Diet Pop - Do you or don't you??

I didn't for a couple years, but I have fallen back into the habit with a vengeance.

I do not believe it stretches the pouch, but I do believe it tends to stimulate a taste for bad carbs (at least it does for me), and--much worse--there's pretty strong evidence that it leeches calcium from our body. 

I am struggling big-time with the Diet Coke habit and wish I'd never started drinking it.

I occassionally drink Diet Coke.  My surgeon allowed them after we reached goal or at least 2 years post-op.  It isn't something I do regularly, the strange thing is pre-op I hated diet soda period.  If I couldn't have a real Coke I didn't want anything, lol.

For the record in almost 4 years I still have not tried a real Coke.  I'm to afraid to even try it (I don't dump) but it was a serious vice for me before.

And I agree with the others, the carbonation will NOT stretch the pouch.  Think of a funnel, there is a top and bottom of the pouch, the carbonation has to pass through, there isn't anything to keep it in there to blow the pouch up.

I do not. I was told no carbonation, and really, I haven't missed it. I will flavor my water with Crystal Light if I want something other than plain water of milk.

I do drink diet coke zero. My surgeon said it's ok in moderation.  I drink about a can a day and most of the time, I don't fini****

Nope. No desire for it. And probably don't even want to start because I was a Diet Coke addict before surgery (and I'm convinced it helped me get SSMO) so I don't bother with it now. I do mainly Crystal Light and water. And I personally love tea so decaf iced tea works for me nicely. Pop though - maybe once in a blue moon. But not navy or cornflower blue. More like a dusky grey like neon blue that only happens once in well, a blue moon (see - I don't really drink it. )

Yes, I do drink carbinated drinks.  Love Diet Pepsi Max.  But, I can't do more than one a day otherwise I get terrible gas.  Kinda kills the urge. 

O.K. here goes......I drink a soda every day - and it's real.  I don't dump on sugar and actually feel queezy on fake sugar.  I am not recomending rule breaking at all.  My surgeon strongly discouraged this, though not because it stretches your pouch.  More like that drinking your calories can get you in trouble.  I find for me allowing 200-300 of my daily calories to be "free" as in what I want seems to have not done me harm, and it keeps me happy.   Pre-op I know Coke was one of my biggest worst habbits (I'm a Southern girl through and through) and I didn't think I could ever give it up.  I actually did just fine on water only for the first six months.  I hate non carbonated beverages, don't drink tea or coffee, don't like flavored waters.  Nothing has the bite and satifisfaction of my Coke.  It doesn't give me any upset.  On the rare occasion that I have a drink, I much prefer a glass of champagne to wine.  Again, I seem to like a bit of fizz and it doesn't give me the upset it seems to give others.

I lost 175 pounds and I haven't regained any of it.  I am approaching five years.  I think more than anything, moderation is the key.  During the early months when I was really restricted, eating five Dove dark chocolates practically every day really satiated me and didn't hurt my weight loss.  I don't count calories, measure my portions,  or keep track of things on fitday.  I always take my supplements, and get my labs done every six months.  I seem to be the only one on here with this confession, but you asked and here's my true answer!