Tricia K.

I had to use the Prevention one in order to get up to 274. The others only go up to 240.

LOL..it is fun, isn't it? I don't think I look like my current weight virtual model either but that's ok. I know that I weight 192 and that's all that matters.

All I have to say (do) is SMACK!!!! Now, move on and don't do it again. :hug:

Neither at the moment because it's too hot and humid in Louisiana. I really want a treadmill.

I currently do the following but need to increase my resistance amounts. I'm either going to buy heavier weights or join a gym and use their universal machine for better strength training. I'm not getting the results I want here at home. 250 crunches or the Abs of Steel video 500 leg lifts or the Buns of Steel video 150 bicep curls w/ 4lb. weight 150 tricep curls w/ 4lb. weight 150 lateral raises w/ 2 lb. weight 150 butterfly curls w/ 2lb. weight 150 toe (calf) raises

I have a recumbant bike and an exercise ball. I use both on a regular basis and have no complaints. I also have a mountain bike but my a$$ falls asleep whenever I ride it. My husband has one of those Bowflex (generic type) machines in the garage and I've never used it. I really want a treadmill so that I can start jogging. There's no way I'm going to be jogging outside in this Louisiana heat and humidity!

I workout to the Buns of Steel and Abs of Steel videos. They're a killer but worth the effort.

I right clicked and saved the images, created an html page in Microsoft FrontPage with the corresponding weights and then did a print screen to crop the image in PhotoShop and post it here on LBT.

While browsing the message board on obesityhelp.com, I came across a virtual model and thought I'd try a few for myself. The web address is http://www.mvm.com/en/go_shopping.htm# if you're interested in creating your own.

You're very welcome. The initial consultation is $125 and the psych evaluation is $50. The other testing should be covered by your insurance. They code the papers so that your insurance will cover it. My total cost for surgery and testing was $13,075.

If you're willing to travel to Louisiana, my surgeon, Dr. Thomas Lavin, has a self-pay package price of $12,900, which covers surgeon, 23-hour hospital stay, anesthesiologist and 1 year of follow-up care/fills. His web address is www.whyweight.com. I would recommend him to ANYONE!!

I'm very happy that you had a good first fill experience. All of mine have been a breeze as well. I never feel a thing...not even the shot of lidocaine.

I think you have every right to be apprehensive. I'm not sure I would trust the skills of a surgeon who has never performed lap band surgery. Granted, he is still a surgeon, but as far as I am concerned this surgery requires a lot of experience. Is there another surgeon in your area who has performed lap band surgeries that you would feel comfortable with? You may wish to check out the surgeon locator on www.obesityhelp.com.

I went through a period of time post-banding where I was having trouble falling and staying asleep. This really bothered me because I have always been a heavy sleeper as well as one that could sleep for a very long time. Like Alexandra, I started taking melatonin and it worked wonders. It didn't take long before the bout of insomnia was over. I'm now sleeping like I was pre-banding. Good luck!

4 miles on recumbant bike

Congratulations and welcome to bandland!!

:biggrin1: :biggrin1:

Plans for today: Abs of Steel (1st & 2nd levels) & Buns of Steel (1st portion) videos 150 toe (calf) raises 150 bicep curls w/ 4lb. weight 150 tricep curls w/ 4lb. weight 150 lateral raises w/ 2lb. weight 150 butterfly curls w/ 2lb. weight

I understand your concerns about spending money but spending it on yourself to improve your health is one of the best decisions you could ever make. You shouldn't feel guilty about it. After all, you're extending your life by doing so. Additionally, there are doctors in the US that do the surgery for less than what you've listed. My surgeon, Dr. Thomas Lavin, is well-respected, experienced and was one of the first 4 proctors for Inamed. His outpatient, self-pay package price is $12,900, which includes a 23-hour hospital stay, the surgery, anesthesiologist and 1 year of follow-up care/fills. You can find more information about him and the self-pay program at www.whyweight.com. I've also read about the Wish Center doing the surgery for non-insured, self-pay patients for $10,700. I don't know anything about them so I wouldn't feel right recommending them to you. But, I did feel it would be beneficial to pass the information along to you. http://www.wishcenter.org/ http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/wish_center_lapband_special.html?D=081905

Welcome to LBT and thanks for sharing your story. :rant:

*evil grin* I'll never tell. :biggrin1: But, here's another one.

FYI - leaving out pertinent medical information when applying for group or individual health insurance, such as previous surgeries, could be and probably is against the law in your state. HIPAA laws were passed to "secure patient records containing individually identifiable health information so that they are not readily available to those who do not need them." With that said, withholding information about previous surgeries will only hurt you in the long run. Imagine that you have a major illness or require surgery and are admitted to the hospital. As soon as the doctor examines you, he'll/she'll know that you've had surgery and will require that provide him/her with information regarding this surgery. Now, because you've withheld this information from your health insurance provider, you will most likely not be covered for anything and have a good chance of being dropped from your carrier. Do you really want to risk that?

I prefer Country but listen to other genres as well.

Yay, Diane! I'm currently 32 pounds away from my goal and it seems so surreal. I could just imagine what it's going to feel like being 22 pounds away. :rant: :hug:

I've been slacking on my exercise the past few days. I'm going to get back into it today with a 4 mile recumbant bike ride. BTW Telly, you rock!