Addicted to COKE! (cola that is)

Neecee's back YAY!!!!

Thanks, Dude!   And...cruising over the controversial stuff being discussed...my remarks are only semi-related to the actual question, but here goes... I think that the 40 bmi with or without co-morbidities to qualify for wls and over rule is quite fair.  There is far more correlation to serious health concerns in persons who are fat than for people who are not fat. 40 bmi is decidedly fat, too, in anyone's book. If any given person is "okay" with being that fat, good enuf for them. I have my doubts that the jolly fat person exists, but that is another discussion for another day. in this society, being at 40 bmi plus DOES make a person less than in some key areas. Being *that fat* can negate years of accomplishments and resume gold stars. Do i like that? Do i think that is fair? uh, no. I also do not plan to rebel against what is reality.  People with more normal weights suceed in this world.  Fat people do not. Studies have shown that a person become a serious contender - or not - for a job or a promotion within the first ten seconds of entering a room. Studies have further shown that most companies will hire a person with FAR less qualifications if that person is better looking, whi*****ludes being not too much over 40 bmi.  Fat people are disciminated against.   Is it vanity to want to propel yourself into the most prosperous position (health wise AND monetarily) possible? I think NOT.  yes, yes, we all give the "healthy" aspect lots of lip service, but we all know deep down it's also to look normal and fit into our society also.

Hey Neecee, I just read this post.  WOW!  I so appreciate your honesty.  You said what everyone else either didn't think of or was scared to say.  I agree with you whole heartedly.

I knew you would want to get in on that little question we had back while you were gone..while I was typing in my feelings about the whole thing I was thinking to myself..where is Neecee she would so love to get in on this post!

  Perfect...

Thanks again for all the great advice!  I have made up my mind that THIS TIME I am going to stick with it.  I can tolerate coke zero, but I have also found a brand of tea with splenda that is pretty good.  I will try to make water my drink of choice though.  I think it is something that I just have to make up in my mind that I am ready to do and GO FOR IT!  I plan on hanging around here for some great support

Mel: You have options.. here are my suggestions below. I'm not a big fan of diet coke so.. 1. There is a Coke product called C2. I am not sure if Coke still makes it, but it contains half of the calories. It is sweetened with sugar as well as an artificial sweetner. It doesn't taste all that bad! After taste is not strong like diet coke. You can also get winded by it, get throat burn, and get a good burp from it. All the things we love about coke! It doesn't leave your teeth chalky though if I recall.  It was my drink of choice until they became hard to find! 2. They make coke in lil bitty bottles now..i think 8 oz. Limit yourself to 3 or 4 of these a day. Perhaps 1 with each meal..and then a "for the hell of it coke". Then try to wein it down to 2. You can keep it there if  you find you are satisfied. That's like 1 16oz a day. Thats about 200 calories.. Depends on how you want to "spend the calories". 3. Start mixing coke and diet caffeine free coke together..Slowly add a lil more diet caffeine free coke to the mix. I'm not sure if they make diet caffeine free in the lil bitty bottles.. You may want to try cans with this method. The bad part is the diet caffeine free coke you don't use may easily go flat after an hour or so. You could always do the regular diet coke in the little bitty bottles too! I think option 2 would work in your favor the best.. Still coke, just reduced the amount.. Very adaptable dietary choice for you IMO. Welcome aboard and warm regards.

Hey Melly, Welcome to the forum.  So sorry to hear you cracked a vertebra, that sounds painful.  Hope you're feeling better.  Will you be able to do some time of exercise while you're healing? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I can so relate, I was addicted to Coke (cola variety) too.  I also used to drink Diet Pepsi occasionally.  So around April of this year I stopped drinking Coke cold turkey and then started drinking DP.  I'm not a coffee drinker, so this is my caffeine.  I've also been pushing water and find that I don't drink as much pop as I used to.  Now I drink 12-16 oz of Diet Pepsi every day or every other.  Last night I didn't have any, but today, who knows.  If I feel like it I have it, if not GREAT.  I did find in previous attempts to quite Coke that I can't have one every once in while because I fall off the wagon. As for a eating plan, just find what works.  Right now for me, simply keeping a food journal and counting calories really is working for me.  I'm finding that when I see how many calories something is I can make a more informed decision if I really want to put it in my mouth.  I do have a cheat meal every once in awhile (last night being pizza and coldstone light ice cream), but get right back on with my eating healthier.  If you find trying a modified WLS diet works, GREAT.  If it doesn't, don't get discouraged...try a new gameplan. Again welcome.

Fully leaded soda? I loved the response that suggested the tiny cans of the real stuff! worth a try. In a sense, i am more into that angle.  If i want a cheeseburger, it is no holds barred...I get a g*ddam cheeseburger, not a veggie monstrosity that mimics the shizzy. No kids size, either. I want a BURGER with cheese. thank you. I also go for real butter, no girlie freakin spread. A little REAL butter is better than a lot of that tasteless crap.  But if volume is your thing, you do want to go the sugar free route. They do taste amazing these daze. For me, it has been since the 1970's since i weaned off the "hard stuff". LOL. The ONLY choice back in the day was Tab. and mebbe sum Diet Rite.  Both have re-surged as kind of kvetchy kool to lure baby Boomers as myself back into the fold. I worked HARD at chnaging my sugary taste for soda, now I HATE the full sugar stuff.  Rare occasions, i will drink it with no other option...yech, double yech. Your tastes will change, it is really incredible. To me, it's easier to save a considerable amount of calories by doing the diet cola thang. Give several of them a try.  This whole game is about what YOU are willing to trade off. If you really cannot trade off a real live coke, face it and work the caloric value into your life. You will get to a place where it comes down to a VERY few things you defend hard and fast. MANY things you will need to acquiesse and make concessions. What is your botom line, hun?

Cosign Neecee...All or nothing when it comes to treating yourself! :)