So what's the deal with fizzy drinks?

[LondonHawk 39]

In a nutshell carbonated drinks are to be avoided because they are unhealthy and make one fat and unhealthy!

Rather than ask why you can't do something the better question is given the decision to have A VGS why would you want to have carbonated drinks? Especially if it is one of your favorite things? I don't know about you but I have the least amount of control over my favorites.

I was a 2-3 liters of Coke Zero a day and trying to break myself was tough. I am treating it like rehab I just choose not to drink it today because I know where it will end.

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Not all carbonated drinks are unhealthy and make you fat. There's sparkling Water for example. I believe the assumption (no research has been done to prove it) is that carbonation could stretch the sleeve. It also often causes significant pain and discomfort.

I would not drink carbonated drinks just in case of the possibility of stretching your pouch.

I think that the OP was not referring to carbonated waters (they can correct me if I am wrong).

My point was that VSG is not a solution, it is a tool and without significant life style changes it will become ineffective over time. The vast majority of us did not get to this point in our lives drinking carbonated waters. I am pretty sure that a lot of us here were addicited to the main stream carbonated drinks such as Coke and their diet or zero offerings. Those products were created to be addicitive are a big part of our obesity cycle.

I don't want to fall back in to that trap so I am good with removing them from my life which is really hard but if the idea that it would hurt and that my NUT says they are verbotten, well that just helps.

I am sure carbonated Water could be fine and I am sure there are people who have 1 12oz Coke Zero a month and are fine. But I am going to guess that the folks that can have 1 Coke Zero a month are in the minority here. (It would be interesting to see just how many of us were or are addicted to those drinks and what quantities we consumed pre SVG. I was easily 1 gallon -2 gallons a day of Coke Zero!)

Hi London! I'm the OP, and I'm about to correct you

As a matter of fact, my question was not referencing soda's specifically. I have never been one to drink my calories. I didn't get fat from soda. I got fat from eating salty/savory things like fast food and popcorn. Sugar is not my wheelhouse. While I of course have had the occasional diet soda in my life, I am by no means addicted to them. I don't even really like them that much.

I have a "sodastream" machine at home that I use to carbonate water. I then add something like Crystal Lite or on occasion a little bit of fruit juice to flavor it. That is was I was referring to when I mentioned that it would be hard to get used to not being able to have fizzie drinks.

"Rather than ask why you can't do something the better question is given the decision to have A VGS why would you want to have carbonated drinks?" - to quote you specifically from an earlier post.

I must admit that I do not appreciate this way of thinking, nor the implication behind it. In my opinion, we are having a major surgery, with major life-changes built in. It is of the UTMOST importance that we understand each of these changes and why they are necessary. Not knowing the consequence only makes you that much more likely to break the rule. And asking questions is the only way to get answers. I'm not sorry I asked, and I wasn't wrong to ask. And asking a question does not make me less committed to my surgery or to the lifestyle changes that are needed.

I am sure you had good intentions, but really hope you know judgmental your post came across. I do hope that we can be friends.

Open mouth and insert foot! LOL

I am sorry if it came off judgmental, it was more a case of incredulity! My apologies for that. I don't think I am alone in thinking soda, when I hear the words fizzy or carbonated drinks.

You are absolutely correct my intentions was to do whatever I could to discourage you from having a Coke Zero, diet coke etc if I could! Since you don't have that demon you obviously don't know what it is like but it is like being an alcoholic! It has a siren call of its own and it is everywhere.

As for soda alone be the root of my cause, uh no, food was the root. Salty, savory, sweet it didn't matter. I can eat when I am full and that has always been the issue but I think diet soda and the chemicals have screwed my system up so that I no longer understand or feel the triggers that a normal person does. Sure I know that bloated I overate feeling but hey it seems a shame to let those last 2 ribs go to waste! Maybe some peeps can have soda in there lives and not have that issue. I unfortunately am not, for me it is no soda more control.

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[MamaRhea 56]

Open mouth and insert foot! LOL

I am sorry if it came off judgmental, it was more a case of incredulity! My apologies for that. I don't think I am alone in thinking soda, when I hear the words fizzy or carbonated drinks.

You are absolutely correct my intentions was to do whatever I could to discourage you from having a Coke Zero, diet coke etc if I could! Since you don't have that demon you obviously don't know what it is like but it is like being an alcoholic! It has a siren call of its own and it is everywhere.

As for soda alone be the root of my cause, uh no, food was the root. Salty, savory, sweet it didn't matter. I can eat when I am full and that has always been the issue but I think diet soda and the chemicals have screwed my system up so that I no longer understand or feel the triggers that a normal person does. Sure I know that bloated I overate feeling but hey it seems a shame to let those last 2 ribs go to waste! Maybe some peeps can have soda in there lives and not have that issue. I unfortunately am not, for me it is no soda more control.

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No problem

I can't imagine how hard it must be to have cravings for soda like that. Soda commercials are everywhere! On endcaps at every grocery check out. It must be very hard for you to avoid, so I can understand your impulse to try to dissuade me from what you deemed to be a dangerous path, and I appreciate the thought

As for the general issue of straws and carbonated drinks (not soda! ), from everything I have read it really seems like a matter of personal tolerance. If it hurts, don't do it. If it doesn't hurt, why not? As for gas stretching the sleeve, there is just no way enough pressure could build up to stretch the tissue without escaping as a burp. I don't imagine this surgery will render us incapable of burping lol.

[trishrnyoung 18]

I am a diet pepsi addict - before surgery. I am not even going to take a chance on drinking it now. I don't want the empty calories. I know I need to drink Protein for alot of reasons and my stomach doesn't hold much so I choose it first. I have an open incision from my surgery because of infection and I need it for that too. Aslo, I have hair down to my butt and I don't want to lose it so I choose Protein to avoid that. I would give anything for a diet pop, but, I care more about getting results from my surgery. I am still a novice at this having had surgery on Mar 22. I still have a long journey ahead of me.

[ld33 94]

Once I reach my goal I hope that I am able to handle A can of soda. I've never been a big pop drinker but every blue moon I would have one and it felt so good going down. I look forward to having one again in the future

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[LipstickLady 25,682]

Once I reach my goal I hope that I am able to handle A can of soda. I've never been a big pop drinker but every blue moon I would have one and it felt so good going down. I look forward to having one again in the future

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I drink Coke Zero. Don't count on it feeling good going down.

[ld33 94]

Once I reach my goal I hope that I am able to handle A can of soda. I've never been a big pop drinker but every blue moon I would have one and it felt so good going down. I look forward to having one again in the future

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I drink Coke Zero. Don't count on it feeling good going down.

I can believe that lol

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[Killian 265]

Just saw my NUT yesterday and she said Seltzer has to go because of the carbonation causes gas and could be uncomfortable. Not sure if she neant forever or just after the surgery....and not sure why I did not ask what she meant while I was in her office..lol...oh well will ask her next appointment.

But, I am hoping she is not right- gonna consult my surgeon as well.

[autymn 27]

Obviously, from this post, different people and surgeons have very differing opinions. I am choosing to follow my surgeon's opinion of not drinking carbonated beverages, including Perrier.

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[spstarla69 16]

I'm not supposed to have them, pretty much forever the doc says. I'm only 16 days post-op, but I have ZERO desire for anything carbonated at this point, the thought of it makes me nauseous.

[dashofsunshine 875]

Soda was never my thing. I loved sweet tea and Starbucks, so giving up carbonation wasn't difficult for me. I've had a few seltzers and, at 18 months out, the only kind I can tolerate as a treat is Spindrift. La Croix is extremely uncomfortable. I had a sip of champagne on New Years and handed the glass to my husband as it didn't go down well. But Spindrift, I do alright with. It's lightly carbonated, so a bit easier on the tummy. I have maybe 2 cans per week. It's a nice (and pretty healthy) break from Water

PS I use straws all the time. Lol.