Ok, I will be two months out from surgery on 8/22 and I have noticed my weight loss has REALLY REALLY slowed down. I know its natural to go through stalls, etc.... I have watched my food choices and keep my carbs to usually less than 15 or 20 per day. Probably the one thing I have done that has been against the NUTS (from the surgeon's office) advice is about drinking Diet soda. I have not drank a lot, but I was getting really sick of crystal lite, do not like tea, needing something different than just Water. I also found this stuff at Walmart that I don't know if it is classified as carbonated water or diet soda. It comes in a liter, and has ZERO calories, ZERO anything. But, it is REALLY good and satisfies that sweet tooth.

I'm just wondering if others have noticed drinking diet soda has affected their weight loss. I guess it doesn't make sense to me because its zero calories and it's not causing me to crave foods I shouldn't eat.

Anybody?

Eventually I will try it again. But I would like to hold off until next summer. But it's nice to know giving it a try won't make me drop over dead. Honestly, sometimes you'd think things like this were fatal to listen to my program people. ( Doesn't chewing gum mean you will swallow it and block yourself and die??? )

Or, drinking through a straw will make your stomach expand to the point of exploding internally! ! ! I really want to shake people that make these comments LOL.

My Brother in law works the line at Pepsi. They stand in spilled drink & it eats there shoes after a few months. That's all I'm saying.

Yep, and it's because they stand it in for hours on end, day after day. Soda doesn't linger in the body. I'm not arguing, I'm not saying that it can't be harsh on a stomach, but there is a vast difference in standing in an acidic environment with rubber shoes vs. sipping a soda that goes through the body.

Soda also leaches Calcium from our bones, weakens the enamel of our teeth etc etc. I'm not saying it's the best option, and there aren't some drawbacks to soda.

My own personal decision was to swear off soda forever, but I was never a big drinker pre-op. Chewing gum REALLY helps with my sweet tooth. I waited until 7 months out to drink a carbonated drink (very occasional beer), and I drink from a straw now. Straw drinking was important due to my OCD issues at restaurants

No carbonation, but a good alternative to plain Water. (Can be done with oranges, basil & other "flavors".)

Cucumber Water Recipe

In order for the cucumber to fully release its juice, you need to prepare it the day before.

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, sliced and unpeeled
• 1 1/2 to 2 liters of water
• 3 mint sprigs
• Half a lemon, sliced and unpeeled

In a pitcher, mix the water, cucumber, 3 mint sprigs and lemon. Let it rest on the fridge for 24 hours. If you prepare the water at the last minute, cut the first cucumber in three or four pieces. Then, squeeze the cucumber pieces to release all the juice.

Before serving remove the cucumber slices used to flavor the water. Then stir with a wooden spoon, add some ice cubes,