I know I should NEVER have carbonated beverages as the CO2 bubble can stretch the stomach. Soooooo, as I enjoy a good beer, any options? For example, any non-carbonated beer? How about Guiness - I think they use low levels of Nitrogen instead of carbonation. Any other ideas?

Since loosing my weight, I get a buzz on real quick, like 1/2 a drink. I don't do beer, either. But, I have had tequila. Oof! it hit me real quick. And it was the worst hangover I have had in 43 years! Be careful. You will not be able to drink what you could when you were heavier. Karen(kll724)

Since we are on one of my favorite subjects...alcohol ..I have a question. Those of you that are saying that you aren't able to drink as much as you did before, etc. Did you drink a lot at all before? On a normal night out.. how many drinks would you have? I haven't had a drink since this whole thing started... so almost a month...that's a long time for me. I normally drink a few times a week.. just being honest..so I'm just curious how much you drank before being banded as opposed to now...that you can feel so much of a difference.. does that make sense?

I will answer first, because i was the one who said she was buzzed quickly. I am not a drinker, never was. But, I could have maybe 2 drinks and not feel much but 1/2 a drink, now and I can feel it. The day I got sick was around the holidays, and I was across the street from my own house. I. almost, felt like someone should walk me home! That was on 2 ounces of tequila sunrise! Haven't tried anything since. Karen(kll724)

We metabolize alcohol the same as we ever did. Unlike our bypass pals, who process it differently. If our tolerance is lower, it is from drinking less often and thus, feeling it more.

My surgeon said no alcohol at all for the first year, but the reason was because it will sabotage your weight loss.

I LOVE IT!

Beer is a wonderful drink,mmmmmm. Sadly I can ONLY drink one now!!!!!! Too full after that first one,lol. So I make it a good beer, like Molson, or michelob, something dark and rich. I used to also drink Whiskey and coke,and now I cant tolerate the coke! So I tried it with Sprite and it made a difference, but again, I can barely get one in and then im full, or bloated or whatever you call it,lol.

Oh, I have to say I loooove Dr Malleys take on the whole stretch your pouch with carbonation! I was so glad to hear that.

Summer and the heat will be here soon, a cold beer now and again will be great.

Since the only thing that is absorbed IN THE STOMACH is alcohol it would make sense that you would get buzzed faster if your stomach is smaller now.

Granted all liquid passes through the band, but that is my thought on the matter and I'm sticking to it LOL

I will answer first, because i was the one who said she was buzzed quickly. I am not a drinker, never was. But, I could have maybe 2 drinks and not feel much but 1/2 a drink, now and I can feel it. The day I got sick was around the holidays, and I was across the street from my own house. I. almost, felt like someone should walk me home! That was on 2 ounces of tequila sunrise! Haven't tried anything since. Karen(kll724)

OMG WOW! Gosh maybe being an alkie will be so much cheaper for me now.. I suppose I'm just gonna have to drink myself and find out... I'm a drinker. When I drink... I prolly drink 2-3 drinks an hour.... To all the non-drinkers it sounds like a lot...but it's really not... I'm just gonna drink tomorrow and find out... it'll be like an experiment!

I LOVE IT!

Beer is a wonderful drink,mmmmmm. Sadly I can ONLY drink one now!!!!!! Too full after that first one,lol. So I make it a good beer, like Molson, or michelob, something dark and rich. I used to also drink Whiskey and coke,and now I cant tolerate the coke! So I tried it with Sprite and it made a difference, but again, I can barely get one in and then im full, or bloated or whatever you call it,lol.

Oh, I have to say I loooove Dr Malleys take on the whole stretch your pouch with carbonation! I was so glad to hear that.

Summer and the heat will be here soon, a cold beer now and again will be great.

OMG 1 drink and you feel full? WOW that's a tragedy.. Do you think it's because of the carbonation?? I wasn't planning on having beer yet...well, now that they said that about guinness..lol I was just gonna stick to rum, vodka, and tequila for now. But rum and vodka can be easily mixed with crystal lite..you can do a low carb margarita.. damn...all this talk..I need a damn drink!

I used to look forward to Friday nights with friends and a few beers. Since I've hit restriction I still look forward to Friday night but I only have one beer which most times I can't finish. My doctor said that the only reason that we shouldn't drink alcoholic beverages is that they are empty calories. He said that a drink here or there won't sabotage your weight loss and won't stretch your pouch.

OMG WOW! Gosh maybe being an alkie will be so much cheaper for me now.. I suppose I'm just gonna have to drink myself and find out... I'm a drinker. When I drink... I prolly drink 2-3 drinks an hour.... To all the non-drinkers it sounds like a lot...but it's really not... I'm just gonna drink tomorrow and find out... it'll be like an experiment!

Smokey, sip it slowly at first. Every once in a while I get a nasty case of the hiccups from beer. A shot of tequila with no training wheels (lime and salt) will cure it though.

Do keep in mind the calories you are consuming, and the impact on your overall calorie count. I am where I want to be weight wise now. I drink beer on the weekends. Yummy!

I went to a party on Friday night and all they had was draft beer. Gag...I usually HATE draft, I am a bottle girl but that is all they had. So I had a few draft beers, they tasted pretty good and it didn't bother me at all. A few hours later they ran out of draft beer and brought in bottles and I couldn't drink the bottled beer. WHAT? I poured it into a glass and tried waiting, etc. but it kept hurting everytime I took a drink. Has anyone else noticed draft beer goes down easier than bottled beer?

i'm not able to drink as much anymore since i've been banded. i get both full and tipsy faster but maybe its because i don't eat while i'm drinking? long island ice teas are my drink of choice so i'm feeling pretty good after 1 now when i used to be able to handle 3 or 4... but i was eating while i was drinking.

each surgeon is different... my surgeon said no soda or alcohol 3 monts post-op. i've been drinking 20 ounces of diet pepsi a day for the past 2 years and have been fine BUT follow your doctor's orders!!

Went out last night, had Vodka martini's, so no extra cals, I was able to drink like I used too, but felt it this am.....err seeing as I am not able to eat as much. Lesson learned from now on, more food and less liquor.

I figured I'd had to make an appearance in this thread as I have talked about this subject to my nutritionist and surgeon and both have told me that there really isn't any danger in drinking beer, but reminded me that is empty calories and I shouldn't drink it very often.

I never understood how carbonation could stertch a pouch, considering a full pouch probably stretches the pouch more than a stomach full of carbonation. I'd be iwlling to be most doctors say NEVER is because there hasn't been any research done to specifically find out the effects of carbonation on lap band pouch swelling. They should do some research, but I probably won't volunteer

Anyway, moderation. I love good beer. I haven't had any yet as I'm pretty focused on losing, but once summer rolls around, it's going to be hard to not sit outside and enjoy an ice cold beer on the deck or by the pool.

Ok, question for you Guinness drinkers. The fact that they use nitrogen...it is still bubbles, isn't it? When it is served, it has a head on it. So, they don't use Co2, but..aren't bubbles bubbles??

When I have beer, I prefer a Hefeweizen. It seems to not be as bubbly as a domestic. Plus, I much prefer the taste.