So it has been a month since I have stopped drinking soda
@richlatino2012 (58)
United States
April 25, 2010 11:34pm CST
It's been a month since I have stopped drinking soda and switched to drinking water because I never drank water hardly ever before I stopped with soda. I went to the doctor and they told me I had Galstones in my liver, multiple of them so I have to get surgery for them to be removed. As soon as I got the news I cut back soda, I had thought you could only get kidney stones because of drinking too much pop. I would drink 2 to 3 two liters a day of soda thats how addicted I was to it. I would hardly ever drink water. Now that I have cut it and began drinking water again I have so far lost 10 pounds. I weigh 245 pounds now. I want to lose 45 more pounds and get to 200 pounds so I can be ready for my trip to Aspen Colorado in December for my job. I believe I can do it. It's achievable.
See I used to weigh 450 pounds like 4 years ago and I end up having a surgery called Duodenal Switch. They only do it at the University of Chicago. www.duodenalswitch.com That will give you more detail about the weight surgery I had. 4 years ago I was 450 pounds and now I am 245 pounds. So you do the math. I had stopped going to the doctor that did my surgery because the dietician would be evil to me lol telling me that I need to do so and so and you know if you hate going to see a dietician you hate being told what to do. I stopped because they said I would have to be on Vitamins for the rest of my life. I really don't like taking pills for life that just don't sound right to me. Especially vitamins. So now that I have this Gallstones I have to go back and see the doctor and the evil dietician again lol.
I know they are going to yell at me but its been rough for me with my dad passing around the same time I had my weight surgery. But for me to lose 45 pounds any advice on how I can do it without doing exercise? I mean I hate to work out but I'll walk but its tough with my back hurting because of the being overweight for so long my back is messed up and my bones are degenerating from what the doctor told me. That it put too much pressure on my bones. So any way to lose the weight with very little exercise and what foods I should eat to lose it faster. Any help would be great. Thanks.
2 people like this
10 responses
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Fruits and vegetables will always make your body start to feel more overall natural energy. I would recommend some Bolthouse Farms juices because they are extremely healthy for you and generally have servings of fruit or vegetables or sometimes both. Some easy exercise would be yoga to start off with and you could also stick with walking since it sound's like you're doing it already.
I wouldn't worry about taking vitamins because they are extremely good for our health and we should be willing to do anything that can help improve our health and improve our mode of living. Also if you don't eat fast food anymore I'm sure you will start losing more weight really fast and also see that you have a lot more money in your wallet. I did that and it helped me to lose probably 20 pounds back when I felt a little overweight from getting the munchies too much and then being lazy and not working it off ever. Good luck with your health for the future and congratulations on getting this far. 450 down to 245 is incredible work my friend keep it up!
1 person likes this
@richlatino2012 (58)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Thanks appreciate it. I know I need to include fruits and vegetables more in my diet. I have to look for that juice because I am not sure if we have that here.
@Sherry12 (2472)
• United States
26 Apr 10
I think you are doing great by not drinking soda. I was wondering if you can tell any difference in the way you feel by not drinking it? I have heard of people having bad headaches from not having the caffeine the first 2 or 3 days without it.
I don't like to work out either, but walking is supposed to be a great way to lose weight. Good luck in losing it.
1 person likes this
@richlatino2012 (58)
• United States
26 Apr 10
I haven't had any headaches but I have for some reason been forgetting stuff. Which I don't know why. Like I misplace my keys or my notebook sometime and it takes me a few to find it. I doubt that could be from not drinking soda though.
1 person likes this
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
26 Apr 10
Hi richlatino,
I'm not as addicted to you when drinking soda. But a couple of months back, I was drinking it on a regular basis, like a few glasses a day. Yesterday, I decided to cut down on soda and drink more water.
I used to drink lots of plain water, but some stresses made me switch to the unhealthy soda. But I have decided I'm not going to ruin my body anymore. I'm going to start drinking more water.
Last night, I woke up several times just to go to the toilet, I think my body is already detoxing from drinking more water yesterday. 
You are doing great by stopping soda and drinking more water. Soon enough, you will be at your ideal weight. Just wait and see! 
You are doing great by stopping soda and drinking more water. Soon enough, you will be at your ideal weight. Just wait and see! 1 person likes this
@richlatino2012 (58)
• United States
26 Apr 10
I would definitely get a Ultrasound even though because you never know when you might have either Kidney stones or Gallstones. Heck I thought the only way soda affected you was through kidney stones and they said its also through Gallstones so I would get an ultrasound to make sure and blood test as well. I would advise this for those that do drink pop regularly or have stopped and only drink it once in awhile. You never know what may be lurking in your body if any.
@mjcookie (2271)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
Good for you to cut down on soda! It really is a big calorie-giver for people.
I suggest that you do something you enjoy like basketball, badminton, or swimming. I also hate the idea of working out in the gym, LOL. I, too, am planning to lose weight. I am not overweight, just a little chubby but I badly wanna lose weight for good. What I do is dance and dance wildly in my room until I sweat. Just last night I did that. It makes me feel good knowing that I am losing those calories by doing something that I enjoy doing. So there, if you have a favorite sport or anything that involves physical motion, you could do it regularly. Good luck.
@charylady (419)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
congratulations richlatino. you have already achieved a lot losing half of your original body weight. i think you are on the right track by drinking more water and giving up soda. you can try doing water exercises to ease the pressure on your back and joints. eat more high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables. good luck.
1 person likes this
@kedralynn (980)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Water exercises. Swimming and stuff in the water will put less strain on your back and the water resistance is good exercise. My friend has a fake knee and his doctor has his do pool work outs so it doesn't strain the knee but keeps him healthy.
Congrats on not drinking any more soda! I used to drink way too much of it too. Now that I drink more water, I feel much better overall.
You want to stick to a good diet as well. Remember not to starve yourself. If you're exercising, you still need to take in food to keep your metabolism running. I tried to lose weight by starving (had an eating disorder for a while) and my metabolism shut down and after I overcame the eating disorder I gained more weight back than I needed!
Good lucky buddy! Just keep on working at it!
1 person likes this
@richlatino2012 (58)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Thanks appreciate it. I am going to see about doing water exercises because I used to do them before and that really helped out with me before.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
27 Apr 10
I had gallstones too.. they're caused by too much fat in your diet, not by drinking soda, though quitting soda is definitely a good idea.
I quit soda as well awhile ago, though eventually got tired of just water. I am back to drinking a little bit of soda, but only about 8 ounces a day and it's diet soda. Aside from that mostly I drink coffee, and still drink water!
As far as losing weight, you must lower your caloric intake, and eat healthier foods. Healthier foods will fill you up quicker with less calories, things like fruits and vegetables.
Also the fastest way to lose weight is to exercise. I know you say you hate it, but start small and work your way up. Set small goals for yourself. For instance this week make a goal to walk for at least 10 minutes 3 days a week. Next week make it 15.. then the following week make it half an hour. Then you can walk on more days, and perhaps find some hills to walk up.
Another poster had mentioned water aerobics, that's an excellent idea. If it's possible you could try some weight lifting.. muscle burns more calories and will speed up your metabolism.
I've recently lost 70 pounds, aiming to lose another 10-20, and work out everyday of the week for at least an hour. I've done lots of research on how best to lose the weight, so if you want or need further advice feel free to ask.
@richlatino2012 (58)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Oh okay. Yea I do like my fatty foods lol. Its hard to give up lol. But you shouldn't get tired of water try adding Crystal Light the one that has 0 calories that is really good to giving water some flavor. Sometimes I get tired of water as well and just add Crystal light and believe me it makes water taste so much better. I will try to walk more but I can't do weight lifting because of my back. Me being overweight for so long had put pressure on my back that my MRI shows that my bones are degenerating so I can't do normal things I used to do because of my back hurting so much. I used to love to go bowling and now I can't even do that anymore.
@beamon1021 (46)
• United States
27 Apr 10
I just want to say Congratulatins to you for the steps you've already made to making your health a main priority in your life. You've already taken some big steps.
Weight Watchers is a good and effective plan to help you lose weight. They offer an online plan and a meeting plan. I personally do the online plan because i dont want to have to talk to people about losing or gaining weight. Im more of a private person. But i've been on weight watchers since January and ive lost 22.5 pounds without doing a bit of exercise. I do watch what i eat and calculate the points online but along with your daily points you get weekly points. The weekly points are kinda like bonus points that you can use at any time for any special meal, snack, drink, etc. that you choose. I've been very bad with my WW these past few weeks and even though ive gone over all my points ive still lost 3 pounds. I think that subconciously im still making better decisions because ive trained myself to do so....Definately something i suggest you look into...
Good luck!
@richlatino2012 (58)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Thanks I'll take that into consideration as well. Thank you all for your comments :) Appreciate it :)
@RachelleNH (1396)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Way to go! They say to start with incorporating small changes. I myself have been working to wean myself off caffeine (I'm highly addicted and actually get headaches and withdrawl) I also have been working to include more fruits and veggies..they say to fill your plate with those and if you eat meat, try to keep it at only a fist size amount. Portion and calorie counting is probably the best way...besides eating as close to nature as you can.
Way to go once more!!!@RachelleNH (1396)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Yeah I did, that's kinda scary when you think about it..My mom is always hollering at me for drinking Diet coke-she says that she read somewhere that it causes gulf war symptoms? I am not sure what that is but she says it's really really bad for you
@richlatino2012 (58)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Thanks appreciate it. Read my post above if its tough to ween off then you may want to also consider getting an ultrasound if you drink pop heavily. You never know what may be lurking in your body. So just to be on the safe side.
• United States
27 Apr 10
I personally think youre doing really good! :) Adding the fact you used to weigh 450 pounds, and subtracting soda from your diet made you half that size, I'd say youre defintely getting somewhere. Soda is not at all good for you, neither is diet coke but I still drink it :p I guess my best advice to you is keep doing what your doing.. jus dont give up, i know you can do it ! :)
