tonya66

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 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.

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

What a great NSV!

I get the spasms after a fill, they seem to settle down in about a week. How are yours doing? I hope your doing better, mine weren't as painful as yours, they were just irritating to me. Hang in there.

Well, my cousin had RNY in November of 2006, I had Lap Band January of 2007, I've lost more weight than she has. I eat what I want, she has to pick & chose very carefully (she gets dumping a lot). She is anemic, I'm not, she feels that she still can eat too much - I can go in for a fill, she can't. She also has to take shots for B-12, I don't. She has had a few kidney stones which is one of the side effects you can get with RNY, I have not had this. The list can go on and on. I also wanted RNY in the beginning, but my DH was so set against it, I opted for Lap-band, and I'm glad now I did. I have no regrets with my decision, my cousin on the other hand does.

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 -

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 -

Cindi - you are doing great and inspiring me! Well, my DH tells me is going to start working out, but getting him to the gym is a different story. lol. But I will see. Did pretty good on eating yesterday, I turned down sweets! So, I might be getting some of my will power back. I'm trying to get it out of my system (the sugar). I've been on a sugar kick for 4 months I think! I go for a "smart lipo" consultation on January 2nd, I'm not sure when and if I will do it, right now I'm just starting the journey with lots of questions to ask the doctor. I'm not sure they can do it with my port.

solid protein, chicken, fish, beef, all of these last me for up to 5 hours. Liquid calories about 2 hours and softer foods, like cottage cheese, about 3 hours.

Okay - I'm not a doctor but here is what I think - 1st, I notice certain foods make me a little nausiated. Could it be that the casserole had a bit of grease in it? Or perhaps a lot of fat? Or maybe something that makes you nausiated? Or maybe you actually have a little bug? 2nd, things can hang around in your pouch for hours, thats how it works. It slowly goes thru the opening into your stomach. I think as the tiny piece of mushroom was going thru it caused you to burb, (you were not stuck) but the burp just made the mushroom come back up. This has happened to me lots of time. I get burpy a lot. I hope that helps some. Everyone is just so different and experience different things. My biggest baffle for me is, why don't I have to take small bites of food like everyone else? It concerns me some. Even when I am at good restriction, I can eat regular bites of food.

Okay - enough of my self sabotage, its time to kick it up and get the body I've always wanted. I'm so pumped. My knee still burns and I have not been able to climb a step yet, but I am ready to hit the gym! I will just have to modify my exercises. Its time to adopts the NO MORE EXCUSES rule. I cannot and will not be making any more excuses. I have this wonderful tool inside me (also known as "the band") and it is time to use it and quit eating around it! I'm starting a 2008 12 week exercise challenge, begins 1/7/08. I'm so excited to get back into the exercise. I can't wait for my fill on 1/18. I need it so bad! I need to measure tonight and I'm going to start planning my meals better. Today Bfast 4 slices of bacon (70 calories for 2 slices - very small & thin) coffee with cream Lunch 1 cup of lettuce 2 oz of chicken on top 1 oz of cheese a few sunflower seeds balsamic/olive oil dressing snack LC SF yogurt a handfull of granola dinner - Water - suppliments - quickslim30, flinstones