does anyone still drink diet soda....I know they say that it can cause bloating...I will gladly put up bloatedness for a diet coke!

I'm a gum chewer too... I quit swallowing it when I was about 8 years old..

I promise as a Diet Coke a holic - it does get easier to let it go. I didn't cold turkey it, but I severly cut back and found a nice iced tea that tastes great with some splenda or sweet n low and then only allowed myself say one diet coke a week. Then I just sort of forgot about it. I'm not saying I never ever have some because I do. But it really does cause a ton of gas and it doesn't taste the same after banding at all to me. It's just not really worth the pain anymore. I only ever have it now usually at the movie theatre and I always share it with my boyfriend. He usually drinks it all before I can do any damage.

Set a realistic goal, and then decrease. You'll do great!

What really helped me was the realization of how addicting it is. When I stopped drinking it, it would call to me. I would pick one out of the refrigerated case at a store and not even realize it was in my hand. If I did anything that made me a little sweaty my brain would focus on a diet coke to cool down. It looked exactly like quitting smoking and that scared me. I swore I would never drink it again. After about a year I tried one and it was disgusting. It tastes like peppered licorish. It gets easier but it is 100% addictive, so it's hard to quit.

I've been wondering about the whole carbonated drink thing. I got a SodaStream for Christmas and love using it. I haven't had a carbonated drink for over a month, but was wondering if I made one, and let it sit for a little while to let the bubbles die down if it would cause any problems. I guess like anything else that it's different for different people. I may have to try a few sips to see if I have any problems, but I'm going to wait until I'm on full foods first. I'm only two weeks post-op right now, so I'm careful with everything for the moment.

Nope! Cold turkied last June 2012 and have never craved a soda.

I've quit before and didn't crave it but then I ended up going back to it and I'm more addicted to diet coke now than ever before! I just got approved for the band this week so I'm kind of having everything I know I won't be able to have once I start the pre-op diet and get the band and that's probably bad but it's working for me! I'm realizing that I don't even like the bad food (especially fast food) once I order it and am eating it but for some reason when I'm hungry I always want that first. Now when I'm hungry I'm actually thinking about what food I'm wanting and remembering that I don't even really like it when I get it! Soda is another story though...I'll just have to quit cold turkey! It is pretty scary hearing that it's as addictive as smoking and I definitely believe it!

I've quit before and didn't crave it but then I ended up going back to it and I'm more addicted to diet coke now than ever before! I just got approved for the band this week so I'm kind of having everything I know I won't be able to have once I start the pre-op diet and get the band and that's probably bad but it's working for me! I'm realizing that I don't even like the bad food (especially fast food) once I order it and am eating it but for some reason when I'm hungry I always want that first. Now when I'm hungry I'm actually thinking about what food I'm wanting and remembering that I don't even really like it when I get it! Soda is another story though...I'll just have to quit cold turkey! It is pretty scary hearing that it's as addictive as smoking and I definitely believe it!

In my opinion carbonated drinks is one of the most important thing to quitin te beginning. Your doctor might let you have some later, but you need to heal first. Please do not start this journey putting your band at risk. It is the absolute wrong way to start.