tonya66

No, we took the logical way out! We took the hardest way of all. We took control of our life and made the decision to take control of it for the rest of our lives. I too apploaud anyone who loses weight, whether it be with surgery or without surgery, losing weight is NOT easy either way. The statements like "they did it the hard way" or "they did it without surgery" annoys me too. I think they need to be educated on what WLS really is. I was watching Susan Powter the other day (she is a weightloss guru) and she was saying how rediculous it is for someone to have WLS, then she went on to explain that people who have WLS only eat 1 TBSP of food per meal. I about choked when she said that. What? A tablespoon? What the heck, where the heck is she getting her information? I don't know about you guys, but I do eat more than a TBSP, a lot more than a TBSP. Just made me realize how ignorant so many people are to what WLS really is. I just have to ignore the comments and chalk it up to stupidity.

interesting question. I've had some pain on my left side and it was a pulling type of pain, like it was pulling my port. I finally figured out that I have been taking a diuretic for some swelling and because of this, my potassium is low. My potasium being low is causing some muscle cramps/spasms.

I think Sharon had the band removed. I think the reason people want to know what celebrity has the band is because they are in the public eye. They can offer insight and give knowledge etc to their own experience. Star Jones lost so much weight, everyone wants to know how, etc. M. Ali's daughter is a big advocate of the band, I read a story she wrote, interesting. Sharon Osbourne Planning To Remove Gastric Band Obesity Help Blog - LAP BAND - Khaliah Ali, Daughter of Muhammad Ali Shares Her Fight With Obesity

Shawn - I have been doing the same thing. I am giving a lot of my clothes to my cousin (who had RNY), but she is about 2 sizes larger than me, so she needs the clothes too. I find myself thinking - "this is nice, maybe I should hang on to it in case I gain my weight back". I almost have to slap myself to snap out of that thinking. lol. I WILL NOT gain this weight back! I refuse to do it!!!! So, all my clothes are going. I myself will not have very many clothes because I don't have any in my size that I am now. I have a few that I have boughten recently, but not a lot. I've been hitting Ebay, consignment stores, and the clearance racks to find good bargains. Anyhow, my closet is going to look pretty empty when I finally finish cleaning it out. But that okay, I am just glad that I am getting smaller and not larger for the first time in my life. It feels good to try something on and it doesn't fit, only because its too big and not too small. I love that!

Sorry to hear that, do you know why they won't pay? I heard they started paying now? Can you appeal it?

Another article I thought I would share: the total plan for fatloss

PS - everyone can do whatever type of exercise they feel most comfortable with. The purpose of the challenge is just for each and everyone of us to MOVE. Whatever you chose to do, however you chose to do it, how many minutes you exercise is solely up to each and everyone of us. We are all accountable to ourselves.

Hi Susie - I can't run either. I don't know if I can even do the eliptical machine, but I might be able to do the recumbant bike. Here is how it works, it is called the HIIT, High Intensity Interval Training - here is a link that explains it a lot better than I could - hiit and interval training explained Here is how I would do it in the past on the elliptical machine 1 - 2 min I would do a speed very slow, almost like 4.5 I think on the elliptical - (level 5) 2-3 min - I would increase a little (level 6) 3-4 min - Increase a bit more (level 7) 4-5 min - increase some more - at this point I would be going almost as fast as I could, but not quite (level 8) 5-6 min - I go as fast as I can - your heart is racing and you do this for a min then its time to drop back down to where you were at 2-3 min of the workout (level 6) You do this 3 times basically or for 20 minutes on an empty stomach the first thing in the morning. Then you don't eat for 1 hour. This will tackle the stored fat according to BFL book. I am not saying that I think everyone should do this, I was just showing some examples of some things we could do and from everything I have read, the trainers that I have talked to, they all agree on one thing, that HIIT aerobic training is the best to tackle fat fast. The BFL book claims you only have to do it for 20 min 3 times a week, along with 3 x's a week strength training. When its talking about level 4 or 5, this is your own personal level. when you are at a 10 - or sometimes they refer it as a high point, this is where you really have to push yourself hard to complete it, you are at total exhausten basically and you feel like there is no way you can lift one more rep, or if your doing aerobic, you feel like you can't do another second. This is your level 10 - or high point. A level 5 is where it is basically easy, and each time you increase it gets harder, hence, it increases your level/intensity. I hope I made sense, its so hard to explain. I have knee problems too, I had to have surgery in August, major knee reconstruction - 2 legements replaced (ACL/LCL and my meniscus repaired, my cartlidge shaved, and I had a fracture on my knee cap - also had to have 4 holes drilled inside). Because of the surgery, I still cannot climb a step, my knee is still very hot to the touch and I have to keep ice packs on it daily. I still can't squat, or go down a step with my right knee. The doctor said if it is still sore come April - he will have to do a MRI. But because of the multiple things he had to do to the knee, he is not surprised I am still having trouble - grrrr. I hate it! I never had knee problem until I fell this summer (on vacation/on the ship). Now, I can't do anything with it. The bike is the best thing for it, or the easiest thing I can do. I tried the elliptical about 3 weeks ago, and I could only do it for about 5 min and then the pain was unbearable. My physical therapist told me to stay off the treadmill for awhile because it is too much pounding on my knee, my surgeon told me absolutely no running. I told him I really never have been a runner - he said "well, don't start now". So, I won't be running either. I am getting all my plans together now for the challenge, I'm ready to get started and kick start the weightloss again!

I do a cleanse often - I try to do one every few months - and I drink a smooth move is one tea I drink and I also do an herbal cleansing tea sometimes. It does not harm the band. At least my doctor said it didn't. I have been doing it all year and no problems either.

You might, a little .2 can do a lot! I was at 3.8cc's then went to 4.0 ccs which was too tight. long story, but ended up having to go back down to 3.0 cc's. Now when I go back for a fill, I know that 3.8cc's is not tight enough and 4.0 is too tight, so I'm going for 3.9cc's. Its amazing how just a little cc's can change so much when you are trying to tweak it.

I know I shared this with you guys before, but take a look at my friend who won the BFL challenge in 2006 - Now look at the big change in her body, you would think she lost 40 or 50 lbs, but in reality, she only lost 19 lbs. This just shows how much exercise can shape your body, even if the scales are not showing huge loss, the inches are fading away. So don't get discouraged if you don't see a loss in the beginning. Also, most of the people say they didn't see big changes in the scales until 8 weeks, then all of a sudden, it starts dropping. So hang in there when the scale is not moving. Body-for-LIFE Challenge Champions 2006

So glad that we are getting some takers for the challenge! I'm getting geared up for it. For thos of you that would like to print out anything - here is a link to some worksheets - Body-for-LIFE Exercise Journals Also, here is a link for different strength training - Bodybuilding.com - Exercise Guides Database. Learn The Correct Form!

What a wonderful idea. I wish I had someone that I could do this with. All my friends are skinny little beotches - jking. Anyhow, that is great you have a support buddy.

Hey, I'm all about massages, I thought this sounded like a great deal, however, I looked them up and there are none around me. bummer! The closest one is in Arkansas, and I live in Oklahoma. Big bummer. I'll keep an eye on it, who knows, maybe it will be in Oklahoma soon. Thanks!

I focussed on water - somewhat - yesterday. I still need more! Todays menu - Bfast 4 slices of thin, very small bacon 1 cup of coffee with cream Lunch organic salad with feta cheese sunflower seeds, chicken breast, balsamic vinger dressing. Dinner DH & I are going out to celebrate our 19 yr wedding anniversary, so not sure what I will have, but will try and choose something healthy. I will be having a glass of wine.

I did pretty good with my food yesterday. I turned down some homemade peanut butter cookies, I felt so empowered when I did. It felt good just to say "no thank you". I walked away from the cookies with a huge smile on my face! Todays focus - drink water, lots of it. I am not getting enough water in and I think that is causing some bloating problems. So, today, I will focus on WATER. Menu today Breakfast coffee w/cream mid morning water at least 8 oz 15 minutes after my water yogurt w/granola (SF yogurt) lunch salad w/cheese & chicken Dinner grilled fish veggies suppliments - quickslim 30, flinstones Exercise -

Thanks so much for your support!

I posted my post before I read your last post Jen - I hate it that this seems to always happens to "self payers". It sucks, because now you have to be out even more money. I know you won't believe this, but I wish it had happened to me instead of you, so my insurance would have covered it. I feel that way everytime I read how someone had complications and were self pay. I think, Oh, I wish I could take it away from them because I have such good insurance and they pay for pretty my 100% of everything. My knee surgery I had to have this summer cost me $40. So, I am more than willing to take the complications - or at least a few of them. . I wish I could anyhow. Hang in there Jen, you will get thru this.

Jen - I do remember that your band had slipped. So did they just fix it? Or did they have to replace it? Do they know what caused the slip? I understand your emotions, but look at where you are today, vs where you were last December 28th. You have come a long way, this is a journey for life, and not just 2007, so hold your head up and you can do this! We will succeed, we will, we will! How is your restriction level now?

Oh, I have another one - How about a gift card for "house cleaning" - I think maybe its $40 but maybe you could by a $25 one that could go toward that, if you didn't want to spend $40. Who doesn't want a break from house cleaning? I think I might have to reward myself with that when I reach my goal! I would love to have someone come in and dust, mop, and clean the toilet!

How about a gift card to local spa for a massage? One great place and cheap to get a massage is a local beauty college - the students actually do the massage under supervision. I've had great massages from them, they try their best since they are being watched and graded! Also, the price is cheap - for an hour where I live is $25 vs $60 to $100 other places. Its a great relaxing reward. I'm rewarding myself with one next month (If I can give up my sugar for 30 days). I am taking the day off work on 1/18/08 (My 1 yr band anniversary), getting a massage (If I stick to my no sugar rule), and buying a new pair of jeans! I'm doing a little extra because it is my 1 year band anniversary and I want to celebrate the success I've had in my journey over the past year. Rewarding ourselves with something other than food, its a great idea and don't we deserve it?

PS - thanks for the compliment! Still working hard to get rid of the last 20+ pounds. The past 6 months have been the hardest!

Save your receipts, also, you might get your medical records. You would have to have a BMI of 40+ and that is considered Obese, the IRS recognizes obesity as a disease. I would just keep all this information in a file with your tax return in case you are ever audited. They will want to see proof of what you paid, then they will want to make sure it was medically necessary (and you can show that you were obese), so the medical records from your doctor should be sufficient. You won't need all of them, just your first visit, which will show your weight, your bmi etc.

Hello, I'm an accountant, although I don't do taxes (I try and avoid it), I am a CPA and here is some info from the IRS website: Publication 502 (2007), Medical and Dental Expenses How Much of the Expenses Can You Deduct? You can deduct only the amount of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (Form 1040, line 38). In this publication, the term “7.5% limit” is used to refer to 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. The phrase “subject to the 7.5% limit” is also used. This phrase means that you must subtract 7.5% (.075) of your adjusted gross income from your medical expenses to figure your medical expense deduction. Example. Your adjusted gross income is $40,000, 7.5% of which is $3,000. You paid medical expenses of $2,500. You cannot deduct any of your medical expenses because they are not more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Whose Medical Expenses Can You Include? You can generally include medical expenses you pay for yourself, as well as those you pay for someone who was your spouse or your dependent either when the services were provided or when you paid for them. There are different rules for decedents and for individuals who are the subject of multiple support agreements.

Here is some info on it - Smart Lipo Treatment Information, SmartLipo Cost - DermaNetwork.org also here - Tulsa Liposuction Doctor offering SmartLipo procedures from Advanced Skin Solutions of Tulsa