AbbieRoad

I'm 6' tall, currently wearing a size 26 and weighing in at 350. I just got approved for the surgery so my date is tbt but it will be soon. I think my surgeon is scheduling end of Oct/early Nov. My goal weight from the surgeon is 220. For my height, I could go as low as 180, realistically, if I get around 195 I'd be pleased. I'm not going to lie, seeing people starting out at their highest weight, and having that number be the same as my goal number makes me feel like ****. I get that they're like 5'4 or whatever, but it still sucks. Where are all my tall ladies? I am getting so discouraged! I want to see some before/afters and waist clothing sizes for tall girls like me! I know you're out there! We need to start a club or something.

It gets better. I promise! The early weeks with the strong restrictions on diet are toughest. Explore the supermarkets, find some new, healthy protien rich foods, some low carb healthy snacks. Get out of the "I eat the same 5 foods in different sequences every day" pattern which, agreed, is depressing. Go out to a restaurant if you want! In the beginning I would order a soup. Once I was farther out, salads with fish or grilled chicken on top- I focus on the meat and some veggies. Order a turkey burger (or a real one, I do now and again!) and eat it w/o the bun. There are lot of options.

Yep I thought I had discovered an amazing treat when I had the diet lemonade slush from sonic! That was a low blow haha!

If you *really* want the diet coke, go to bed bath & beyond, but the soda stream brand diet coke syrup (for the soda maker) and mix it with just water. Tastes like flat diet coke but no bubbles to kill the sleeve!

It is important to drink plenty of fluids. I didn't drink enough water toward the end of my pregnancy and had to be induced due to low amniotic fluids. That said, I had a healthy baby girl 3 weeks ago! I'm 20lbs lighter than my pre preg weight. I ate healthy, but are what I wanted. My nut and ob asked me to shoot for 2800 calories a day and 90oz of water a day. (I'm 6' tall so my caloric intake should be higher than a shorter girl) but it was simply impossible to reach that many calories (short of eating exclusively at mcdonalds lol, which was not the idea). Doc said eat what I can, when I can/want to. I always had an easier time eating later in the day than earlier in the morning. So at dinner, I would eat, wait 30minutes, eat seconds. It was always healthy rounded dinners, and it helped getting a bit more protien in!

I delivered my daughter 3 weeks ago, weighing 10lbs less than I was when I got pregnant. A healthy 7lb8oz little girl. Today I am 20lbs less than the start of my pregnancy. I've been feeling a little paranoid that my sleeve stretched but it hasn't. As my baby grew, my restriction grew. I didn't realize it, I just felt restriction. Immediately after giving birth I was surprised at how much I could actually eat. I still focus on protien, healthy eating, etc. I am breastfeeding and honestly I feel hungrier now than I did the entire pregnancy! So anyway- I felt like I could eat a TON more than I could just days earlier while pregnant. I really looked at my portions and concluded it was the baby restricting me further, just like my bladder can hold a lot more now that she's born- so can my stomach! I still have restriction it just seemed like too much because as she grew she gradually restricted me further and I never noticed because it was gradual, it became the new normal. I was 1 year out when I got pregnant, almost exactly. For other sleevers now wanting to wait, I would suggest waiting until you are out of your rapid weight loss phase before trying for pregnancy, but totally understand not wanting to wait 2 years! I was sleeved in November and lost rapidly until march, and then march-September I only lost 15lbs) pregnant in October. Pre pregnancy I lost roughly 120lbs.

I haven't changed anything in my eating habits. I'm getting around 70 grams of Protein a day, drinking as mch as humanly possible (about 50oz a day of Water w/ crystal light in it) I haven't had a problem with hair falling out, but all the sudden the last 2 weeks or so it's coming out a TON. Like 10 strands at a time. Thankfully I've got a thick head of curly hair so it's not noticable to people, but I notice it. Each time I brush my hairbrush is completely full of hair. I haven't changed a THING! What on earth is going on? I've also been at a stall for the last 3-4 weeks. Seem to be bouncing back and forth within a 2lb range. I know it's normal to "shed" for me this time of year, but this is an alarming amount of hair gone! IDK what's up. April 13 will be 5 months out. I've lost about 90lbs total. Still have 40 to go til I reach doc's goal weight. Moreso for my goal. What's going on? Should I up my Biotin? I've been taking 2000mg a day.

I was a year out when I found out I was preggo. I'd lost 120lbs, still had about 35 I wanted to lose. I got preggo, stopped all diet/artificial sugars, replaced my turkey stuff with "real" red meats, and lost 10lbs my first trimester! Not due to nausea or vomiting, just increased metabolism. Then I had the stomach flu during my 2nd adn lost another 5lbs (whoops) docs weren't worried. I'm 36w now and due soon - and I'm still 5lbs less than where I was when I started this pregnancy! I am thinking once I push this baby out, estimated 7lbs, plus the Water, the placenta,.... I'll be down another 10lbs probably. I'm feeling pretty good about that! honestly, I ate what I wanted this pregnancy. I listened to my body, ate what I craved! So, this sleeve has been great for my pregnancy! Baby is healthy, I am healthy!

I got pregnant just a few weeks shy of a year out. I was not yet at goal weight, but I have lost 15lbs since I got pregnant. I'm 22w3d now (Due June 30) and the weight loss seems to have stopped. The baby is measuring just fine and growing perfectly so my docs aren't concerned. Have you had the baby measured via ultrasounds? I'm sure it's fine! Pregnancy changes our metabolism!

I am 14.5 weeks pregnant, due June 30th. I became pregnant just before my one year sleeve-versary, sleeved November 13th, 2012, same day a a year later confirmed with ultrasound I was 6wks pregnant. I wasn't completely at goal but I'd been at my current weight since March, around 260 (before you all gasp, I'm 6' tall which means aprox a size 14 pants, XL/L shirts, it just sounds fat if you're short!) I had wanted to be at 225 before I got pregnant but those last 10lbs that I'd taken off had taken me 6 months, 225 seemed way far off! So, we began trying and got pregnant immediately (which is awesome, since pre-sleeve we tried for over 4 years only to get pregnant and miscarry) I was 260 when I got pregnant, eating around 1000 calories a day, good stuff, like we're all supposed to. Nut said I should shoot for 2800 calories a day, I laughed at her lol... but I increased where I could. Calorie beverages, full fat stuff rather than non/low fat, started eating red meat again rather than subbing turkey, having *real* bacon with my Breakfast (zomg, I missed it, turkey bacon is such a joke) and I've lost 15lbs! What the heck?! Baby belly is growing, I can see that, I need maternity pants, but - yeah, 15lbs gone. It had been 20 but I managed to put some back on. I'm not even having morning sickness, which would explain things! What gives?! This happen to anyone else? Good thing is I'm pretty sure I won't end this pregnancy higher than I started it. Even with my son (presleeve) I only gained 15lbs.

Think so? Hmm that makes sense I guess! Who would have thought all this time all I had to do was give in to the little devil on my shoulder and eat what I wanna eat lol.

I didn't go through this but I did breastfeed my son. I think during your recovery period when you're still on pain medication, you'll need to pump to keep up your supply and supplement him with either breastmilk you've previously pumped, or formula. He won't be able to nurse him with the meds you'll be on post surgery. I only took pain meds for about a week. See if the hosp/doc can arrange a hospital grade pump for you to use during your recovery period, it would make things easier! You may need to take things like fenugreek to up your supply since your intake will be pretty low which will effect your supply, but, i don't see it being completely impossible, just challenging! In the end though I'm sure it'll help with weight loss as well as being awesome for the baby

oh wow, ok! I'm def not taking 10 of these a day haha, I'll find a higher dose pill. thanks!

I have been taking 2 1000mg Biotin pills a day. I think I'll try upping it.... I've recently seen biotin sold in 5000mg capsuls! I might get some of that since the idea of taking 5 of these giant pills isn't pleasant lol how much biotin do you all take?

I'm in Burlington County, but I grew up in Toms River! almost 5 months post-op & feeling great!

hmm interesting. I'll look into it, thanks

just bumping this up for the new sleevers. "closed" fb group for tall people who have had/are getting the VGS surgery! https://www.facebook.com/groups/tallvgs/

Yes! I had my surgery 11/13 and as of last Wed I started getting that pain too! I was working, taking it somewhat easy but I must have done something because it feels as if I'm being burned with a cigarette on the inside. My dic said I over did it, pulled a muscle or internal stitch but that it should go away in a couple of days. It's hard to sleep, switch sides, standing up (unless I pick my tummy up with me!) I took yesterday and pretty much couched it all day... I feel better today, still a little burny but it's better. Just take it easy. Also, idk if you have one but in the hospital they gave me a brace to wear. I sleep in it, and it helps.

I was sleeved nov 13! One week out today! Feeling good, still a little ouchy but off pain Meds. I had a hernia fixed at the same time, so that was no fun! I'm not loving my sleeve yet but I'm not hating it! Just getting aquatinted! Ready for non liquids!

this is great girls! I love hearing all your stories! We've got 30 members now on our "Tall Group!" so we can all keep in touch w/ progress, sizes, etc. It's wonderful! https://www.facebook.com/groups/tallvgs/

You're allowed to eat turkey? I have full liquids only for 2weeks 2 days... Sleeved on Tues 19th. Do you just chew it really well?

I was sleeved on Tuesday 11/13! Came home from the hospital yesterday, still felt pretty shitty, but today I started feeling more like me, like a tired, sore version of me, but, still. I keep feeling the urge to burp, but they're not really coming out. I'm excited to be starting my journey. I bought some powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury unflavored Protein powder - hubby has been adding that to everything for me. I still haven't felt the "full" feeling, but I get scared and stop eating after a little bit. I had a half a small mug of chicken broth for bfast. half small mug homemade potato garlic Soup for lunch, same thing for dinner. Small cup of sugar free caramel pudding. And then Crystal Lite. All with Protein Powder added into it to reach about 35-40 grams of protein for the day. He said get to 60, I just don't feel the urge, but I may try for another 5-10 in a little bit. Does this sound about right? My doc, I gotta say, I'm a huge fan of what he did for me, but his personality and everything else = toilet. Not big on the small talk/bedside manner at all. After surgery I didn't see him at all, the next day I breifly saw another doc from his practice that I'd never met before, and then on checkout day he came in, pulled out my drain, told me to make an appointment for 2 weeks, told me I was going home, and left, total of about 2 minutes facetime, 5 if you include pre-op! But, it seems he did a good job, so, I can't complain. I just feel a little bit unsupported by the doc in all this. He didn't tell me what to do, as far as the gauze/bandages on my wounds, if/when I should replace them. He said to eat full liquids until I see him in 2 weeks and follow the paperwork I got on my first visit (back in August) but only because I thought to ask as he was walking out the door. The nurses in the hospital were well informed thankfully, and they said he's like that with everyone. Always seems to be in a rush! Ah well. I'm sleeved, and I didn't want a real clingy doc that wanted to see me all the time anyway! Thank goodness for my online research because I'd be totally lost!!

That's good! I could have done with a little hand holding!