Newbie. Beverages, Alcohol, carbonated drinks, caffeine, coffee

[Ginger Snaps 1,323]

@@James Marusek My doctor has the same "rules"... no caffeine, no carbonation and no alcohol -- and he's said forever. They just don't contribute to health and have bad side effects. The hardest for me will be the caffeine and carbonation -- I'm a Diet Coke addict so I hope like many others on here, I lose the desire for it.

[James Marusek 5,244]

@@James Marusek My doctor has the same "rules"... no caffeine, no carbonation and no alcohol -- and he's said forever. They just don't contribute to health and have bad side effects. The hardest for me will be the caffeine and carbonation -- I'm a Diet Coke addict so I hope like many others on here, I lose the desire for it.

I was able to. I haven't had a diet coke in a year and a half and I don't miss it that much. I am primarily drinking decaffeinated coffee and fine teas.

[bunnieru 1]

My Dr. told me that I would have to give up my diet cokes after the surgery!!! I gave it up for Lent however I didn't know it was going to be the rest of my life!!! I am trying to have it only occassionally because I need to learn to live without drinking my favorite drink! I don't drink alcohol anymore and the only coffee I can drink is Carmel Frappuccino Light....and it took me all my life to find any kind of drink with coffee in it but my husband said just try it......so now he's got to support my habit. I am hoping to lose the desire of it like most of you all did.....

[kimk1999 450]

This is definitely one of those - varies by surgeon questions. [lap-band patient here]

I had no restrictions on coffee except the day of surgery that morning but I wasn't allowed to eat or drink period that morning.

I have no restrictions about caffeine except from a generic do not over do it (but that might be more from my primary or ob since I'm trying to conceive).

I really didn't have any restrictions on alcohol. I'm definitely a lightweight. I limit my beer due to carbonation. I can drink hard liquor or wine no problem (as long as it's not bubbly wine). Well I still drink bubbly wine but try to let the bubbles dissipate some, drink it slowly and don't drink too much.

Carbonation - between beer, bubbly wine, or soda - I just try my best to limit it. I have the lap band. The bubbles tends to expand my pouch which in turn seems to push on that vagus (I think that's the one) nerve which in turn makes my shoulder hurt. I wasn't much of a soda drinker to begin with, but I loved beer. Being in pain from drinking is not that relaxing. I'll have a few sips of my fiancé's and that's about it.

Now keep in mind that most surgeons recommend about 800-1000 calories per day, so if you're having a 100-200-400 calorie drink that's a significant chunk of your calories that you drank. My weight loss had stalled for a while, I cut out alcohol and it's moving again. It's empty calories but it is such an enjoyable part of life. You'll need to find a balance for what works for you, your goals, and your surgeons requests.

[greensleeve 457]

This is definitely one of those - varies by surgeon questions. [lap-band patient here]

I had no restrictions on coffee except the day of surgery that morning but I wasn't allowed to eat or drink period that morning.

I have no restrictions about caffeine except from a generic do not over do it (but that might be more from my primary or ob since I'm trying to conceive).

I really didn't have any restrictions on alcohol. I'm definitely a lightweight. I limit my beer due to carbonation. I can drink hard liquor or wine no problem (as long as it's not bubbly wine). Well I still drink bubbly wine but try to let the bubbles dissipate some, drink it slowly and don't drink too much.

Carbonation - between beer, bubbly wine, or soda - I just try my best to limit it. I have the lap band. The bubbles tends to expand my pouch which in turn seems to push on that vagus (I think that's the one) nerve which in turn makes my shoulder hurt. I wasn't much of a soda drinker to begin with, but I loved beer. Being in pain from drinking is not that relaxing. I'll have a few sips of my fiancé's and that's about it.

Now keep in mind that most surgeons recommend about 800-1000 calories per day, so if you're having a 100-200-400 calorie drink that's a significant chunk of your calories that you drank. My weight loss had stalled for a while, I cut out alcohol and it's moving again. It's empty calories but it is such an enjoyable part of life. You'll need to find a balance for what works for you, your goals, and your surgeons requests.

How far out are you?

[greensleeve 457]

My Dr. told me that I would have to give up my diet cokes after the surgery!!! I gave it up for Lent however I didn't know it was going to be the rest of my life!!! I am trying to have it only occassionally because I need to learn to live without drinking my favorite drink! I don't drink alcohol anymore and the only coffee I can drink is Carmel Frappuccino Light....and it took me all my life to find any kind of drink with coffee in it but my husband said just try it......so now he's got to support my habit. I am hoping to lose the desire of it like most of you all did.....

I used to drink diet Pepsi every day. I don't miss it one bit.

[mmhutch 28]

I weaned myself off coffee two weeks prior to surgery. Coffee is acidic and not good for your stomach as it is healing. I began having a coffee a couple times a week recently. I am almost 4 months post op.

At the advisement of my dr, I do not consume carbonated beverages. Carbonation stretches your stomach. Pointless to have the surgery if we are going to stretch our stomachs back out. The thought of it scares me.

I do miss my beer. I will occasionally have a small glass of white wine. But I waited at least 2 months post op before drinking. Drs orders were to wait at least 6 weeks.

I feel that my weight loss success has been from strictly adhering to my doctors recommendations post op. I have never had a "stall." I have consistently lost at least 1-3 lbs per week. I only have 60 total to lose, so I don't drop 20 lbs/month like a lot of folks on here.

Good luck to you.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

I don't drink alcohol because I partied enough for everyone when I was young lol. I do drink coffee though at least three a day. Once in a while now I will have a diet soda but I shake it up to make it kind of flat. I love Water though its a good thing.

[kimk1999 450]

How far out are you?

I'm 5 months out

[shmily 424]

I have not had caffeine since Feb 24 but I do have 2 c Decaf coffee on weekends. I don't think I want to put caffeine back in my body