Question:
Drinks

The last several days I have CRAVED the carbonation and diet 7UP is what I have used for this craving. I sip slowly, letting the bubbles subside a bit before swallowing. Most I can get down is usually about 1/2 can and then I'm done. Please tell me what I am doing to myself ... anything bad? <br><br> Also, if you don't wait quite as long to drink after a meal as you should ... my dr. has said 30-45 minutes, what is the consequence of that. Am I stretching my stomach? Am I pushing the food through faster? Help me. I'm somewhat confused.    — Allee Z. (posted on October 8, 2003)

October 8, 2003
Though others may disagree with me, I do not see the problem with having an occasional soda. Do not believe those who will tell you that it expands the pouch-that ole balloon test, uh, no, there is an opening at both ends of the pouch..its a liquid. Soda does however have alot of sodium in it which is not good for you, and frankly, the carbonation makes my tummy uncomfortable-gassy, so I only have a soda every once in a great while. As for waiting after a meal before drinking, it does take getting used to. You should try to get in that good habit as early on as possible. Drinking after eating washes the food out of the pouch and the furthr out you get, the more this matters. An empty pouch=hunger, and then more calories to fill it up again. The longer the food stays in the pouch (and dense foods are best), the fuller you feel and the less you will eat. Liquids do not stretch the pouch.
   — Cindy R.

October 8, 2003
I drink about a six pack a day of diet pepsi and have since I was about 6 months post-op. Am 14 months po now. I find that it helps keep me full between meals. As for how soon after eating you should drink, my "personal" opinion on this (and we know what that's worth LOL) is that it depends highly on what kind of an eater you are. If you are a grazer than by all means wait as long as you can to drink and empty your pouch. You want to stay full longer. If you are not a grazer and eat regular meals then it's not AS big of deal. I drink small TINY amounts with meals and don't wait afterward, I simply increase the size of the swallows the further away from the meal I get. But I was a volume eater and don't need to feel full or am bothered by feeling mildly hungry. YMMV!`
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 8, 2003
Carbonation can cause some problems - you should let the drink sit til the bubbles are completely gone. At a recent support group meeting they did a demonstration with a diet drink - took a bottle, opened it and put a deflated balloon over the top - the balloon inflated to the point of bursting from the carbonation. Then she did the same with Crystal Light - nothing happened. Drinking too soon after eating washes the food from your pouch and can cause you to get hungry sooner - making you want to eat before you should. My surgeon insists that we wait 30 minutes after eating before drinking.
   — Patty_Butler

October 8, 2003
It's basic science..."a gas, when heated, expands". You pour cold soad into a nice 98 degree tummy and those bubbles get bigger. It won't immediately stretch your pouch but it does affect it. It's not good for you (or anyone - even non wls persons). I agree with the last poster that an "occasional" soda will not kill you but there are some basic behavior changes we have been asked to make and if we can't abide by those small things, I think it's an indicator of bigger things to come. One CAN ruin their surgery if they work at it. You didn't go through all of the surgery pains just so you can get fat again. I was the biggest Diet Pepsi addict in the entire world and if I could give it up for good, anyone can. I wouldn't beat yourself up over the Diet 7up but I wouldn't make it a habit (no more than one/month is what I'd say)
   — Donya P.

October 8, 2003
you are stretching out your pouch, if oyu do then you will be able to eat too much and not be satisfied remain hungry and over eat and possibly fail at loosing the wiehgt you went through this surgery to loose. i would stop drinking anything carbonated.
   — janetc00

October 8, 2003
every one has over done it on the carbonation and it stretching your pouch out, the carbonation does not stay long enough to stretch anything, you burp right? if you burp then the gases are leaving your body, i know people who are 2 years out and have always had diet soda and they still eat so much less, just like 3 months after surgery, if you burp then you are fine!!! people are afraid of soda period because they have no nutritional value, but it is not the source of weight problems. i agree about having diet soda and not regular soda because of the calories in them. you arent harming yourself. shelly
   — shellypoe

October 8, 2003
It hasn't done much to me or my pouch other than fill me up so much that it hurts, so I don't drink soda very often, the instant gratification for me isn't worth the full feeling I have afterward, but everyone's experiences are different.
   — Michael N.

October 8, 2003
I don't know if carbonation stretches your pouch or not. What I do know is that both regular and diet pop contains phosphoric acid. This phosphorous can lead to calcium deficiencies in the bones. Us wls'ers already have a hard time absorbing calcium and that puts us at risk for osteoporosis. Soda will only contribute to this possible long term complication. I have also read that caffeine acts as a diuretic. Diuretics cause you to urinate more. Therefore you have to drink more water than your recommended 64oz to keep your body hydrated. As far as drinking after meals; I was always lead to believe that this flushes the food out of our pouch sooner than normal, while this will not affect the absorption of the food (that is done in the intestines), it can make you feel hungrier sooner.
   — Kristen S.