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Confession time - soda



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If you're still weeks or months pre-op, it's much easier to slowly make these lifestyle changes over time. I made a pre-op list of my lifestyle changes and implemented them over months. One was quitting diet soda. I once drank about 2 liters of Diet Coke a day. I don't miss it at all. I've noticed that once I started changing my eating and drinking choices, I really didn't miss the processed foods and diet sodas.

Waiting until the surgery or pre-op diet to 'give up' all these things (remember that you're not giving it up unhealthy foods, you're making a choice) is much harder than spreading it out. Remember that you are empowering yourself to make these healthy choices. Embrace that.

Good luck and best wishes to all!

Edited by AlwaysVegas

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I too enjoyed my Coke Zeros to the tune of 2-3 per day. In the 6 weeks since my surgery, I have not had any, and I don't miss them! I do have a cup of coffee in the morning to get me going, but that's it. Geof said that he worried about losing one of the small joys in his life. Well the small joys in your new life will be feeling better and more energetic (without needing caffeine all day long), burning through clothing sizes like a fish through Water, and receiving tons of compliments on how good you look..... Way better than a dumb Diet Coke, no? Good luck to all!

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I too enjoyed my Coke Zeros to the tune of 2-3 per day. In the 6 weeks since my surgery, I have not had any, and I don't miss them! I do have a cup of coffee in the morning to get me going, but that's it. Geof said that he worried about losing one of the small joys in his life. Well the small joys in your new life will be feeling better and more energetic (without needing caffeine all day long), burning through clothing sizes like a fish through Water, and receiving tons of compliments on how good you look..... Way better than a dumb Diet Coke, no? Good luck to all!

Awesome! This brought a smile to my face. I'm starting to get pumped.

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My surgeon said that soda is fine in moderation. I drink one or two a week, usually over ice. It doesn't seem to bother me at all, but I don't crave it like I used to. Oh, and I use straws all the time.

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I was one that had 2 cans of coke zero every morning at work for the caffeine. Thought not having it would be tough, how would I get through the day since I can't stand coffee. Gave it up three weeks before surgery and I don't miss it a bit. I actually feel like I have more energy through the day now.

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At my pre-op meetings I was literally shocked that everyone in the room was a diet soda addict. All of us. Most of us, myself included were Diet Pepsi addicts. There is something sinister in that beverage. I stopped drinking it about a year before surgery, except for an occasional restaurant outing and switched to plain seltzer. I loved the fizz. It's been hard for me to go without, but the one sip of seltzer I had since surgery did not feel good going down, so I moved on.

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Against my doctors orders, I had my first Dt Mountain Dew 2 weeks post-op. Opened the can and let it sit in the fridge over night. I still take little sips no issues so far. I have been able to drink from a can and bottle without letting it defizz, for the last week.

Keep in mind everyone is different, its what your new tummy can handle. I have literally had no issues with any of the foods or beverages that should have had me bellied over.

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Against my doctors orders, I had my first Dt Mountain Dew 2 weeks post-op. Opened the can and let it sit in the fridge over night. I still take little sips no issues so far. I have been able to drink from a can and bottle without letting it defizz, for the last week. <br> Keep in mind everyone is different, its what your new tummy can handle. I have literally had no issues with any of the foods or beverages that should have had me bellied over.

I have also hAd a diet coke and had no problems

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I can't believe people still drink Aspartame. All independent studies show terrible neurological damage and health problems. The only thing the FDA required when it was approved (although initially it wasn't) was that it did not cause tooth decay. Nevermind that it can cause Migraines, cause neurological symptoms that mimic MS, contributes to obesity... etc. Just craziness.

Guess I'm one of the lucky ones, I can taste artificial sweetners and so far they are all taste like chemicals... even Stevia tastes like dirt to me. I can tolerate Sucralose but even that is starting to cause my tummy trouble.

Since surgery my favorite drink is ice cold Water, specifically Dasani is a favorite.

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I can't believe people still drink Aspartame. All independent studies show terrible neurological damage and health problems. The only thing the FDA required when it was approved (although initially it wasn't) was that it did not cause tooth decay. Nevermind that it can cause Migraines, cause neurological symptoms that mimic MS, contributes to obesity... etc. Just craziness.

Guess I'm one of the lucky ones, I can taste artificial sweetners and so far they are all taste like chemicals... even Stevia tastes like dirt to me. I can tolerate Sucralose but even that is starting to cause my tummy trouble.

Since surgery my favorite drink is ice cold Water, specifically Dasani is a favorite.

I have to agree with you. I have decided that if I want something I'm going to just have it in smaller amounts and avoid fat free, low fat and diet foods. They are not any healthier just offer less calories and often are less healthy. I came to this conclusion after comparing the ingredients in Mayonnaise with light mayonnaise.

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I find that since surgery, my favorite drink is unsweetened iced tea. I sweeten it myself with a half a pack of equal or splenda for a large size. McDonald's has them for a $1.00. It keeps me from getting a caffeine withdrawal headache and I can drink it with a straw without a problem. It's actually the only way I can get my Water in because regular Water doesn't taste all that great to me anymore. I haven't tried any soda since surgery- just the thought isn't appealing at all. I get constant bubbles from my stomach to my throat while drinking anyway and I couldn't imagine adding carbonation to that too! I think you'll find that foods and drinks you loved before surgery suddenly lose their appeal after.

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Kissifur. I agree with you 100%. I will take the lowfat alternative when it doesn't contain preservatives or additives to make it. Like nonfat milk. But I will use butter not margarine and sugar and honey not sweeteners. What is the point of having this surgery and then dumping carcinogens into your body. So I'll have that soft drink once in awhile. And I'll make sure it's sugar sweetened not with aspartame or corn Syrup. :-)

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I gave up smoking in January 2013, and in January 2014 I gave up my diet pepsi. Slipped and had a sip of one and I found it to taste too sweet. So just sticking to Water, but can't even flavour it as it is too sweet tasting with flavour. Oh well just getting ready too have my surgery one day. :)

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I was a diet coke addict I drank at least a 6 pack a day. I don't like coffee or tea. Found a Water that has caffeine in it. It's my go to drink I work overnight so I was not giving up caffeine totally. It's called avitae water. You can get it at some targets on line at Office Depot and Amazon. Better at Office Depot is cheaper. It tastes just like normal water!

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@une nouvelle vi

OMG.....this is me......a diet coke fiend!!!!! Your tips for "kicking the habit are SUPERB!!! I hadn't thought of "tapering off"......thank you for posting these fantastic tips!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

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