Alora VSG Begonia

People can see that you are in the group though if that matters to you. I want to join but if it's closed my fb friends can still see I'm in the group. Usually the secret groups will give you a person to privately message for an invite since they don't show up on the fb search engine.

Sorry I was typing on my phone. 40 bmi not 49.

I have Oxford United healthcare and am not allowed to lose below 40bmi. Some insurances go by the starting weight, many do not.

Wow if it takes that long I might just do it in Mexico. They were telling me I could probably get it done by late July or early August. Glad it worked out for you. Are you doing well after the fact?

My question is, though, does my 6 months start when I see the nutritionist or does it start at that first weigh-in? The surgical coordinator told me it started at my first consult when they took in my weigh-in but that doesn't make sense to me if Oxford wants me on a supervised nutrition program... When I called Oxford they were vague and then just pointed me to the PDF with the requirements. NOT VERY HELPFUL. lol The nutritionist is 250 out of pocket so I was hoping to wait a month or two to see but if I need that to start my 6 months I'll just eat ramen for a few weeks. lol (jk but sorta not)

Hi There, I'm (hopefully) going to get sleeved by Dr. Schwack this summer. What things were they not on top of in regards to your insurance? I was feeling unsure about what they were telling me were my pre-reqs as well. I'm with Oxford UHC. They were telling me I just needed 6 months of weigh-ins and then to see the psych, get the endoscopy, see primary care physician, and nutritionist. Did you find anything missing from their requirements? Just trying to make sure I personally have my ducks in a row. Bad enough having to wait 6 months but if they screw up my pre-reqs I'd be mad... lol

Yeah I think the food companies like to make us all think boiling some veggies is a lot harder than it actually is. The truth is, home made stock tastes a LOT better than canned and I say this as a person who really likes velveeta mac and cheese so I'm not like, that guy who gives you a brownie with kale and flaxseed in it and says it tastes better. lololol

Homemade stock only takes about an hour (even less if you have a pressure cooker) and can be frozen for a long long time. I recommend measuring out portions in quart size or smaller freezer bags and then a gallon of stock will go a long way for you! Lightly caramelizing your veggies, using mushrooms, and using tomatoes or miso will make it taste a lot better. Here's a little list of tips though. http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2010/05/7-tips-for-full-flavoured-vegetable-stock/

Congrats!! I hope all goes beautifully and you're feeling good quickly.

I just cannot seem to get an answer from my surgical coordinator about whether it's your FIRST weigh-in weight or if it's your pre-surgery weight. If I lose more than 8 pounds I'll be under 40 so I don't want to risk it but I'm confused.

Those would have to be pretty big rocks if you lost more than 2 pounds!! lol

Making sure you get enough water and magnesium helps with keto stink. Epsom salt baths or foot soaks are a relaxing way to get extra magnesium in.

Tanya, I'm getting mixed info from u my doctor and I also have Oxford/UHC. My doc and surgical coordinator are just saying all I need to do is come in for six weigh ins and see a nutritionist, no weight loss required. I've seen other people have to turn in like... Food logs and stuff. Did you need to do any of that for Oxford? Did you end up getting approved?

Just started the process. hopefully I'll be able to get it done in late June or early July.

Thanks! I will ask. Glad it's working out for you.

Did they tell you, you couldn't get below 40bmi or was there a benchmark for "success" like 30 pounds, 60, etc? My surgical coordinator seemed unsure so I don't really know who to ask

Yeah, I figured as much, it's just that I'm ALMOST at 41 BMI and they were telling me if I get under 40 I'd probably get cancelled. I'm just nervous. I hate the idea of having to do a golden corral diet (lol) to get healthy. I've lost the same 20-30 pounds about 5 times in the past 5 years so it's just annoying to me that I'm supposed to try to lose weight but can't actually give it a real try or I'll be blocked.

Hi everyone, I have Oxford United Healthcare insurance. I had my first appointment yesterday with weigh-in which the office said would count toward my first month of "supervised weigh-ins" and I'm wondering. The Surgical coordinator told me if I get below 244 pounds before surgery my insurance wouldn't approve it. My apnea isn't severe enough to count as a comorbidity. Has anyone else been told this? My current weight is about 253 and so that means in 6 months I can't lose more than 7 pounds. I honestly sometimes just randomly lose 7 pounds just on a weekend so this makes me really nervous. Obviously it never stays off but do I REALLY need to wait six months to start seriously losing weight? I'm feeling sort of motivated right now to start again, the last time I tried was weight watchers about 3 years ago but I only hung in there for 3 months so it doesn't count for insurance purposes. I actually did paleo for 2 1/2 years at my doctor at the time's suggestion and was really strict with it but we didn't do monthly weigh-ins and I only lost about 15 pounds. Can I really not get under a bmi of 40???!!! That seems ridiculously counter-intuitive. If we weren't so broke right now from moving I'd just go to Mexico but we really can't afford a big credit card payment right now. I don't even know who to ask about this. Will Insurance give me the side eye if I call and ask how much weight I'm allowed to lose? Obviously they WANT me to lose weight on my own so they can skip the surgery but i don't want to lose 30 pounds and STILL be over a bmi of 35 and get rejected. I've been bouncing between 35 and 40 for 8 years. Feeling frustrated.

I just started my first month weigh in yesterday. Good luck! Do you have united healthcare too? Did they tell you whether you were allowed to lose any weight during the waiting period? If so how much?

Hi all, I've been lurking for a few weeks and finally made an account. I had my appt at NYU Langone with Dr. Schwack yesterday and hopefully I'll be approved for gastric sleeve in late June or July (my insurance requires 6 months of weigh-ins unfortunately.) Hope to get to know everyone either online or offline in the coming months and year. :-)