Question:
why is it bad to drink diet soda?
I was told to wait till 6 months after, but I read that your not suppose to drink at all. Just wondering why and what does it do to you? — weazy77 (posted on April 21, 2007)
April 21, 2007
The carbonation will stretch your pouch out. Also if you are drinking diet
soda, then that would be replacing water that you should be drinking.
— -starfish-
April 21, 2007
Not only will it stretch your pouch out, it is high in fructose corn syrup
which can and does cause dumping. The fructose will also deter you losing
weight. Good luck!
— crystalsno
April 21, 2007
Louise.. there are a few reasons that it is not recommended that you drink
diet soda, or regular soda... 1. the carbonation of the drink will cause
bloating which can cause you pain, being uncomfortable, stretch your pouch.
2. It is not an acceptable replacement for water... diet soda is not the
same and doesn't covert to water for fluids. 3. the caffiene is
dehydrating 4. the carbonic acid (the stuff that makes it carbonated is not
good for you or anyone for that matter. It is also an irritant that can
contribute to ulcers. Hope this helps answer your question.
— Kari_K
April 21, 2007
Yep --what everyone else have said. Plus stretching of the pouch defeats
the entire purpose of why we chose to have the surgery. Find a Crystal
Light flavor you like and stick with that or even mix them. I don't even
crave soda because for one I didn't drink them much before surgery because
the caffeine made my blatter over-active so when I drank one it was either
root beer or ginger ale -- and now those are off limits. Remember, your
first 12 months after surgery is the time in which a WLS patient will reach
their desired weight.
You can go without it for awhile -- discover something else that is better.
Dasani Strawberry water is good.
— the7thdean
April 21, 2007
Hi Louise, you pose a great question. I loved my diet coke prior to wls,
but 9 months before surgery I gave it up because I thought I needed to
learn to live without it. I was very glad I did. Here is what we know:
In the group of people who have wls there is a group that will have a
"revision" for failure to lose weight at some point. Of that
group that go for the dangerous "revsion" surgery, 80% of these
people are soda drinkers. Soda does not help you lose weight, even diet
soda. It is empty chemicals that don't help anything. Soda does not
hydrate, and you need hydration, soda does not help with calories or
protein, as a matter of fact, it may deterorate those things in the pouch.
It can stretch your pouch, but believe me, when you sip a soda, if it
expands with food in your pouch, you are sorry you drank it. There is
plenty of reason to steer clear of soda for a long time. I am 3 years out,
and enjoy one a week or so now, but didn't do that until I was about 2 1/2
years post op. Wait, prove to yourself that you can do without it, and
concentrate on hydration and protein. You need those things. Take care,
Patricia P.
— Patricia P
April 22, 2007
They don't want you to drink it because of the carbonation. It fills your
pouch with air. Some surgeons say it is okay after six months, some say
never. I started after six months but I can only drink about a thid of one
without feeling full.
— blm4602
April 22, 2007
Hi Louise
I was told by my nutritionist and surgeon, that as long as the pop was
flat, it would not pose a problem. I was told that it will not stretch your
pouch. Some people have trouble with the carbonation. I am not a big pop
drinker, but once in a while I like the taste. I still open a can of diet
pop and let it sit awhile or even overnight in the refrigerator and then
sip it. I would ask your nutritionist for specifics of why you shouldn't
drink it.
— toula21
April 22, 2007
I drink diet soda but I waited until there was no risk of gas released in
the new, smaller pouch would not do damage -- about six months post-op. I
drink a whole can -- but not all at once like I used to do prior to
surgery. It now takes me about 1/2-hour, with burping along the way to
reduce pressure buildup. Some say NEVER drink diet soda. Piffle! Just use
some common sense and moderation -- and enjoy!
— [Deactivated Member]
April 24, 2007
My doctor told me drinking soda can burst your stomach so long after the
surgery.
— barfiep01
May 3, 2007
I am a year out and my nutritionist gave the okay to drink caffeine-free,
diet pop. I do and have had no problems with carbonation, bloating, gas,
pouch-stretching, etc. Because it's sugar-free and caffeine-free, I can
count it towards my 100 ounces of fluid per day. As a matter of fact, I
pour three cups into a large drink container and drink it over an hour or
two--without letting it go flat first. Keep in mind that I waited until I
was a year out and checked with my nutritionist.
— Tigs
June 7, 2007
To those who do NOT drink pop (diet that is) after WLS.... congradulations!
You are wise. However I love caffine so that is not an option for me. I
flatten my diet pop with "artificial sugar". Fill a glass half
full and put in the sweetner. It will fizz out. This makes the pop more
comfortable to drink. What does'nt flatten out, as you know, we have two
ways our body passes gas. (ahem). So flatten the pop and enjoy. However
those who don't drink any pop, even diet, as doing the best for their body.
;)
— Kittypup
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