All sugar free items contain chemicals that are worse than eating regular sugar! I don't understand why doctors are encouraging this when it is toxic to our systems, and especially those of us with a minimized stomach.

Does anyone have an answer as to why they encourage our diets to incorporate artificial sweeteners?

Congrats, @@MissMac! Sugar really is just a terrible thing that most of us can't seem to get away from. Luckily in this day and age there are so many alternatives to sugar AND artificial sweeteners. My personal favorite is organic coconut sugar. It comes in about a one pound at Trader Joe's for $3 and change. It's a great, healthy alternative, and tastes better than any artificial sweetener or sugar! I do believe it is also diabetic friendly, but of course check before you consume I'm glad I have a basic knowledge of real healthy eating and some good habits pre op.

I wish more doctors and nutritionists took more of a holistic approach to our diets. Doctors took a hippocratic oath clearly stating "let food be thy medicine", yet pump their patients up with fat free, low fat, splenda, artificial this and that, and even medications!

I think its great you are looking for alternatives, but just be aware that coconut sugar contains the same amount of fructose as table sugar gram for gram. Regular sugar is 50% fructose and 50% glucose, while coconut sugar is 70-80% sucrose and 20-30% fructose...BUT sucrose is chemically 50% fructose, so you're still consuming the same amount of fructose, essentially. Many people claim coconut sugar is safe for diabetics, but the diabetics I know report blood sugar spikes similar or greater than table sugar or HFCS after eating coconut sugar.

If you don't like artificial sweetner, that's fine. But if you're looking for long term success with your surgery, you'll most likely have to drop the coconut sugar for a long time as well.

Medical professionals are way behind in the nutrition department. My hospital's lapband program included a shake for the two-week pre-op liquid diet. When I saw the ingredients I couldn't believe it. When I mentioned it to the surgeon he said, "oh, I'd never put that crap in my body either." But apparently most patients are already addicted to artificial sweeteners and sugars in every form so they use this product to encourage compliance. I found another product and had to meet with the nutritionist to get her to sign off on it -- pretty ridiculous as the liver clearing shake I chose was so superior in every way. This is the same nutritionist who told me her kids don't eat breakfast in the mornings. Oh, and she announced my weight in front of my husband during the one visit I took him along, a figure I had managed to conceal for years! I have not been impressed with nutritionists on the whole. Remember one working with my husband who had a lengthy hospital stay -- they couldn't even get the gluten-free thing right and this was Boston. Re: sugar, I enjoyed Popsicles post-op and since it's a rare treat I don't mind having a little of the real thing here and there. The MinuteMaid soft frozen lemonade in particular was great those first few days. I'd only have a little and I was done. I understand articial sweeteners signal the brain that food is on the way, great. And of course sugar is poison, too, but I try to at least get unbleached organic.

i would be writing a letter to the hospital over that nut! eeeeewewwww!

My last nut tried to sell me on a diet consisting largely or processed frozen foods. I wanted real guidance not something from the freezer section full of crap. Dont know how that constitutes nutritional advice.

Reading things like this make me love my NUT. She doesn't really care for the artificial sweeteners in the Protein shakes (she does have dozens of different ones on a list she passes out, and each has what sweetener is used in them), and as I get away from the liquids and into soft foods, she's pushing more made-yourself whole foods. She would much rather I skip the processed stuff entirely or as much as possible.

Coming at this question from another angle: sugar is mega addictive and toxic- reducing our sugar intake is one of the most important parts of the process- and one of the reasons successful WLS patients stay successful long term. I'm pre-op but I've decided to give up sugar before the surgery to make the transition easier. it's only been 48 hours and I feel like I have the flu. Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and pounding headaches. Sugar withdrawal is super real.

Replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners is a personal choice. I'm wary of chemicals, (ironic since processed sugar is basically an awful chemical) so I'm using a little bit of low-glycemic but not calorie free alternatives like agave and fresh unprocessed stevia for my morning coffee.

@superbariatricbabe Way to get ahead of the game! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery and all that awaits. Getting off of sugar and artificial sweeteners is huge. I was very happy to have upped my exercise pre-surgery. Didn't really want to, but I forced myself and I think that walking really helped kick my body into healing mode when the time came. All good things are ahead! Best wishes.....

well I always check labels...and if and when I have any sugar I try to stay the way I did pre-op on the Sugar Buster diet...less than 7 grams a day of sugar...sometimes I find that to be hard to do, but I do stay as close to that as possible.

A lot of calories, and all carbs. Pre op diets are used to reduce the liver size. Sugar defeats the effectiveness of the diet. Never cheat on a pre op diet.

I can tell you that I was in surgery for an extra 15 minutes because my surgeon had difficulty working around my liver to place the band. The insurance hassle for the extra time in surgery was another issue.