This may sound really trivial but I gotta ask anyway. I am scheduled to be banded late next month and I am really excited about everything except for one thing. I won't get to have a beer again... I know this sounds like I am a drinker, but I'm not. I only drink beer once a month, if that. But when I do I really enjoy it.

I am really not looking forward to not being able to have a beer or two now and then. Stupid, I know considering all the band will help me gain. But it's something I am dreading none the less.....

Just wondering what others drink when they want to losen up and have fun. I'm not a big wine fan, and stuff like whiskey and Water turns my stomach as does tequila. So what do you guys suggest?

AL

So you're saying I shouldn't have had that beer?

Just kidding. I rarely drink anything. But I have had a sip or two of beer. (And I drink carbonated Water all the time...but not straight out of the bottle. It has to sit a while, first.) My advice would be that slow, small sips of beer may be do-able. And chugging a beer may be a no-no.

One of the things I'd REALLY like to learn is that eating (or drinking) things slower actually lets me taste them longer. You may find that you enjoy beer differently now.

I have drunk beer since being banded. It is important not to drink it to quickly and NOT to drink it straight from a bottle or can. This is true of soda pop too. If you DO drink anything carbonated be SURE that you have not eaten right before or shortly after - I find that the carbonation tends to make the gassyness of food increase sort of exponentially and that can be VERY uncomfortable.

Everybody's milage varies on this count. The band does NOT mean you can never touch the stuff again, you just have to decide for yourself if it works for you - and if not if the discomfort is worth it. Keep in mind that beer and sugared sodas are liquid CALORIES and allow you to "eat around" your band in the caloric intake department. Even if you CAN you may not WANT to.

My husband and I went on a long weekend to Prague and I gained SIX pounds in four days drinking the local beer and just generally taking a holiday from the band. I think a lot of that was simple Water weight but it made me RETHINK the whole beer thing, LOL!!!! The weight all came back off by the following week but it was a real eyepopping discovery the morning after we got home and I stepped on the scale!

It is true about savoring the flavors of things when eating slowly. I find that if I have a SERIOUS chocolate craving I am satisfied with a single small piece - which I generally break up and nibble squirrel style. I try not to do this often, but I find I am MUCH more successful when I allow myself ONE daily treat of under 50 calories. I don't do it every day anymore because there are many days now that I simply don't have any urge for sweets and I am more interested in Proteins. That has blown me away really, I did not expect it to be so easy to give up my old favorites. These days I tend to find many of the things I used to like a bit too sweet. My tastes have ACTUALLY changed. I guess you can see that I am LOVING this band of mine.

Don't worry. This band is NOT the end of all thigns you like to eat forever. You can succeed and still have the ocassional treat, you just have to learn to modify your behavior. This is NOT an all or nothing solution to your weightloss problem. You get out of it the effort you put into it. You know?

Big Al,

I'm not a big drinker but had a beer on a blind date to "fit in" the other week.

Guiness doesn't have carbonation...not sure if you like it or not, if I am forced to drink beer (which I only do once or twice a year) Guiness is my choice. It has a nitrogen pellet I believe or something like that so when it is opened it gets a head, however, has no carbonation...

So happy barley pop to you!

Thanks for not making me feel stupid about something as trivial as beer. I guess if I can have a sip now and then that is way better than not drinking beer at all. I really don't know what I, or everybody else for that matter, would do without this site. I live 3 hours from the closest Lap Band support group so I look here for support and information and I have to say I am truly impressed with the way everyone supports and helps one another. You guys are too cool...

Thanks again!!

AL