I've been I joking a few cold beers during this hot almost summer. Does beer count like soda or a carbonated drink? I know they both stretch the sleeve.

Also, how much will my sleeve stretch??

Whether carbonation will stretch your sleeve is a matter of debate. However, it will stretch your waistline!

My nutritionist said the bubbles will stretch your stomach, I know that is a hotly debated topic. She also said the bubbles can cause nausea, Why risk it? And agree with @@Bufflehead, is it worth the carbs and calories?

Drink it flat

What does YOUR bari program recommend about alcohol? (My program is very conservative and recommends NO ALCOHOL FOR LIFE [hard to do--but worth it.] Many programs say to wait 6 months; others say one year.)

"Stretching" your sleeve is really the least of your worries in the priority of things.

I know you said you were "joking" about drinking beers, but in case the joking becomes reality--

Only YOU can answer the question about your choice of using alcohol in your forever WLS life. Maybe also consider that we as WLS patients can be susceptible to an array of transfer addictions (alcohol being one of the biggies) as replacements to our strong "addictions" we've had to food our whole lives. Just be smart and know yourself...

Also depends how far out you are from surgery. As others have said, do you really want to "spend" your calories and carbs on alcohol that has no nutritional value? The odds are good that it will affect your weight loss.

Some resume drinking immediately after surgery (you see many of them here on BP). Some wait beyond one year after surgery when they have established and fully practiced their new eating habits, and if choosing alcohol in their WLS life is what they want to do, they can plan to occasionally (3-4 times/month) include it in their eating plan.

There are TONS of great non-alcoholic, non-carbonated, refreshing summer drinks out there we can create that are fun and WLS-friendly too! I love challenging myself to come up with new and different ones. For instance, I recently found a simple cantalope smoothie recipe made with non-fat Greek yogurt. Ice-cold and so refreshing...filled the glass with summer shaped ice cubes, put in a little drink umbrella, and sat on the patio under a BIG umbrella--Bliss!

Just offering a different perspective...

Since your profile says your pre op I can only assume that this is a question that's been floating around your mind. However, once you do have the surgery and you've gone through the recovery to seeing the results you probably wouldn't even want to have a beer. Beer has so much calories and is just as similar to soft drinks. Furthermore, beer may lead to transfer addiction so you need to be mindful of that.

Be wise for your long term health. Don't go for the temporary fix that may go into long term issues.

</twocentend>

Lite beer has only 80 calories... I don't think that's a lot?? I am almost 3 months out and have had beer on vacation and occasionally. Takes a lot longer to drink one, but I had no problems & did not affect my losses.