Hi Everyone!! Not that we aren't busy enough but I just wanted to post this message just to make sure that everyone knew that having pretty's on their profile is possible!! I just started volunteering for html and I absolutely love it! So.. If YOU would like your profile spruced up please write to [email protected] and someone will be glad to help you!! Tracie S.. HTML Volunteer 341/278/180

Did you know that OH is forming fully trained, Support Group Chapters in every state? I'm Marine Jourdan, I'm a professional Life Coach and OH Member, Charter Member Chapter Leader and friend to all of you. I had my RNY WLS on October 20th 2003 and I am enjoying a much healthier life because of it. I am inviting you to begin signing up for my Support Group that will begin in NEW YORK CITY this Fall. We will have an ONLINE Support Site on Yahoo Groups and it's address is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NYNJHWSN Click to join NYNJHWSN You are all welcome to be here to get first rate education. Tell you doctors, dieticians, family, friends and other WLS / OH family about it. OH's Dr. Monica Ganz is launching the Chapter Leaders entity and we are actively looking for all support group leaders to apply to be an OH Certified Support Group Chapter. Please ask me how to get your certification at [email protected] I will be happy to refer you and get all of the qualified groups and leaders on the OH Chapter Leader program. A very important thing for the world of WLS, it's patient's and professionals is that we are all educated well and that we all have the same, correct information. Have you ever experienced conflicting opinions or even getting advice from a professional or other WLS friend that was not the best for you. You have to remember that every patient is at a different stage and not all methods are for all people. As a OH Certified Chapter Leader and getting your information from an OH Chapter Leader, you are assured that if we do not have the answer, we know where to go to get it. We also know when it is a question to raise to a doctor and providing doctor's with the education in this very new field. We just had a national conference in New Jersey with OH and it was very informative. I highly encourage everyone to go to the events page www.obesityhelpevents.com please find the events near you and make sure you register to attend with all your WLS friends and family members. Being at an OH event, you are learning from the nations leader in resources, information and education on WLS. OH is being heard by Congress, the U.S. Senate and the Insurance Industry, including Medicare who upon the testimony of OH experts, maintained approving WLS for Medicare patients. So, be very aware that an OH sponsored entity is the pinnacle source. Please tell all you friends that Marine said to sign up now for OH, the individual state boards, look on the events site and come and join me on my Yahoo site for education. If you live near NYC, NY and you want to be a member of the support group that begins this Fall, sign up on the Yahoo board now and send an e-mail to me giving me your NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and E-MAIL. You will be able to participate on the Yahoo site even if you are not near NYC. Everyone is welcome to the Yahoo board. Were here for you. So come on over... We are up and waiting for you... Learn, get the right answers to your questions, educate yourself and live your very best as a successful WLS patient. Sign up for events, get OH Magazine, get POWER CRUNCH BARS from OH and you will save money and help support OH. Visit the OH Store and learn about becoming a Chapter Leader too... Love to all of you... Marine Jourdan

Attention all scrapbooking and stamping enthusiasts!! There's a board just for you! Obesityhelp has LOTS of hobby boards on this site, and Scrapbooking/stamping just happens to be one of them!! YAY! Come on over - check out the board. Introduce yourself and let us know what you LOVE about scrapbooking or stamping!!! This is a great board with some creative folks!! I love it there! Check it out!! http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/member-interests/scrapbooks/posts.html Hugs, Trisha

I just read this on the Yahoo news site. We should be sure our voices are heard when it comes to this type of legislation, we are the ones *****ally understand what this is all about. Write your Congressman and send a copy of this to them. You know that our legislators will be under a lot of pressure from the insurance companies to NOT pass this type of legislation, we need to be sure we apply pressure that convinces them that our vote counts!!! d States Consider Obesity Surgery Coverage By NOREEN GILLESPIE, Associated Press Writer HARTFORD, Conn. - A proposal before Connecticut lawmakers would require insurance companies to cover the surgery for people with a body-mass index of 30 or more if a doctor deems the surgery medically necessary. The BMI is a widely used formula based on height and weight. The Connecticut proposal may not get off the ground this session because lawmakers are struggling to define under what medical conditions the surgery should be covered, said Sen. Joseph Crisco, a Woodbridge Democrat who chairs the legislative committee looking at the issue. The debate is not unlike others across the country. Georgia lawmakers are considering a similar bill this year. And in Louisiana, 40 state employees were chosen last year from 1,200 applications to get the surgery on the state's dime. The standard surgery, which can cost between $20,000 and $35,000, involves using staples to separate a small pouch at the stomach's top from the rest of the stomach, greatly limiting the amount of food that can be eaten. The procedure also involves bypassing much of the small intestine so that less food is absorbed into the body. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama recently stopped paying for the operations while it decides how to handle claims; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has also decided to stop paying for the operation. In Connecticut, many major plans offer coverage only for large numbers of employees. Others are considering offering the coverage for an additional charge. "What we're starting to see is an increase in what we would consider at best, unnecessary, and at worst, unsafe, surgery," said Keith Stover, a lobbyist for the Connecticut Association of Health Plans. "Many plans decide the best course of action simply is to exclude coverage." But many physicians say the long-term benefits of weight loss surgery outweigh the risk. Gastric bypass surgery can help cure obesity-related health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and even diabetes, said Dr. Jonathan Aranow, director of the Middlesex Hospital Center for Obesity Surgery. It can also cut down on the long-term cost of medications, he said. "The surgery pays for itself in under three years," he said. "There is no question that there are cost savings." Last year the federal government opened the door for Medicare coverage of gastric bypass surgery. But some lawmakers and insurers are also worried about risks. State Rep. Anthony D'Amelio, R-Waterbury, said noted two people in his district died after having the operation. Complications strike as many as 1 in 5 patients having the surgery, and it is believed that for every 200 patients, 1 to 4 will die. Estimates are that more than 100,000 people will have the surgery this year. "I would rather see people try to do it the harder way, exercise and eating properly," D'Amelio said. "I know it's a struggle ... I think it's the safest route." But for some patients, the hard way hasn't worked. Deborah Sicaras, 36, of Wethersfield, has tried Weigh****chers, Jenny Craig, diet pills and liquid diets; she also teaches ballet, tap and jazz four days a week. "I'm one of the fortunate ones who will be able to have this surgery in the very near future," she said. "I can't do this by myself. I need assistance. I've dieted my whole life."