Re: Diets, eating disorders, etc

[Guest guest]

ironic isnt it? eating disorders just dont work for us. i did the

whole starving myself thing, i would only eat if i was in a position

where i had to for someone elses benefit, and then i would beat

myself up for days over that 1 small meal. i can honestly say i

didnt lose even 1 pound, think i even gained a few. kinda silly to

look back on it knowing what i do now about the metabolism. more

irony- i have yet to have any dr tell me that i can use any kind of

weight loss product. they always tell me i could like have a

heartattack or something along those lines because of the

interaction with the meds? so to sum it up, no magic pills or happy

little diets or jenny craig meals for us, right? we just have to

find a way to explain to everyone else why we NEED to eat 6 meals a

day to lose weight? i gotta tell ya, i feel a bit cheated here!

-by the way, what is that optifast diet all about? sounds a bit

extreme, no? a 3 month fast? doesnt sound too healthy for anyone!

--- In The_Thyroid_Support_Group , Kathy Kitzcat

<kitzcat2001@y...> wrote

> Most people buy into the myth that all fat people eat

> vast quantities of food and that all we need to do is

> " push away from the table " . They buy into all the

> diet and weight loss ads and all the misinformation

> that is readily available. Look at all the so called

> diet successes who tout their programs in infomercials

> on TV. If they did it, then we all can do it, right?

> All we have to do is buy this book or that machine and

> follow this food plan. ( I was on Weight Watchers

> when I was in 6th and 7th grade and have been on just

> about everything else out there including Oprah's much

> touted Optifast (although I did it first). I lost 96

> lbs in 6 months. I felt great. I was scared to death

> to put a bite of food in my mouth after the 3 month

> total fast and when I did, I immediately started

> gaining the weight back. I also got weaker as a

> result because I lost muscle mass. I even had a

> problem years ago with bulimia when I was in my late

> teens/early 20's which didn't help, but I just quit.

> I don't know why or how, it just stopped. I didn't

> even know it was bulimia until a few years ago when I

> was looking up the signs and symptoms for a friend of

> mine who didn't have computer access.

>

>

> __________________________________

> Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.

> http://farechase.yahoo.com

>

[Guest guest]

ironic isnt it? eating disorders just dont work for us. i did the

whole starving myself thing, i would only eat if i was in a position

where i had to for someone elses benefit, and then i would beat

myself up for days over that 1 small meal. i can honestly say i

didnt lose even 1 pound, think i even gained a few. kinda silly to

look back on it knowing what i do now about the metabolism. more

irony- i have yet to have any dr tell me that i can use any kind of

weight loss product. they always tell me i could like have a

heartattack or something along those lines because of the

interaction with the meds? so to sum it up, no magic pills or happy

little diets or jenny craig meals for us, right? we just have to

find a way to explain to everyone else why we NEED to eat 6 meals a

day to lose weight? i gotta tell ya, i feel a bit cheated here!

-by the way, what is that optifast diet all about? sounds a bit

extreme, no? a 3 month fast? doesnt sound too healthy for anyone!

--- In The_Thyroid_Support_Group , Kathy Kitzcat

<kitzcat2001@y...> wrote

> Most people buy into the myth that all fat people eat

> vast quantities of food and that all we need to do is

> " push away from the table " . They buy into all the

> diet and weight loss ads and all the misinformation

> that is readily available. Look at all the so called

> diet successes who tout their programs in infomercials

> on TV. If they did it, then we all can do it, right?

> All we have to do is buy this book or that machine and

> follow this food plan. ( I was on Weight Watchers

> when I was in 6th and 7th grade and have been on just

> about everything else out there including Oprah's much

> touted Optifast (although I did it first). I lost 96

> lbs in 6 months. I felt great. I was scared to death

> to put a bite of food in my mouth after the 3 month

> total fast and when I did, I immediately started

> gaining the weight back. I also got weaker as a

> result because I lost muscle mass. I even had a

> problem years ago with bulimia when I was in my late

> teens/early 20's which didn't help, but I just quit.

> I don't know why or how, it just stopped. I didn't

> even know it was bulimia until a few years ago when I

> was looking up the signs and symptoms for a friend of

> mine who didn't have computer access.

>

>

> __________________________________

> Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.

> http://farechase.yahoo.com

>

[Guest guest]

--- angie wrote:

> ironic isnt it? eating disorders just dont work for

> us. i did the

> whole starving myself thing, i would only eat if i

> was in a position

> where i had to for someone elses benefit, and then i

> would beat

> myself up for days over that 1 small meal. i can

> honestly say i

> didnt lose even 1 pound, think i even gained a few.

> kinda silly to

> look back on it knowing what i do now about the

> metabolism. more

> irony- i have yet to have any dr tell me that i can

> use any kind of

> weight loss product. they always tell me i could

> like have a

> heartattack or something along those lines because

> of the

> interaction with the meds? so to sum it up, no magic

> pills or happy

> little diets or jenny craig meals for us, right? we

> just have to

> find a way to explain to everyone else why we NEED

> to eat 6 meals a

> day to lose weight? i gotta tell ya, i feel a bit

> cheated here!

> -by the way, what is that optifast diet all about?

> sounds a bit

> extreme, no? a 3 month fast? doesnt sound too

> healthy for anyone!

>

Optifast is a medically supervised fasting program

that lasts for 6 months. The first 3 months are a

total fast where you can have nothing but their

powdered drink mixes. They did let us flavor the

mixes with sugar free jello and such so we could have

some variety with flavor, but the drinks were

approximately 800 calories a day for the larger

participants, 600 for the smaller ones. We had to go

in every week for a counciling session, weigh in and

blood work. I even bought a blender to take to work

so I could mix my drinks there fresh because they

didn't keep very well. When the 3 months was over we

could add in one meal a day and gradually work our way

up to 3 meals a day. The first meal looked like a

huge amount of food but was, in reality, a small

broiled chicken breast and a few ounces of steamed

carrots. I was scared to eat it. I've never been

scared of food before. It was a strange feeling and

one I've overcome. It didn't take long either. We

aren't like alcoholics who can totally avoid the

intake of alcoholic beverages. We have to eat to

live, but what we eat is processed so well because it

stays in our digestive system longer.

I'm too tired to be doing this tonight. G'night

folks.

Kathy >^,,^<

KitzCat146@...

http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

kitzcat on MSN Messenger

In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

--- angie wrote:

> ironic isnt it? eating disorders just dont work for

> us. i did the

> whole starving myself thing, i would only eat if i

> was in a position

> where i had to for someone elses benefit, and then i

> would beat

> myself up for days over that 1 small meal. i can

> honestly say i

> didnt lose even 1 pound, think i even gained a few.

> kinda silly to

> look back on it knowing what i do now about the

> metabolism. more

> irony- i have yet to have any dr tell me that i can

> use any kind of

> weight loss product. they always tell me i could

> like have a

> heartattack or something along those lines because

> of the

> interaction with the meds? so to sum it up, no magic

> pills or happy

> little diets or jenny craig meals for us, right? we

> just have to

> find a way to explain to everyone else why we NEED

> to eat 6 meals a

> day to lose weight? i gotta tell ya, i feel a bit

> cheated here!

> -by the way, what is that optifast diet all about?

> sounds a bit

> extreme, no? a 3 month fast? doesnt sound too

> healthy for anyone!

>

Optifast is a medically supervised fasting program

that lasts for 6 months. The first 3 months are a

total fast where you can have nothing but their

powdered drink mixes. They did let us flavor the

mixes with sugar free jello and such so we could have

some variety with flavor, but the drinks were

approximately 800 calories a day for the larger

participants, 600 for the smaller ones. We had to go

in every week for a counciling session, weigh in and

blood work. I even bought a blender to take to work

so I could mix my drinks there fresh because they

didn't keep very well. When the 3 months was over we

could add in one meal a day and gradually work our way

up to 3 meals a day. The first meal looked like a

huge amount of food but was, in reality, a small

broiled chicken breast and a few ounces of steamed

carrots. I was scared to eat it. I've never been

scared of food before. It was a strange feeling and

one I've overcome. It didn't take long either. We

aren't like alcoholics who can totally avoid the

intake of alcoholic beverages. We have to eat to

live, but what we eat is processed so well because it

stays in our digestive system longer.

I'm too tired to be doing this tonight. G'night

folks.

Kathy >^,,^<

KitzCat146@...

http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

kitzcat on MSN Messenger

In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I have my line down for mini meals in public... I split up my vitamins and supplements so that I take some with most of my mine meals... so when I'm out and about and it's time for a mini meal, I just make a comment about having to have something to eat so I can take my medicine... then I can eat my little mini meal, that doesn't look like a regular meal anyway, then I take my supplements and slosh them down with water.... it saves a LOT of explanations and such.....

Folks that I know are used to my mini meals... even regular clients know that I have to stop every few hours to eat and that I have to dose my thyroid meds in between too... so no great explanations there either when I stop working for a few minutes to eat....

People seem to be able to handle having to 'eat a little something to take pills' a whole lot better than stoking the metabolic fires to burn fat!! hehehehe

Topper ()

On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 06:39:31 -0000 "angie" writes:

ironic isnt it? eating disorders just dont work for us. i did the whole starving myself thing, i would only eat if i was in a position where i had to for someone elses benefit, and then i would beat myself up for days over that 1 small meal. i can honestly say i didnt lose even 1 pound, think i even gained a few. kinda silly to look back on it knowing what i do now about the metabolism. more irony- i have yet to have any dr tell me that i can use any kind of weight loss product. they always tell me i could like have a heartattack or something along those lines because of the interaction with the meds? so to sum it up, no magic pills or happy little diets or jenny craig meals for us, right? we just have to find a way to explain to everyone else why we NEED to eat 6 meals a day to lose weight? i gotta tell ya, i feel a bit cheated here! -by the way, what is that optifast diet all about? sounds a bit extreme, no? a 3 month fast? doesnt sound too healthy for anyone!

[Guest guest]

I have my line down for mini meals in public... I split up my vitamins and supplements so that I take some with most of my mine meals... so when I'm out and about and it's time for a mini meal, I just make a comment about having to have something to eat so I can take my medicine... then I can eat my little mini meal, that doesn't look like a regular meal anyway, then I take my supplements and slosh them down with water.... it saves a LOT of explanations and such.....

Folks that I know are used to my mini meals... even regular clients know that I have to stop every few hours to eat and that I have to dose my thyroid meds in between too... so no great explanations there either when I stop working for a few minutes to eat....

People seem to be able to handle having to 'eat a little something to take pills' a whole lot better than stoking the metabolic fires to burn fat!! hehehehe

Topper ()

On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 06:39:31 -0000 "angie" writes:

ironic isnt it? eating disorders just dont work for us. i did the whole starving myself thing, i would only eat if i was in a position where i had to for someone elses benefit, and then i would beat myself up for days over that 1 small meal. i can honestly say i didnt lose even 1 pound, think i even gained a few. kinda silly to look back on it knowing what i do now about the metabolism. more irony- i have yet to have any dr tell me that i can use any kind of weight loss product. they always tell me i could like have a heartattack or something along those lines because of the interaction with the meds? so to sum it up, no magic pills or happy little diets or jenny craig meals for us, right? we just have to find a way to explain to everyone else why we NEED to eat 6 meals a day to lose weight? i gotta tell ya, i feel a bit cheated here! -by the way, what is that optifast diet all about? sounds a bit extreme, no? a 3 month fast? doesnt sound too healthy for anyone!

[Guest guest]

OH my gosh!!! Don't they know what a starvation diet like that will do to someone with a bad thyroid? Do they know that it can actually cause someone with a passable thyroid to actually damage it and leave them hypo!!!????? geesh...

Without proper food intake and nutrients your body can't convert hormone... getting 'used to' a diet that is that low in food value, and under 1500 calories a day for an 'average' adult is lacking in food value, your body can't convert, it can't even produce enough T4 for the body to maintain storage levels..... so, of course, when you start giving your body nutrition again it won't be able to assimilate it properly at first and with the metabolic rate so drastically lowered from lack of food and lack of thyroid hormone you're gonna put on weight again.... it takes time for the thyroid gland to kick in again... .and then weeks more for the T4 levels to get built up again and for conversion to kick in... and if the damage is sufficient enough you end up with the added joy of having messed up your body's ability to convert hormone.... and geesh... I 'm shutting up now....

Topper ()

On Fri, 4 Nov 2005 23:03:00 -0800 (PST) Kathy Kitzcat writes:

Optifast is a medically supervised fasting programthat lasts for 6 months. The first 3 months are atotal fast where you can have nothing but theirpowdered drink mixes. They did let us flavor themixes with sugar free jello and such so we could havesome variety with flavor, but the drinks wereapproximately 800 calories a day for the largerparticipants, 600 for the smaller ones. We had to goin every week for a counciling session, weigh in andblood work. I even bought a blender to take to workso I could mix my drinks there fresh because theydidn't keep very well. When the 3 months was over wecould add in one meal a day and gradually work our wayup to 3 meals a day. The first meal looked like ahuge amount of food but was, in reality, a smallbroiled chicken breast and a few ounces of steamedcarrots. I was scared to eat it. I've never beenscared of food before. It was a strange feeling andone I've overcome. It didn't take long either. Wearen't like alcoholics who can totally avoid theintake of alcoholic beverages. We have to eat tolive, but what we eat is processed so well because itstays in our digestive system longer.I'm too tired to be doing this tonight. G'nightfolks.Kathy >^,,^<KitzCat146@...http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcatkitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messengerkitzcat on MSN Messenger

[Guest guest]

OH my gosh!!! Don't they know what a starvation diet like that will do to someone with a bad thyroid? Do they know that it can actually cause someone with a passable thyroid to actually damage it and leave them hypo!!!????? geesh...

Without proper food intake and nutrients your body can't convert hormone... getting 'used to' a diet that is that low in food value, and under 1500 calories a day for an 'average' adult is lacking in food value, your body can't convert, it can't even produce enough T4 for the body to maintain storage levels..... so, of course, when you start giving your body nutrition again it won't be able to assimilate it properly at first and with the metabolic rate so drastically lowered from lack of food and lack of thyroid hormone you're gonna put on weight again.... it takes time for the thyroid gland to kick in again... .and then weeks more for the T4 levels to get built up again and for conversion to kick in... and if the damage is sufficient enough you end up with the added joy of having messed up your body's ability to convert hormone.... and geesh... I 'm shutting up now....

Topper ()

On Fri, 4 Nov 2005 23:03:00 -0800 (PST) Kathy Kitzcat writes:

Optifast is a medically supervised fasting programthat lasts for 6 months. The first 3 months are atotal fast where you can have nothing but theirpowdered drink mixes. They did let us flavor themixes with sugar free jello and such so we could havesome variety with flavor, but the drinks wereapproximately 800 calories a day for the largerparticipants, 600 for the smaller ones. We had to goin every week for a counciling session, weigh in andblood work. I even bought a blender to take to workso I could mix my drinks there fresh because theydidn't keep very well. When the 3 months was over wecould add in one meal a day and gradually work our wayup to 3 meals a day. The first meal looked like ahuge amount of food but was, in reality, a smallbroiled chicken breast and a few ounces of steamedcarrots. I was scared to eat it. I've never beenscared of food before. It was a strange feeling andone I've overcome. It didn't take long either. Wearen't like alcoholics who can totally avoid theintake of alcoholic beverages. We have to eat tolive, but what we eat is processed so well because itstays in our digestive system longer.I'm too tired to be doing this tonight. G'nightfolks.Kathy >^,,^<KitzCat146@...http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcatkitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messengerkitzcat on MSN Messenger

[Guest guest]

OH my gosh!!! Don't they know what a starvation diet like that will do to someone with a bad thyroid? Do they know that it can actually cause someone with a passable thyroid to actually damage it and leave them hypo!!!????? geesh...

Without proper food intake and nutrients your body can't convert hormone... getting 'used to' a diet that is that low in food value, and under 1500 calories a day for an 'average' adult is lacking in food value, your body can't convert, it can't even produce enough T4 for the body to maintain storage levels..... so, of course, when you start giving your body nutrition again it won't be able to assimilate it properly at first and with the metabolic rate so drastically lowered from lack of food and lack of thyroid hormone you're gonna put on weight again.... it takes time for the thyroid gland to kick in again... .and then weeks more for the T4 levels to get built up again and for conversion to kick in... and if the damage is sufficient enough you end up with the added joy of having messed up your body's ability to convert hormone.... and geesh... I 'm shutting up now....

Topper ()

On Fri, 4 Nov 2005 23:03:00 -0800 (PST) Kathy Kitzcat writes:

Optifast is a medically supervised fasting programthat lasts for 6 months. The first 3 months are atotal fast where you can have nothing but theirpowdered drink mixes. They did let us flavor themixes with sugar free jello and such so we could havesome variety with flavor, but the drinks wereapproximately 800 calories a day for the largerparticipants, 600 for the smaller ones. We had to goin every week for a counciling session, weigh in andblood work. I even bought a blender to take to workso I could mix my drinks there fresh because theydidn't keep very well. When the 3 months was over wecould add in one meal a day and gradually work our wayup to 3 meals a day. The first meal looked like ahuge amount of food but was, in reality, a smallbroiled chicken breast and a few ounces of steamedcarrots. I was scared to eat it. I've never beenscared of food before. It was a strange feeling andone I've overcome. It didn't take long either. Wearen't like alcoholics who can totally avoid theintake of alcoholic beverages. We have to eat tolive, but what we eat is processed so well because itstays in our digestive system longer.I'm too tired to be doing this tonight. G'nightfolks.Kathy >^,,^<KitzCat146@...http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcatkitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messengerkitzcat on MSN Messenger

[Guest guest]

--- topper2@... wrote:

> OH my gosh!!! Don't they know what a starvation diet

> like that will do to

> someone with a bad thyroid? Do they know that it can

> actually cause

> someone with a passable thyroid to actually damage

> it and leave them

> hypo!!!????? geesh...

>

> Without proper food intake and nutrients your body

> can't convert

> hormone... getting 'used to' a diet that is that low

> in food value, and

> under 1500 calories a day for an 'average' adult is

> lacking in food

> value, your body can't convert, it can't even

> produce enough T4 for the

> body to maintain storage levels..... so, of course,

> when you start giving

> your body nutrition again it won't be able to

> assimilate it properly at

> first and with the metabolic rate so drastically

> lowered from lack of

> food and lack of thyroid hormone you're gonna put on

> weight again.... it

> takes time for the thyroid gland to kick in again...

> .and then weeks more

> for the T4 levels to get built up again and for

> conversion to kick in...

> and if the damage is sufficient enough you end up

> with the added joy of

> having messed up your body's ability to convert

> hormone.... and geesh...

> I 'm shutting up now....

>

> Topper ()

>

Yeah, tell me about it. I believe I've had thyroid

problems since I was born, but I know for a fact that

the Optifast made it worse. When I started Optifast

in the 80's, I weighed about 395 lbs and was about 300

lbs at the end. In the year that followed I went

right on up the scales to eventually top them at about

525 lbs. in the mid 90's. I took the diet drug Redux

for a year and lost to about 415 lbs. and then gained

back to about 475 lbs before having a panniculectomy

(tummy tuck on a GRAND scale) in late 1999, where the

doctor removed 65 lbs of belly apron fat and skin from

my abdomen. That 65 lb measurement did NOT include

the amount of fluid that drained out while he was

removing it. I tended to hold a lot of fluid in the

belly apron and legs. I was diagnosed with severe

sleep apnea in the recovery room and was started on

treatment for that as well. That's the time I decided

that dieting was a crock and just stopped worrying

about it, and stopped gaining weight. I've probably

gained some in the last few months with all the stress

I'm under (my fiancee believes in comfort food), but

I'm trying to make more healthy choices.

Sheesh, I've been writing this response now for about

45 minutes. The cats are going bonkers and I have to

keep getting up to see what they are getting into

behind me and in the kitchen. ) I think I'll shut

down and go to bed now.

Kathy >^,,^<

KitzCat146@...

http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

kitzcat on MSN Messenger

In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

--- topper2@... wrote:

> OH my gosh!!! Don't they know what a starvation diet

> like that will do to

> someone with a bad thyroid? Do they know that it can

> actually cause

> someone with a passable thyroid to actually damage

> it and leave them

> hypo!!!????? geesh...

>

> Without proper food intake and nutrients your body

> can't convert

> hormone... getting 'used to' a diet that is that low

> in food value, and

> under 1500 calories a day for an 'average' adult is

> lacking in food

> value, your body can't convert, it can't even

> produce enough T4 for the

> body to maintain storage levels..... so, of course,

> when you start giving

> your body nutrition again it won't be able to

> assimilate it properly at

> first and with the metabolic rate so drastically

> lowered from lack of

> food and lack of thyroid hormone you're gonna put on

> weight again.... it

> takes time for the thyroid gland to kick in again...

> .and then weeks more

> for the T4 levels to get built up again and for

> conversion to kick in...

> and if the damage is sufficient enough you end up

> with the added joy of

> having messed up your body's ability to convert

> hormone.... and geesh...

> I 'm shutting up now....

>

> Topper ()

>

Yeah, tell me about it. I believe I've had thyroid

problems since I was born, but I know for a fact that

the Optifast made it worse. When I started Optifast

in the 80's, I weighed about 395 lbs and was about 300

lbs at the end. In the year that followed I went

right on up the scales to eventually top them at about

525 lbs. in the mid 90's. I took the diet drug Redux

for a year and lost to about 415 lbs. and then gained

back to about 475 lbs before having a panniculectomy

(tummy tuck on a GRAND scale) in late 1999, where the

doctor removed 65 lbs of belly apron fat and skin from

my abdomen. That 65 lb measurement did NOT include

the amount of fluid that drained out while he was

removing it. I tended to hold a lot of fluid in the

belly apron and legs. I was diagnosed with severe

sleep apnea in the recovery room and was started on

treatment for that as well. That's the time I decided

that dieting was a crock and just stopped worrying

about it, and stopped gaining weight. I've probably

gained some in the last few months with all the stress

I'm under (my fiancee believes in comfort food), but

I'm trying to make more healthy choices.

Sheesh, I've been writing this response now for about

45 minutes. The cats are going bonkers and I have to

keep getting up to see what they are getting into

behind me and in the kitchen. ) I think I'll shut

down and go to bed now.

Kathy >^,,^<

KitzCat146@...

http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

kitzcat on MSN Messenger

In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

--- topper2@... wrote:

> OH my gosh!!! Don't they know what a starvation diet

> like that will do to

> someone with a bad thyroid? Do they know that it can

> actually cause

> someone with a passable thyroid to actually damage

> it and leave them

> hypo!!!????? geesh...

>

> Without proper food intake and nutrients your body

> can't convert

> hormone... getting 'used to' a diet that is that low

> in food value, and

> under 1500 calories a day for an 'average' adult is

> lacking in food

> value, your body can't convert, it can't even

> produce enough T4 for the

> body to maintain storage levels..... so, of course,

> when you start giving

> your body nutrition again it won't be able to

> assimilate it properly at

> first and with the metabolic rate so drastically

> lowered from lack of

> food and lack of thyroid hormone you're gonna put on

> weight again.... it

> takes time for the thyroid gland to kick in again...

> .and then weeks more

> for the T4 levels to get built up again and for

> conversion to kick in...

> and if the damage is sufficient enough you end up

> with the added joy of

> having messed up your body's ability to convert

> hormone.... and geesh...

> I 'm shutting up now....

>

> Topper ()

>

Yeah, tell me about it. I believe I've had thyroid

problems since I was born, but I know for a fact that

the Optifast made it worse. When I started Optifast

in the 80's, I weighed about 395 lbs and was about 300

lbs at the end. In the year that followed I went

right on up the scales to eventually top them at about

525 lbs. in the mid 90's. I took the diet drug Redux

for a year and lost to about 415 lbs. and then gained

back to about 475 lbs before having a panniculectomy

(tummy tuck on a GRAND scale) in late 1999, where the

doctor removed 65 lbs of belly apron fat and skin from

my abdomen. That 65 lb measurement did NOT include

the amount of fluid that drained out while he was

removing it. I tended to hold a lot of fluid in the

belly apron and legs. I was diagnosed with severe

sleep apnea in the recovery room and was started on

treatment for that as well. That's the time I decided

that dieting was a crock and just stopped worrying

about it, and stopped gaining weight. I've probably

gained some in the last few months with all the stress

I'm under (my fiancee believes in comfort food), but

I'm trying to make more healthy choices.

Sheesh, I've been writing this response now for about

45 minutes. The cats are going bonkers and I have to

keep getting up to see what they are getting into

behind me and in the kitchen. ) I think I'll shut

down and go to bed now.

Kathy >^,,^<

KitzCat146@...

http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

kitzcat on MSN Messenger

In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

is it true that there is no non-surgical way to get rid of loose

skin? i have reached just about 300 lbs with both pregnancies, and i

carry my babies and the weight all belly- with my 10 lb 3 oz son i

was always asked if i was having twins lol. the 1 place in life

where i am fortunate with weight loss is post baby, it falls off,

every lb. but after i had him (maybe the c-section had some to do

with it?), i have a huge pouch and my whole belly is loose skin. i

had a consult with a surgeon and he agrees that my stomach is mostly

skin, he compares it to someone who has had a bypass surgery. but my

insurance will not pay to have it removed, even though it causes a

rather uncomfortable rash. i also have tons of hanging skin on my

upper arms and upper thighs, from the weight loss and gain over all

the years. any suggestions? i have been told that there is no

exercise out there that will help. true?

>

> Yeah, tell me about it. I believe I've had thyroid

> problems since I was born, but I know for a fact that

> the Optifast made it worse. When I started Optifast

> in the 80's, I weighed about 395 lbs and was about 300

> lbs at the end. In the year that followed I went

> right on up the scales to eventually top them at about

> 525 lbs. in the mid 90's. I took the diet drug Redux

> for a year and lost to about 415 lbs. and then gained

> back to about 475 lbs before having a panniculectomy

> (tummy tuck on a GRAND scale) in late 1999, where the

> doctor removed 65 lbs of belly apron fat and skin from

> my abdomen. That 65 lb measurement did NOT include

> the amount of fluid that drained out while he was

> removing it. I tended to hold a lot of fluid in the

> belly apron and legs. I was diagnosed with severe

> sleep apnea in the recovery room and was started on

> treatment for that as well. That's the time I decided

> that dieting was a crock and just stopped worrying

> about it, and stopped gaining weight. I've probably

> gained some in the last few months with all the stress

> I'm under (my fiancee believes in comfort food), but

> I'm trying to make more healthy choices.

> Sheesh, I've been writing this response now for about

> 45 minutes. The cats are going bonkers and I have to

> keep getting up to see what they are getting into

> behind me and in the kitchen. ) I think I'll shut

> down and go to bed now.

>

>

> Kathy >^,,^<

> KitzCat146@a...

> http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

> http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

> kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

> kitzcat on MSN Messenger

>

> In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

--- angie wrote:

> is it true that there is no non-surgical way to get

> rid of loose

> skin? i have reached just about 300 lbs with both

> pregnancies, and i

> carry my babies and the weight all belly- with my 10

> lb 3 oz son i

> was always asked if i was having twins lol. the 1

> place in life

> where i am fortunate with weight loss is post baby,

> it falls off,

> every lb. but after i had him (maybe the c-section

> had some to do

> with it?), i have a huge pouch and my whole belly is

> loose skin. i

> had a consult with a surgeon and he agrees that my

> stomach is mostly

> skin, he compares it to someone who has had a bypass

> surgery. but my

> insurance will not pay to have it removed, even

> though it causes a

> rather uncomfortable rash. i also have tons of

> hanging skin on my

> upper arms and upper thighs, from the weight loss

> and gain over all

> the years. any suggestions? i have been told that

> there is no

> exercise out there that will help. true?

Yes, I'm afraid that's pretty much true. ( My

surgery was approved only after a long struggle and

repeated appeals to the insurance company by myself

and my surgeon. It's considered cosmetic surgery, but

for me, it was to improve my quality of life. I

believe I'd be in a wheelchair by now if I hadn't had

the surgery.

Kathy >^,,^<

KitzCat146@...

http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

kitzcat on MSN Messenger

In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

__________________________________

Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.

http://farechase.yahoo.com

[Guest guest]

I had the same problem with the birth of my son 8 years ago. The

loose skin is still there to this day, and I have been trying to get

it removed. I also have the bye bye arm and it's awful. I have

struggle with weight and managed to keep the most of it off, but the

loose skin makes my life miserable.

I went to see a plastic surgeon and he told me that liposuction would

not help my tummy, because it's all loose skin. He also says that my

insurance may even pay for it. I am fighting with them right now.

I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois....

Any leads or feedback would be nice....

>

> > is it true that there is no non-surgical way to get

> > rid of loose

> > skin? i have reached just about 300 lbs with both

> > pregnancies, and i

> > carry my babies and the weight all belly- with my 10

> > lb 3 oz son i

> > was always asked if i was having twins lol. the 1

> > place in life

> > where i am fortunate with weight loss is post baby,

> > it falls off,

> > every lb. but after i had him (maybe the c-section

> > had some to do

> > with it?), i have a huge pouch and my whole belly is

> > loose skin. i

> > had a consult with a surgeon and he agrees that my

> > stomach is mostly

> > skin, he compares it to someone who has had a bypass

> > surgery. but my

> > insurance will not pay to have it removed, even

> > though it causes a

> > rather uncomfortable rash. i also have tons of

> > hanging skin on my

> > upper arms and upper thighs, from the weight loss

> > and gain over all

> > the years. any suggestions? i have been told that

> > there is no

> > exercise out there that will help. true?

>

>

> Yes, I'm afraid that's pretty much true. ( My

> surgery was approved only after a long struggle and

> repeated appeals to the insurance company by myself

> and my surgeon. It's considered cosmetic surgery, but

> for me, it was to improve my quality of life. I

> believe I'd be in a wheelchair by now if I hadn't had

> the surgery.

>

>

> Kathy >^,,^<

> KitzCat146@a...

> http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

> http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

> kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

> kitzcat on MSN Messenger

>

> In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

>

>

>

> __________________________________

> Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.

> http://farechase.yahoo.com

>

[Guest guest]

I had the same problem with the birth of my son 8 years ago. The

loose skin is still there to this day, and I have been trying to get

it removed. I also have the bye bye arm and it's awful. I have

struggle with weight and managed to keep the most of it off, but the

loose skin makes my life miserable.

I went to see a plastic surgeon and he told me that liposuction would

not help my tummy, because it's all loose skin. He also says that my

insurance may even pay for it. I am fighting with them right now.

I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois....

Any leads or feedback would be nice....

>

> > is it true that there is no non-surgical way to get

> > rid of loose

> > skin? i have reached just about 300 lbs with both

> > pregnancies, and i

> > carry my babies and the weight all belly- with my 10

> > lb 3 oz son i

> > was always asked if i was having twins lol. the 1

> > place in life

> > where i am fortunate with weight loss is post baby,

> > it falls off,

> > every lb. but after i had him (maybe the c-section

> > had some to do

> > with it?), i have a huge pouch and my whole belly is

> > loose skin. i

> > had a consult with a surgeon and he agrees that my

> > stomach is mostly

> > skin, he compares it to someone who has had a bypass

> > surgery. but my

> > insurance will not pay to have it removed, even

> > though it causes a

> > rather uncomfortable rash. i also have tons of

> > hanging skin on my

> > upper arms and upper thighs, from the weight loss

> > and gain over all

> > the years. any suggestions? i have been told that

> > there is no

> > exercise out there that will help. true?

>

>

> Yes, I'm afraid that's pretty much true. ( My

> surgery was approved only after a long struggle and

> repeated appeals to the insurance company by myself

> and my surgeon. It's considered cosmetic surgery, but

> for me, it was to improve my quality of life. I

> believe I'd be in a wheelchair by now if I hadn't had

> the surgery.

>

>

> Kathy >^,,^<

> KitzCat146@a...

> http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

> http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

> kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

> kitzcat on MSN Messenger

>

> In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

>

>

>

> __________________________________

> Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.

> http://farechase.yahoo.com

>

[Guest guest]

I had the same problem with the birth of my son 8 years ago. The

loose skin is still there to this day, and I have been trying to get

it removed. I also have the bye bye arm and it's awful. I have

struggle with weight and managed to keep the most of it off, but the

loose skin makes my life miserable.

I went to see a plastic surgeon and he told me that liposuction would

not help my tummy, because it's all loose skin. He also says that my

insurance may even pay for it. I am fighting with them right now.

I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois....

Any leads or feedback would be nice....

>

> > is it true that there is no non-surgical way to get

> > rid of loose

> > skin? i have reached just about 300 lbs with both

> > pregnancies, and i

> > carry my babies and the weight all belly- with my 10

> > lb 3 oz son i

> > was always asked if i was having twins lol. the 1

> > place in life

> > where i am fortunate with weight loss is post baby,

> > it falls off,

> > every lb. but after i had him (maybe the c-section

> > had some to do

> > with it?), i have a huge pouch and my whole belly is

> > loose skin. i

> > had a consult with a surgeon and he agrees that my

> > stomach is mostly

> > skin, he compares it to someone who has had a bypass

> > surgery. but my

> > insurance will not pay to have it removed, even

> > though it causes a

> > rather uncomfortable rash. i also have tons of

> > hanging skin on my

> > upper arms and upper thighs, from the weight loss

> > and gain over all

> > the years. any suggestions? i have been told that

> > there is no

> > exercise out there that will help. true?

>

>

> Yes, I'm afraid that's pretty much true. ( My

> surgery was approved only after a long struggle and

> repeated appeals to the insurance company by myself

> and my surgeon. It's considered cosmetic surgery, but

> for me, it was to improve my quality of life. I

> believe I'd be in a wheelchair by now if I hadn't had

> the surgery.

>

>

> Kathy >^,,^<

> KitzCat146@a...

> http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104

> http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat

> kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger

> kitzcat on MSN Messenger

>

> In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

>

>

>

> __________________________________

> Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.

> http://farechase.yahoo.com

>

[Guest guest]

i have a huge pouch and my whole belly is

> loose skin. i

> had a consult with a surgeon and he agrees that my

> stomach is mostly

> skin, he compares it to someone who has had a bypass

> surgery. but my

> insurance will not pay to have it removed, even

> though it causes a

> rather uncomfortable rash. i also have tons of

> hanging skin on my

> upper arms and upper thighs, from the weight loss

> and gain over all

> the years. any suggestions? i have been told that

> there is no

> exercise out there that will help. true?

I do not know of any other way to get rid of it. But I have seen

cosmetic surgery done and covered under a mental anquish

clause..meaning if you can convince your insurance that the physical

problem effects how you feel and how productive you are and

negatively effects your mental health they may pay it for you..

If this does not work then you need to find a medical reason to have

it done..

Kats3boys

[Guest guest]

i have a huge pouch and my whole belly is

> loose skin. i

> had a consult with a surgeon and he agrees that my

> stomach is mostly

> skin, he compares it to someone who has had a bypass

> surgery. but my

> insurance will not pay to have it removed, even

> though it causes a

> rather uncomfortable rash. i also have tons of

> hanging skin on my

> upper arms and upper thighs, from the weight loss

> and gain over all

> the years. any suggestions? i have been told that

> there is no

> exercise out there that will help. true?

I do not know of any other way to get rid of it. But I have seen

cosmetic surgery done and covered under a mental anquish

clause..meaning if you can convince your insurance that the physical

problem effects how you feel and how productive you are and

negatively effects your mental health they may pay it for you..

If this does not work then you need to find a medical reason to have

it done..

Kats3boys

[Guest guest]

i have a huge pouch and my whole belly is

> loose skin. i

> had a consult with a surgeon and he agrees that my

> stomach is mostly

> skin, he compares it to someone who has had a bypass

> surgery. but my

> insurance will not pay to have it removed, even

> though it causes a

> rather uncomfortable rash. i also have tons of

> hanging skin on my

> upper arms and upper thighs, from the weight loss

> and gain over all

> the years. any suggestions? i have been told that

> there is no

> exercise out there that will help. true?

I do not know of any other way to get rid of it. But I have seen

cosmetic surgery done and covered under a mental anquish

clause..meaning if you can convince your insurance that the physical

problem effects how you feel and how productive you are and

negatively effects your mental health they may pay it for you..

If this does not work then you need to find a medical reason to have

it done..

Kats3boys

[Guest guest]

negatively effects your mental health they may pay it for you..If this does not work then you need to find a medical reason to have it done..

BACK PAIN IS A GOOD ONE. gET LETTERS FROM ALL THE DOCTORS YOU CAN. iNSURANCE ALWAYS SAYS NO THE FIRST TIME. CAROL :-)

[Guest guest]

negatively effects your mental health they may pay it for you..If this does not work then you need to find a medical reason to have it done..

BACK PAIN IS A GOOD ONE. gET LETTERS FROM ALL THE DOCTORS YOU CAN. iNSURANCE ALWAYS SAYS NO THE FIRST TIME. CAROL :-)

[Guest guest]

Why not keep photos of yourself and repeat them every 3 mos. - see if changes.Be sure to do an extra front view picking up the skin with you hands to show the rash beneath.You can also sit in a straight chair and take front and side views to show how the abddominal ares look when seated.

I know a girl that got hers done because of rash. She was at like 358 and went down to 200. She would not use the cream and let it get bad and suffer a little and she got the complete body tuck. She took pictures also. Compain the infection also caused B.o. That would come from infection.Complain,complain,complain. Make sure they document it also. Like when the nurse comes in first and ask why are you here and she writes it down. Most doctors hardly document anything unless it is something they need to get paid. Good Luck. Carol :-) Oh, and if you have a Teaching medical school near by they do tucks and such a lot cheaper then plastic surgeons. The real MD is there for the surgery but he is teaching at the same time. That is why it is cheaper.

[Guest guest]

they do deny first time automatically? nice, good to know. i do suffer from a lot of back pain. can that be blamed on all that skin hanging and pulling from the front? thanx for the info!

Yes it can cause back pain. It makes your clothes uncomfortable and your waist. For arms or breast shoulder pain and indentions in your shoulders from your bra having to support too much. Most say the breast have to be a certain weight but not the case for some. Just having to wear a bra for good support making it tight and causing shoulder pain and neck pain.v Carol :-) You get letters from your doctors and then go to the plastic surgeon. It is about fifty bucks. He will take pictures and submit the letters also. When you ask your doctor for a letter he will not do it then and there. You take in a letter saying what you need and why so he does it later and mails it to you.

I have not had any surgeries as such. Just learn a lot from others. Detectives wives groups talk about more than just thier husbands.lol

[Guest guest]

interesting- and not too far off from the truth! it really is

depressing. i feel like one of those wrinkle dogs... i feel self-

conscience at work, in the bedroom, i hate even catching a glimpse

of my reflection sometimes, i hate that pouch! AAARGH!!! lol

thanx for the info!

angie (peachy)

>

> i have a huge pouch and my whole belly is

> > loose skin. i

> > had a consult with a surgeon and he agrees that my

> > stomach is mostly

> > skin, he compares it to someone who has had a bypass

> > surgery. but my

> > insurance will not pay to have it removed, even

> > though it causes a

> > rather uncomfortable rash. i also have tons of

> > hanging skin on my

> > upper arms and upper thighs, from the weight loss

> > and gain over all

> > the years. any suggestions? i have been told that

> > there is no

> > exercise out there that will help. true?

>

> I do not know of any other way to get rid of it. But I have seen

> cosmetic surgery done and covered under a mental anquish

> clause..meaning if you can convince your insurance that the

physical

> problem effects how you feel and how productive you are and

> negatively effects your mental health they may pay it for you..

> If this does not work then you need to find a medical reason to

have

> it done..

>

> Kats3boys

>