Kimberly Bouche-Perez

I am so excited, but I have so many questions. I want answers, but I think some of it we are just going to have to find out on our own. I can't wait to find my first pair of jeans in the regular size section, or to walk between two chairs without fear of not fitting. I am so glad that there is someone on here to share each step with. We have 2 days to go!! You got this!

Hi, If you wern't scared something would be wrong with you, lol. I had bypass 22 months ago. Actually I just had a Tummy Tuck 3 weeks ago. (Not fun, not fun at all)
But.....
I can walk more then 20 feet without knee pain
I can keep up with my grand kids
I can walk a mile and entire mile in 15 mins
Cloths fit they actuqlly fit
I can go into the store and buy regular clothes, not plus size
I can fit at those bucket tables without my stomach barley fitting in
Up until a week ago, I still saw the fat Kim
Now I have a problem keeping weight on. I am 'under weight' now.
It is crazy that 22 months ago they were telling me loose loose loose, lol
As far as you worring about being stuck up and so.
You will be the same loving person you are now.
The surgery changes the outside. YOU change the inside.
This site is great for aupport I wished I found it saooner.
I am here for you if you need me.
Good luck and I look forward to hearing good things from you!

Fat free string cheese

Ok. I will try it tomorrow.
We are all different. Chili is my favorite right now. I wish I could try something else. I don't know where to start.

Don't think I'd eat chili yet. You're prob still on soft foods. Soup, scrambled eggs, grits, mashed potatoes. pudding. It's been a while I 've forgotten most of it. My nutritionist laid out my menu & I followed it

I wish I had known about a forum like this when I was starting out. It would've been easier

I'm 4 months post op & have lost 100 lbs. This has been the hardest thing I've ever tried to do. It's a lot easier now. Walking everyday & working out at the gym. Have another 100 to lose

I am in the same process. My sleeve dilated during pregnancy (I was not overheating) it was a difficult pregnancy. The weight I gained I have not lost and my gerd is horrible. So I went in for a the upper gi and barium swallow a few weeks ago and he determined that I have severe gerd and a dialated sleeve, which he says he has seen in several post pregnancy sleeves. I am scheduled for an endoscopy the end of May. In the meantime, they are contacting my insurance regarding revision. I have BCBS Federal, I am not sure if I will have to go through all the requirements again. So just waiting. Good luck to u.

Well, I wish you all the best with your upcoming surgery. I started with the RNY because I already had uncontrollable reflux and my surgeon had so much experience with the sleeve making that problem worse.
I have not had a single episode of reflux since the first day post op.i can eat pretty much whatever I want and thankfully I do not get dumping syndrome.
Good luck with your upcoming transition. Hopefully you will feel better soon!

New to the site, I had the VSG in October 2011. I am 5'2" and weighed 265 when I started the pre op liquid diet and 247 the day of surgery. Six months later I was down to just under 180, never did make it to 100 lbs down. My sleeve had already begun to dilate shortly after that visit and led to putting some weight back on over time. I now weigh 206 with severe reflux issues as well as a few other minor setbacks...high cholesterol, etc. I am scheduled for the Gastric Bypass on May 22nd and will admit that I'm more nervous than ever. I anticipate this being a more long term solution for weight loss as well as overall health improvement and hope I will not be here again in four years with the same story. I am happy to have found this site as I've learned a hard lesson that education is key!!

I haven't had my surgery yet but 2 things:
1) at 240, you weren't nearly as overweight as many people on this board who have 150-200 lbs or more to lose. Naturally, they would lose faster.
2)You may actually need to up your calories a tiny bit. Sometimes going too low pushes your body into survival mode, hanging onto every bit it can.
Also, are your 800 calories coming primarily from Protein and some good fats? Or are you eating carbs, which will tell the body to store fat?

That is so good to hear! I hope this stall breaks soon! I will be posting if and when it does. It's just soooo discouraging!

I know a stall is hard. But I think my fitness pal is a great app that will help you.
Also stay AWAY from the 'fat free' products and the surger free products. They have either more surgar (fat free) or a lot of ugar alcahol (surgar free).
I like to eat the same thing, but I had to learn to change up the food and the exercie every few days cause your body does get use to it.
Stalls do happen. I was stuck between at 196 for about a month. I thought that was the last weight loss I was gonna have. I did shed many tears. But a month later, It pickeed up like crazy. I went from 196 to 163 in just 2 1/2 months. And then boom another 10 lb out of nowhere.
I have also learned to weigh yourself at the same time everytime you weigh yourself.
Cause I use to weigh myself in the morning and then at night and it would look like i gained weight during the dqy. Then in the morning it was gone. This is a HUGE mistake.
I hope this helps.
Good luck

Best Christmas gift ever! Your health is the best gift you could ask for. Sure it would be nice to have it at another time but you will do great!

Today I found out that I was approved for surgery! I will be having it December 22nd! Kinda close to Christmas but I don't mind.

I would call the insurance company to make sure that the surgeons office actually sent in your paper work and where you stand on this with them.
I would call your email the office manager and tell them exactly what is going on with this situation and how poorly you are being treated.
In the worst case you could change surgeons and see if your insurance company would make you start all over again or if you can transfer your information to a new surgeon.
You don't have to put up with this and don't because they are playing with your life decision.
Best of luck in getting some answers.

I agree. Talk with your primary care physician and ask them for a referral to a local bariatric surgeon. This is the first step in an amazing journey. You will not regret it. I want to encourage you as you prepare to check out my blog at the link below. It has recipes, encouragement, and information about how to deal with everything that is happening to you. I especially want to encourage you to check out the three posts I did on How I Prepared for Surgery. It is never too early to start thinking about these steps. I wish you the best of luck. Please keep us informed of your progress.
If you have any additional questions or need anything at all don't hesitate to contact me at the links below. I am an open book and here to help.

5 days to surgery. Day 5 of the pre op diet and half way there. I missed logging a couple of days, but all is going well. I actually went to a spinning class at the gym on Monday and that felt great to get some activity in. Surprisingly, my energy level has been good even on the restricted calories, even with the exercise added in. I have been diligent keeping under the 1000 calories requirement and no carbs and this is translating to the scale. I have dropped about 12 lbs in the last 5 days. I know about half of this is Water weight, but 5-6 lbs is body weight..
I have been getting ready for the surgery the last couple of days. The hospital called to preregister and set up the presurgery lab draws. They also called wanting the payment. I am self pay, so I have to cough up the $19,000 for the surgery. I basically took a loan on my 401K to pay for it. It will take me 4 years to pay back, but the payment is reasonable considering the reduction in future medical bills and the improvement in quality of life.
I meet with the Doctor on Friday. He requires a 1 hr education class on the new lifestyle and then a 1 hr exam and Dr consultation. His practice also announce the May support group schedule. I am looking forward to attending the meetings and meeting more people like me, going through the same experience.
My family has been pretty supportive. No one has been negative. I think they are a little stand offiish on the subject because they just don't know how to talk about it. My siblings are all pretty heavy and all could probably use the surgery. Maybe I will set the example and they will follow. Who knows? My wife has been very supportive. She did question me a week ago if I really wanted to go through with it. She has tried to make dinners and eating work with my diet. It's a little challenging at times because she has never dealt with any weight issues. I probably come across crazy at times going from diet to diet. I don't blame her sometimes being frustrated with me and what to cook for dinner. Hopefully this will get much better after the surgery.
Anyway, I am rambling, and life is moving forward.

You are doing an amazing job! I like that you are tracking those calories and seeing those numbers. It's also great that you are staying so active despite the reduce intake. Keep that up!!!
I'm still not even scheduled for surgery but trying to stay on low calories to lose some weight (started at 417!) It is challenging and I am hungry ALL the time. But we can do it!

I went today and bought some Premier Protein to try and I also found a high Protein organic nutritional shake that I bought singles of at Kroger in vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. It only has 10 grams but it has lots of other Vitamins and nutrients in it. I'm desperate to find at least one that tastes good as I usually hate them all I also plan to order some nectrin syntax protein soon.
I'm struggling right now with my farewell to food tour ! I know it's terrible but there is a good chance I'll never be able to eat some things ever again and I have this overwhelming desire to have them one more time ! Lol I haven't gained any weight luckily but I still work out a lot. I was only asked to do one week of pre op diet but I want to start increasing my protein and Water now to help with healing. I already take B12 and Biotin and a multi Vitamin daily.

Latonya - how far out are you? I have been keeping track of my weight on my phone and because I'm in a research study I get weighed by my Dr every month. I go officially by their scale since that's where I started. I don't see the change so much in my clothes, but people tell me all the time that look thinner. I started at 268 and size 22-24. I am now a size 18-20 depending on the brand. I am getting frustrated that although 55 lbs is a lot, I think I should then be in a smaller size clothes. Congrats on being in the same size you were in HS!!! That would be amazing! I don't think I will ever get there because I was a size 8 and I don't think I could ever get that small at this point. I would be happy in a size 10/12. My biggest thing is being able to do all the fun things in life and not feeling self conscience! I am a big kid at heart and want to ride bikes, go to Water parks, ride carnival rides, horse ride again. My son turned 2 last sunday and we had his party at a bouncy house. I think I had more fun than he did playing . I wouldn't have been able to participate 55 lbs heavier.

I was a revision from band to bypass. I never even considered the sleeve. I only wanted one last surgery.. After seeing the sleeve to bypass revision board I knew I would only do the bypass.. And I love it

According to the dr @ the support group I attend, the pouch doesn't stretched back out ... I was shocked to hear that. I can eat any type of food, even really sweet items.
You will have to stand strong to keep the weight off, mine has bounced. But now I am having to work it back off, I can blame many things ... but in the end it's my fault.
Just keep working to get the weight off, and make sure you take that extra step to keep it at a HEALTHY level.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just try to stay away from a lot of carbs and sugar. I am one year out and I eat some Pasta or even a slice of pizza once in awhile. You just have to keep track of eating habits. Don't eat out of boredom or emotional situations. Call your dietician if your worried, that will make you feel better.

I am in the same situation. I can eat anything without side affects (unfortunately!). But, that is no excuse. We just have to be stronger and avoid those things as much as possible. I don't think we have stretched the pouch, though if I'm wrong, I hope somebody says so!! I also don't think you (or we) have malabsorption problems. But I don't know why this is. I really can't decide if I really can eat a lot or if I am just satisfied earlier so I "think" I am eating as much. Not sure yet. But I am really trying to be good.