A very BIG concern for me!

I, too, would drink A LOT of water with my meals (3 - 5 glasses).  It's surprising how easy it was to re-teach myself to NOT drink while eating.  I was worried about it, too, but it's not that hard to learn to do.

For almost 2 months after surgery, the only water I could get down was flavored water.  I used the Mio flavoring which wasn't too bad.  Powerade Zero is pretty good, too.

In the beginning, you won't have room to drink with your meals. Over time, this will change. The no drinking with meals thing is really an RNY rule, because of the always-open stoma. As a VSGer, you'll still have your pylorus and a fully functional stomach.

I was given fully-caffeinated iced tea in the hospital. I've drunk about a gallon a day, sweetened with Splenda, every day since---over 9 years now. And yes, I drink a glass or two with every meal.

Hi Jeff,

I can tell you that I was completely addicted to soda prior to surgery.  I drank soda since my childhood...up to 5 per day.  I contributed that to the majority of my weight gain over the years.  I went from regular to diet and then completely off of it during the pre-op diet.  Talk about kicking a habit!  It was difficult, but now I don't even think much about it and I'm only 4.5 weeks out. 

I was also loved to drink soda, water, liquids, you name it...with my meals.  That wasn't so hard to overcome in my opinion since I received instant feedback when I drank water too soon after eating.  There's only so much room :-)

I had not thought about this from a space perspective. I suppose if the stomach is smaller; it'll hold less.

I drank 2-3 cokes a day. I gradually weaned my self off prior to surgery. I would drink 2-3 glasses of tea with a meal. I didn't wean myself from this. My husband didn't wean him self from the 1-2 2 liters of diet soda. & the 2 pots of coffee. After the surgery you won't want this stuff. It's hard enough to get the water & shakes in. I don't like water but I love green tea, so most of my 0 calorie drinks are green tea. I know I can't drink before or after a meal so I just make a conscious choice not to.

In addition to the Crystal Light type drinks, you can also have fruity protein drinks. Sites like MyBariatricPantry.com and DietDirect.com sell those.

Of course you still have to drink them apart from your solid foods.