alwaysvegas

I can't imagine they would deny me for losing weight!!! Lol

I lost about 40 pounds during my 3-month with Aetna. I was already losing when I started the process for the sleeve. The insurance coordinator at my surgeon's office said Aetna only uses the starting weight to determine BMI eligibility (mine was 42 when I started the 3-month and 39 at the end), so how much you lose during that three months...all the better. But she did emphasize that any weight gain from my initial weigh-in could get me denied by Aetna.

There are quite a few variations on the pre-op diet, but it's important that your nutritionist gives you the diet that your surgeon wants.

I suggest calling the nutritionist and also checking their website (if they have one). My pre-op diet (which I'm on day 10 of) is posted, but I also went over it in detail and my nutritionist allowed some variance for my situation.

Some pre-op diets are more restrictive than others, but typically 1,000 calories per day or less, 2-5 Protein shakes a day, low carb, low fat. Some allow a small meal with Protein and night...again low fat, low carb. Most seem to allow Clear liquids (broth, tea, Decaf coffee, jello) between shakes.< /p>

But really important that you talk with your nutritionist.

Your insurance company should clearly state the requirements. The requirements vary from insurance to insurance.

My insurance required a BMI of at least 35 with two comorbidities or a BMI of 40 or higher. I started losing weight before I even started the 3-month nutrition, but my BMI was still 42 when I was first measured by the bariatric center. My surgeon said most insurance companies use your first BMI measurement to determine qualification. By the end of my 3-month nutrition my BMI was down to about 37, but the insurance still approved me. My insurance did state that I could not gain weight during the 3-month nutrition.

My insurance finished in a week, but they couldn't read my sleep labs, so it took a few extra days to get those updated. They also didn't call me when I was approved, I called to check on the status.

I kinda think anyone who frames a question with the purpose to force me to justify my surgery isn't really looking for an answer.

When people try to put me on the defensive about the surgery I either say, "I'm not going to justify my surgery to you" or "this surgery isn't for you."

Of course, if people ask genuine questions that they're interested in the answers to, I'm always happy to share.

Why wait to "finally" lose the weight? You can jump start the process before your surgery and start enjoying the benefits right away. There are many milestones along the way before reaching that goal weight to enjoy.

Having said that...After finally losing the weight, I'm excited to look in the mirror without regret.

At this time next week I'll be sleeved. Woo-hoo! The countdown is fun! The pre-op Jello and shakes are not.

I'm on day 7 of 14...half way! One thing that's helping me psychologically with the pre-op diet is that instead of thinking, "I can't have that during the diet," I think, "I choose not to have that during the diet." That helps me alot to stay focused on the end goal and also reinforce that I'm doing the surgery for myself.

My body has adjusted fairly quickly and the head cravings really died down after 2-3 days.

Do you all you use the sugar-free syrups?

Yes, sugar free only.

I order directly from Torani and it's free shipping over $59, so I just order a bunch at once and they last for months. I have about 20 bottles now with everything from Peach to S'Mores to Almond Roca. They are delicious. I generally use vanilla Protein powder with the fruit flavor Torani syrups and chocolate powder with non-fruits.

And I started chewing much more slowly...

Chewing slowly is something I have yet to master. I even bought the appetizer forks and spoons for smaller bites. Now I just shovel in more smaller bites faster. I think I'll be learning that one quickly after surgery or facing the consequences.

I'm about 8 days from surgery and one approach I recommend as a DO:

DO take small steps to changing your lifestyle weeks or months before surgery.

I began my journey in Jan 2014 and every few weeks I changed something in my lifestyle to improve my health:

• Began walking
• Stopped drinking diet sodas
• Minimized eating carbs
• Changed from high fat to lower fat Proteins
• Quit smoking
• Began going to the gym
• Cut my net calories to 1700 per day
• Later cut my net calories to 1300 per day
• Stopped caffeine
• Quit alcohol

I introduced these changes slowly over a 6 month period. It's important (and my bariatric psychologist agreed) to not attempt all these changes at once. It's too much change too fast. But introduce them slowly.

I gave myself treats along the way. For example, I calculated how much I saved from quitting smoking and bought some home decor and other goodies.

Now that I've started the pre-op shakes 'n liquids diet, it's not nearly as difficult as it would have been had I not made these changes. I'm not saying it's easy-peasy, but it's not the end of the world.

I'm going into surgery almost 65 lbs lighter than when I started my journey in January and can't wait to be sleeved so I can lose another 75+.

Ok, so this is the current thing I'm obsessing about. Still a month away from starting my 2 week pre op liquid diet, but want to make sure that I'm prepared. Is stevia okay to sweeten thing with? I can't imagine eating oatmeal without some sweetness added. And as for broths, are you making your own? I looked at a few kinds of broth or bullion cubes, but they have MSG which is a big trigger for Migraines for me. I did see that Swanson's brand of prepared broth is MSG-free but, yuk! Is that what you add your spices to? It's just bland chicken or vegetable. Has anyone tried an unflavored Protein powder that work in broths? I'm sorry this is so long, but I'm worried about this and want to feel more prepared.

I am buying pre-packaged low-sodium broths, but my nutritionist said boullions are fine as long as they're low sodium or sodium free. I generally make my own broths, but I'm having so much broth for the pre-op diet that I'm too lazy to separate the fat out of homemade.

I'm just adding egg whites to the broth (like egg drop soup) to add Protein. My understanding is that you're not supposed to heat whey Proteins above 130 degrees, so I've added unflavored Protein Powder to a warm broth and used an immersion blender to mix it up well.

Depending on what your doctor prescribes for your pre-op, you can also mix whey protein into sugar free Jello instead of broth.

Yes, the pre-op diet is bland, but you will be somewhat hungry on the pre-op, so broth tastes wonderful. It's similar to eating any of the horrendous frozen dinners like Lean Cuisine. When you're hungry, even that garbage tastes good.

The Isopure drinks are a great solution to tackle liquid + Protein. At 40g per 20oz drink, you can get 120g per day + 60 oz with three drinks. Granted, the drinks are spendy at ~$4.50 a bottle, but I bought two cases online and a it's a bit less.

Once you move to purees or solids, you could throw in an Isopure between meals to supplement protein/liquids.

My nutritionist recommended not going over 30g Protein per hour to maximize protein absorption, but you will be drinking these very slowly anyway.

My nutritionist said to expect to lose 75% of your excess weight within the first year. Your excess weight will depend on what your nutritionist and surgeon set as your ultimate goal weight.

July 28 here I come! 8 days and counting! At this time next week I'll be doing liquid-only for the surgery on Monday! Yippee!!

My nutritionist said to expect to lose 75% of your excess weight within a year. This means that if you are 100lbs overweight, then you should expect to lose 75 lbs over the first year. Then just divide that out by 52 weeks. In this case, 75lbs divided by 52 weeks is about 1.5 lbs a week. This can very depending on proper diet and exercise, of course.

I'm on day 5 of my 14-day pre-op diet. My surgeon/nutritionist is pretty much: 3 Protein shakes per day plus any non-caffeinated non-sugar liquids, including broth, Decaf coffee, mio Water enhancers, Jello, etc. Basically no solids, though Jello and non-fat low-carb greek yogurt are okay.

Protein drinks

===========

I make my own Protein Shakes using:

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/2 to 1 scoop Protein Powder (vanilla or chocolate)

1/4 cup non-fat unflavored greek yogurt

1 Tbs sugar free Torani Syrup (I have like 15 flavors now...S'Mores, Cookies 'n Cream, Butterscotch, Peach, etc.)

I have one of those blender bottles. Saves a fortune in Protein Drinks making them myself.

Broths/Soups

===========

I'm being creative with broths and adding different spices to different meals and some egg whites to Protein the broth up a bit. So adding a bit of low sodium soy sauce + ginger + white pepper for asian-inspired or garlic powder + cumin + cilantro + onion powder + chili powder for mexican-inspired. Just to change things up a bit.

Popsicles!

=========

I'm also stocked up on boxes of sugar free popsicles which help with the 'solid food' cravings.

Jello

====

Ah, we all hate jello. I mix some sugar free flavors and whip in some vanilla Protein Powder to add some protein. I'll be doing more of that post-surgery when I get to that eating phase. Jello also helps with the "solid food" cravings.

Hope that helps

Best of luck in your new life!

2 weeks 3 Protein shakes per day, no solid food. Other things I can eat are broth, Jello, sugar free popsicles, Decaf coffee/tea are fine.

Liquid only day before surgery. Nothing midnight before surgery.

My nutritionist said they want us getting used to eating just three meals a day. Although I think drinking three meals a day is more accurate.

Tomorrow is my big day!!!!

Best of luck to you in your new life!

July 28 here! I start the two week protein-shake diet tomorrow! I'm so excited!!

My insurance (Aetna) did not require a specific weight loss, but I was not allowed to gain any weight during my 3-month nutritional/exercise plan. I was already losing weight before I started the plan, so I just continued with what I was doing: cutting down calories and adding strength + cardio.

I'm now starting my two-week protein-shake pre-op diet and I've lost 55 lbs since mid-January. I lowered my total net calorie to about 1300 a day (plus exercise) a few months back and I'm feeling really good and not too worried about the shakes. If I do get really hungry I'll have some non-starchy veggies or Egg Beaters. The point of the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver, so limiting fat is the key.

Sounds like you have a great start on a new life! Remember, this is "OUR" time, and no one can take it from us. We are getting the tools to make us healthy for life.

Thanks so much!

Hi all--

My first posting! I just got my insurance approval and medical clearance this week to get sleeved on July 28! I started my journey in mid-January (I hate New Year's resolutions ) at about 305 lbs at 5'8". I'd packed on over 135lbs over the last 10 years...yeesh! I was pre-diabetic, high cholesterol, severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure, on three medications, and just physically miserable. Walking around the block was a chore. So in mid-January I started back at the gym and eating better.

I started the 3-month bariatric nutrition program and counseling in March, both of which were wonderful. It's now two weeks until my surgery and I'm down to 245lbs on my own and it feels great! I feel like I'm half way there. The sleeve will be the perfect long-term guard rail for my eating. I'm so excited!

Since January I've changed my overall habits incredibly:

• Quit caffeine
• Quit smoking! Yay! 20-year addiction...I'm now 3 months quit.
• Cut carbs (~30/day or less now)
• Quit almost all processed foods
• Quit diet sodas
• Switched to lower-fat Proteins
• Started exercising 4-5 days per week (strength + cardio)
• Dropped net calories to 1700 per day then down to 1300 per day, tracking on MyFitnessPal

I really didn't want to attempt all the lifestyle changes post-surgery because I thought it would be too much change, too fast. So I basically changed habits over the last six months and it's really helped my resolve tremendously.

So just wanted to say hello and I've enjoyed reading the forums here for months now. And I can't wait to get sleeved!