My surgery is scheduled for next month, and I am worried about the liquid diet phase. I know they say you can have only sugar free popsicles, Jello, crystal light, and a bunch of other stuff with fake sugar in it. I am worried because saccharin and equal and splenda and all of that is supposed to be really bad for you, and I hate it (although I do drink only diet soda) also i've heard it actually makes you GAIN weight because the chemicals make you feel hungry and your body doesn't recognize them. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone just ate the typical jello, popsicles, etc with sugar in them, or if the sugar made you sick. I don't know how much of that stuff I'll want to eat, I'd rather just drink Water, but it'd be nice to know. Thanks!

I prefer savory taste and have survived OK on OptiFast soups during the pre-op phase. No hunger but missed texture of eating meat, meat pies, sausages, etc. Lost over 20 lbs.

Now I am in 1st week of post-op liquid diet with soups, broths,jello (but not a fun), Glucerna, etc. Ready to progress to pureed food diet phase.

Hi FeleciaDawn!I am totally with you in that I hate all things fake sugar.I stopped eating and drinking fake sugars 1 1/2 years ago and my arthritic joints work like they don't have arthritis now.I was a Diet Coke addict-I used to drink up to 7 cans a day,no Water and wondered why I felt sick all the time.

My suggestion is this-Get Jay Robb Protein at the Vitamin Shoppe store or buy it online (Vitamin Shoppe is cheaper).This is 25 grams of protien per scoop-mix with soy or almoond milk-unsweetened.The mix is all natural and contains Stevia which is a natural herbal sweetener.I would also recommend getting Vitamin Shoppe Stevia Packs to add to tea or to Crystal ight Pure (contains stevia no fake sugars)and make your own ice pops with a plastic mold.I have been drinking the broth from soup-no pieces just the juice- when I go to restaurants or Trader Joe's Organic Free Range chicken Broth.

You can also water down organic no sugar added juices and drink them or make ice pops.I also prefer Kosy Shack Smart Gels for Kids pre- made Jellos because they may contain a little sugar but no fake sweeteners or chemicals.Look for foods at health food stores and buy all natural organic unsweetened soy or almond milk.You can also make Soup broth/chicken stock and put it through a strainer yourself and then refridgerate it .Remember that your portion sizes will be extra small by the time you are post-op so you may want to freeze and thaw the broth as you need it in smaller batches.

Good luck to you! :-)

Oh,BTW-The Jay Robb Chocolate is the best,and I am not getting any endorsement money for promoting this(I wish!) LOL!

Sugar does not make you sick, but should be out of your diet if you want good results with your band. If you are going to have surgery you should follow the program. You want to loose weight and be healthy. Their are other forms of natural sugars you can use. Check with a health food store. I have not gained anything from " fake sugar" and continue to loose. Remember you can drink broths also which I felt gave me more of a boast energy wise.

I didn't worry about the sugar free items. They really did help. I love the Crystal Lite drinks and Propel is the best. I lost 13lbs. during my 2 wk. phase. I only got weepy 2x, the first night and then once when I was really tired and my husband and 2 brother in laws just had to go to Steak and shake after we went to the movies. It was freezy in the place so I didn't even want Water. They had shakes and the whole bit! I just wanted to cry... and leave!

I lived on tomato soup and low fat cream of chicken. I got the Protein by putting huge scoops of ff cottage cheese with the soup in the blender and then heating the soup. I don't even like cottage cheese but it worked. I tried all the different Protein Drinks and didn't like them. I did manage to drink 1/2 bottle at a time of the Muscle Milk banana Creme - found individual bottles at Kroger. I do still drink a Choc. Protein powder drink (Walmart) that I make with ff 1 cup milk, tbl. of natural Peanut Butter, 4 ice cubes and I sprinkle some fat free/sugar free Jello choc. pudding dry mix in (it helps to cover up the protein pwdr. taste, the peanut butter really does!)

Good Luck. I was really thinking I wouldn't be able to manage but I did. I also frozen sliced strawberries and bananas slices and used them in protein drinks instead of fresh or ice cubes.

REGFERN