MrsAnders

Thanks everyone!

Hey everyone! So as I told you all in a previous post my surgeon wants me to lose 50 lbs before surgery. I wasn't scheduled to meet with nut until September 13th so I decided to go ahead and start myself. Tomorrow will make 2 weeks since I began my diet and I'm happy to report I am down 10.6 lbs!!! I have just been monitoring my calories intake using mfp and drinking lots of Water so it's helping! According to mfp with my weight and activity level I can have 2900 calories a day but I have been averaging around 1200 to 1300 daily. I have a ways to go, but I am thrilled with my progress. I am hoping that I can lose 5 more lbs by the 13th so I can go to see the nut 15 lbs down. I want them to know I am serious about my choice to have the sleeve and about changing my life style. Hopefully they can see that. Any who, just wanted to update you all. Hope you are all doing well!

It was quick and easy. I was worried for no reason..lol she talked to me for probably 10min and then gave me a test on the computer' date=' the test was questions were "agree" or "disagree" questions like, " my dad was the male influence in my life I love my dad" and "most people will steal if they think they wont get caught" and questions about wanting to hurt yourself or others and also about "seeing" ghosts and hearing voices that tell you what to do...lol it was about 30-45min. It went pretty good I think and she gave advice on eating and Protein and stuff, things you hear from the NUT. Thanks for asking and remembering..lol I called the surgeons office and they haven't received the results yet, but when they do then I go see surgeon and wait for insurance approval. So excited!![/quote']

Glad it went well! Hopefully you'll get approved soon!

See and I don't understand all that requirement stuff. You guys don't hate me' date=' but once my paperwork was submitted, it took 3 days to get approved. REALLY! Just 3 days. I had to sign a form saying I was going to loose 10-15 pounds before the surgery, but that was it for me. I think it was 1 1/2 months from my first visit to my day of surgery, it went really fast for me. I have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance. Hope this helps....[/quote']

That was fast! My insurance is apparently easy, but I have to lose 50 lbs before surgery per my surgeon.

so how far are you now? getting your appointments done? I went to my surgical weight loss support group tonight' date=' and Wednesday is my Phsyc eval and then Im done! just gotta met with surgeon and see what insurance says. Tonight was fun, learned a lot. They had guest speakers who had bi pass but none with the sleeve. But still encouraging! What do you have left to do?[/quote']

So how did your Phsyc eval go?

I met with my surgeon on the 22nd. They scheduled my surgery for October 23rd. I have my psych eval on Sept 10th and have to see nutritionist also (waiting for a call back to schedule that) baring any hang ups with my insurance I should be good to go

That's awesome!

oh no! they talked about that same thing youre having to do in the support group tonight. Tey said there is a lot of risk having surgery if your BMI is 60 or above so the surgeons require weight loss first. I know you can do! back in the day I could lose 50 in two months (with diet pills lol)...not any more! lol ya' date=' I am getting close and very nervous about what insurance will say. But I cant wait to find out! after Wednesday we will see! good luck, and kick butt! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!![/quote']

Apparently my insurance is easy peasy and not that strict bc I met with the insurance lady right after the surgeon and she said that with my health issues and Weight I met the requirements. I already know what my portion of the surgery is and everything, which isn't as bad as I expected. I think you will be fine with your insurance! I know you are nervous though! And thanks! I'm trying to kick butt....lol. I did really good yesterday. I only had 1301 calories. For my size that's is really good! Hopefully I can keep it up. I'm worried about the weekend more than anything.

so how far are you now? getting your appointments done? I went to my surgical weight loss support group tonight' date=' and Wednesday is my Phsyc eval and then Im done! just gotta met with surgeon and see what insurance says. Tonight was fun, learned a lot. They had guest speakers who had bi pass but none with the sleeve. But still encouraging! What do you have left to do?[/quote']

Well I met with my surgeon as planned on the 22nd. I really liked him and he was very knowledgable. I hit a small snag. He wants me to lose 50 lbs before surgery. It isn't an insurance requirement, it's his requirement. So I have started working my way towards this goal. I meet with my nut the first time on Sept 13 and she is going to help with a plan to get me to that 50 lb goal. I've started on my own and would really like to go in at least 10 lbs down so they know I am serious. Meanwhile I have to schedule an upper GI, as well as pulmanologist to make sure my lungs can withstand the surgery. I also have a ton of labs to do. So far that's all I know. I'm glad to hear that the support group was helpful! Keep me posted on whats going on. Your almost there!

During my appointments with the nutritionist I started doing medifast. I think that anyone that is looking to lose weight quickly to get surgery approval should try it. In about a month I lost about 40 lbs. From what your Dr is requiring it sounds like you would be pretty much done. It is kinda extreme in that you eat primarily mail order freeze dried food' date=' but it works and it will get you where your trying to go. Some people just do mf the whole time and are usually successful in surgery like weight losses if they stick with it (I quit and regained most of my weight before the surgery) and because the program is very detailed it is easy to do. It might help you get to surgery quicker than you planned.[/quote']

I will have to check into this. That's one of my biggest concerns is how long it will take me to lose 50lbs.

Are you able to walk? If so' date=' how far or how long?[/quote']

Now don't laugh, but in my current condition I may could handle 10 to 15 min. My problem with exercise is my heart rate shoots up. My doctor told me to monitor my heart rate and if I was over 130 to stop bc it was dangerous. I have copd and bc of meds my heart rate is usually 115 at rest. At least I believe that the meds cause it. It's very aggravating bc I always thought copd was a smokers disease, and I have never smoked a day in my life. Honest to God! I told my husband that I believe that if I start out doing the 10 to 15 min I can handle maybe I can build myself up.

Hmmm.. how do you feel about tuna. Maybe adding some will up your Protein intake. I love chicken' date=' not much a red meat fan. The only shakes I've found that I've liked in the past were from Premier and BariWise.< /p>

Good luck.[/quote']

I like tuna but it gives me killer heart burn. And thanks!

Thanks ladies. I already have the sugar part taking care of. I was diagnosed a type II diabetic back in June and I cut all that stuff out then. I will defiantly start to utilize these other things also. I'm not a huge meat eater so I feel like I will have problems in the Protein department. Maybe I should go ahead and start shakes. Maybe at least replace one meal a day. What do y'all think? (Excuse me southernness)

Congratulations!!!

So I had my first appointment with my surgeon today. I meet all the requirements for my insurance, so that's good news. The bad news is he wants me to lose at least 50 lbs before surgery. I guess it's not really bad news per say, it's just really discouraging. If it were easy for me to lose weight I wouldn't be having this surgery. I have tried countless times to lose weight and I get to a certain point and stop! I don't ever remember losing more than 20 lbs at a time. He says the nut will be able to help me meet this goal. It's not that I'm not willing to do the work. I'm on board 100%! I am just very worried that I can not make this happen. I meet with nut on September 13th, but in the meantime where do I start? Should I start counting calories? Should I go ahead and start with high Protein low carb? Im not a huge carb eater now. Any advice, encouragement on this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Y'all are killing me! I can't stop laughing! My husband and I have always had awesome sex, now I'm wondering just how much better it can be according to your posts! Lol

These pictures are so inspiring! Can't wait until I have a before and after to compare!

just found out that my psych eval is only 255....phewww!! NUT is 275...guess I will see if insurance pays any of it.

It's crazy how each area seems to fluctuate so much in price and the way they so things. My first visit with nut is 175. I'm not sure about the rest. I know my insurance doesn't pay for the nut, but I hope it's helps with the rest.

well. I will be done with everything next week! Monday I go to surgical weight loss support group ( just have to attend one) and then Wednesday I have physc eval...THEN IM DONE YAY!! surgeons office said to wait 5 days after my last doc appointment and then call them to set up appointment with surgeon' date=' so Im gonna call on the 5th ( 5 business days later) and I am hoping to hear from insurance on approval by the end of next month!![/quote']

Well good luck!!! Keep us posted! I hope everything goes according to plan.

well. I will be done with everything next week! Monday I go to surgical weight loss support group ( just have to attend one) and then Wednesday I have physc eval...THEN IM DONE YAY!! surgeons office said to wait 5 days after my last doc appointment and then call them to set up appointment with surgeon' date=' so Im gonna call on the 5th ( 5 business days later) and I am hoping to hear from insurance on approval by the end of next month!![/quote']

Well good luck!!! Keep us posted! I hope everything goes according to plan.

well' date=' they are all gonna have to deal with payments..lol I just cant wait to have it all over with and find out if Im approved. so done with these crazy appointments. I have to drive an hour to all of them, I live in Illinois and these appointments are in St. Louis,mo the surgery is in St. Louis too, but I don't mind driving it for the surgery..lol[/quote']

That is far! I'm only about half an hour from all the doctors. And I totally understand about the pmt thing. It's expensive to get and stay healthy.

Im confused on whether the insurance is making see NUT' date=' physical and phsyc eval or if surgeon is, but im gonna find out because if insurance requires it and doesn't help pay for any of it them im disputing it too!![/quote']

I don't blame you! I know that my surgeon requires the nutritionist, but I'm not sure about the rest.

No i didn't gain 25. I only gained 4 pound and have 3 months to go.

I'm sorry I went back and read and apparently got your post mixed up with another. I think you will be fine! I mean 4 lbs could be Water retention.

I just hope by me gaining weight doesn't make my insurance company think i am not serious. I am so ready for this life changing experience.

I defiantly understand your concern in this. If you feel this may be a problem then try to lose the 25 lbs between now and then. I know that's easier said than done but even if you just lost 10 it would only look like you had a 15 lb gain. Good luck!

I would agree with this statement! It's like since I have decided that this is the route that I'm going to take that I think about all the stuff I won't be able to have after surgery. I realized I was getting out of control and wrangled myself in a bit. I've cut out sugar drinks and I'm working on cutting sugar out completely. And I have been working on Portion Control. I know that if I start making changes now that it will be easier for me in the long run. But yes absolutely. I think it's normal to experience this. After all if we had a normal relationship with food we wouldn't be here.

Thanks! You are all right! Any amount of weight off is an improvement.