Is it a problem having a Starbucks fix every now and then? I know they say no caffeine before surgery, but wondering if anyone caved, too?

Its best to avoid caffeine prior to surgery. When I gave up my 6 diet coke a day habit, I suffered through a week of severe headaches and body aches due to caffeine withdrawal. You don't want to combine these ill effects with the recovery process. In other words don't wait until the last minute to cut out the caffeine.

After RNY gastric bypass surgery, the part of your stomach that processes fats and sugars will be cut away. Thus if you consume fats and sugars it can lead to dumping syndrome. Generally Starbucks are high fats/high sugars/high calorie drinks. [For example Caramel Macchiato is 250 calories, 7 grams fat, 33 grams sugar]. So consuming this type of drink after surgery can easily send your weight loss into a stall.

About a year after surgery, your intestines will realize your stomach is no longer processing fats and sugars and will take up this function. As a result your dumping will end. After the weight loss phase as you slide into the maintenance phase, the approach changes. The goal in the weight loss phase is meal volume control. The goal in the maintenance phase is hunger control. One of the approaches to controlling hunger is to consume fats. I am 3 years post-op RNY and I start out each morning with a cup of hot coffee [even Starbuck brand coffee beans]. But it has no sugar, I use Stevia in my coffee. It also is topped with a large scoop of whip cream for the fat content. I make my own whip cream from heavy whipping cream and Splenda. So around a year post-op, you might come close to having a Starbucks, only you have to make it yourself. Otherwise the calories may make you put on the weight back on.

I'm 9 days from surgery and down to decaf coffee, green tea (not decaf yet) but can't give up my 1 a day diet coke.

Just as an FYI, there are people who still dump well after a year. So know that it can definitely still happen.

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