Diet Coke vs. Crystal Light

Hi All,

I have started to cut down on my Diet Coke intake in preparation for my surgery.  I'm sad about the loss but am prepared and willing to give it up if it means being healthier.  I have been hearing for the last couple years from most of my family, that I drink way too much Diet Coke and how horrible it is for me.  I still don't understand what about it is so bad?  Is it the aspartame?  What other chemicals are in it that makes it so mad? 

I am asking because if I switch to iced tea or Crystal Light which I always thought were better for you, I am wondering if too much is still going to be not good for me.  There is aspartame in Crystal Light too and I don't even know what is in the different sugar substitutes and which are "good" and which are bad.  I feel like I am making this huge lifestyle change for the better and I don't want to get started on another unhealthy or bad habit.  I don't expect to be perfect by any means but given the fact that I tend to get "obsessed" with things like Diet Coke I want to be thinking about these things in advanced.

Also, what are the opinions on caffeine post-surgery?

Jennifer

 

Hi Jennifer,

I was told that it is the carbonation we can't have after surgery.  I haven't had a cola since October of last year and I love all the interesting flavors Crystal LIte has now.  It seems the aspertame thing was over-hyped and it isn't so bad after all.  You can Google it for more info.

But I add Splenda to my coffee every morning.  Haven't had any problems with a cup or two of coffee in the morning as long as keep drinking the CLite  throughout the day.

Great day, Linda

Jennifer

Good for you in making the small changes now before surgery.... every positive change you make before surgery will only make you more successful afterward.

So you're probably going to hear about how horrible aspartame is.  I don't subscribe to that camp.  Do a search on www.snopes.com for aspartame and see what they say about all the hype. 

As for diet soda.  There's actually some studies that have been done about diet soda drinkers.  I'm copying a few links from my profile here.... it's interesting stuff.

---

Why We Should Avoid Diet Soda
on May 22, 2008 6:30 am
Published

1.  Studies show that drinking diet soda can actually lead to weight gain.   Drinking ONE soda per day increased your risk of obesity by 1.6 times.  Here's the research:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4271246&page=1

2. diet sodas (as well as some flavored bottled waters and bottled teas) contain high levels of phosphorous.  Phosphorous is known to leach calcium from your body which can lead to osteoporosis.   After WLS we obviously malabsorb calcium in our altered digestive system, so we don't need anything else in our diet that is going to suck away nutrients.

3. Many surgeons believe that the carbonation (even if you let it go flat) will cause the pouch to stretch.  ---- I don't buy this theory though ----

Also here's an article that might change your mind about your addiction:
http://www.waterforlifeusa.com/blog/uncategorized/8-ways-sod a-fizzles-your-health/

 

I like Crystal Light, but I like Meijer Fruitsations bottled water the best. It has no calories and just enough flavor to make it good. They have lemon, strawberry, and orange flavored water, and it's all great! I've never been one to just sip water if I'm not thirsty, but the flavored water is a treat to me, and helps me get my water in.

Good luck!

Jenny

Pam gave a good answer. I will chime in the following:

 

#1 – Diet Coke is caffeinated, most Crystal Lights aren’t. So your body gets more water from CL than from DC

 

#2 – Diet soda in studies has shown to dull your sense of sweetness. I believe it. When I stopped drinking soda (never did diet soda) everything all of a sudden tasted too sweet. I stopped just before my surgery and it was amazing the difference. This lead me to eat far less sweets.

I gave up diet Coke before surgery because I was told I couldn't have it after
surgery.  The dietician said the carbonation makes your stomach expand.  I was only having one can a day and it was more habit than really wanting it.  I've tried a diet
Coke a few times since my surgery just because I remember it as being so refreshing.  It just doesn't taste good and makes my pouch very uncomfortable.

Before surgery I didn't care much for Crystal Lite but now I love it.  Peach is my favorite.

Good luck to you.  I'm almost 11 months out and I'm so glad I had the surgery.

I made peach crystal light pops. They were SO good!

While we're on the subject, why is Crystal Light so important to the post-WLS diet? I understand getting your fluid intake, but isn'****er better than Crystal Light? 

I think (my opinion only) that since you aren't really altering the water's composition that Crystal Light should be counted ounce for ounce like water...yeah, plain water might be best but I get tired of drinking plain water all the time, so I alternate between plain water and CL.

Crystal Light does count in your fluid intake (important distinction), as does milk, protein shakes and any other non-alcoholic, non-carbonated drink and also fruits and veggies count but I don't count them because who knows how to do that???