oh, you don't count... you had weight loss surgery...

(deactivated member)
on 7/23/09 7:41 pm - summerville, SC
if this posted already, forgive me... i did not think it went through

a little background first... 215/120  open RNY March 17, 2004- fat ALL my life-

Oh, you lost your weight the easy way...
I get so tired of hearing this, don't you-
well, here's a way to vent- takes a second- each one of you will make a big difference in my life!

in 2007 I entered a contest sponsored by BeachBody in their Million Dollar Body contest-
took a lot of guts to enter- yet, I wanted people to know I, as WLS losers, we  WORK HARD each and every minute to maintain our loss...

I was  upfront and honest in my  submission... beginning with the words...I started my journey on March 17,2004 when I had a gastric bypass...
 
long story short- I won the month's contest in my age group (50+) - $1,000- I was interviewed, a big splash written about me- all plastered over the site (including video's and sound bytes)...

fast forward one month- Powers to be contacted me and retracted (i.e. disqualified me), took my name, etc. down and replaced me with someone who had lost ~ 25 pounds!!! why? I HAD A GASTRIC BYPASS-

to say I was devastated, embarassed, angry, is a huge understatement...

now, what does this have to with now?

Well, probably the KEY reason I have been successful in keeping my weight off has been my devotion to Turbo Kick- the gym program where I was first introduced to this tremendous, fun exercise program-  Chalene Johnson (the inventor of Turbo Kick) has been my mentor and friend...  and have flown to California the last two years to attend Turbo Kick Camp

I won the contest in August 2007- I felt like a celebrity as Beach Body was there interviewing those who said Turbo Jam(their consumer version of Turbo Kick) played a key part in their success...

three weeks later, the "retraction" happened- my replacement posted all over the site that I had cheated...

fast forward to this year with my scheduled trip to California in 11 days..ok- now, I decided to submit a request to be a VIP at a fashion show to be held at this year's Turbo CAMP- only to find out, after it was entered, the selection was going to by AN ONLINE WEB VOTE WITH THE VOTES SHOWING... it has been like a flashback to that devastating experience...
I am reliving this horrible ordeal- feeling as if I am not good enough, i "cheated" 

the vote went up July 21- runs through July 28-

I need your help- will you vote for me-

I have subscribed to OH magazine and am a staunch supporter- as with most of you, they were my lifeline before surgery and after- I would love to share with my turbokick friends the reason my vote count skyrocketed was my WLS soulmates wanted their votes to count.

I thought a long time before I posted this- please know this has come from my heart

i am proud to have had my surgery- and recognize the struggles we have daily to maintain our loss



ridgely johnson
summerville, sc

215/120  RNY 3/17/04

[email protected] ( i never post my e-mail, but I want you all to know I am real and if I can help any of you, please write me)

anyone can vote in this contest

http://www.turbokick.com/index.php?content=CampTurboKick
jlmartin
on 7/23/09 11:28 pm - Random Lake, WI
It is certainly OK to be disappointed but if these are the rules they are are pretty clear:

Persons whose fitness transformation is, in whole or in part, the result of non-medically necessary plastic/cosmetic surgery, liposuction, steroids, or any unnatural method of body enhancement or weight reduction of any kind are not eligible to enter, and any such entries will be disqualified.

Nobody has tole me I took they easy way out, but I'm pretty sure they would get a "You can think that if you like but I'm thin and you're still fat."


special kay
on 7/24/09 7:47 am - Ladson, SC
Hey neighbor.. i live in ladson!! 
     ~*Kay*~
 
450/388/173/175   
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/Special-Kay/ <~~ Look!! 

(deactivated member)
on 7/25/09 1:14 pm - summerville, SC
planed to wait until the morning to post again, after reading some of your concerns and comments, I wanted to address some parts of the BB contest...

In 2007, the admission form was ambiguous in regards to previous medical procedures, emphasizing plastic surgeries, liposuction... (BTW, I have had plastic surgery SINCE then - in 2008)

I decided, as I shared with you, to be TOTALLY honest about my OPEN gastric bypass (with 48 staples, mind you in 5/04)- leaving the qualified judging team who had a million dollar contest with +++ lawyers to decide if I was a valid contestant- if I was eligble, great, if not, so be it.

My purpose WAS SHARING my sharing my love and the success I had/have with Turbo Jam/Turbo Kick as a MAIN mode of attack against weight gain-

As one of you mentioned, I had maintained the loss for 2 1/2 years at that time. This was the emphasis of my appliAcation, as well as in my follow up interviews...

After the disqualification, BB flew a camera crew to my home in south carolina to do a story on WLS, specifically gastric bypass- not endorsing it- but focusing on my committment to maintain my 95 pound weight loss because of it. I hesitated to share this with this board, because they spent an inordinate amount of time mentioning other WLS patients who had gained their weight back (aren't people so anxious to share that with you!!)...

Well, I want you to see the clip- the lawyer from BB called me personally and arranged it, flying the crew out here in September... I believe it still airs in their archive. This is a link to another site that has picked it up (if nothing else- u can see me in action doing turbo kick... AND in my infamous PURPLE big mama dress with a french twist!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

link is a the bottom of the page as well
planed to wait until the morning to post again, after reading some of your concerns and comments, I wanted to address some parts of the BB contest...

In 2007, the admission form was ambiguous in regards to previous medical procedures, emphasizing plastic surgeries, liposuction... (BTW, I have had plastic surgery SINCE then - in 2008)

I decided, as I shared with you, to be TOTALLY honest about my OPEN gastric bypass (with 48 staples, mind you in 5/04)- leaving the qualified judging team who had a million dollar contest with +++ lawyers to decide if I was a valid contestant- if I was eligble, great, if not, so be it.

My purpose WAS SHARING my sharing my love and the success I had/have with Turbo Jam/Turbo Kick as a MAIN mode of attack against weight gain-

As one of you mentioned, I had maintained the loss for 2 1/2 years at that time. This was the emphasis of my appliAcation, as well as in my follow up interviews...

After the disqualification, BB flew a camera crew to my home in south carolina to do a story on WLS, specifically gastric bypass- not endorsing it- but focusing on my committment to maintain my 95 pound weight loss because of it. I hesitated to share this with this board, because they spent an inordinate amount of time mentioning other WLS patients who had gained their weight back (aren't people so anxious to share that with you!!)...

Well, I want you to see the clip- the lawyer from BB called me personally and arranged it, flying the crew out here in September... I believe it still airs in their archive. This is a link to another site that has picked it up (if nothing else- u can see me in action doing turbo kick... AND in my infamous PURPLE big mama dress with a french twist!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Link is on the bottom of this message as well as link to vote-

http://video.clipta.com//Ridgley_Johnson__v397d919664504b44beea


Now- on to update on the VIP challenge It is going to be VERY close-
I WOULD SO LOVE TO HAVE THE 1,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ THIS POST ON THE 3 STIES to VOTE for me - BUT, maybe I have upset them somehow. For this I am sorry- and hope they will contact me- I want to be there to help anyone, just as I have needed help the last 5 years to maintain this 95 pound loss...

right now it looks like I am may just miss being in the top 11- will keep you posted- I feel as if I have a team of cheerleaders that keeps growing!

ridgely

forgive me for being so long-winded, i think you now know the "full" story ...


ridgely ann johnson
open RNY 3/17/04
Michael S. Sabback M.D.
Member Since: 07/17/06
[Latest Posts] Post Date: 7/25/09 7:30 pm




Now- on to update on the VIP challenge It is going to be VERY close-
I WOULD SO LOVE TO HAVE THE 1,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ THIS POST ON THE 3 STIES to VOTE for me - BUT, maybe I have upset them somehow. For this I am sorry- and hope they will contact me- I want to be there to help anyone, just as I have needed help the last 5 years to maintain this 95 pound loss...

right now it looks like I am may just miss being in the top 11- will keep you posted- I feel as if I have a team of cheerleaders that keeps growing!

ridgely

forgive me for being so long-winded, i think you now know the "full" story ...

*** link to vote (some have voted twice from different computers?


http://www.turbokick.com/index.php?content=CampTurboKick
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