I am a Diet Coke addict, I know I will be healthier without it, but how hard is that habit going to be to break? Anyone with any insights.........

I'm on liquids for 3 days before the surgery, does that mean I should have my last one the night before or should I start a few days before and deal with the caffeine headache?

6 days to go!

Julie:)

:nervous

I felt the SAME way about Diet Mountain Dew. I still miss it so much!

My size 14 jeans feel SO good though!!!!

Still a Dew-a-holic,

edie

I had the same problem! I cut down one can a day each week, until the last week I was drinking only one a day. I had my last diet coke the day before surgery. Honestly, I don't miss it! My skin is better, but I do still crave sweets. I started by drinking flavored crystal light. Now I love Vitamin Water. The tropical citrus flavor has natural caffeine (whatever that is) and loads of B Vitamins. It claims to help with energy. I have one or two a day (frozen into a slush).

Good luck!

I was faced with the same dilemma. I was completely addicted to Diet Coke to 15 years. I am nearly 4 weeks past surgery and I tried to see if I could still drink it. It was ok if I drank it slowly but anything more than sips created pain. I'm not craving it anymore and do feel a lot better for not having it. If I can give it up anyone can :girl_hug: ! Best of luck with your surgery.

My doc gives it back to us after 5 weeks.

I have been a Pepsi addict for years but walked away cold turkey when I knew I wanted to have lapband surgery. I was surprised at how easy it was to give up. I'm not saying I don't get a small craving every now and then but overall, it's not been bad. Now when hubby opens his and I smell it, it's hard for a few minutes. My doc says no soda at all and I think that is easier for me because if I could have it once in a while, it would turn into all the time like before.

DH is a diet coke addict!!! As soon as we committed to having lapbad, he gave it up...cold turkey!! I was SO proud of him. It was really hard for him for about two weeks, but after that it got easier every day until now he only thinks about it once in a while. He's been diet coke free since December 20th.

i loved my diet cherry coke ... would have at least 2 - 20oz bottles during the work day...

as soon as my MD said cut out the soda, i did. pretty much cold turkey. since i've been banded (5 months ago today actually) i think i may have had 3 sodas ... and as long as i sipped them, i was ok ... but i'd rather not even go there ... replace the soda with crystal light / mineral Water / whatever .. your body will deal with it...

good luck!

I was getting sick of soda prior to being banded. My DH is a soda addict so we always had plenty around the house. I switched to Crystal Light and really don't even miss it. I think the only time I will really miss it is the rare occasion when I want one or when I go to the movies. For those times there WILL be other things available to drink!

In response to your question about giving it up pre-op, my nutritionist wanted me to stop drinking it one week prior to surgery. I wish I could remember why tho....

I am shocked at how little I think about coke. I was a "real" coke addict, so you can only imagine how much shock my system was in. I am still having one cup of tea a day, but I haven't had a coke in 3 weeks and I truly don't miss it. I tried a sip one day and it wasn't even appealing anymore. It hasn't been very long for me, but so far so good.

Gretchen

I am a serious Coke addict, too. The real stuff, not diet. I was drinking two 20 oz. bottles a day and went cold turkey the day of surgery. It's been 52 days since I had a Coke. I'm like an alcoholic counting my days sober. So far, Coke has been the only thing I miss from my former life. The sight of a Coke can or even the Coca-cola logo, makes my mouth water. I had a dream the other night that I cheated and had a Coke and then drove to Louisiana to throw away the can because I didn't want anyone to find out. I know that I cannot have even a little bit of Coke because if I do, I won't be able to stop.

I was drinking 6 20oz bottles of diet coke a day. I know. When I went to the siminiar about the surgery and it was mentioned I decided to give it up then to see if I could do it. The first week was hard but I suddenly lost all my night time munchies and sweet cravings. Glad I did it. I feel so much better not drinking it.

They totally suck us in with it being called Diet but the side effects are very detremental.

An occassion Diet Coke will not hurt you. Just don't over due it.

I was a huge diet pepsi freak! Your tastes will change..it has lost all appeal to me now. The only problem is...what do I mix my rye with now?

I guess it is not a cheat really, but I too am a Diet Coke freak. I read somewhere on this site, (love all this information, just can't remember where I read something) that if you POSITIVELY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE DIET COKE, pour one into ice cube trays. Freezing it take out the bubbles, then you can blend it and make a Diet Coke slushie, or just suck on a cube for a while. I am not going to (or try not to) do this trick, because it is just better for me overall, but I might try it w/ Diet Sprite sometimes, which doesn't have the caffine. Anyway, knowledge is power right, so if your DYING...this little piece of info might help. :clap2:

I was the same way before surgery. I used to grab a 44 oz Diet Coke on my way to work, another 44 oz when I got there, 44 more oz at lunch, two 20-oz bottles from the machine at work during the afternoon, and a final 44 oz 'for the road' on my way home. When I met with the nutritionist and actually realized just how much Diet Coke I was drinking a day it boggled the mind. I used to joke that I drank a 'wastebasketful' of the stuff a day. No wonder I had trouble sleeping!

I gave it up cold turkey the day before surgery. I remember having such a horrible headache in the hospital and telling the nurse about it. I thought it was surgery related, but she knew the cause right away -- caffeine withdrawals. The headaches lasted for the first three days after surgery,but I have not had a soda since October 8th. Every so often, I get a craving, but so far...I haven't given it and have only had Water, skim milk, Protein shakes, and the occasional glass of juice. My skin absolutely glows now.

I have found a great water 'enhancer' for the times that I feel the need for a little flavor. Water Sensations are liquid flavor packets sweetened with Splenda. I like them better than the powder packets like Crystal Light. They offer a more subtle flavor and the water stays clear.

You will be amazed at how differently you look at things that you used to think you could not live without once you get banded. I've only been banded for five months, but so many of those things -- even if they don't get stuck or hurt going down -- just aren't worth it anymore. You know that overused saying about how nothing tastes as good as being thin feels? Well, nowadays, to me, it is more 'nothing tastes as good as being HEALTHY feels'.