Worried about giving up carbonated beverages

I am looking forward to my second crack at bariatric surgery. The first one, supposed to be an rny, failed in 2010 because my liver was too large. So I woke up after they cut me open and told me to lose 25 to 30 lbs.

I have since lost about 25 lbs and am now scheduled for a gastric sleeve 10/25. Naturally I am nervous but the thing I am most worried about is giving up carbonated beverages. I don't drink coffee but I am a hardcore diet pop addict and have been for almost 40 years. (I am 58).

The doctor says I have to give it up. So I am looking to hear what anyone has to say. I haven't been able to give it up yet.

MAL

You do have to give it up and give it up immediately. Just stop drinking it. You may be miserable for a few days with withdrawal headache from lack of caffeine.

Many go back to it after a while, but make up your mind to give it up for life. Then see what happens later on.

Easier said than done.

Pretty much all the stuff we have to give up for our VSG is easier said than done. What is it you like about it? The taste? The fizz? The caffeine?

When you say "addict", are you being literal?

It is extremely difficult. It is worth going through this to get rid of the excess weight.

Diet soda is one of the few things I?m a total hardliner about. I don?t like to yuck another?s yum, but that stuff in chronic amounts is bad news.

I gave up soda due to bloating a few years ago. I was, however, a coffee addict. So I can get behind the easier said than done thing.

However, I realized that I couldn't let my vices beat me and steal this opportunity from me. If I was going to do this, I had to obey the doctor's orders.

I had already let my obesity get the best of me... so if I had to give up coffee... so be it. I drink herbal tea now.

Maybe you can find a no calorie drink to switch to. Remember that a new chance at a healthier life is worth more than diet soda.

Utilize resources you may have like a nutritionist, therapist, support group. We all have had to give up lots of things but what you gain is golden.

Thanks for your kind response.

It took me eight years to lose 25 lbs and I had to use all the tools available, including diet pop.

So, now I am thinking about how to best give it up.

Constructive advice like yours is appreciated.

What's the reasoning for giving it up that your surgeon has given you?

While it might be wise to avoid it immediately post-op, while healing, there is no sound reason to avoid carbonated drinks for forever, as long as they're calorie-free.

Quitting things seems to work in one of two ways for most people. Some people do well with gradually cutting back and others do well with going cold turkey. Only you can determine which method will work better for you.

You could let the soda you enjoy now go flat before drinking it. Finding something you like the taste of to make your primary drink might work for you.

It's definitely a challenge!

I feel your pain. I was a Mt. Dew fiend at one point. I weaned myself off of it by replacing one meal at a time with tea and then eventually water. It was tough. Old habits are hard to break. Eventually I found I was down to one a day right before work. I eventually phased that out with the help of coffee.

Good luck on your journey. The path may not be an easy one but it will be one worth traveling. You're strong enough to do this. Always remember that.