I had my initial consult in late July 2006 with Dr. Poplawski at Barix Clinics he was great and I was ready to go.  I chose RNY surgery I wanted to go for the gusto.  I felt if I was going to get cut I was going for to go ahead with the surgery and I didn't want any foreign object in my body.
I had a sleep apnea test done in early October because I snored after meeting with Dr. Pop for my initial consultation - Test negative I didn't have sleep apnea - Thank God!!!
I sent my paperwork in in BCBS PPO - all I had to do was get my PCP to fill out a referral because Barix was not in their network, and I had to have a diet letter showing that I had tried to lose weight for 12 straight months.  I got my OB/GYN to do that letter because I had been going to her for like 10 years and she did the letter for my friend 3 years ago.  MY PCP is cool but I only been seeing her for 1 year and with my HMO I had the year before, they required that you attend a Weight management class for 1 year- well I showed them - I changed my insurance to BCBS PPO so that I could get the surgery.  I am impatient.

I was approved for surgery in October one week after submitting my paperwork, after seeing the psy and a therapist for like 2 months and after having sleep test but opted to wait until after my cruise to schedule surgery.  My first date would have been around October 15th.

11/16/07 - The worst day of my life!!!!  My DAD Died of a Massive Heart Attack.  He was overweight all of MY Life that I knew of, he was diabetic and he had lower back pain for over 5 years.  This eventually killed him because my DAD had back surgery and couldnt walk after suffering another heart attact about 3 weeks prior to this day.  He overdosed on pain medicine (IMHO)  he took phentenol suckers like they were candy for the pain and I think it eventually stopped his heart.  Boy Hind Sight is 20/20 please if you know people taking this pain medicine make sure you let their doctor know...that is all I am going to say about it. I know my DAD is not hurting anymore.  I miss him and Damn I wish I had that surgery before he died - he would say..."When you getting that surgery"?  I got to get out of this hospital to help your Mama with the baby (My daughter Kynnedi) when you have that surgery...and he can only see me from Heaven.

12/1/07-12/10/07 - I am cruising the Carribean with my son Darius and my girl and her daughter.  I ATE EVERYTHING under the sun AND I DRANK like a fish...had to prepare for surgery you know..... Pictures on my profile I had a ball.

12/25/07 - Merry Christmas - Happy Birthday Jesus tomorrow my journey begins...

12/26/06 - Pre Op testing -Weight 267 Pounds
Everything went well, however, my EKG was abnormal :-( 
I had to have an appointment with a heart specialist before I could go through with the surgery.  I had to get into a doctor before 1/10/07 dangit.  I called my Mom's but they were too booked

1/5/07 - Had my appointment with the heart specialist - EKG ok and ultrasound of my heart was fine - I was cleared for surgery.

1/10/07- Went in hospital at 9:45AM I was escorted back at 9:55AM to be preped for surgery.  I too hate IV's but the nurse numbed my wrist and I didn't feel a thing.  Everything was fine during pre op I was waiting as one person was just wheeled in before I got undressed and I had to wait basically my turn:-)  My mom was there with me and kept me company until they knocked me out.  I was knocked out in no time and all I remember was waking up to some lady with a loud voice going "Kelly Kelly open your eyes Kelly" I did and said Thank You Jesus!!!!  I prayed the night before and that morning for the Lord to please bring me thru this surgery and NOT to put my Mother through another loss or my kids.  I asked the Lord to let me see my kids again and he did.... GLORY!!
I stayed in the hospital for 3 days because I had so much gas in my colon and was in ALOT of pain.  I did not walk that much in the hospital hell I WAS TIRED and I slept thru the night as much as I could.  I hated breathing on that thing all night... I understand but dang, every 2 hours that was a bit much.  I was breathing and falling asleep at the same time.  And OMG, the taste of a SF popsicle saved my life!!! and I ate more ICE Chips than I ever had in my life!!!

1/13/07 - Released around noon and started my new life.  Not bad just alot of gas and it is hard to walk around your Great Room because it is too cold here to go outside.

1/23/07- Had my 2 week check up and OMG I lost 20 pounds since 12/26/06!!! that let me know it was worth it and I was going to DO THIS!!!  NUT put  me on pureed foods a week early because I was doing so good and had lost 10% of my body fat already (The goal for 6 weeks out).  Well that is all I can think of right now.... stay tuned

Wow I have let time slip away!
3/20/07
I have been doing pretty good!  For my 8 week check up on 2/26/07 I was down to 227 according to the scale at the doctor's office - 224 according to my scale oh well the clothes weighed 3 pounds!  I was now 23% body fat lost and ahead of the timing for weight lost.  I got an update on vitamins to add to my routine and was told it was ok to eat foods that I could tolerate.  Right now I am having problems Going to the pot to do Number 2 without help...if you know what I mean.

PLATEAU**PLATEAU**PLATEAU
Can you say Plateau!!! for the past 2 weeks I have teter toddered (ok I know that is not spelled right) from 221-218 I can not go past 218!  I need to break this now.  I heard this was the norm at about 3 months out and I will be 3 months in April!  Today I weighed 217.6 without clothes so HOPEFULLY I will keep going.  More to come soon I will try to update bi-weekly from now on!

5/1/07 - Ok it has been a good while since I updated my profile.  I am going to do this weekly now because I see how important that is for myself and others that follow me.  I finally broke that plateau as a matter of fact I am in ONDERLAND now!!!! I weigh 198 - I am under 200 for the first time in 5 years.  I had my 3 month check up on 4/16/07 and my surgeon and NUT said I was doing very well.  I needed to add a protein shake EVERYDAY!!!!  all of my blood work was good too.  Personally, all I can say is that this journey is very HARD!!!! it is truly a mental thing not just a journey to wear smaller clothes.  I can now eat things that maybe I shouldn't like the other day I took a piece of my son's trix bar.  I am now finding salads again, I tried a piece of chopped steak (good ground sirloin) it set well but I couldnt get that much down.  I have got to admit...I have taken a drink every now and then.  I sipped on light corona but I can't finish it, I have tried vodka and juice, want try a shot of tequilla yet.  I hope Drea from BAF is not reading this....My NUT told me to be careful NOT NOT to drink.  I will take it easy though.  Oh yeah, I put on a size 22 dress and my sorors were like Kelly that is swollowing you - PLEASE GO SHOPPING!!!  I put n a size 18 suit (not an 18W) that has been hanging in the closet for 4 years with the tags on them and it fit WONDERFULLY!!!  I can wear a size 16 jean too...just haven't went shopping yet...I am too scarred- Can you believe this Kelly scarred to shop..Hell nawl
one more thing...I am NOT working out like I should but I am trying to get better at that now.
I just want to conclude by saying I am so glad that I found BAF there is no way I could get through this journey without my BAF Family....
Until next time...I promise every Sunday I will update from now on.  I am going to start a WL journal too.

well I am back....just a quick update- I am now approaching my 6 month anniversary on Tuesday and I am down 95 pounds so far. I still need to do better with my getting my protein in, water intake and the big E...Exercise! I can honestly say I have not done those three important things faithfully. Eating is better now I can eat about 6 oz in one setting wait about 1/2 hour and get a little more liquid in.

I want to thank all the support from the BAF family especially the Detroit BAF FAM!!! "we have something in common" I really have enjoyed meeting the folks on OH and forming a WL Journey bound :-) I will update more I promise.

8/27/02
WOW funny how time flies the summer has been the bomb for me!
I am now in the century club!!! I am down now 109 pounds!!! I am weighing 158 pounds- I can wear a size 11/12 junior jeans/ a medium or large junioe shirt and a size 8/10 misses skirt.  God is good.  I have not had any issues so far just ALOT of STINKY GAS when I eat greasy foods or sweets.  I can handle that though.  I still need to drink my water!!!!! and EXERCISE because I don't......that will be my Fall goal
On a personal note me and my husband of 5 years has decided to go our separate ways and divorce.  I am OK with that decision in fact I am the one that made that decision.  He is a good person, he has a good heart, he is just not the one for me.  I will be fine.  Please continue to pray for my family during this difficult transitional period.



Thanks to my BAF Family for your support and encouragement throughout my journey I wouldn't made it to the century club without you.

10/27/07- WOW it has been a minute since I posted. I am now down to a size 146 Lbs that is a whooping 121 pound lost from the day I checked in the hospital. I look and feel good!!! I am a new person spiritually, mentally, and physically. This surgery is the best thing I have done to myself. I had a partial hysterectomy on Sept 6 and I am much better now. My energy level is the bomb in the bed!

I have a new life- I have filed for divorce and am anxiously waiting on my lawyer to call and say your date is........
I have a new love in my life as well and I know the Lord sent him to me and my kids....Life is good and challenging but well worth it. Until next time.....

2/6/08 Whew I got alot to catch up on...Well let's see I filed for divorce nothing to do with WLS there were issues about 3 years ago...found out about some skeletons in my ex husbands closet the kind that cost 18 years of child support payments.....TWINS ok didn't know they existed that was the start of it...... However, he is a good person just not the one for me.....we are FRIENDS and parents to Kynnedi that is all. He has moved on with an ex girlfriend and I am truly happy with my man and my life right now. Christmas was great finally someone in my life that my family LIKES/LOVES it was truly a blessed holiday season ever since I was married there were issues...my MOM NEVER liked my ex and it was known. I cooked xmas dinner hell fried turkey, honey baked ham, dressing, collard greens, green beans, mac n cheese about 6 cheeses, potato salad, ambrosia salad, yeast rolls, baked beans, sweet potato pie, chocolate pound cake, and a sour cream cheese cake it was on!!!! I ate and cooked cooked and ate and then didnt eat shit when it was time for dinner But I ate some cake lawd hamercy......and I DRANK the whole xmas break....... new years my man was sick we sat on the couch and said happy new year baby... it was my year...I cooked black eyed peas, cabbage, pork chops, corn bread I wanted some chitterlins dagnabitt I wanted some chit-ter-lings and I will get me some before the summer :-) I love me some pork and that is that. oh yeah my mama maid a freakin germain chocolate cake and I ate some yes I did....ok I gained 7 pounds over the holiday...who doesnt gain weight during the xmas break BUT I was a 132 too small to me so the 7 pounds was cool BUT I dont want to gain no more!
anyway that was xmas now January--I tried to get my divorce before the end of 07 it didn't turn out that way but my final court and only court date was 1/9/08 and the Judge DID grant me the divorce...he didnt contest anything and gave me the house so we didnt have nothing to fight about but child support but hey why hold up the divorce.
So that has been it in a nutshell I am now eating kinda regular anything I want I still dont dump on much just go to the toilet if I get too much fat (fried foods) or sugar. I can eat a 6 inch sub in 2 sittings like 1/2 at 11 for lunch and 1/2 at 4 on the ride home....I can eat a bagel for breakfast...I think I am eating too much damn bread now and SNACKIN like crazy....chips, salsa, pretzels anything with freakin salt....WHY!!!! and I still have problems getting in water, I dring like a fish I usually have a drink before I go to bed erenight....have to learn to drink straight or with 100% sugar free cranberry juice/coke zero...still cant really handle a shot of tequilla it BURNS the pouch baby....Orange juice makes me dump...I get really full sometimes and it is uncomfortable especially when I drink while I eat....it is still work in progress this tool takes work it is not a quick fix it is constantly work.....Now if I can move my butt and exercise I will be ok

My Love life is wonderful...I have a wonderful Man that I love dearly, my kids love him, my family loves him and his family loves me......it is complicated but it is working out...When I say I am living my life like it is Golden I am really. I am loving my new life and my new booty I mean body :-) I am now wearing a size 6 in dresses, dress pants, skirts and a junior 7/8 in jeans....Wow who would have thought those 24W's are out of my closet and they will NOT ever return.
Until next time I promise to keep it up now at least monthly....oh yeah I now weigh 138 pounds....I have lost 129 pounds so far.

hey just a note I dont want yall to think I am a drunk and just started drinking after surgery....not substituting one addition for another I was always an alcoholic...just never made it to the meetings! hi my name is kelly and I am an alcoholic...Ok let me stop I am not an alcoholic!
my weight has maintained for the last 2 months at 139/140 so I guess I am happy with that I still may try to lose 5 pounds before the summer you know just to keep it tight for those babyphat dresses...