For Those Who Love Soda...

[mrsnate 55]

Joni, you took you the words right out of my mouth! I'm a Diet Coke Addict and about a month away from surgery. I'm seriously stressing over quitting. Absolutely ridiculous! It comforts me to know that I'm not the only one and that I can hope I don't desire it anymore.

[Kiki Von Moonshine 53]

I know it's the bubbles that is supposedly the problem, but an alternate for the aspertamed diet drinks is perhaps a seltzer Water with a pinch of lime, or a juice? I am sure citrus might not work for everyone but just an idea to try if you HAVE to have something with bubbles. I like selter, but my drink of choice when outdoors, or going to a store is usually a low cal gatorade, or a large bottle of water. i can't remember the last time I had a diet or even a full cal soda.

[Artichokes 42]

I love True Lemon, True Lime, True Orange & True Grapefruit. It comes in 1 drink sized envelopes & really tastes like a squeeze of your favorite citrus. You can also use it in cooking. Zero calories. I really recommend it.

[Joni 94]

Great idea! I forgot about True Lemon - which I love, and wonderful that it has no sugar. Will definitely be adding that to my Water. Thanks for mentioning it.

[Willow216 91]

I miss my Diet Pepsi, I would go through a 2 liter ever two days. But I noticed that the diet pepsi made me gain weight too or maybe it just bloated me I don't know but I gave it up a month prior to surgery and I lost weight just by omitting the soda. I'm on Crystal Light right now and Water.< /p>

[dawnr 16]

I am not a soda drinker, so it wasn't a problem but drinking plain Water gets boring too

I put a recipe out last night and will repeat it here. It is a drink idea a friend gave to me.

The flavor of this is similar to a cream sicle or an orange julius...

32 oz Water

4 oz orange juice

1 tsp pure vanilla extract (or more to taste)

2 packets stevia, or whatever sweetener you like

mix and refrigerate or pour over ice

I would think you could use a couple spoons of regular sugar if you can't tolerate artifical sweetener. I would be such a small amount of sugar that is wouldn't be much in calories.

[MINI-Me 196]

Instead of typing again, I thought I would link to my comments on soda.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/34256-can-you-have-sodas/page__fromsearch__1

[MINI-Me 196]

Please ignore that link above ... it didn't do what it was supposed to & it won't let me edit. Sorry!

[bethany1987 66]

Please ignore that link above ... it didn't do what it was supposed to & it won't let me edit. Sorry!

The link worked for me :]

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[brandymarie81 108]

I had 3 sips of a Dr pepper yesterday...I'm good for another month!

[Anjelika 14]

I know you're worried about it stretching the sleeve, but if it's the bubbles you crave, Perrier orange is pretty tasty.

[Kiki Von Moonshine 53]

Isn't perrier orange, seltzer Water?

[Anjelika 14]

Isn't perrier orange, seltzer Water?

Yes, it is, Miss Kiki... It has the desired bubbles and if you leave it out, it will turn a little flat but still have a little bubbly in it. *^__^

[Nicki D 33]

i have switched to Zip Fizz no it does not have fizz but there are several flavors and it is much better than plain Water. Plus you get some Vitamins too.

[yoshikitty 8]

I was a diet cokeaholic before surgery, easily downing a 24 pack a day.. I eventually got off it b4 surgery. 2 months out I had a craving for it and it went down fine. I ended up drinking more and more as the weeks went on which meant less Water. More striking was the cravings I started to have for salt and sugar. Everything tastes so good with DC. I cannot keep it in the fridge because I will choose it over water every time. If you were addicted I would not try it because now I need to get off it again. I was honest with my doctor and he said the carbonation is not good for the stomach. He said it wasn't a big deal but that I would not receive his blessing to drink it. As for stretching, he did not give me a definitive answer but said "it could." I would not recommend even trying it because you will go back to your old habits......even if it means not as much.......it still feels bad to go back.