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My psych eval was a breeze, actually kind of enjoyable. The psychologist was really warm and friendly, and although she asked me questions, she made it feel more like a nice little chat. She asked me about my family, growing up, my husband and friends, my job and what I like to do, previous attempts at weight loss, how my current weight affects me, things like that. We talked for about an hour, then I completed a couple of questionairres; one form that required about 10 written responses (I don't remember all of them, but one asked what my favorite foods were, and another asked what food would be hardest to give up), and another form where I rated how I felt about several statements (re: depression, stress, confidence, energy level, sleep habits, basically how I was feeling at that time). At the end of everything, she wished me luck, said she thinks I'll do really well with the band and that I'll probably progress to surgery soon. It sounds like everyone's psych eval is a bit different, but I hope yours goes as well as mine!

I know that this is mostly an old thread, but it bugs me a little! There is no Olive Garden that fully enforces this policy; at least none that offer a "To Go" menu. Has anyone used this and been grilled on whether they actually have children at home? Anyone been denied a children's portion to go, because the order taker didn't believe them? I'm sure this is rare if it happens--the restaurant sold a meal, took the money, and had no idea and no concern regarding who was going to eat it. The only difference eating in the restaurant is that the staff can SEE that it is an adult intending to order the smaller portion, rather than a child. The restaurant is betting that a regular entree will be ordered if a children's meal is denied, rather than that person not ordering anything or the entire dining party leaving without ordering. Olive Garden (and any restaurant) is not THAT concerned about whose mouth the food is going into. It's a money issue, and they will find a way to charge more if and when they can. It's their business, their right, but not really fair how they enforce the policy.

I didn't see this posted anywhere else; I've been following this a bit. Pay special attention to the last paragraph! Inmate takes too-fat-to-execute argument to Supreme Court <LI class=cnnhiliteheader>Story Highlights Richard Cooey, set to die Tuesday, has exhausted most state, federal appeals Justices are expected to decide whether he should receive stay of execution They could also address constitutional claims about medical fitness for execution Cooey: Drug interaction, weakened veins would make punishment cruel, unusual WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An Ohio death row inmate who says he is too overweight to be executed took his plea to the Supreme Court on Friday. Richard Cooey is scheduled to die by lethal injection Tuesday and has exhausted most of his state and federal appeals. Gov. Ted Strickland earlier Friday denied the 41-year-old prisoner's clemency petition. Cooey murdered two college students in 1986. The justices were expected to decide whether he should receive a stay of execution, and whether to address the larger constitutional claims over when a convicted person is medically unfit for capital punishment. His lawyers have argued that the inmate-- at 5-foot-7 and 267 pounds -- is "morbidly obese," and has gained about 70 pounds since his incarceration at age 19. Prison food and confinement in his cell for 23 hours a day, limiting his opportunities for exercise, contributed to his weight problem, his legal team said in recent court filings. Cooey also says regular medication he takes for migraines will weaken the effectiveness of an anesthetic used in the a three-drug cocktail administered during execution. He says his veins are weakened because of his health issues, and the lethal drugs would amount to cruel and unusual punishment. In 2003, one day before Cooey was scheduled to die, a judge stopped his execution on issues unrelated to his health claims. A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Cooey waited too long to raise the medical issues, saying he "knew of and could have filed suit over vein access prior to July 2005." Cooey and a then-17-year-old accomplice were convicted of the brutal murders of Wendy Offredo and Dawn McCreery, students at the University of Akron. The men had been tossing concrete slabs onto Interstate 77, and one of them struck Offredo's car. Pretending to rescue the women, Cooey and Clinton Dickens took them to a remote field, according to prosecutors. There, the students were subjected to 3½ hours of rape, torture, stabbings and fatal bludgeonings. Cooey had carved an "X" into the stomachs of both women, prosecutors said. Each man blamed the other for delivering the fatal blows, but both were convicted of murder. Dickens received a life sentence because of his age. Cooey tried to escape from death row in 2005, when corrections officials said he constructed a ladder from magazines and bedsheets in an effort to scale the barrier around an outdoor recreation area. At an August clemency hearing, Jon Offredo, brother of one of the victims, said, "Our family has never gotten an apology from Richard Cooey. We've gotten blatant lies and excuses. Is an apology too much to ask? How could he commit such a heinous act and not feel regret?" But Cooey's lawyer, Dana Cole, said his client is sorry for his crimes. The high court has not offered clear guidelines on what medical standards need to be met before an inmate is eligible for death. But in a case five years ago, the justices allowed inmates to at least make a claim that their specific physical or medical issues could be cause to block an execution. The high court had sided with a convicted Alabama killer who claimed his veins were so damaged from years of drug abuse that executioners might have to cut deeply into his flesh to administer the deadly drugs. Writing for the unanimous court, then-Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said the court was not going to "open the floodgates to all manner of method-of-execution challenges," as Alabama feared. "Our holding is extremely limited." That inmate is still on death row. Richard Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center, a data-resource group that opposes capital punishment, said the Supreme Court indicated that "how you're going to be executed is a civil rights matter, the same as if you were discriminated [against] on the basis of race or gender or something like that." A Washington state killer was given a reprieve in 1994 after claiming he was too obese to hang. Mitchell Rupe at one time was more than 425 pounds, but weight-loss surgery in prison had reduced that to 275 pounds over the years. Subsequent legal efforts to execute him failed. He died in prison two years ago from a long illness. The Ohio case is Cooey v. Strickland.

:wub: I think the name has probably been changed many times! Seriously though, it is really good chili. But as a dedicated Boilermaker, I believe changing the name would detract from the flavor! :wub:

I am a big fan of Allrecipes, and this is a chili recipe I found on the site that I LOVE: Boilermaker Tailgate Chili - Allrecipes You can also see the ratings and read the reviews, and it looks like a lot of people have won cookoffs with the recipe.

Most family members on my dad's side are relatively normal weight. My mom's side has weight issues. Most of the women start out thin, even tiny (90-100lbs.), until they have kids--then they inflate like balloons! I don't have children, but had a miscarriage in 2001, and thus, my inflation began. Most of the women (including me) on my mom's side are also hypothyroid and have a myriad of gynecological issues.

I have a pair of MBT tennis shoes and really like them. However, I only got them because of foot pain and problems, not for any fitness benefits. I have not noticed any changes in muscle tone and have definitely not lost any weight, but they are comfortable for my feet--though not a cure. I have been plague by plantar fasciitis, and have had cortisone shots, taping, and custom orthotics despite the shoes. Hopefully I can get it taken care of, and the shoes will help with "maintenance." I would like to get a pair of their sandals too since they are pretty comfy (but expensive, about $250 a pair). Great shoes, but I really can't recommend them for providing fitness or weight assistance.

I have Tricare Reserve Select (which is basically Standard for the Reserves and NG), and am not required to have a referral. I didn't realize that until I PM'd Restless Monkey for info; her response (thank you!) prompted me to call and check again with Tricare, who told me I didn't need a referal and also gave me a list of preferred providers for bariatric surgery in my area. My surgeon's office at first told me I would need one, until I repeated that I had Reserve Select/Standard and NOT Prime, and they said I was correct that I didn't need one. From the sound of it, I think it depends on who you get on the phone at Tricare, and how well they listen to you. :tongue2:

That's not entirely true. Women can be diagnosed with the syndrome without having cysts on their ovaries, and there a few specific hormone levels associated with PCOS that should be checked with blood tests. High LH/FSH ratios, DHEA, and testosterone levels are typical with PCOS, as well as insulin resistance. A visit with a gynecologist and/or endocrinologist would be helpful for you if your regular doctor won't address your problem.

I am in FL with Tricare South also, but have Tricare Reserve Select (basically Standard for Reserve/NG). I don't have the 6 month requirement, although I have run into a few bariatric surgeons who require it regardless of insurance requirements. Sorry I can't tell you more about Prime.

I love Almond Breeze! I've only tried the unsweetened original flavor though, which is not sweet at all. It has 40 calories, 2g carbs, and 0g sugar per 8 oz. serving.