TO LOSE TO GAIN

LOSING POUNDS FOR OUR HEALTH

About brianitos

Real Name:
BRIAN W
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December 19, 2006
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My son US Army Specialist Matthew McCool revised
Department of Consumer Affairs license lookup web page for the State of California
UPDATED WHAT TO SEND OR TO AVOID SENDING OUR TROOPS
Serving Those Who Serve Us Part II
Remembering Those Who serve

NEW START

In May 2006, I made the decision to contact Dr. Kerendian’s office for starting the Optifast program. I knew Optifast is a very good program from prior experience. In the early 1980’s I was over 400 pounds (I worked for Weber’s bread and Dolly Madison and I ate well). I heard of a program called Optifast which was a rapid weight loss program that would be under a physicians care. I contacted Gallatin Medical Center in Downey California, which at that time offered the program. I began the Optifast program and I lost over 200 pounds and was able to maintain a healthy weight until recently. Optifast not only provided away to lose weight, but also educated the participants on healthy eating and exercise. I was able to go on with my life with a career in Law enforcement for nearly 20 years.

In 2004 I was injured in an accident at work and had one operation which had failed. I began to slowly gain weight. This was due to my inactivity and the beginning of unhealthy eating habits once again. Throughout the following several years I again began to gain weight as I had in the 1980’s. In April 2006 I was diagnosed with Hypertensive heart disease, four bulging discs in my lower back, both knees torn meniscus and obesity. I weighed in at 330 pounds my blood pressure was 160/110. I would get shaky and light headed craving sugar. I was not feeling good physically or mentally, since I seen myself once again where was I before overweight and very unhealthy. I was FAT. I was in a life threatening situation. I had tried many different programs over the last year attempting to lose weight. I used over the counter weight loss pills, pills to bind the fat, pills to block carbohydrates, pills to speed up my metabolism. I considered bariatric surgery and decided that was not for me. I remembered Optifast was the only solution that had worked before.

I went on the internet and discovered Delight Medical. Delight Medical was located in Beverly Hills California and one day a week Thursdays in Bakersfield. I live in the Tehachapi Mountains approximately 1 hour drive away from Bakersfield. I pondered the thought for several hours on a Thursday. I began to reason away why I could wait another week or month. But then it hit me. I was playing with my life. I was no different then someone on drugs or alcohol reasoning away why they do not need help at that time in their life. I needed an intervention. I called Delight Medical and made that appointment. In my first visit with the staff and Dr. Kerendian, I knew I was going to over come lose the weight and once again keep it off. I was willing to commit myself to this program which provided me a very healthy way to lose weight and reeducate my life to healthy living. I enjoyed my weekly visits to the office the other participants as well as the staff were very encouraging to me.

In November 2006 I lost over 100 pounds and now I have my life back. In my birthday suit I weigh in at 215 pounds. My goal is to weigh 215-220 pounds firming up with exercise over time as I reintegrate back to a normal lifestyle. I have so much more energy. In fact when you start Optifast you will notice your energy level increases amazingly right from the start. I have dropped from size 3x large shirts to large and 48 inch waist pants down to 34 inches in the waist. I feel better since I am eating more nutritious foods. I am not wearing down the furniture at home or else where. It is easier just to put my shoes on, get in or out of a car and just to walk around a store. I am no longer out of breath as I was before in short walks. I don’t feel my heart pounding as it did before. My cholesterol is great. My blood pressure has been normal. I no longer get shaky or lightheaded from not eating sugar. It is easier for me to stand up with the disability in my knees and back. My activity is still limited due to my knees and lower back but I am able to cope much easier now and I will now get more miles out of them. My stamina has increased greatly just ask my wife. I am now able to catch my wife around the house much easier, this has been a great benefit to our marriage. I hope my losing the weight also encourages others as their dedication has encouraged me. I have not even had a fast food meal and I do not feel deprived I feel victory. Optifast gives you a fresh start with life. I have added years to my life and to my family. I know I will never gain the weight back again with discipline and the knowledge I leaned from Optifast to maintain a healthy vibrant lifestyle. I feel not only accountable to myself and family but also to Dr. Kerendian and his staff for their encouragement, dedication, never once did they miss a day driving all the way from Los Angeles so others may achieve their goals for a healthier life. I am always asked how did I do it lose the weight. I direct them to the Optifast program and tell them now is the time for a healthier life. The choice is ours.

Thank you,

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brianitos - > TO LOSE TO GAIN -> UPDATED WHAT TO SEND OR TO AVOID SENDING OUR TROOPS

UPDATED WHAT TO SEND OR TO AVOID SENDING OUR TROOPS

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HELLO to all I am going to list one link that provides information on what a soldier in the field could use. If you do go online looking for a company to send a care package just be careful using discretion. As with any need there are those who attempt to exploit a good cause, so discretion is best. Manytimes just a letter will lift that soldier more then you know, thanking them and the others for stepping up to the plate when a country called for volunteers.

BIG SAVINGS IF YOU WANT TO SEND ANY ONE ANYWHERE A PACKAGE USE THE US POSTAL FLAT RATE BOXES. The boxes are FREE at the post office with labels. The cost anywhere is only in a FLAT RATE INTERNATIONAL DOMESTIC MARKED BOX is only around 9 dollars. I stuffed on once and the couldnt believe how much weight I got inside this box. FLAT RATE 9 BUCKS to send.

This link below has basic information on the needs a soldier can utilize.

http://www.supportourtroops...

What To Send or To Avoid

What Not To Send

Anything that melts. (M&M's should not be sent to Iraq during the time of extreme high temperatures. They will melt and be a large blob of chocolate).

Waterless Hand Cleaner/Sanitizer - generally makes mud, baby wipes are preferred

Sun Screen - already issued in mass quantities, drowning in the stuff

NO- Liquor of any sort

NO-Pornography of any sort

Other Guidelines

1. Personal hygiene items should be kept separate from snack items. Hygiene items give off odors that can taint the taste of snack items.

2. When packing shampoo, hand lotions, and other liquid types, these items should be put inside plastic bags. The bags should be sealed or tied tightly. Kitchen garbage bags work great and even though they may be too big for the items going into a smaller package the excess plastic will act as cushioning and dunnage.

3. When sending snack item, use individually wrapped candy for dunnage. It tastes much better than styro peanuts.

4. Only send nationally recognized brand name products - NO cheapies. We are sending to the best that America has to offer, we should send them nothing less!

Include a self-addressed envelop so that the soldiers can write if they care to, but do not expect a response; they are awfully busy. Mail is free from Iraq and a stamp is not required

Publix, Wal-mart, Target, and K-Mart have many of the recommended items and more. It is fun to impulse shop! Take along your children or grandchildren!

Tax deductible donations are accepted for Care Packages, school supplies and soccer balls for Iraqi students helped by our troops, and prepaid phone cards for our soldiers. MOAS is a non-profit tax-exempt organization. Tax ID #65-0883860. Make checks payable to Military Officers Association of Sarasota for Support Our Troops and mail to:

BG (Ret) James M. (Jim) Hesson

4612 Chase Oaks Drive

Sarasota, FL 34241

Be a blessings to our marvelous military men and women!

The following page has been updates which leads to a site of various needs of support.

http://herobracelets.org/?p...I This site below is good for informational or if you just want to support any soldier anywhere.

http://www.anysoldier.com/i...

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR REMEMBERING OUR TROOPS

Suggested Care Package Items (not in priority order):

Note: Underlined items were reported in November 2007 as items most sought after

Any snack items – cookies (if home-baked package individually and use popcorn to "pad" the cookies on bottom, sides and top of box), crackers, Slim Jims, beef jerky, Pringles, trail mix, hard candy, gum, Lifesavers, tuna fish (preferably in the flexible pouches), cans of Chef BoyRD (raviolis, spaghettios, etc - if possible those with pop tops), work-out supplements like protein shake powder and bars, mixed nuts, hot chocolate. Coffee supplies (filters, creamer, thermos, instant coffee, coffee singles, tea bags.

Good toilet paper, Mouth wash, tooth brushes, toiletries to include body wash, toothpaste, shampoo, hair conditioner, liquid soap, floss, disposable or Gillette Mach 3, Sensor or Gillette Fusion razors w/extra replacement blades, Gel Type Shaving Cream, baby wipes/cleansing wipes, hand and body lotions (no sun screen-have enough), lip balm, Chap Stick, eye drops. Q-Tips for cleaning weapons. AA, AAA, batteries.

Socks - white tube socks. Also as the real heat of Summer approached, Marines in Iraq requested "runner's socks" for exercise in running shoes. These are white, quarter length (below crew length) similar to NIKE Dri-Fit socks, which use wicking technology so moisture is not absorbed, as with cotton socks. Sandals/shower shoes.

Books & Paperback books, recent copies of boat, sports & automotive magazines w/ emphasis on 20 - 30 year old readers. (Public Libraries have high-quality, inexpensive, used, recent magazines and books). Board games & Card games. DVDs of current movies.

Prepaid Phone cards for overseas calls. These may be purchased locally or through the Army/Air Force Exchange system at https://thor.aafes.com/ (copy & paste) or by donating designated funds to S-O-T. If you go to this Exchange web site, you do not have to be a member to purchase Phone Cards or Exchange Cards for our troops. There is a significant savings by purchasing Phone Cards through the Exchange. Phone Cards are highly valued by our troops!

Items for Iraqi kids, for hand distribution by our troops - pens, pencils, crayons, small packs of hard candy, art supplies. Books in Arabic are a huge plus. Toys should not have any nation-specific symbols on them.

Consider filling some boxes with items for female soldiers*; then mark the box, "For Female Soldier/Marine". One in seven serving in Iraq are female.

May you enjoy filling the box as much as the Soldier/Marine who receives it will appreciate your kindness………

* Place scented items in sturdy, sealed, zip-lock bags.

& nbsp; &n bsp; &nb sp; (Updated November 2007)

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Topics: iraq, Tehachapi, supports, troops

posted by brianitos on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 01:51 PM
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