Carrie_C

That's great! I have yet to find a workout video that I like. All the ones I have tried are too hard.

Thanks Brad! "The baptist don't allow people to dance"???!!! I don't think I've heard that one before!!! On a serious note, my mother used to make my sister and me go to church when we were little. I absolutely hated being made to go. Not being a morning person, I especially hated getting up early on Sunday when I had to get up early for school all week. It wasn't that I hated church, I just hated being made to go and listen to stuff that I didn't understand. While my mother made us go, she did not, neither did my stepfather who was a mean alcoholic. So even though I was being made to go to church and being told to live right and live for the Lord at church, everything at home was quite the opposite of what the preacher was saying. So it was very hard to know what was right and what was wrong. My Mom eventually stopped making us go and it wasn't until I was in my early 20s that I started reading the Bible and understanding it. I didn't really believe what the Baptists were preaching, and everytime I went to a Baptist church, it just felt dead to me. So (I'm dodging bullets here, lol) I joined a church of God church and I do still follow most of their beliefs, but I no longer go to church because it just became a place full of drama and people putting on a show (Anyone who's been to a church of God service knows what I am talking about). I'm not saying all churches are like this, but I haven't found one that I feel comfortable at. The point is, everyone has to come to their own understanding of the Bible and what they believe (or don't believe) and no one can make them believe one certain way by preaching to them and pounding them over the head with a Bible.

Also on another note, you might want to check the type of soap you are using. Don't use Ivory soap, it is bad. I recommend Dial. It is what's mostly used in hospitals.

I work in the medical field, and I know a lot of patients with diabetes and insulin resistance that get chronic yeast infections. Since you are at goal weight, I doubt you have insulin resistance, but diabetes is still a possibility. Have you been checked for it recently? Also, your sexual partner (if you have one) probably needs to be treated as well. Guys can get infections too, but they usually have no symptoms. And they can pass it back to you even after you have been treated. I would advise for him to see his doctor. Yes, you can get yeast infections anywhere on your body. Women can even get them under their breasts. I'm sure you have all seen babys with thrush in their mouths. That is a yeast infection. Yeast love warm wet places, and the vagina and baby's mouths are perfect places for them to grow.

I voted for the last option, but I think there needs to be one that says something like "I tried it and don't like it" or something like that.

I believe good things come from God and bad things come from Satan. But that's just my belief.

I totally agree with Beth. I stopped going to church about a year ago because of all the drama and nonsense. I get enough of that at work without having to go to church and get it there as well. No where in the Bible does it say you must go to church to go to heaven.

I agree. My husband has never asked for it, but it's probably because I let it be known a long time ago that I didn't do that!

No problem.

Yes, you can claim motel and mileage expenses. Here is the link if you want to read it. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf

Yes, that surprises me too.

I went to the IRS website and it said any surgery that is medically necessary and treats any disease, including obesity is considered a deduction. If it were only to improve your looks, it would be considered plastic surgery and it wouldn't be counted, like a tummy tuck or something.

I weigh myself once a week and I do measurements once a month. I have a notebook I write it all in.

I guess it feels good to some women. I had an ex that wanted to do it ALL the time. But I found it painful and gross. TMI, but to me it feels like you are doing #2.

I'm pretty sure you can claim it on taxes. I don't think it is considered cosmetic.

I'm sorry they were so mean in the chat room. That is one reason I don't go in there anymore. I'm sure you will be fine after your surgery.

That's good. I don't go to the support meetings because it is too far for me.

Yea, there are plenty of bands to go around for everyone.

I think it is weird that Oprah would say that to her. But there are a lot of actresses that haven't had boob jobs.

pattygreen, your story is a lot like mine. I never really understood the Bible and what being born again meant until I grew up and started reading it all on my own in my early 20's. Who are the 'Gideons' anyway??!! LOL

Yea, me either!! Never again! My loss slowed over the holidays, but it has picked back up. I hope to lose a lot more before summer. I have really upped the exercise.

I had the surgery out of vanity also. I was also tired of being fat and not being able to do what I wanted to do. My BMI was almost 41 when I had it, and people have told me the same thing, that I didn't weight enough. I really don't care what others think. I'm the one who has to look at myself in the mirror everyday.

pattygreen, I do agree with your last post. No one can be good enough to get to heaven. I have this debate with my husband all the time. He thinks you need to go to church and live a certain way to get to heaven. I disagree. Anyway, off my soapbox and back to the topic.

I was banded in May by Dr. Paynter. They have never told me how much they put in my band. I ask once and Brooke said that they don't tell so people don't get fixated on it. But I really don't care. It is a big deal to some people, though. But everyone is different. I have had very good restriction with just a small amount of fluid. But it takes more for others. One of the nurses said that guys usually need fewer fills than women just because of how we are built different. So maybe you won't need many fills to get to good restriction. I think it also depends on where you carry your weight. I carry very little in my stomach. Mine is mostly in my legs. I think the more fat you carry around your stomach, the more fills you will need because as you lose fat around your stomach, the band will get looser.

My doctor said no shakes either because most are loaded with sugar and are not good for you. He said we need to be eating our protein, not drinking it. But that's fine with me anyway because I have yet to find one that tastes good. All the ones I have tried are really nasty.