A very BIG concern for me!

You've got your head on straight, you're gonna do great!

 

I enjoyed soda too. I think you may be surprised how easy it will be to kick this habit post op. I actually craved my water. I couldn't get enough and it was hard to drink it slow. I like lemon in mine. Lots of people need to add something to their water in the beginning because it has a "heavy" feeling.
You can do it!

I was a soda addict before surgery. After surgery, I have no desire for it. I don't crave anything and really have to work at getting my fluids in. For me it's crystal light or water, plus the fluids used for my protein shake. It's miraculous to me.

Im with you I drink 2-3 glasses of tea w/my meals Im befroe surgery Im on mnth 2 wk 2 and it seems hard for me not to drink but I know I have to learn not to drink with it it will be hard on me also,but I do HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.....over and out....LOL....

on my 6 mnth diet

 

I figured I'd start narrowing my choices on Feb 1st! We'll see how it goes.

I was a 6-pack a day pepsi-holic and I switched to pepsi zero for a couple of weeks to get away from the sweet and then to flavored waters and I was actually amazed at how easy it was. There are so many different flavors and companies who make them that you can't imagine it. Not only crystal light, but mio, ocean spray, propel (which is one of my favorites because it has vitamins and no color additives - which are good for anyone with dentures or partials like me) and many other companies make lots of different flavors. My husband was a real heavy sweet tea drinker (and I mean 2 cups of sugar per gallon sweet!) and tried my peach tea flavor from crystal light and he has switched over to it - and he isn't heavy or having the surgery - it was just really good to him and so much healthier. Healthy feels so much better than a sugary sweet or carbonated drink!! YOU CAN DO IT! 

Thanks for the encouragement.

Hey, great questions and I understand your worries.

You cannot drink while you eat and you really should just adopt that for life. I have a friend that has started drinking with her meals again about 4 years out from her RNY. She is now regaining after maintaining for 4 years just from this one little change in habit. The liquid is washing the food out of her pouch and allowing her to eat far more than if she didn't drink.

Anyhow, at first you get the calorie free liquid in anyway you can - decaf teas and coffees, sweetened with fake stuff or no****er, water flavored with lemon or with crystal light or mio or anything. You will count your protein shakes as liquid early out, too. It's really all about fluids and protein for several weeks. As long as you are drinking decaf, zero calorie drinks the first weeks you will do fine.

As you progress, you may find your tastes changing. I now drink plain water almost exclusively. It's become my drink of choice. It seems to do the best in quenching my real thirst and keeping hunger at bay between meals.

Just start to wrap your head around not drinking for 15-30 minutes prior to a meal and then for 30-60 minutes after a meal. You can do this. It is simply a mind set and changing a habit. If you start practicing now, you'll be a pro by the time you're sleeved.

Go get 'em!

Thanks for the encouragement and the warning with your friend.