Question:
Has anyone had sweet tea? How long before you can eat sweets?

   — Monica N. (posted on March 13, 2003)

March 13, 2003
Well you can have sweets when you are happy with the weight you are at. That simple...you can't lose weight and eat sweets or drink sweets...doesn't happen... Same thing goes with carbs...carbs and sweets cause plateaus. A plateau is when your weight stabalizes. So just ask yourself before you eat or drink sweets or really anything other than protein if you LOVE the weight you are now...because that bite will keep you there...or worse yet increase your weight. Hmmmmm choices..not easy.
   — lee J.

March 13, 2003
Monica - try making your tea with Splenda. I have found that the Splenda is wonderful in tea, no after taste and even those members of my family who are the "Sugar-substitute" police can't tell the difference.
   — Debbie B.

March 13, 2003
I assume sweet tea is just "sweet tea", and nothing else? You can make sweet hot or cold tea with Splenda or Nutrasweet... however I would recommend decaf. Since caffiene is a diuretic. There are SO MANY sugar free and low sugar options for treats that having something "sweet" is not verboten. However if sweets are a downfall for you pre-op and leads to constant cravings, you may want to put the kabosh on that habit now, or at least be aware of it. Sweets are not illegal post-WLS, but you just need to be aware of nutritional values. Denying yourself a legitimate (legal) desire is not pro-active to weight loss. So if you want a hershey's kiss- eat one, but just don't make a habit of it. There is also your dumping limit- you may not tolerate much sugar, so be careful.
   — Karen R.

March 13, 2003
SWEET TEA? You are supose to give that stuff up when you have the surgery! All that sweet stuff and overeating is what has gotten us the the weight that we are trying to loose. But, if you are like I am, and just can't do without your Sweet Iced Tea, use SPLENDA, it is just as good as sugar and a lot better for you. Just try to use the least amount that you can. I have been weaning myself off the sugar before I have the surgery. I use to use a cup of sugar for a gallon of tea, I have cut that to a half cup of sugar and I and now to a quarter cup of sugar. Next week I will start useing all splenda instead of sugar. Here is the website for Splenda: http://www.splenda.com
   — Grady E.

March 13, 2003
17 mos post op, -130, size 6. I have sweet tea every day. And sweets when I want them, just not large amounts. We are supposed to change our negative eating habits to be more like 'normal' eaters. Honestly...'normal' eaters have sweets on occasion, just not an entire pie. 'Normal' eaters drink sweet tea if they want it. You need to know what amount of sugar you can eat so you dont over do it, but a little here and there wont kill you or distroy your surgery. Yes, I agree with the other posters that modifing your diet with sugar substitues could help you have more 'sweet' things without dumping. But in no way is it helping you stop the 'sweet' cravings or 'changeing' your diet. Use common sense. If it seems wrong, it probably is.
   — RebeccaP

March 14, 2003
I have always been a sweet tea and coke addict. I never liked water,so I figured I would give up the soda and stick with the tea. I started using fitday.com and noticed I was getting about 30gr of carbs A DAY just from the tea (sugar in the tea). I was drinking most of the 64 oz liquid requirement in the form of tea. I now use Splenda...its not exactly the same but close enough for me to tolerate and get used to. I guess that explained the month long plateau...and how I started losing again within 2 days of switching to splenda.
   — cherokey55

March 14, 2003
Monica, I agree with Rebecca. You can have sweets as soon as you want to, if you can tolerate them (not dump). As the others have mentioned, its good to try to stay away from sugar, at least until the weight loss is well on its way, but I also agree that eating "normal" can include carbs and sweets in your diet. It's a balance that normally thin people have learned and we can too. I have sweets/carbs built into my diet every day. I ensure that my protein/water and exercise are up there, and then allow myself some treats every day. So far, at 13 months post-op, its working, I am still losing very slowly, and I am within 10 pounds of goal. If you cannot control the sweets, though, or if weight gain occurs, its obviously the first thing that should be cut out.
   — Cindy R.