The Lounge

4,946 topics in this forum

According toOil & Gas News 2008, oil recorded its maximum price in 2008 May. Many of you might remember the difficulty that you had in handling the expenses during that time, as the prices of gasoline had gone very high. While most of us kept on worrying about the price hike and its impact on the world economy, we hardly took any effort to find out the reason behind the price hike. There are a number of reasons behind this, but the focus should be given on the key factors. In most cases the energy shortages are often man-made, and don’t happen as a result of natural shortage of oil. Often the attempt would be by the Middle East countries. Here are top 5 reason…

This is a really touchy subject for most people, but I'm going to stick my neck out.... We researched weight loss surgeries for ten years. During that time, I learned a LOT about the Roux-en-Y (also called R-Y) Gastric Bypass (also called simply, Gastric Bypass), Mini-Gastric Bypass, Lap Band, the Fobi Pouch, Vertical Gastrectomy, Duodenal Switch etc., etc... I also learned a LOT about weight-loss drugs, methods, exercise, the science and treatment of obesity, ad nauseum. Here's my conclusion: chronic overweight, in many cases, acts more like a disease than anything else. Think of it as a Syndrome: a collection of symptoms, conditions, actions and reactions that cul…

Hi everyone I've decided to sell alot of clothes that I've only worn occassionally Need to clear my closet so that when I lose the weight I can buy a whole new wardrobe!! Please Check my items out Really need to sell! I can post to america, however postage will be around $10 eBay Seller: quiet tragedy: Clothing, Shoes, Accessories, Music items on eBay Australia

I'm a city dweller, and have always been fascinated by people who live in small towns, in the country, or in other countries. I've been to England twice, and had a chance to walk in the English countryside, which was a dream come true for me. So ... are you in a city? Small town? Village? Out in the country with no neighbors for miles? Do you live where the seasons change? I would love to hear. Debbie

I know I probably shouldn't be getting on the scale every morning, but what can I say..I am post 16 days out and I have noticed the scale isn't going down but up. 3 days ago it creeped up a minimal amount..less than a pound..I didn't stress then..but since the last 3 days I am up 3 lbs. needless ro say..now I am thinking I have done something wrong here. It took several days to climb up the additional pounds but I am here. Is this normal? I am only in phase 2 of liquids. I start on mushies in 7 days and am wondering if the scale will continue to climb with normal food...if you have any thoughts , or similar experience Please post.

Here we are doing the drastic measure to help us lose weight, and can you believe there is Donna Simpson trying to become the heaviest woman on earth! (its one the yahoo news page) She consumes 12,000 calories a day! At this point the woman weighs 600 lbs. . her own family supports this AND people pay a website to watch her eat! Now that is a real sicko! And I thought Octowoman was a sicko! Donna has her definately beat!!!!!!!!! Just had to vent this one!

I want to bring this up, because I am finding that there are some people that feel that if they are with a doctor that is rude and mistreat them, they feel they should stay with that doctor. Lets make something very clear you or your insurance pays the Doctor, they are giving you a service you do not need to put up with rudeness nor should you. Some of these doctors have the God complex and feel that they can say or do anything so you should put up with it! DON'T! YES they are helping you but you are ultimately the one who is helping him/her pay their bills! Now don't get me wrong some Doctors take it personal when we don't loose weight and get upset and that is ok, howev…

Here they go again, on Jan 5. Place your bets: The Biggest Loser - NBC Site Frankly, last season was a bit of a bore after the Tara Machine and Ronfather, but hopefully it returns to form. The great thing is that the show only takes 15 minutes to watch, once you skip the crying

please feel free to add your own! this one is about Water, and since we drink so much, I felt it was appropriate. :001_smile: To paraphrase W.C. Fields, "I don't drink water, because fish screw in it." To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine... and those who don't.. As Ben Franklin said: In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poo…

I belong to a military spouse support forum as well, and we have one of these threads. It's very refreshing, and kind of fun to be able to express yourself freely. If anyone would like to participate, it can be about anything, not just your sleeve, not just your food intake, it can be your emotions, your thoughts, your hurts, your concerns. Totally free judgement zone. If you want to share something that is bothering you, post it, get it out. There's so much more to life than our sleeves, and sometimes we get wrapped up in our pre-op/post-op stuff that the rest of our lives get lost in the mix. I hope this sticks, and helps someone.

I just wanted to see if others had a significant increase in sex drive after being banded? I was to a point before and 1st year after that I could take it or leave it more often than not rather not have it at all. Now that seems to be all I want to do and think about it Alot!! My husband is happy about that part :laugh: Saw on DR Oz. that high protien and zinc causes testosterone increases and then the sex drive increases!! Just one more reason to eat more protein!!

I was so inspired by this piece in Glamour Magazine. I can't explain how much I could relate to it. Zulekha Haywood is the daughter of Supermodel Iman and she tells her story of her journey with weight loss. Imagine You Are the Daughter of a Supermodel.: Health & Fitness: glamour.com

I just recently started seeing this guy again that I met 2 years ago. He liked me the way I was, even if I was a few pounds overweight. We happened to reconnect about a few weeks ago and it was like we were never apart. He apologized how things went in the past and asked for me to see him exclusively while we saw where things went in our relationship. Things went well until I told him I got the lap band. He disappeared for a few days before reemerging to tell me that he was turned off by the fact that I had surgery because that indicated that my self esteem was very low and that I cared what other people thought about my weight. This is the second time he decided to…

My best friend and I went grocery shopping yesterday. She is visually impaired and I am totally blind. We have a shopping cart which folds, which we use to carry things home in, since neither of us can drive. It was folded up, and I was carrying it, holding it close to my right side. We were walking down an aisle, I forget what we were looking for, when a woman started pushing past us. She hit our cart, not hard, but she kept trying to get past. My friend said, "Hey, lady, cool it!" She snapped, "I wasn't going to run you down!" "It sure looks like it," my friend answered, to which the woman responded, "Oh, f*** you!" I turned then, and said, "H…

..(Pics) Never seen this. Cool to me. at tell the officer you thought they were real .

if-you-dont-lose-weight-your-finances-will: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance Article is a collection of various studies indicating that obese folks spend more and earn and save less money than their regular sized counterparts.

Help!!!!! I have been denied twice by my insurance. My mom was approved right away and she weighs less than I do. I have hypertension and high choesterol. My BMI is 45 and has been for 3 years. Anyone been through this with insurance. What should I do next? :confused:

I have found a new artist India Arie with her CD Testimony: Vol 1 and her voice is so beautiful and her message so uplifting. But specifically her song Private Party is right on with me. She is celebrating her body and just being a woman and sounded right on with my sleeve journey. If you need a beautiful message listen to her album.

Has anyone had any weird experience or experienced anything unexplainable? I haven't but i sooooo want to!

Just checking in. While the heartbreak diet is painful and not recommended....it certainly is effective. I'm damn near my (initial) goal. For the first time ever, I'm strongly considering re-evaluating my goal. Thanks for listening, old-timers :Banane20:

I have been doing alot of looking around on unanswered posts. I just have been kinda concerned about the people who use this website as an outside support system. It is not right that they should have to title their posts in such a way that it has to be so attractive in order for someone to answer them. We all know that EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY! Remember when we were looking for answers to our questions pre and post op? Aren't you glad that someone was there for you? I am glad that everyone here was so helpful to me!!! I CHALLENGE EACH OF YOU TO FIND AT LEAST 1 UNANSWERED POST AND GIVE SOMEONE SOME SUPPORT! SHOW SOME LUV!:Banane20::wub::Banane20:

There once was a man from Wisconsin Who in his easy chair was ensconcin' When he shot a PB Which took out the TV In a manner evoking Charles Bronson.

One that doesn't rely on a host so much! :confused: The rule is simple, I'll type a word and you reply with ONE WORD that first comes to your head. Easy! So I'll start: Band

Ok, I am in the process of going thru all that you have to go thru to get the band. I mentioned in the office that I had a seminar to go to, I was asked "why?". I told them and of course there's one out of 4 who said, "I don't know why you are doing this, you aren't that heavy (I'm 5'4" and 240), have you tried going on a diet, curbing your food choices and excersizing?". Seriously...she just said that?!? I am 42 years old, my son is 21...I have been at this weight for 21 years. I said to her...One, we have only been working together for almost 2 years, therefore, you have no idea what kind of dieting I've done. Then I asked her if she's ever been over weight. She said we…

I came home to find about 100 wild swans (and a few assorted Canada geese) in my front yard. And I can't find my camera!!!

I thought it was funny enough to share...

Hello, I am curious about the clusters of acne that I have on my face. I have matching outbreaks at the ends of my eyebrows (temples), in front of my ear, and along my cheekbones, on either side of my chin, and on each side of my esophagus. Does anyone know if this pattern is connected to trigger points or some other body system, and if so, is there anything I can do to massage or focus on that as part of my treatment?

Which celebrity do you most closely resemble? Like Carol, my movie star counterpart is Sally Fields. Post your side-by-side pics here and let's see who most resembles his/her celebrity twin.

Hi everyone, I am a newbie in every area. New to this site as well as to the banding procedure. Right now I am in the process of doing all my pre op stuff; wow, so much to do. I dont even know if my insurance will cover this yet. But what is really making me question this surgery is some of you. I dont mean to offend anyone, but I see from quite a bit of you that you arent losing much weight at all. I want to lose 100 lbs. I sat here last night reading the posts and almost cried after reading that some of you are frustrated. I want this surgery, but if Im not gonna lose, then why do it? I dont understand; is this something that the individual person is doing o…

Hello Everyone! I hope to be banded by July...I'm in month 3 of my 6 month supervised diet. I have registered to walk in the Susan G Komen 3 Day here in Phoenix in November. For those unfamiliar, you walk 60 miles over 3 days! I have one person walking with me and we're forming a team. We are stuck on a team name. I'd appreciate any and all suggestions for a catchy team name. Thanks everybody!

Hi ladies, This is my problem. I had mostly black and brown clothes. Have had to replace most and have problems with matching things. I bought these new brown high boots to wear with a brown skirt, but they really actually look better with the black slim skirt for a job interview. Would you wear brown boots with a black skirt?

Has anyone taken Byetta? My mom was just put on it, and she thought I might be interested in asking my doctor to put me on it. I'm not diabetic, though, just insulin resistant.

THANK YOU Vets, past present and future! Don't forget to thank our troops for our freedom!:tongue_smilie:

For me...a bunch of things.... I stopped allowing myself to be photographed, didn't want to see. Couldn't fit on a harness/strap in ride at Great Adventure,was humiliating. Able to eat a medium extra cheese pepperoni pizza all by myself. A snack, became a whole bag or box of chips or cookies + 2 liter soda. I lost interest in sex and felt embarassed for my hubby to be seen w/me. I started buying a size 30/32.....my biggest ever. I was getting close to 300 on the scale....289 my biggest ever. Sciattica had gotten worse coming on more often. I stopped taking diet pills. I stopped going out with my girl friends. I started anti-depressants. etc etc etc...and this…

Each year, for around 8 years, my surgeon has flown to Haiti to volunteer for two weeks performing surgeries on people who otherwise would be unable to get their medical issues taken care of. With the recent earth quake, he is now going to the epicenter to aid there. Here is a link to his story: NewsFirst5.com | Colorado Springs news, Colorado Springs weather, Pueblo news, Pueblo weather |Pueblo surgeon will lend aide in Haiti I ask that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers, as well as all the citizens and others who have been effected by this devastating earth quake.

So, 'tis that time again... Will there be a Tara Machine this time? A Ronfather? A super-surprise winner? Can Bob -finally- win a season (no!) The Biggest Loser returns Sept 15, let the rooting and snarking begin :thumbdown: The Biggest Loser - NBC Site Place your bets...

Thought some of us might find this story interesting... The Surgeon General’s Weight Struggle - Well Blog - NYTimes.com

I headed out yesterday morning to do errands and didn't get more than 5 miles from my house when I had a car accident. Both I and the other guy were sitting facing each other at a red light. He was going to turn left in front of me. When the light turned green, we both started out. I tend to start out cautiously while looking left and right to make sure nobody is running the redlight from the other direction. Well, I guess I was going too slow for him and he hit his gas pretty hard to zip in front of me and the right corner of his van plowed dead center into my bumper. He gets out of his car screaming about how he had a green light. Yes...so did I. And his ligh…

banded dec 2008 & 90lb gone forever! i have been taking the bariatric vitamins with 3 weeks supply to go. I know they are expensive but you usually get what you pay for!! has anyone used a cheaper one with the same great effect as they have had on me. i have not experienced any hair loss or other side effects from not taking my supplements just need your wisdom thanks happy new year!!

There have been hints and rumors lately that the character Ashlee on Guiding Light was going to have a weight loss show. Not just behind the scenes but it was actually going to be scripted into the show. And this week it has actually started to air. They haven't come out and explained it to be the lapband instead the characters just keep referring to "WLS" but there have been a couple scenes with a pamphlet about the surgery and it is titled "GastroStrap System". As far as I can tell from Google there is no such thing but it sure sounds like a band to me. I can't see how that could be twisted into RNY or one of the other versions of WLS. It's kind of silly actually…

Is it pronounced twenty ten, or two thousand ten Someone on the news says the correct pronunciation is twenty-ten. I object simply on principle, I guess. This same person also said we should have been saying ot 9, for instance. What do you think?? Debbie

Hey everyone! I am in St Joeseph hospital in Kansas City for the next 3 days. Surgery was this morning. they did a nerve block and general anesthia through an IV. Surgery went well except that the plastic piece that resembles cartilage did not snap on and so the doctor had to order another knee and wait for 45 min for persom to deliver it. I was in surgery from 10am to 2pm. I am doing well, still have morphine pump tonight. I will have to get up tomorrow and walk on it. I'm in room 548.

How do I get one of those trackers on my page? And I also don't why my profile pic is not showing? I can't see it but can you? (You can tell I'm not the best at these things....Lol...)

I always find it interesting how people across the country ring in the New Year. For as long as I can remember, my family always celebrated New Year's day at my yellow (she had blonde hair, and my other granny was red granny because she was a redhead) granny's house with plenty of finger foods, and it was required to eat black-eyed peas for good luck. We also put money on our front porch on NYE (a dollar, a quarter) to bring prosperity to our household. It never worked, we were poor in money, but rich in family love. I still carry these traditions out with my husband and son. We rarely go out on NYE, but have been considering it this year. As for John'…

This is turning out to be the best holiday season EVER! My boyfriend (now fiance hehe) proposed last Thursday, also the last day I met with my surgeon pre-op. My surgery date is Jan. 4th, and now our (tentative) wedding date is August 19th, 2011. Now I have twice as much motivation to get those pounds off. I want to be able to get whichever wedding dress I want & not have to worry about finding the plus size shops. Though I'm not looking forward to leaving my new engagement ring at home during surgery...lol! :thumbup: Happy holidays to me! :001_tt2: And happy holidays to all of you as well! And good luck to all of my other near surgery date buddies! Our day is com…

I thought it would be fun to post what everyone's menu looked like for the holiday season. I know this isn't necessarily fair for the recently post-op, or pre-ops on the pre-op diet, but believe me, you will all be so much happier when you can enjoy normal meals. Our menu: Brown Sugar/Citrus glazed Ham ( I searched this town high and low for a standing prime rib, but to no avail, I couldn't find one) Mashed Potatoes/Gravy Fresh Green Beans (canned by John's mom) Broccoli/Cheese/Rice (Green Giant Steamer bag = LOVE) Crescent rolls (with homemade/canned raspberry jelly from John's mom) There's a Reese's no bake Peanut Butter brownie setting up in the fridge.…

Hi all. . . is anyone out there very upset with their new look? I mean, you lost alot of weight and now you hate how you look? Loose skin, funky looking shape, very unhappy with the outcome?

Hi all, I had a thread like this in the general support forum, but thought I'd like to try it again, because I liked hearing what people looked like. I'm totally blind, and while I'm sure the pictures here look great, my screen reader doesn't tell me what's on them. (It just says graphic!) I've wanted to have someone help me post one of my own, but that hasn't happened yet. I'd like to do before and after, even though I'm definitely not at goal yet. Sooo ... tell me what you look like! Describe yourself to me! And you can tell me if you want me to do the same, but if I do it now, I'm afraid it will sound like an ad for some personal column! LOL! Deb…

Today is the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Being a former Marine, I must ask your indulgence to take a few lines within this forum and wish a Happy Birthday to my brothers and sisters in arms. As well as to their families. Semper Fi! Elgrad

I have checked in from time to time and never found anyone there. Just wondering:guess