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January 11, 2007

Good morning Dr. Ted!

  I am sorry it has taken me so long to get this to you.  Things have been very hectic here in B with the holiday season, and our District Office moved so there was packing and unpacking to do.  I hope you had an enjoyable holiday!

Here is my story:

  In mid-2005, I decided that I needed to do something more drastic to get my weight under control.  I had previously tried the typical diet and exercise, the Atkin's Diet, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, eating low-cal, low-fat, and even hiring a personal trainer to whip my backside into shape.  For over 10 years, I have been between 45 and 60 pounds overweight.
  One day I was surfing the web and came across Dr. Ted's website.  I had heard about people that had lost weight as a result of having their jaws wired due to facial trauma, but  I was unaware of anyone bringing that practice into reality for the millions of us that have weight issues.  I did extensive research on the solution that Dr. Ted proposed.  I searched the Ovid website for articles on weight loss from jaw-wiring.  For months, I consulted with my physician, psychiatrist, OBGYN, and nutritionist on whether or not this seemed a realistic way for me to control my weight.  They all consulted his website for information and we agreed to go ahead with the OJW procedure.  My physician and I submitted a request to my insurance coverage to have this procedure covered, and after months of meetings and conversations, they decided to deny my request.  I was not deterred.  I contacted Dr. Ted, an d got the ball rolling to have the OJW done.  I paid for the entire procedure on my own, and in May of 2006, I took a trip to New York City and met Dr. Ted.
  He was a kind, concerned, courteous man whose soul mission with this procedure is to bring health and normalcy to those who have tried to lose weight, and failed.  The whole visit was only about an hour or so long.  He showed me and a friend that accompanied me how to remove and replace the wires. We discussed proper dental health and how to maintain it during my months with the wires.  I was so excited!  I couldn't wait to get svelte and healthy.
  Over the next 5 weeks, I adhered strictly to the diet, and noticed drastic changes in my appearance and attitude.  Unfortunately for me, that happiness was short-lived.  I realized how easy it was to replace the wire after my first week of being "unwired", and that made it easy for me to cheat.  Something that I swore I would not do.  The problem with the summer is that you have parties and picnics to attend, and sometimes the smell of a hamburger grilling overwhelms your better judgment to stick to the liquids.  I found myself shortening my regimen (from 5 weeks on/5 days off to 2 weeks on/2 days off) and eating the food that I was supposed to be avoiding.  
  All in all, at my best I had lost 23 pounds, and felt wonderful.  So wonderful, in fact, that I decided to leave my wire off and try to stick to the calorie range (1200-1400) that I had been consuming with the wires in place.  That philosophy did not pan out.  I gained back 10 of the 23 pounds that I had lost, and was extremely disappointed in myself.
  In early December of 2006, I revisited Dr. Ted to have the brackets removed and we discussed my success with the procedure.  He asked me if I felt it was a failure or a success, and why.  My response?  I feel that it was both a success and a failure.  I was successful in losing weight by following a plan, but I failed to adhere to the plan, and I can only blame myself for that.  Would I recommend this procedure to others?  Absolutely!  I would only caution that you must not get into the mindset that once you see results, you can continue on your own.  It is too easy to fall back into old habits, and you must have the resolve to do what is necessary to reach your goal.
  As for me, I am currently pursuing the gastric banding surgery.  I have come to realize that, for me, I need something more restrictive that I cannot change to reach my health goals.  I regret that I was not strong enough to stick to the plan that Dr. Ted has devised as it truly is something that can work.  I thank Dr. Ted every day for giving me the opportunity to try his procedure because it made me get to know myself and my limits better.  By sharing my story, I hope that others will take the time to search themselves and make the decision to better their health, and their lives.
Sincerely, G. L. B.