EliyshevaLovesYahweh

What you are considering is a trend that has already begun. There are numerous of websites where one can trade and/or give away personal items with/to others online. One particular name for a reputable website does not come to mind; however, there is Rehashclothes.com, Dig N Swap, Bigwardrobe.com, Swapstyle, thredUP, and Close Infinite among many others. Check them out thoroughly before you start your trading. Hope this helps...

What you are considering is a trend that has already begun. There are numerous of websites where one can trade and/or give away personal items with/to others online. One particular name for a reputable website does not come to mind; however, there is Rehashclothes.com, Dig N Swap, Bigwardrobe.com, Swapstyle, thredUP, and Close Infinite among many others. Check them out thoroughly before you start your trading. Hope this helps...

Hi Donnie,
Realize that the recommended amount of weight loss per week is 1-2 lbs if I'm not mistaken, so you are losing weight within a healthy pace. At times it may seem as though the scale is not moving, however this may not mean you are not still losing fat, perhaps you are gaining muscles which weighs more than fat and perhaps even losing inches. May I suggest, that perhaps you invest in a bioelectrical impedance device (example here) to really keep track of your weight loss in terms of FAT. This device has really worked for me whenever the scale fails me. IF the case is that you want to lose weight faster then there are a lot of factors to consider: 1). Make sure you are keeping your fat, Protein carbs intake in check - perhaps you may want to eat more protein to speed up your weight loss. 2). IF you are already eating the right way, then change your exercise routines a bit, exercise a bit longer than your last routine. 3). Don't weigh yourself during your menstrual cycle because Water retention may cause your weight loss to plateau for the duration of your period -- you will lose the water weight eventually. 4). I don't know how many meals you are eating... but it is advisable to eat only three meals a day and drink plenty of fluids. I share with you that I am on a high protein diet only eating three meals a day and replacing one of those meals with a doctor-approved complete meal-shake or protein-shake. 5). Please eat enough to prevent your body from dropping your metabolic rate down which is its natural reaction to starvation. To not be hungry, I divide my portions wisely throughout the day and at the end of the day I learn that I am only eating 800 - 900 cal a day, and satiated.
One repeated practice I've kept during my weight loss endeavors is to plan trips/events ahead of time to which I need to look resilient for, or at least close to fabulous -- this is great motivation for me. There is a Greet and Meet held every year in Las Vegas by the Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America (http://wlsfa.org/) on 5/13 - 5/15, however one could truly benefit from arriving days earlier and leaving days later to enjoy Vegas while there. IF interested, Antonia is the name of the founder and and this is her youtube channel. I will be meeting with Dr. Katzen, a plastic surgeon (who will be speaking on the seminar on 5/14) to discuss a low-profile-port surgery once I hit goal. My husband will be accompanying me there but we don't plan on spending too much time on the seminar "convention" since I've made future reservations to an Opera show, among other things I would like to do there. My aim in sharing this, is to share my weight loss tips and what works for me in hopes that it might work for you. Because planning events ahead of times always gives me something to look forward to and the extra oomph needed to stay focused on my weight loss goals. Last, but not the least 6). Please be patient, please don't stress yourself, you will do wonderfully.
Personally, I believe it is best to lose the weight at a slower healthier speed to not have to deal with excess skin later. I have noticed how "lapbandsters" vlog their weight-race on youtube and have seemingly lost more weight than myself within the same time frame, but you know what?!-- THIS is what motivates them. Everyone's individual genetic and medical conditions are not the same therefore comparing myself to any WLS patient or any other individual for that matter, is not an option for me. AND since body size, weight, age and activity levels are different-- the end results just won't be the same. All the best to you.

Thank you Kristina!

Hi nako99. I was doing a 6 month supervised diet which is required by GHI (PPO) and I had three more weigh-ins in order to comply with GHI's prerequisite for Lap-banding. However, my husband's employer changed from GHI to Empire BCBS and on Dec 31st, 2010 RD we received our new insurance cards with Empire Bluecross Blueshield (which is when I found out of the change). I immediately called the surgeon's office to find out if my new insurance was accepted and if a six mo supervised visit was required by the insurer. The rep at the office told me that Empire Bluecross Blueshield is accepted if in-network and no six mo supervised visit is necessary. I really don't know how well informed this office rep is though. Nevertheless, below are some helpful websites which I found that could possibly answer your questions.
BCBS Medical Policies: http://www.empireblue.com/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htm
BCBS Blue Distiinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery: http://www.bcbs.com/innovations/bluedistinction/blue-distinction-bariatric/
BCBS - Directory of Providers: http://www.bcbs.com/innovations/bluedistinction/blue-distinction-bariatric/bariatricmidlevelcriteria.pdf
BCBS - Centers Hospitals (participating) for Bariatric Surgery http://www.bcbs.com/innovations/bluedistinction/blue-distinction-bariatric/bluedistinctionbariatric.pdf
Hope this helps.
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"Just when I figured out all the answers they changed the questions"

Hi nako99. I was doing a 6 month supervised diet which is required by GHI (PPO) and I had three more weigh-ins in order to comply with GHI's prerequisite for Lap-banding. However, my husband's employer changed from GHI to Empire BCBS and on Dec 31st, 2010 RD we received our new insurance cards with Empire Bluecross Blueshield (which is when I found out of the change). I immediately called the surgeon's office to find out if my new insurance was accepted and if a six mo supervised visit was required by the insurer. The rep at the office told me that Empire Bluecross Blueshield is accepted if in-network and no six mo supervised visit is necessary. I really don't know how well informed this office rep is though. Nevertheless, below are some helpful websites which I found that could possibly answer your questions.
BCBS Medical Policies: http://www.empireblue.com/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htm
BCBS Blue Distiinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery: http://www.bcbs.com/innovations/bluedistinction/blue-distinction-bariatric/
BCBS - Directory of Providers: http://www.bcbs.com/innovations/bluedistinction/blue-distinction-bariatric/bariatricmidlevelcriteria.pdf
BCBS - Centers Hospitals (participating) for Bariatric Surgery http://www.bcbs.com/innovations/bluedistinction/blue-distinction-bariatric/bluedistinctionbariatric.pdf
Hope this helps.
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"Just when I figured out all the answers they changed the questions"