Biggest Loser

OMG That sucked tonight. I could never be that underhanded. I hope they vote that guy off soon!!

I totally agree. I would hate standing up there in a bra and then this week the team that won got a massage. OMG I would have been so uncomfortable with someone I don't know touching my fat!!! LOL

Glad to here that everything is going good. Congrats on making under 200!! I can't wait until I get there.

I finally passed the 30lbs lost mark today!!!:whoo:Next 30lbs here I come.

Hey Marcy - I know exactly what you are saying...I am originally from Alaska. Moved away when I was 22 and now that I have lived in the "lower 48" for awhile I don't think I would want to go back to live. I like the lower prices, less snow and even though I grew up with the light/dark daylight changes I like the normal daylight cycle better. Now I freak out when we send something to my sister up there and find out how much its going to cost!! LOL

Hey Ang1982 - I don't really have the answers to your questions but I did want to input on your 3rd question. I have seen two other people on LBT that went to Dr. K and ended up with a port problem (leak/flip) and as far as I know he fixed them for free. I asked Dr. K during my consult about the other problems and he said he has never had an erosion or slippage on any of his paitents, but considering how I have been wonderfully treated by him and all of his staff, I believe if a problem did arrise the cost to fix it with Dr. K would be minimal if anything. You might check your insurance and see what kind of "out of network" coverage you have because with my insurance even though I went out of state for the band they would have covered any problems, just at a lesser rate. Good Luck to you!

Its all about your personal choice. Its just like buying a car-- You can choose a decent car at a dealership where no one trys to stick it to you by sugar coating it - or you can choose one from Giant Auto World where the car salesman has prepared the proven speech and offers every finance plan sure to get all your money. You walk out with the same car, pay twice as much and soon as they have your money you better hope your car doesn't break down.

Hey everyone! My DH and I want to starting riding bikes for exercise. We went looking at bikes and I am considering getting one of the bikes that has an electric assist to help going up hills. Does anyone else have one like this? Good or Bad???

I spent $9950 for my band. I paid cash up front and fought with my medical insurance company by sending a gazzilion letters, calling all the time and appealing. They have finally agreed to cover the procedure and reimburse me for some of my expenses. YEA! I have noticed that my expenses now are a little less, foodwise that is. My DH and I eat out quite a bit and now our tabs are half since we can share a meal, and grocery bills are less too since we can share things--like now we would only buy one steak for dinner instead of two like before. As far as new clothes, I have dropped two sizes but I saved all my "skinny" clothes as I got fat and now have been pulling them out when they fit so I haven't had to spend anything there. The downside is, I have a 8 hour drive to my band doctor and I am pretty sure I eat up any savings I have driving to my appointments but it was definately worth it for me and I wouldn't change a thing.

Yes, other than directly after surgery when I was told to be on liquids for healing, my doctor has told me to avoid any liquid calories and try to eat solid things that stay in the pouch and make me fill full longer so I don't choose soup very often. I love it too but it had to go just like my addiction to Diet Coke. LOL

I don't know of one in Chicago but the doctor I went to outside of Denver is a excellent alternative to Mexico. His cost is $9950. That is for everything to place your band, three months of fills and a nutritionist to work with you. After the three months, fills are only $15 each if he does your band. Lap Band Surgery in Denver Colorado | Lap Band Surgeon in Denver | Gastric Band Surgery Denver | Bariatric Surgery Good Luck to you!!

Just an FYI for self payers that would like to have the band done in the US instead of Mexico, Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado is $9950 for everything including three months of fills and including a nutritionist to work with you. Then after the 3 months fills are only $15 each.

I still get sugar cravings especially in the evening, but I have found that I can drink a chocolate protien shake and wait about 10 minutes and the craving is gone and I am full.

I use my home scale to keep track since I only see the doctor once per month but I did figure out that his scale is exactly 4 pounds more than mine but the total pounds lost each time is the same so I just use mine.

That is a great idea! It might be a great thing to start on here too.

I live in New Mexico and spicy is the norm here. I took it very cautious at first, only trying little bits but never had a problem. I was surprised because I had heartburn often before my band but haven't had it at all since. I am sure its different for everyone though.

I had 5 incisions and all were closed with clear tape strips. I pulled them off after a week and by week two I couldn't even see two of the incisions anymore without searching for them. All of them were really small except the port one which is about an inch and half long, and really that was the only one that hurt and it was kind of like an infected cut kind of pain. I noticed a little discomfort when I went to work in my garden during week two, bending over, pulling and standing up was a little uncomfortable but managable.

jerk

Alexandra... Freecycle is a great idea for a lot of things. I understand that there may be people that try to benefit from it financially but the beauty of the freecycle is you decide who to give your things too and you decide if you want to give all of it to one person or several people. If you find that one person is not in need and just seems to be misusing the list then you can decide to give your items to someone else. Plus, the people on Freecycle can find uses for many items that charity places wont take, because they can't resell them. Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with it but it does serve a useful purpose by keeping things out of the landfills and putting them in the hands of other people that can still make use of the items a little longer.

I use Freecycle.org to give away all of my extra stuff. You just sign up for the list for your city and then people post all of their free stuff. The only catch is it has to be free, you can't charge for it or offer to trade and the best part is the person you decide to give the items to will drive to your house to pick it up. You can list any items from cars, pets, a left over bald tire...not just clothes.

Hang in there Chiqui...I self paid and got the band done but also had insurance so I went through all of their channels, even got their prior authorization only to have them deny the claim when I sent it in. I had a hell of time and just this week finally got the word that they are going to reimburse me. After everything I had to go through with them I can understand a nominal fee for additional work your doctor might have to do. I spent literally hours on the phone and wrote them several letters before they finally approved my claim. Maybe you could call your insurance company and find out if it is possible to do the correspondence yourself, as I did since my Dr. didn't deal with insurance or maybe you could offer to type the letter as your insurance company needs it and see if the doctor will just approve it. Good Luck, and don't give up the band is worth it.

I love the show! They do workout a lot but I don't think its all that more extreme than what a lot of fitness junkies do - even at our local health club there are people that workout several hours every day. I wish I had that much determination.

We just got a WII yesterday and I love it! We have a PS2 also but this is a lot more fun.

I walked 30 minutes yesterday and 35 minutes today. The walking has been fantastic. I can really tell a boost in my energy.

Hi All, I am starting a walking program and I was wondering if anyone out there would like to join in. I figured it would be more fun and successful if I had a friend to do it with so if you are interested please let me know.I am thinking of doing a beginners program to get you walking 60 minutes in 12 weeks.