Question:
Coffee and soda questions?
Prior to surgery (I am 6 weeks post op) I lived on Coke and Starbucks vanilla frappuccinos. I'm wondering if anyone knows a way to make a vanilla frap that would be within the boundaries as far as sugars and carbs go - I'm going crazy without them! And soda - some people start drinking them soon after surgery, others say to wait for at least six months. My post op instructions say that I can have sparkling water now, so why not soda? If carbonation is the issue, I don't see what the difference is. I crave soda like mad sometimes, and I'm just not sure if I should be drinking it or not. Mostly I have Crystal Lite lemonade - it gives me heartburn, but I can't find anything else to drink (I can barely tolerate water) that doesn't make me feel sick. Any input would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks! — Debi R. (posted on May 12, 2003)
May 11, 2003
Some people drink soda, some don't. I drink diet Pepsi, but I don't usually
want it anymore after the first few sips. Have you tried sugar free
kool-aid? That's pretty good. I also found something called Fuzion (I think
that's the name). It's in a bottle, and they have a sugar free fruit punch
that tastes pretty dang good! I drink plain spice chai tea with splenda. I
also drink no sugar added cranberry juice in water. I just splash some
juice in the water for flavor. It will get easier the farther out you are.
Your tastes change (really, they do!) and you'll find that you like
different things than you did as a new post op. Hang in there!!
— Diana L.
May 11, 2003
The reason some ppl don't drink soda is because of the carbination -
expansion of the pouch! hy would you get the surgery to make your pouch
smaller to help you lose weight and then turn around and stretch it??? I
for one do not drink so just for that reason. I used to live on soda
before my surgery in Dec 2002 and since I have NOT touched the stuff. If
you feel that drink soda is more important then keeping your pounch small
and having your surgery succeed - then go ahead and drink it BUT this is my
opinion and I didn't mean to post it and upset you in anyway. -100 lbs in
5.5 months. Take Care!
— Suzanne B.
May 11, 2003
I am pre-op, but I am diabetic so I can not have the sugary drinks. I have
found diet snapple, it is great, no sugar or carbs and it comes in all
kinds of flavors, I love the peach ice tea, and the rasberry ice tea, and
it is not carbinated, you should give it a try, I think, not 100% sure that
you can use it as water intake.
— cindy
May 11, 2003
My Dr. said it was OK to drink diet soda after a couple of months. I drink
it all the time. I have lost 106 lbs since Septembr 26 2002 and can still
eat less than a cup of food at one time. I agree with you I see no
difference in carbonated sparkling water and diet pop. We are all different
so do what you and your Dr thinks best and enjoy life to the fullest. Have
a great day!
— Brenda T.
May 11, 2003
Hi Debi. I know you say you're craving soda like mad but I'll bet your
tastes have changed somewhat. I used to be a confirmed Pepsi-holic. I'm
now about 17 months out and will drink 1 Pepsi about every 2 weeks (and
most of it goes down the drain to be quite honest). The carbonation gives
me gas so it really isn't worth drinking, in my opinion. If you actually
still enjoy drinking soda, stick with diet. Don't put too much stock in
the "stretch your pouch" myth. If you have gas build up in your
pouch, you'll burp -- just that simple. I think the bigger problem is the
acid in your digestive tract that drinking soda produces. Until my pouch
was totally healed, I'd be afraid to get that stuff flowing. As for the
Starbucks stuff, I've tried and tried to make something remotely close at
home and haven't managed it. They do have several sugar free and low sugar
alternatives available that you may want to try. Personally, I now go to a
local service station chain (Gate Gasoline Stations) and get a small blend
of French Vanilla and Cappuccino. The sugar is much lower than Starbucks
(it's still ridiculously high but I don't dump so I can tolerate it). It's
my once a day indulgence. It has not inhibited my weight loss so I'm
enjoying it. Best of Luck.
— Pam S.
May 12, 2003
Hi, I am 14 weeks post-op and started dirnking diet caffeine-free pop at 2
mths. out. my doc said it would be okay as long as i let it sit for about
30 min. before I drink it. So, i would suggest to try that. And, as for
water, I still can't tolerate it anymore ever since about 2 mths. post and
I use to love it. So, I would suggest to try and drink flavored water like
fruit2o, propel from gatorade, or quacal you can get theis usually at any
grocery store and it is non carbonated and sugar-free. I t is wonderful.
Good luck to you!!
— Melodee S.
May 12, 2003
I am a Coke and Starbuck's junky. I have been able to do without a lot
since my surgery (8/15/02) however, coke and Starbucks will be the death of
me. I have tried to cut down to 1 small soda a week. It's not hard
because It makes me feel very full. The Starbucks is another story. I had
lost about 80 pounds in the first six months. I returned to Starbucks once
a day and I stopped loosing. I didn't realize how many calories I was
taking in with this one drink. Now I have cut back to 3 times a week I get
a grande, skim, no whip, 2pump white moca. It really cuts the calories. I
have to be honest, I am still having trouble loosing. My advice is don't
return to soda and Starbucks. I wish I wouldn't have. Loosing is much
better than any coke or coffee. Good luck, I feel your pain.
— Rosemarie D.
May 12, 2003
I am almost 12 weeks post-op and when I really want to get something at
Starbuck's, I usually order the caffeine free sugar free vanilla latte or
the caffeine free sugar free vanilla mocha. I have not tried any sodas
yet. Good Luck!!
— dl_roark
May 12, 2003
I think there are so many sugarfree alternatives other than water, why
would you want to go back to soda? I was a Dr. Pepper fiend prior to
surgery and gave it up cold turkey. I think that whether the stretching
the pouch thing is just a myth or not, drinking soda is a bad habit that
you shouldn't revive. Even if you start out with the diet type, so many
people (although not everyone) move on to the sugared kind eventually. Not
to mention that they are just empty calories. There are people in my
support group who regret having started drinking soda again and a lot of
other bad habits they acquired prior to surgery like late night snacking or
eating sugary foods. I think that for most of us, bending the rules a
little is only opening the door for more bending and eventually really
getting ourselves into trouble. I know this isn't true for everyone but
for me it's sort of like a drug addiction. You start out with something
minor but then need a bigger high so you go bigger and bigger until you are
out of control. I probably sound like a freak and the decision is
ultimately up to each individual. I personally don't trust myself that
much. Good luck to you for whatever decision you come up with. :)
— Laurel C.
May 12, 2003
I lived on Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi as a pre-op, at least a liter a day. I
haven't had one since surgery (almost a year ago). Yes, it drove me nuts
the first few months. I got over it, mostly. Sometimes I still want it,
but at a year out, let me tell you, you want to proceed cautiously with
anything that was a bad habit before surgery. It's unlikely you'll just
have a sip or two -- you'll want the bad habit back the way it used to be,
and that's soooooo hard to fight once we've reintroduced it into our lives
(see the many heartfelt posts below). You don't want it as much as you
want to be healthy ... just give it time for your brain to accept it.
(I'll let you know when mine finally does!!!).
— Suzy C.
May 12, 2003
I've never really tasted a frap from Starbucks, but I make what *I*
consider a great frap and it's actaully healthy! If you'd like the recipe,
email me privately and I'll be happy to share it with you.
— Jeralyn Merideth
May 12, 2003
Have you tried propel flavored waters? I drink diet soda, but it's with
the blessing of my surgeon.
— [Deactivated Member]
Click Here to Return