tonya66

I did go in for a free consultation with the doctor regarding the smart lipo Let me just say, I want it done bad! I really like the doctor, the total cost for the total body body contour is $9800.00. If I had the money, I would do it today! She swears my tummy will be flat after the proceedure, I'm still not 100% convinced, but the doc is. I'm debating on whether to take out a 401K loan. I am waiting on the unfreeze of the loans (we just got bought by another company) and I might do it. If I do it, I will do it in April. I am now going to focus on exercise and eating right so if I decided to do it in April, I will have some muscle underneath my fat. Just thought I would update my story on smart lipo.

Cindi - you look GREAT! Your such a beauty! Shawn is right, you guys do have matching smiles!

Okay, so I knew I was starting this exercise challenge today, My restriction level is down to NOTHING. I took my measurements below are the results - yuck - I also compared them to the last time I measured when I was exercising all the time. I wanted to see if there was a difference with exericising and not exercising. I do see some of my measurements went up, especailly in my thigh area. My problem area is my legs. Neck - 16 Breast - 40 - I was at 39" when exericising under breast - 36 1/2 - previously was at 36" left bicep - 13 - previously at 12 3/4" forearm - 9 1/4 - waist - 34 - previously at 35" hips - 43 - same, previous 43" left thigh - 24 - prevously at 22 3/4" left calves - 15 - same, previously at 15" Weight - 181.7 - YIKES I am so bloated, we had mexican and last night I had steak, so the salt intake is making me retain a lot of water. The scales were VERY ugly today, but I know they will be dropping rapidly this week as I lose some of the "water weight". Goals today, drink water, and drink more water. I was up this morning at 4:50 am, headed to the gym and did a circuit training and focussed on upper body workout. EXERCISE - UBWO/cardio - am exercise M1 - 7:30 am egg white omlet with 2 turkey sausage links, picante sauce M2 - SF yogurt, handful of granola to give it a crunch M3 - salad with balsmic vingerette dressing/salmon M4 - 3 oz of steak and 1/2 potatoe (small potatoe) I am excited to see some good results over the next few months. I know if I stick to the program, and once I get my restriction back, I will see some results! I am so excited to go for my fill next week, I cannot wait!

Okay, so I knew I was starting this exercise challenge today, My restriction level is down to NOTHING. I took my measurements below are the results - yuck - I also compared them to the last time I measured when I was exercising all the time. I wanted to see if there was a difference with exericising and not exercising. I do see some of my measurements went up, especailly in my thigh area. My problem area is my legs. Neck - 16 Breast - 40 - I was at 39" when exericising under breast - 36 1/2 - previously was at 36" left bicep - 13 - previously at 12 3/4" forearm - 9 1/4 - waist - 34 - previously at 35" hips - 43 - same, previous 43" left thigh - 24 - prevously at 22 3/4" left calves - 15 - same, previously at 15" Weight - 181.7 - YIKES I am so bloated, we had mexican and last night I had steak, so the salt intake is making me retain a lot of water. The scales were VERY ugly today, but I know they will be dropping rapidly this week as I lose some of the "water weight". Goals today, drink water, and drink more water. I was up this morning at 4:50 am, headed to the gym and did a circuit training and focussed on upper body workout. EXERCISE - UBWO/cardio - am exercise M1 - 7:30 am egg white omlet with 2 turkey sausage links, picante sauce M2 - SF yogurt, handful of granola to give it a crunch M3 - salad with balsmic vingerette dressing/salmon M4 - 3 oz of steak and 1/2 potatoe (small potatoe) I am excited to see some good results over the next few months. I know if I stick to the program, and once I get my restriction back, I will see some results! I am so excited to go for my fill next week, I cannot wait!

Okay - I did it, I got my rear out of bed this morning at 4:50 am and headed to the gym. My knee is burning, and I'm tired, but I feel good at the same time. Now I just have to do this for 20 more days in order to make this a habit. I'm so glad I forced myself out of bed and begin the challenge! I took all my measurements, however, I have not taken a picture yet, so I will do that tonite. How is everyone else doing?

Good job Jen! I've been working on the "mental" part of me this week, tomorrow, I will start on the physical part. I just took my measurements and I'm going to do the dreaded picture of me so I can compare myself every month. I'm ready to see some changes! Okay, I hope everyone is geared up for the exercise challenge! Get out those running shoes/walking shoes, get out those workout pants, and grab a towel to dab off your sweat, lets get started!

Steph - docs & nurses can be frustrating, I know. Hang in there and hopefully you will get an answer. My port area seems to be better, I honesty think it was muscle spasms for me. I have a probelm with low potassium, I'm taking quickslim30 which has a diuretic in it (which can cause low potassium), and when I get low potassium, it causes me to get muscle cramps/spasms. I also did a big no no, my DH & I went out to Celebrate our 19yr anniversary, we had dinner - I had some wine - then we went to a concert with this band he loves (local nobody band), and his friend was there and bought me a beer, well, I drank 2 beers and was going to bathroom all night, I think this also caused my potassium to be low. I didn't have the pain until after that night, so I'm assuming it is low potassium. I've been eating bananas everyday, and taking a potassium pill. It does seem to help. Keep us updated after your appointment, I'm curious to know if the vomit did anything - I really think it probably irritated the port area, since it is still so sensitive (mine was for about a month) and you are so fresh out of surgery. I think it will be okay, but you need to have it checked out to be sure.

Is this what you are talking about? I don't know how to do a sticky - but here is the link! I'm going to do the BFL challenge myself, however, I will have to modify it some because of my knee, but I like the workout program. Body-for-LIFE Exercise Journals

I'm so glad everyone is going to join in! I'm about to take my measurements and have a picture taken of me so I can compare my results. I personally am going to do a modified BFL program, but everyone can chose what they want to do. My hardest thing is going to get up at 5:00 am to exercise. But I will do it!

Cindi - update? How is your son doing? My DH & Son are avid gun users because they hunt, and my son also plays the guitar, so I certainly have empathy for your situation. I really hope your son is okay in the hand, and has full use of it again. I've had 4 hand/arm surgeries and I know it can be painful in the nerve area and also I know it is a long recovery process. Let us know how he is doing. Sula - I will repost, I'm not sure how to do a sticky? I thought only moderators could do that? But anyhow, I will find the link, it might be at my work computer, but I will check. I've gotta run, running my daughter to a babysitting job, will try and get back on the computer tonite if I have time. Angly,you look great by the way!

Steph, curious on what the doc said. I have been banded right at a year and now I have this horrible pain on my port side. It actually feels like the port is pulling away from the muscle. It very painful. I feel it if I twist or bend. I'm thinking it could be muscle spasms, but not sure.

2008 is going to be great, this is the last year of my life that I will every say "this year, I'm going to lose weight". I WILL hit my goal this year, I am sure of it! I am determined to make it to my goal this year and nothing is going to stop me, not even the chocolate that call my name all the time. lol. I went yesterday for a "free" consultation with a smart lipo doctor. Man, I really want the smart lipo done so bad. The cost for total body would be $9800. This would be for every inch of my body. I am wanting it done so badly! I am just waiting on my 401K to be unfrozen due to a merger with our company and another, then I am thinking about doing a 401K loan. I'm hoping to have it done in April! I also went in for my lasik surgery consultation, I am scheduled to have lasik on 1/17/08. I can't wait to be rid of contacts and glasses forever. I might still need reading glasses, but at least I will be able to wake up in the middle of the night and see the bathroom. lol. I've always heard that the 40's are the greatest years and I am starting to believe it. I hated my 30's, I was overweight, I was depressed, I was just misserable. I am now 41 and I am feeling so good about myself, my looks, and my life. I am enjoying my 40's. My kids are now 15 & 17, it won't be long until they are grown complelely and off on their own. DH & I are madly in love, so we will enjoy the alone time, and we plan on taking a lot of trips and just having fun. Menu today: Bfast coffee/cream lunch salad dinner chili suppliements - quickslim30, vitamins

2008 is going to be great, this is the last year of my life that I will every say "this year, I'm going to lose weight". I WILL hit my goal this year, I am sure of it! I am determined to make it to my goal this year and nothing is going to stop me, not even the chocolate that call my name all the time. lol. I went yesterday for a "free" consultation with a smart lipo doctor. Man, I really want the smart lipo done so bad. The cost for total body would be $9800. This would be for every inch of my body. I am wanting it done so badly! I am just waiting on my 401K to be unfrozen due to a merger with our company and another, then I am thinking about doing a 401K loan. I'm hoping to have it done in April! I also went in for my lasik surgery consultation, I am scheduled to have lasik on 1/17/08. I can't wait to be rid of contacts and glasses forever. I might still need reading glasses, but at least I will be able to wake up in the middle of the night and see the bathroom. lol. I've always heard that the 40's are the greatest years and I am starting to believe it. I hated my 30's, I was overweight, I was depressed, I was just misserable. I am now 41 and I am feeling so good about myself, my looks, and my life. I am enjoying my 40's. My kids are now 15 & 17, it won't be long until they are grown complelely and off on their own. DH & I are madly in love, so we will enjoy the alone time, and we plan on taking a lot of trips and just having fun. Menu today: Bfast coffee/cream lunch salad dinner chili suppliements - quickslim30, vitamins

Thank you ajoneen!

Lisa - you've done so great this past year! I love the collar bones too! So glad you are able to talk to us again, we've missed you!

Jen - you CAN do it, and YOU WILL do it!

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.