only for 20 0z but I fill my nalgreen bottle all the way.

Just my tirade for the day.

Am I the only one that is driven nuts by the contraindications in what we are suppose to do. How are sugar free drinks any different from sugar free jello, pudding, popsicles, yogurt ect. Artifical sweetners are artificial sweetners, how does it matter in which form they come in. I do not drink them all day long and I try and keep my water up. I drink a galon of liquids a day. I have one packet a day and it is only for 20 0z but I fill my nalgreen bottle all the way.

Just my tirade for the day.

I think part of the deal with the band is that it works differently for different people. Different surgeons have different plans for pre-op and post-op diets, and no two people have the same experience, even though they do the same kinds of things. I agree there is a lot of conflicting information out there. Why did my surgeon keep me on liquids only for three weeks post-op, and others are on solid foods within a week? There is no real answer, because everyone has a different set of rules to follow.

I decided early on that I was going to have to take it all in, and made decisions for how I was going to live with my band. I manage my band in the best way that works for me, I make food choices based on living in the real world. and I'm having very good weight loss so far. I avoid sugary foods as a rule, but I do use artificial sweeteners in my coffee and iced tea. I don't use sugar free jello and such, but then, I don't eat much jello of any kind. You'll need to decide how you're going to live with your band as well.

Good luck!

Dave

Am I the only one that is driven nuts by the contraindications in what we are suppose to do. How are sugar free drinks any different from sugar free jello, pudding, popsicles, yogurt ect. Artifical sweetners are artificial sweetners, how does it matter in which form they come in. I do not drink them all day long and I try and keep my water up. I drink a galon of liquids a day. I have one packet a day and it is only for 20 0z but I fill my nalgreen bottle all the way.

Just my tirade for the day.

OK, my doctor says you can have diet soda (as tolerated) and diet drinks but water is best. I agree with others, you have to do what feels right for you and as long as you have results, then it is working "for you". I am having issues with the pre-op liquid diet and I am about to croke but my surgery is tomorrow so I guess I will live.

I have 1 on some days 2 (if I drink a lot) of the pencil packs of "Crystal Light" or equivalent a day. I mix 1 packet into 24-32 oz of water so it is very dilute. The rest of the time its plain water for me. Some people are dead set against artificial sweeteners...I say to each his own. I am getting in over 64oz of fluid a day which is what is important.

You gotta do what works for you.

By the way, there are so many contradictions no matter where you look in the health and diet industry. It is really frustrating and very hard to navigate what is the best advice. So I feel your pain!