any tips for vanquishing the sweettooth dragon???

take a bite or 2 of fruit like strawberry or banana ... hope it helps

Sweetened Iced decaf coffee.

I have a sweet tooth too so I get it.

What works best for me is high protein hot chocolate with alittle lite whip cream on top.  But since you have not had surgery yet, I would do just diet hot chocolate.  That satisfies my sweet tooth..or diet jello.
It will be much easier after having surgery!

Patty

I am pre-op as well and sometimes the craving for something sweet will rear its ugly head. Here are a few things I've tried that work for me. Crushed berries topped with greek yogurt with a little splenda, SF chocolate pudding made with skim milk, an Atkin's brand treat bar (I like the coconut one), or try frozen banana chunks in a protein shake because it gives it the consistency of a frozen milkshake. I know things will change for us when we are post-op, but for now, we can start making these changes to make it easier later. Just don't go for cake. I have been been cutting way back on sugar and starchy carbs for a while, but had a small slice of cake at a work potluck, oh bad move. I was so sick. Won't do that again.

Decaf hot tea with a sugar free syrup!

I have really strong carb cravings - for sweet carbs specifically - if I am not following a low carb eating plan.  It took a bit of time for the sweet craving to go away when I started the low carb plan (right after surgery) but it didn't come bac****il I let more refined carbs back into my diet (BAD idea!). 

I drank the protein hot chocolate to fulfill my need for sweets.  I got a pack at mybariatricpantry I think - it had several different flavors.  I also had sugar free popsicles.  But I would not recommend trying to squelch the craving with anything that has lots of carbs/no protein, because in my case it only led to me wanting more.