ldswims

501's sound like a great milestone. Take some pics and post them on here... As for the cheating - funny story. I got kicked out of my school in 2nd grade for helping a fellow classmate cheat. We were taking a test on telling time. Initially, when we turned the test in we were supposed to return to our chairs and sit quietly while the rest of the class finished. After awhile, though, most kids were finished and started to get restless so the teacher sent the finished kids out for recess as they finished. I was the student monitor for the week so I was not allowed to leave the room until all students were finished and after enough kids left the room, our teacher was required to be on the playground and not in the classroom. So she left and it ended up being me and this one little guy named Ryan left in that room. Mind you, we were 7 years old. Ryan sat there and sat there and sat there and studied that test. And he ended up crying. And this broke my heart. So I went over to him and asked what was the matter. He said there were these two clocks he just couldn't tell the time on. So I walked him through what it meant. I didn't tell him the answer - I got him to think it out for himself. And ultimatley, before he could answer both questions, our teacher - Mrs. Haviland - walked back in. She sees me sitting next to Ryan talking to him and proclaims we are cheaters. Yeah. We were. But in the ten minutes I spent with him, he learned to tell time whereas in the 2 days we'd spent with Mrs. Haviland he still didn't grasp it. Ryan also lived on my street. And he told me later that he ended up being able to tell time because of me. And I ended up in a better school to boot! So is cheating really that bad? Sometimes - it works out for the best! But aside from the funny story - this is NOT cheating! This is life altering. This is harder, even. It is NOT easy, it is NOT a walk in the park - and if she doesn't get this - that is HER problem - not yours. Family, you gotta love em...

Instead of asking "why with this band will I succeed?", ask "why with this band would I fail?" Sometimes it really is all about perspective.

One thing I can say in favor of the band in regard to a few of the cons you mentioned for the band is something my surgeon identified. You can also find out more information on this on the Lap-Band site. The technology behind it has changed in the past couple of years or so. There is a new technique for placing the band that was developed in response to many of the issues that were happening with the patients who had the band put in pre-2007. Furthermore, the band itself has been updated it's on v2 if you will. Again, in response to issues patients were having pre-2007. Ultimately this is supposed to lead to a band that should have fewer issues - less incidence of slippage, less incidence of obstructions. (And ports are being placed deeper because of that problem being pretty common back in the day.) It is an option, from what I know, to be rebanded with the new technology, as well. However, with the sleeve being irreversible, and band not being an option after that procedure, that's what has me leaning towards the band. If the band doesn't work, it is possible to have it taken out and move on to the sleeve....

I hope this will make sense but the band isn't so much about restriction - on your part - as it is about choosing what you eat wisely. The band will help you feel satisfied sooner, hence the restriction. You can still eat. And, according to my surgeon, there are days built into the weightloss time frame where you can eat those things you might miss. YOU just have to be careful about the choices you make. The band is a lifestyle change, not a magic answer. It is a tool that changes your body's feedback response, but if you eat around it - you can negate that. Only you can know if you are ready. My insurance is requiring a six month weight loss program and I have to say I AM SO GLAD FOR IT! If I were self-pay and just went into this and did it, I'd be setting myself up for failure. NOW is the time that I am getting to adjust to the changes I will HAVE to make. But by the time I HAVE to make them, I will have made them and fully expect to be just fine. Self-fulfilling prophecy's are generally pretty true. If you think you can - you will. If you think you can't - you will. If you can, do the psych consult that all the insurance companies require but that doesn't seem to be required for self-pay patients. I think there is a lot of merit in that. Talk this out with someone. There is no reason to rush willy-nilly into this because this is a HUGE change. I'd also recommend seeing a nutritionist. That person pointed out to me that it's not about 'throwing away all the bad stuff in the pantry right this very instant'. It's about thinking about the choices I'm making and trying to make an educated choice based on what I really do know how to do. Those "bad" things aren't the culprit. It's TOO MUCH of the bad things...either in one sitting or at every meal. The band doesn't mean you never get to eat chocolate again. The band means that you should THINK about whether that chocolate is really the best thing to eat. If I'd had my way - I would have been self-pay and I'd have been banded right now. And I would be struggling and failing because I wouldn't have known what I was really doing. I appreciate my insurance company's requirements.

I just wrote up a ridiculously long ridiculously detailed blournal entry about the grr of the day I've had.... And then.... Just before I finished writing it up, I looked at my husband and said what about that other company your employer offers coverage through. So while I finished writing that ridiculously long ridiculously detailed blournal entry he started looking through that website for info. And about the time I finished my ridiculously long ridiculously detailed blournal entry and all that typing, he gave up on the website and called. Yeah, they couldn't help. He needs the group number first. And he said he can't think of anyone in his department that uses that coverage vs. the Aetna coverage. BUT. BUT.. This made me think to myself. Since my clinic seems to be confused - why don't I call MYSELF and see what the official answer is from the source? So I called Cigna. And after that ridiculously long ridiculously detailed blournal entry....I DO NOT, I repeat, I DO NOT need two years history. So the first answer was correct. And the lady on the phone pointed me to the actual coverage document in pdf format so I could download it and TAKE IT WITH ME TO THE NEXT dagged appointment. Furthermore. THAT DOCUMENT...DECLARES - I must FAIL this six month weight loss program. Literally says the word FAILURE. Which is ALSO contradicting what they told me today. They told me today - lose all the weight you want. It's fine. The TRUTH is, apparently...fail this program. "Learn" the correct ways of eating and get the bad ways out of your system - but ultimately, from what I read in the official policy it says that this program IS NOT supposed to be successful. I read this somewhere else. Don't gain. Lose very little. But stay steady. That's the goal. Just maintain.... Sigh. Games. Hate em! :mad: :frown: :smile2: :ohmy: :wub:

I just wrote up a ridiculously long ridiculously detailed blournal entry about the grr of the day I've had.... And then.... Just before I finished writing it up, I looked at my husband and said what about that other company your employer offers coverage through. So while I finished writing that ridiculously long ridiculously detailed blournal entry he started looking through that website for info. And about the time I finished my ridiculously long ridiculously detailed blournal entry and all that typing, he gave up on the website and called. Yeah, they couldn't help. He needs the group number first. And he said he can't think of anyone in his department that uses that coverage vs. the Aetna coverage. BUT. BUT.. This made me think to myself. Since my clinic seems to be confused - why don't I call MYSELF and see what the official answer is from the source? So I called Cigna. And after that ridiculously long ridiculously detailed blournal entry....I DO NOT, I repeat, I DO NOT need two years history. So the first answer was correct. And the lady on the phone pointed me to the actual coverage document in pdf format so I could download it and TAKE IT WITH ME TO THE NEXT dagged appointment. Furthermore. THAT DOCUMENT...DECLARES - I must FAIL this six month weight loss program. Literally says the word FAILURE. Which is ALSO contradicting what they told me today. They told me today - lose all the weight you want. It's fine. The TRUTH is, apparently...fail this program. "Learn" the correct ways of eating and get the bad ways out of your system - but ultimately, from what I read in the official policy it says that this program IS NOT supposed to be successful. I read this somewhere else. Don't gain. Lose very little. But stay steady. That's the goal. Just maintain.... Sigh. Games. Hate em! :drool: :drool: :drool:

So I can do the sleep study. And then here's the trick. I have to have severe sleep apnea. We shall see. But here's what I'm wondering? What does that help? I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMORBIDITIES? The advocate lady says I can write a letter. I can say in my letter Look, my dad died from diseases that obesity contributes to. My mom died from a cancer that can be caused by weight problems. I have enough to be concerned with in my future, I need to get this weight off FOR GOOD. I can say in my letter that my weight is hormone related even though my TSH has always been "normal". I can say in my letter whatever I want. But. At the end of the day. Here's the big thing to take away from ALL of today. My request is very probably going to be denied. Straight from the advocate lady's lips. So how much more of this do I do? I mean, yeah - the six month supervised weight loss program is good for two years. So lets say I don't get approved and I can't lose the weight on my own. Well. I'd still have all this done. BUT. BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT! Let's think about this. If I "do this on my own" and get down at ALL, then I will get down below a BMI of 40 pretty quickly. So THAT doesn't give me the history. Ok. So then I need to gain weight? Ok. Stay steady? FOR TWO YEARS?:wub::frown::smile2: Sigh. So how much more of this do I do? Because at the end of the day - this IS costing me money and we should definitely not be spending it right now. Because at the end of the day - my insurance IS going to change on Jan 1 and depending on what option we go with, more money may be coming out of pocket pretty soon. And if I'm going to do all this just to learn "I have to do it myself", well, then why did I part with even a penny? Not to mention that meanwhile, as I'm waiting for this six month time period to pass I feel like I have to manipulate the weight loss so that not too much is lost. In the past month, with all the changes I DID successfully make I think I would have been down 15 pounds if I'd left well enough alone. But being scared to "lose too much weight", I, on two separate weekends, did some things to gain some of it back. Why can't I just lose the weight and call it good? Furthermore - I wanted, desperately wanted to be lifting weights. But I know how my body reacts to lifting weights while increasing protein and I "couldn't take that gamble" since I could conceivably lose too much. Ok. So why do I want to do this? Cause I WANT TO KEEP IT OFF! OK. So maybe these are signs. First the insurance. Now the misinformation I was given. Maybe this is all a sign that either means 1) not now or 2) just do what you know to do.... Sigh....

So I can do the sleep study. And then here's the trick. I have to have severe sleep apnea. We shall see. But here's what I'm wondering? What does that help? I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMORBIDITIES? The advocate lady says I can write a letter. I can say in my letter Look, my dad died from diseases that obesity contributes to. My mom died from a cancer that can be caused by weight problems. I have enough to be concerned with in my future, I need to get this weight off FOR GOOD. I can say in my letter that my weight is hormone related even though my TSH has always been "normal". I can say in my letter whatever I want. But. At the end of the day. Here's the big thing to take away from ALL of today. My request is very probably going to be denied. Straight from the advocate lady's lips. So how much more of this do I do? I mean, yeah - the six month supervised weight loss program is good for two years. So lets say I don't get approved and I can't lose the weight on my own. Well. I'd still have all this done. BUT. BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT! Let's think about this. If I "do this on my own" and get down at ALL, then I will get down below a BMI of 40 pretty quickly. So THAT doesn't give me the history. Ok. So then I need to gain weight? Ok. Stay steady? FOR TWO YEARS?:drool: Sigh. So how much more of this do I do? Because at the end of the day - this IS costing me money and we should definitely not be spending it right now. Because at the end of the day - my insurance IS going to change on Jan 1 and depending on what option we go with, more money may be coming out of pocket pretty soon. And if I'm going to do all this just to learn "I have to do it myself", well, then why did I part with even a penny? Not to mention that meanwhile, as I'm waiting for this six month time period to pass I feel like I have to manipulate the weight loss so that not too much is lost. In the past month, with all the changes I DID successfully make I think I would have been down 15 pounds if I'd left well enough alone. But being scared to "lose too much weight", I, on two separate weekends, did some things to gain some of it back. Why can't I just lose the weight and call it good? Furthermore - I wanted, desperately wanted to be lifting weights. But I know how my body reacts to lifting weights while increasing protein and I "couldn't take that gamble" since I could conceivably lose too much. Ok. So why do I want to do this? Cause I WANT TO KEEP IT OFF! OK. So maybe these are signs. First the insurance. Now the misinformation I was given. Maybe this is all a sign that either means 1) not now or 2) just do what you know to do.... Sigh....

So today was important. But not for reasons that I had anticipated. I was told I needed letters of medical necessity from every physician that treats me. For me that means my PCP and my OB/GYN. I got the letter from my PCP last month. But the earliest I could get into see my OB/GYN was today. He agreed to give me the letter. I had that appt right at 8 am and then headed into the medical center to my second weightloss appt and my nutrition consult. So I had it backwards in my head about which appt came first. I thought the nutrition consult was second. So this person comes in and doesn't identify herself as "the nutritionist", just gives me her name and asks if I had any questions. So I asked her all my general questions about my insurance predicament. Man. I didn't really KNOW what that predicament was. Cause it's a whole lotta different than I thought it was. There's a new one...and it's the real one... She didn't know, told me I'd have to talk to my advocate who was not there today. Said call her Monday. So we have some general conversation about my diet over the last month. I told her about my cleaning out of the pantry and my moves towards the "good stuff". I really am eating the good stuff with just little snippets of the bad stuff here and there - mostly on weekends. Most of what is in my pantry will be ok to restock in the future if I so desired. Still a few clean out things - but she wasn't into that whole "just throw it all out" notion. She was more into "be aware" - which I think I am and she claimed to think I was at the end of the appt, too. But in the last half hour with her I realized - she's the nutritionist and then in the last twenty minutes she got on her little soap box and the judging began. Oh well. I do hate that - but I have never met a nutritionist that CAN'T judge... Ok. So no real problems so far. The Nurse Practitioner eventually wanders in after the nutrition consult was over and she listens to my heart and lungs and says good job and is ready to send me on my merry way. Hold on...I think to myself. Since I now know I was talking to the nutritionist I'm thinking some of my "vague" questions might be answerable by the RNP. And two of them were. Yay! Somewhere along the line in the conversation with the nutritionist I think to myself - why can't I see one of the advocates that IS here. It doesn't have to be anything specific to my case, it doesn't mean anyone is looking up my specifics. I just had some general questions. And the RNP suggested that I do that...talk to one of the advocates that WAS there. So they go tell the advocate that was still there at the lunch hour that I have some questions and she comes and gets me after a bit. And I tell her my story. My company is changing my insurance options pretty drastically and I'll be left with a hefty deductible and a hefty OOP-Max (Out Of Pocket) or I'll be left with a ginormous deductible and a ginormous OOP-Max. The one with the ginormous options comes with a HSA, though - a health savings account. It's kinda like a health spending account but money left in the savings account at the end of the year will not be forfeited. And my employer will treat it like a 401K and will be putting money in that account for me as well as my own contributions. That account is (according to my employer) designed to pay for my healthcare after I retire. A third option is to switch to my husbands plans. He is currently on mine but we can walk away from mine and he would go back to his and I'd start up on his. If we did that, we could get a plan that is fairly comparable to my current plan - and the surgery would be paid for. Premiums are a bit higher than my two options - but they are actually $16 less than what we are currently paying. My insurance provider is Cigna. My husband's through his employer is Aetna. I know I have the Cigna requirements for eligibility that I was given last month covered. A BMI over 40 a nutrition consult a pysch eval a 6 month supervised weightloss program letters of medical necessity from all treating physicians. On the other hand, Aetna's requirements for my husbands optional plans are: A BMI over 40 a nutrition consult a pysch eval a 3 month supervised weightloss program letters of medical necessity from my PCP and a 2 year history of obesity So my question going in was is obesity a BMI over 40? Or is over 35 sufficient since I am NOW over 40? Yep, gotta have a minimum of 40 for all two years or more. I have no comorbidities. I don't want any. My dad died from type II diabetes and heart disease and my mom died from colon cancer. I have PLENTY of risks already - I don't need to add the weight, dagnabit!!!! I love that word! And then this advocate lady says - Aetna is the same as what you need for Cigna, so I'd recommend switching. No. I have this form RIGHT here that THIS office gave me that says my requirements are: A BMI over 40 a nutrition consult a pysch eval a 6 month supervised weightloss program letters of medical necessity from all treating physicians And she says, no, for your group on Cigna you need: A BMI over 40 a nutrition consult a pysch eval a 6 month supervised weightloss program letters of medical necessity from my PCP and a 2 year history of obesity And follows that with - what piece of paper do you have? So I pull it out of my handy dandy little folder and hand it to her. And she reads the top line. And she says - you shouldn't have this form, this isn't YOUR group. So I'm not eligible. Now. After doing the pysch consult. The nutrition consult. After redoing the stress test and my cardiologist I never saw in the first place signing off on it. After having my PCP and my OB/GYN agree to it. After ALL of that - and 4-8 missed hours of work EACH week since I started down this path - I find out I AM NOT ELIGIBLE :ohmy::mad::frown::crying::smile2::scared2::wub::mad: So she starts digging further. How did I get given this misinformation? Turns out THIS lady IS my advocate. Who knows why the other lady's name is written all over my chart - the one I am talking to is the one that has handled everything for my case so far. And now it makes sense. See. The problem is that I have not even been at this weight for a year let alone two. And my advocate breaks it down like this. If I do Aetna, I will be done with the weightloss program in early Jan. They submit my package, I get my approval, surgery in Feb. OK. Since they submit the package in Jan, Aetna will want two years which means going back to Jan of 2008. Jan 2008 = 132 pounds. For me that's a BMI of 37.4 Jan 2009 = 138 pounds. For me that's a BMI of 38.4. It was in March/April of this year that my weight went crazy putting me over the BMI of 40. I gain weight when I get OFF of birth control. I have gotten off of birth control four times and four times I have had the same reaction - 30-40 pounds before my hormones are back to normal and then I can hold steady from there. It is generally fairly easy for me to maintain a weight. It is literally when I play with my hormones that I get in trouble. With that said, sometimes my hormones play with themselves - and I know as I get older they will do that even more. And those times are just as damaging for my weight control. So that part that "makes sense". In October I went into my surgeon's office. And the RNP there told me that I would qualify if I proved two comorbidities along with my BMI of 40. And to prove those comorbidities I would need to go to this other clinic in the medical center where I would also do my six month supervised weight loss program. I have high cholesterol. She told me that would be one comorbidity and probably doing a sleep study would prove the second one. So I should be good. But I get to this other clinic a few days later and they say - no, you don't need any comorbidities. So this advocate - still scared to call her mine cause am I gonna end up with someone else later? - says well then lets get a sleep study. Are you drowsy in the afternoon? No. Do you wake up with headaches? No. Do you snore? My husband says No. Hmmm...then I won't qualify as needing a sleep study. And then she says - get this - well, you could do some things to prove type 2 diabetes? Excuse me? Excuse me? Excuse me? Excuse me? The disease that KILLED my dad - you want me to "play around with that"? Really? My blood pressure is absurdly LOW. Got any tricks for screwing that up? My heart has been deamed healthy by none other than a cardiologist. So she goes and gets the RNP eventually. Apparently you can be determined as qualified for a sleep study if 1) your neck is too big, 2) your waist is too big, and 3) if you say you are sleepy during the day. 1) my neck is huge. :tt2: I call it a football neck. It works on my body, I have a very strong neck and if we have boys when my husband and I have kids - they will have a good build for being football players. I like my neck. I will be happy when it loses weight, but I don't have an issue with my "huge" neck. 2) my waist is large. I'm fat. That was easy. 3) sure - I can say I'm sleepy. I sit at a computer all day long and around mid afternoon I get bored. And when I get bored, I get sleepy.

So today was important. But not for reasons that I had anticipated. I was told I needed letters of medical necessity from every physician that treats me. For me that means my PCP and my OB/GYN. I got the letter from my PCP last month. But the earliest I could get into see my OB/GYN was today. He agreed to give me the letter. I had that appt right at 8 am and then headed into the medical center to my second weightloss appt and my nutrition consult. So I had it backwards in my head about which appt came first. I thought the nutrition consult was second. So this person comes in and doesn't identify herself as "the nutritionist", just gives me her name and asks if I had any questions. So I asked her all my general questions about my insurance predicament. Man. I didn't really KNOW what that predicament was. Cause it's a whole lotta different than I thought it was. There's a new one...and it's the real one... She didn't know, told me I'd have to talk to my advocate who was not there today. Said call her Monday. So we have some general conversation about my diet over the last month. I told her about my cleaning out of the pantry and my moves towards the "good stuff". I really am eating the good stuff with just little snippets of the bad stuff here and there - mostly on weekends. Most of what is in my pantry will be ok to restock in the future if I so desired. Still a few clean out things - but she wasn't into that whole "just throw it all out" notion. She was more into "be aware" - which I think I am and she claimed to think I was at the end of the appt, too. But in the last half hour with her I realized - she's the nutritionist and then in the last twenty minutes she got on her little soap box and the judging began. Oh well. I do hate that - but I have never met a nutritionist that CAN'T judge... Ok. So no real problems so far. The Nurse Practitioner eventually wanders in after the nutrition consult was over and she listens to my heart and lungs and says good job and is ready to send me on my merry way. Hold on...I think to myself. Since I now know I was talking to the nutritionist I'm thinking some of my "vague" questions might be answerable by the RNP. And two of them were. Yay! Somewhere along the line in the conversation with the nutritionist I think to myself - why can't I see one of the advocates that IS here. It doesn't have to be anything specific to my case, it doesn't mean anyone is looking up my specifics. I just had some general questions. And the RNP suggested that I do that...talk to one of the advocates that WAS there. So they go tell the advocate that was still there at the lunch hour that I have some questions and she comes and gets me after a bit. And I tell her my story. My company is changing my insurance options pretty drastically and I'll be left with a hefty deductible and a hefty OOP-Max (Out Of Pocket) or I'll be left with a ginormous deductible and a ginormous OOP-Max. The one with the ginormous options comes with a HSA, though - a health savings account. It's kinda like a health spending account but money left in the savings account at the end of the year will not be forfeited. And my employer will treat it like a 401K and will be putting money in that account for me as well as my own contributions. That account is (according to my employer) designed to pay for my healthcare after I retire. A third option is to switch to my husbands plans. He is currently on mine but we can walk away from mine and he would go back to his and I'd start up on his. If we did that, we could get a plan that is fairly comparable to my current plan - and the surgery would be paid for. Premiums are a bit higher than my two options - but they are actually $16 less than what we are currently paying. My insurance provider is Cigna. My husband's through his employer is Aetna. I know I have the Cigna requirements for eligibility that I was given last month covered. A BMI over 40 a nutrition consult a pysch eval a 6 month supervised weightloss program letters of medical necessity from all treating physicians. On the other hand, Aetna's requirements for my husbands optional plans are: A BMI over 40 a nutrition consult a pysch eval a 3 month supervised weightloss program letters of medical necessity from my PCP and a 2 year history of obesity So my question going in was is obesity a BMI over 40? Or is over 35 sufficient since I am NOW over 40? Yep, gotta have a minimum of 40 for all two years or more. I have no comorbidities. I don't want any. My dad died from type II diabetes and heart disease and my mom died from colon cancer. I have PLENTY of risks already - I don't need to add the weight, dagnabit!!!! I love that word! And then this advocate lady says - Aetna is the same as what you need for Cigna, so I'd recommend switching. No. I have this form RIGHT here that THIS office gave me that says my requirements are: A BMI over 40 a nutrition consult a pysch eval a 6 month supervised weightloss program letters of medical necessity from all treating physicians And she says, no, for your group on Cigna you need: A BMI over 40 a nutrition consult a pysch eval a 6 month supervised weightloss program letters of medical necessity from my PCP and a 2 year history of obesity And follows that with - what piece of paper do you have? So I pull it out of my handy dandy little folder and hand it to her. And she reads the top line. And she says - you shouldn't have this form, this isn't YOUR group. So I'm not eligible. Now. After doing the pysch consult. The nutrition consult. After redoing the stress test and my cardiologist I never saw in the first place signing off on it. After having my PCP and my OB/GYN agree to it. After ALL of that - and 4-8 missed hours of work EACH week since I started down this path - I find out I AM NOT ELIGIBLE :drool::ohmy::drool::drool::drool::drool: So she starts digging further. How did I get given this misinformation? Turns out THIS lady IS my advocate. Who knows why the other lady's name is written all over my chart - the one I am talking to is the one that has handled everything for my case so far. And now it makes sense. See. The problem is that I have not even been at this weight for a year let alone two. And my advocate breaks it down like this. If I do Aetna, I will be done with the weightloss program in early Jan. They submit my package, I get my approval, surgery in Feb. OK. Since they submit the package in Jan, Aetna will want two years which means going back to Jan of 2008. Jan 2008 = 132 pounds. For me that's a BMI of 37.4 Jan 2009 = 138 pounds. For me that's a BMI of 38.4. It was in March/April of this year that my weight went crazy putting me over the BMI of 40. I gain weight when I get OFF of birth control. I have gotten off of birth control four times and four times I have had the same reaction - 30-40 pounds before my hormones are back to normal and then I can hold steady from there. It is generally fairly easy for me to maintain a weight. It is literally when I play with my hormones that I get in trouble. With that said, sometimes my hormones play with themselves - and I know as I get older they will do that even more. And those times are just as damaging for my weight control. So that part that "makes sense". In October I went into my surgeon's office. And the RNP there told me that I would qualify if I proved two comorbidities along with my BMI of 40. And to prove those comorbidities I would need to go to this other clinic in the medical center where I would also do my six month supervised weight loss program. I have high cholesterol. She told me that would be one comorbidity and probably doing a sleep study would prove the second one. So I should be good. But I get to this other clinic a few days later and they say - no, you don't need any comorbidities. So this advocate - still scared to call her mine cause am I gonna end up with someone else later? - says well then lets get a sleep study. Are you drowsy in the afternoon? No. Do you wake up with headaches? No. Do you snore? My husband says No. Hmmm...then I won't qualify as needing a sleep study. And then she says - get this - well, you could do some things to prove type 2 diabetes? Excuse me? Excuse me? Excuse me? Excuse me? The disease that KILLED my dad - you want me to "play around with that"? Really? My blood pressure is absurdly LOW. Got any tricks for screwing that up? My heart has been deamed healthy by none other than a cardiologist. So she goes and gets the RNP eventually. Apparently you can be determined as qualified for a sleep study if 1) your neck is too big, 2) your waist is too big, and 3) if you say you are sleepy during the day. 1) my neck is huge. :ohmy: I call it a football neck. It works on my body, I have a very strong neck and if we have boys when my husband and I have kids - they will have a good build for being football players. I like my neck. I will be happy when it loses weight, but I don't have an issue with my "huge" neck. 2) my waist is large. I'm fat. That was easy. 3) sure - I can say I'm sleepy. I sit at a computer all day long and around mid afternoon I get bored. And when I get bored, I get sleepy.

That is so awesome! I am so happy for you and hope you continue to enjoy this journey! I love your attitude and perspective - keep it up!

I would - but I would want to do all the things that the insurance companies are requiring - even if I were self-pay. The consult with the nutritionist, the psych consult, the weightloss program. All this "prep" work is getting me into the mindset now instead of having to go cold turkey and just suddenly change. As for not being "big enough" - if you can do it now - why wait until you are? Let's just assume that you DO follow the genetics - would you rather get this done now or later? To be clear, though - this ISN'T magic, it IS hard work and it WILL require change and introspection. And I'm not banded yet, so I'm still discovering new things every day about how I feel and think about this. If I'd had the option to do this earlier I definitely would have.

I understand about it feeling good to get it out there. I am trying, with my blog, to get it out there so that in the future when I may forget, I can reread my thoughts and put myself back on track. Hence the blournal. More than a blog - but not a journal since it's public... I lost my mom in May 2004. Sadly - I must share this - it never gets better, although it does change over time. I still miss her deeply. I wish I could have conversations with her about the current economic climate. I wish I could have conversations with her about my husband. I wish I could have her back. The "type" of missing is different, though, and the grief is something I am accustomed to, if you will. But one thing I will say there is it is ok to feel sad. How can you ever feel happy if you can't feel it's opposite? How can you ever feel anything beneficial if you can't feel it's opposite? I resisted that for so long - but something I've learned over time, especially with my husband - a good fight makes me LOVE him more! That anger, that frustration all equates to a better relationship and a stronger us. If you can manage it, don't resist the negative. Easier said than done, for sure! How do you start? Baby steps. How do you make yourself do things? Ask yourself if the alternative is better. Having a bad day? Would you rather be dead? Yes, harsh - but it's a wake up call. Bad days are STILL better than the alternative. Don't want to push yourself? How will you ever be better? If you get out of bed every morning, though, then you ARE pushing yourself. Sometimes it just takes a change in perspective, not a change in approach. Think of what you ARE doing, not what you THINK you are not doing. I guarantee you will find you are doing more than you think. And one little disclaimer to make - I definitely don't mean to be coming across as preachy or bossy and if it seems that way then I am truly sorry. I'm suggesting alternative ways of thinking - that's all.

How is it that one can go from being skinny and seeing herself as fat to being fat and still see the skinny person inside? When I was a teenager/20-something year old, I was thin and thought I was fat. It makes me sad to realize just how warped my view of myself was. How could I not hear my friends when they called me "Barbie"? They even tried to explain to me, sincerely, why they called me that... How could I not hear the company commanders in boot camp when they called me "Miss America"? I always thought to myself - they are doing something like calling a huge man (tall AND wide) 'tiny'. I was the opposite of what they called me in my eye. How could I not understand and realize and see for myself what my mom always told me. When I walked around a mall - I'd leave men turning their heads. She always thought it was pretty neat walking around with me - because I didn't know I was even doing that. All I REALLY heard was the rest of my family. My uncle told me at the age of 15 I "was getting too pudgy". My aunt slapped him. Harm was done, nonetheless. My dad called me "thunderthighs" because he "thought it was funny". Maybe it was a "joke" but harm was done, nonetheless. My grandmother told me "I would never be able to attract a man if I continued to look like I did" (at 132 pounds which was technically underweight for my height.) Apparently she wanted me to be a waif - which I consider unhealthy. I was smart enough to know then that waifs are unhealthy. I was not smart enough, if you will, to know that I was being pressured into "society's norms". I was an athlete. I swam for miles. I was also in drill team. So when I wasn't swimming, I was marching for miles or dancing on football fields. Between the two activities, I had something going "all year long". And in my spare time I was in choir and drama. And in my "leftover" spare time, I was never sitting down. I look back NOW and I KNOW I was healthy and fit and JUST FINE! Is it wrong of me to just be mad mad mad at this family of mine? Because somewhere in this weight gain journey I began to realize EXACTLY how off base they all were. But. BUT. NOW....I look in the mirror...and I still see my skinny self. I look at pictures and I cannot be deceived in those cases. So I don't take pictures - and if they are taken for some horrendous reason - I DO NOT LOOK AT THEM. Who wants to see a puffed out hideous puff ball when in the minds eye, there is still a waist line? In the minds eye there are still muscular legs? In the minds eye there are still curves where curves are supposed to be. I can still see who I used to be. Don't get me wrong - I'm not entirely delusional. I AM fat! I DO need to lose weight? I DO have fat sitting on top of muscles that used to show through easily. I DO have curves where curves should not exist. I just know NOW that once upon a time - I WAS ok. I'm ok, you're ok, right? :smile2: I don't want to forget that this thinking has evolved like this. I want to remember when I am at a healthy weight that HEALTHY is what looks best. I want to remember when I am at a healthy weight that I must follow my own heart. Forget my grandmother who worked in the fashion industry. Forget my uncle who thinks that women cannot be athletes and who considered muscle "pudge". Forget my dad who just didn't know better. Forget them all. It's what I think about myself that matters.

How is it that one can go from being skinny and seeing herself as fat to being fat and still see the skinny person inside? When I was a teenager/20-something year old, I was thin and thought I was fat. It makes me sad to realize just how warped my view of myself was. How could I not hear my friends when they called me "Barbie"? They even tried to explain to me, sincerely, why they called me that... How could I not hear the company commanders in boot camp when they called me "Miss America"? I always thought to myself - they are doing something like calling a huge man (tall AND wide) 'tiny'. I was the opposite of what they called me in my eye. How could I not understand and realize and see for myself what my mom always told me. When I walked around a mall - I'd leave men turning their heads. She always thought it was pretty neat walking around with me - because I didn't know I was even doing that. All I REALLY heard was the rest of my family. My uncle told me at the age of 15 I "was getting too pudgy". My aunt slapped him. Harm was done, nonetheless. My dad called me "thunderthighs" because he "thought it was funny". Maybe it was a "joke" but harm was done, nonetheless. My grandmother told me "I would never be able to attract a man if I continued to look like I did" (at 132 pounds which was technically underweight for my height.) Apparently she wanted me to be a waif - which I consider unhealthy. I was smart enough to know then that waifs are unhealthy. I was not smart enough, if you will, to know that I was being pressured into "society's norms". I was an athlete. I swam for miles. I was also in drill team. So when I wasn't swimming, I was marching for miles or dancing on football fields. Between the two activities, I had something going "all year long". And in my spare time I was in choir and drama. And in my "leftover" spare time, I was never sitting down. I look back NOW and I KNOW I was healthy and fit and JUST FINE! Is it wrong of me to just be mad mad mad at this family of mine? Because somewhere in this weight gain journey I began to realize EXACTLY how off base they all were. But. BUT. NOW....I look in the mirror...and I still see my skinny self. I look at pictures and I cannot be deceived in those cases. So I don't take pictures - and if they are taken for some horrendous reason - I DO NOT LOOK AT THEM. Who wants to see a puffed out hideous puff ball when in the minds eye, there is still a waist line? In the minds eye there are still muscular legs? In the minds eye there are still curves where curves are supposed to be. I can still see who I used to be. Don't get me wrong - I'm not entirely delusional. I AM fat! I DO need to lose weight? I DO have fat sitting on top of muscles that used to show through easily. I DO have curves where curves should not exist. I just know NOW that once upon a time - I WAS ok. I'm ok, you're ok, right? I don't want to forget that this thinking has evolved like this. I want to remember when I am at a healthy weight that HEALTHY is what looks best. I want to remember when I am at a healthy weight that I must follow my own heart. Forget my grandmother who worked in the fashion industry. Forget my uncle who thinks that women cannot be athletes and who considered muscle "pudge". Forget my dad who just didn't know better. Forget them all. It's what I think about myself that matters.

I read your blog and was thinking to myself that it's interesting reading all the thoughts that are just coming out of those fingertips and it all makes me wonder what it will be like for me when I get there. I am one month into my six month weightloss program. And then there was the paragraph at the end. And then it all clicked. So here's what I say. If you can have one little tiny 1/2 of a table spoon of icing - it's your birthday. But do you want the icing because you want the icing or do you want the icing because you miss your husband so very much? Either way - It IS ok! But be careful of letting 1/2 tbsp turn into 1 tbsp into 1/4 cup...and so on and so forth. Cause those will NOT be satisfying calories. And something else to think about. At least you are HAVING a birthday. Yes, without your hubby, they aren't as special, in a way - you miss him. But you will have future birthdays that you can share with him because you are taking control. So start now! (Don't eat the icing.) And think of what your hubby will see when he comes home. Imagine the surprise and the pride that he will exude. Think of how you will feel when THAT happens? Is the icing worth it? I can be idealistic cause I'm not banded yet. But was that bite of chicken worth the possible problems that might have caused? Be very careful, I'd say. You are on this path to make changes - so embrace those changes. YOU are changing your life - not this band.

One of the things that Greeks do with it is add dill and toss it with cucumbers. Add lemon juice. Are there any herbs you like? You can add just about anything to change the flavor. A true Greek yogurt will be creamier - and should not have that sour milk taste at all. Greek yogurt is made with cream instead of milk, hence the difference. Hope that helps...

Just checking in. Friday I visited a cardiologist I was sent to earlier this year. I suddenly started getting heart palpitations and my PCP wanted to rule out anything "wrong". I would be sitting on the couch watching tv with Hubby and my heart would go from its resting rate of 65 up to 140. It was ANNOYING. Nothing was ever wrong. But in an effort to try and provide comorbidities last month I mentioned this at my first appt. It wasn't a comboridity they were interested in - but now I needed to get the cardiologist to approve me for surgery. I went in almost two weeks ago to explain my case and he had me come back last Friday for a stress test. I was given the stamp of approval. I was actually told that I "have the heart of a very fit person". I like hearing stuff like that! (since I think I'm fit and all...) Yesterday I went in for my follow-up with the Ph.D. Psychologist. I'd been in there two weeks earlier to do the testing for my psych consult. I could have been back sooner but I was scared to schedule appts last week as I had jury duty. I live in Galveston county. In Galveston county they get their jury pool and put everyone on call. We can be sent out to any of the district courts or we can be sent out to any of the justices of the peace. I never did get selected but I had to call in every night at 6PM and find out what I may or may not be doing the next day. I took a gamble with scheduling an appt for Friday but it worked out. Anywho - so the follow-up with the Psychologist was pushed back until this week. And he proclaimed me "normal" yesterday. Did anyone else worry about that? I don't think I'm in danger of any bad diagnosis there, but it worried me nonetheless. Do "abnormal" people pursue this above and beyond ordinary? Thursday I go in for weigh in number two. And I have zillions of questions that have formed over the last month. I'm hoping they can help me with some information that will help my husband and I decide which route to take with the insurance. We are hesitant to be switching back and forth between his and mine. We know that what my employer is offering is better long term - it just isn't helpful with this procedure. It seems like the sooner we make the switch the better off we are. But do we wait one year? Do we bite the bullet? I had been thinking along the lines of my deductible is going to be outrageous based on the self-pay price. However, my insurance provider has negotiated prices on about everything they will pay out on - and since they will pay out on this - that self-pay price is not my price. So that might change what I would pay as a deductible to reasonable. And if that's the case, we are better of switching. So it's back to information research mode as we try to find the balance between what's best for next year AND the long term. Does anyone else know anything about Aetna's requirements? When I read their document there is talk of a six month program AND a three month program. I am wondering which of those programs is most like the one I am currently doing. Right now, for Cigna, I am doing six months of once a month check-in's. I am trying to do a lower calorie diet and for me, I'm trying to start mimmicking what I will have to do post-band (although there is still some cleanout of the pantry going on, so it's not there yet). I am also doing an exercise program. I keep track of this on paper and turn this in each month. So, did anyone do the Aetna requirements? And if so, how does this compare? I am looking forward to Thursday's appt. I hope to get some answers. And I'm even down a few pounds. Not many, just a few. I want to see if I can even get some clarification on this - can I lose weight and be ok? Or do I need to try to stay steady? As of last week I was down 7. And over the weekend I did a few things to gain some of it back, on purpose. So now I'm down 3. But I'd rather be down 7. :smile: If I weren't trying to stay steady, I'd actually be down more. One question about switching to Aetna is about my BMI, too. Does my BMI have to be 40 when Aetna starts covering me? Or is it quite simply from the beginning of this process? Since my BMI is so close to the edge, it's making me wonder....I started with Cigna with a higher BMI and am following their requirements. But if I switch to Aetna midway - does my BMI have to be above 40 from the day Aetna gets me? No sodas in over a week and a half. No sugar or cream in my coffee. When I want a snack in the middle of the afternoon I eat broccoli and cucumbers. Protein is something I am eating more of - and carbs less of. Sad story, though. I live in this awesome neighborhood where we are all friends and we are always watching out for each other. We use any excuse to get together and typically raid each other's pantrys to come up with the best Saturday evening meals. As is the case in any situation where friendships are easy, there are also cliques. Our cliques are not exclusive and we all mingle well. But we also have the clique where they are our closer friends. The cliques have names. My clique became known as the "first wives club". We have our "first wives club" dinner every Tuesday. It's a lot of fun and a nice time to be away from the Hubby. One of us will cook the main entree, one the veggies and starch and one the desert. Here is where the sadness comes in. There are five of us in this group. And they LOVE starch. So much so there is usually, in any given week, bread, potatoes AND pasta. EEKS! :ohmy: I make ONE starch at home with any given meal. ONE! That's MORE than enough! But THREE? AND desert? EEEEEEKS! :ohmy: Starch is my weakness. Baked potatoes - I can walk away from. Country fried potatoes - I can walk away from. But mashed? GIMME! :drool: Roasted? GIMME! :drool: Pasta? I hate spaghetti. But something with alfredo? GIMME! :drool: I don't care for penne and pasta salads are hit or miss. But anything smothered with cheese? GIMME! :drool: And bread. Uggg. Bread! Sourdough? GIMME! :drool: About the only bread I don't like is potato rolls or loafs or whatever. I feel like it's getting to the point that I need to withdraw from the dinners for self-preservation. Cause the other "first wives" don't have to care. They don't have to worry. They should - but they don't have to. Anyway. That's my sadness. I love them, love being with them, and love our Tuesday's. But I don't think I can beat these temptations YET. Maybe some day. But the sodas and the coffee and some of the other little things I have done this month are already quite a lot. I know I can get to the point where I don't even serve myself those things :tt2: but I'm just not there yet. And so long as I don't serve 'em, I won't care that it's in the bowl on the counter. But for now - I CARE.

Just checking in. Friday I visited a cardiologist I was sent to earlier this year. I suddenly started getting heart palpitations and my PCP wanted to rule out anything "wrong". I would be sitting on the couch watching tv with Hubby and my heart would go from its resting rate of 65 up to 140. It was ANNOYING. Nothing was ever wrong. But in an effort to try and provide comorbidities last month I mentioned this at my first appt. It wasn't a comboridity they were interested in - but now I needed to get the cardiologist to approve me for surgery. I went in almost two weeks ago to explain my case and he had me come back last Friday for a stress test. I was given the stamp of approval. I was actually told that I "have the heart of a very fit person". I like hearing stuff like that! (since I think I'm fit and all...) Yesterday I went in for my follow-up with the Ph.D. Psychologist. I'd been in there two weeks earlier to do the testing for my psych consult. I could have been back sooner but I was scared to schedule appts last week as I had jury duty. I live in Galveston county. In Galveston county they get their jury pool and put everyone on call. We can be sent out to any of the district courts or we can be sent out to any of the justices of the peace. I never did get selected but I had to call in every night at 6PM and find out what I may or may not be doing the next day. I took a gamble with scheduling an appt for Friday but it worked out. Anywho - so the follow-up with the Psychologist was pushed back until this week. And he proclaimed me "normal" yesterday. Did anyone else worry about that? I don't think I'm in danger of any bad diagnosis there, but it worried me nonetheless. Do "abnormal" people pursue this above and beyond ordinary? Thursday I go in for weigh in number two. And I have zillions of questions that have formed over the last month. I'm hoping they can help me with some information that will help my husband and I decide which route to take with the insurance. We are hesitant to be switching back and forth between his and mine. We know that what my employer is offering is better long term - it just isn't helpful with this procedure. It seems like the sooner we make the switch the better off we are. But do we wait one year? Do we bite the bullet? I had been thinking along the lines of my deductible is going to be outrageous based on the self-pay price. However, my insurance provider has negotiated prices on about everything they will pay out on - and since they will pay out on this - that self-pay price is not my price. So that might change what I would pay as a deductible to reasonable. And if that's the case, we are better of switching. So it's back to information research mode as we try to find the balance between what's best for next year AND the long term. Does anyone else know anything about Aetna's requirements? When I read their document there is talk of a six month program AND a three month program. I am wondering which of those programs is most like the one I am currently doing. Right now, for Cigna, I am doing six months of once a month check-in's. I am trying to do a lower calorie diet and for me, I'm trying to start mimmicking what I will have to do post-band (although there is still some cleanout of the pantry going on, so it's not there yet). I am also doing an exercise program. I keep track of this on paper and turn this in each month. So, did anyone do the Aetna requirements? And if so, how does this compare? I am looking forward to Thursday's appt. I hope to get some answers. And I'm even down a few pounds. Not many, just a few. I want to see if I can even get some clarification on this - can I lose weight and be ok? Or do I need to try to stay steady? As of last week I was down 7. And over the weekend I did a few things to gain some of it back, on purpose. So now I'm down 3. But I'd rather be down 7. If I weren't trying to stay steady, I'd actually be down more. One question about switching to Aetna is about my BMI, too. Does my BMI have to be 40 when Aetna starts covering me? Or is it quite simply from the beginning of this process? Since my BMI is so close to the edge, it's making me wonder....I started with Cigna with a higher BMI and am following their requirements. But if I switch to Aetna midway - does my BMI have to be above 40 from the day Aetna gets me? No sodas in over a week and a half. No sugar or cream in my coffee. When I want a snack in the middle of the afternoon I eat broccoli and cucumbers. Protein is something I am eating more of - and carbs less of. Sad story, though. I live in this awesome neighborhood where we are all friends and we are always watching out for each other. We use any excuse to get together and typically raid each other's pantrys to come up with the best Saturday evening meals. As is the case in any situation where friendships are easy, there are also cliques. Our cliques are not exclusive and we all mingle well. But we also have the clique where they are our closer friends. The cliques have names. My clique became known as the "first wives club". We have our "first wives club" dinner every Tuesday. It's a lot of fun and a nice time to be away from the Hubby. One of us will cook the main entree, one the veggies and starch and one the desert. Here is where the sadness comes in. There are five of us in this group. And they LOVE starch. So much so there is usually, in any given week, bread, potatoes AND pasta. EEKS! :ohmy: I make ONE starch at home with any given meal. ONE! That's MORE than enough! But THREE? AND desert? EEEEEEKS! :ohmy: Starch is my weakness. Baked potatoes - I can walk away from. Country fried potatoes - I can walk away from. But mashed? GIMME! :drool: Roasted? GIMME! :drool: Pasta? I hate spaghetti. But something with alfredo? GIMME! :drool: I don't care for penne and pasta salads are hit or miss. But anything smothered with cheese? GIMME! :drool: And bread. Uggg. Bread! Sourdough? GIMME! :drool: About the only bread I don't like is potato rolls or loafs or whatever. I feel like it's getting to the point that I need to withdraw from the dinners for self-preservation. Cause the other "first wives" don't have to care. They don't have to worry. They should - but they don't have to. Anyway. That's my sadness. I love them, love being with them, and love our Tuesday's. But I don't think I can beat these temptations YET. Maybe some day. But the sodas and the coffee and some of the other little things I have done this month are already quite a lot. I know I can get to the point where I don't even serve myself those things :tt2: but I'm just not there yet. And so long as I don't serve 'em, I won't care that it's in the bowl on the counter. But for now - I CARE.

Call it's name back. And tell it to go jump off a bridge.... I have a funny thing with candy. Don't like the stuff, don't crave it, don't generally want it. But if I have none in the house - it's all I can think about. Get some back in a drawer somewhere and I'm fine so long as it sits there. I never eat it. I'm rubbing off on Hubby, too, cause he used to ransack those drawers for the candy and now he never bothers. We have a drawer with some candy in it...and it's been there for almost two years now. The Halloween candy all went lickity split. We discovered Saturday night that we live in "that" neighborhood where all the folks go to so their kids can get "the good candy". Our subdivision is still being built and this year was the first time that happened (average age of a house on my loop is 3 years). So we are gonna have to prepare better for next Halloween. I can't tell you how many "hay wagons" were driving through our streets...it's fun though, we turn it into one great big block party. My husband and I and some neighbors tailgate. One dad suggested we turn it into a real tailgate next year. Not a shabby idea - but I don't want to be providing for all the parents bussing their kids in...

What great news. I can only imagine that you must be feeling relieved with all of this starting to subside. The other one - in addition to the more you sleep the faster you heal - is the more you move. Make sure you are walking and keeping all the muscles active. The increased blood activity, even for short periods, can also help heal faster. Good night...

My husband and I finally received the information on his insurance options for next year today. His options are staying the same - which means we can switch to his plan and still have something deductible and out-of-pocket-max free. Add to that it will save us $8 a payperiod of my own plan that's going away. So we will be switching to Aetna. From things I read around here, seems Aetna is good about this. But I don't know what my specific case will be. Right now I am on Cigna. Cigna required a six month supervised weight loss program which I am one month into. Cigna required a pysch consult which I have done the testing for. I go back on Monday to get the results. Yes, I'm nuts. Not sure why anyone has to pay for that info. :smile: Cigna required letters of medical necessity from any practictioners with ongoing care. In my case that's my PCP and my OB/GYN. I got one from my PCP. I see my OB/GYN next Thurs but don't expect an issue here as he has mentioned this in the past. The good news about Aetna is all of my doc's - the pcp, the ob/gyn, even the surgeon, are still in-network. So there will be no change of care. Cigna required a nutritionist consult. I will have that on Thurs when I go in for my weigh in. When I go in for that weigh in, I'll see what they might be able to say about this switch. Seems that some with Aetna only have to do three months of supervised weightloss. So maybe this is happening sooner? But in perusing Aetna's website, I found a document that says I have to have documented severe obesity issues for two years or more. I have not been over a BMI of 40 for a year, let alone two. I've been at 40 (and counting) since the start of this year. Last year I hovered around 37-38. Got off BC at the beginning of the year and that threw everything out of whack. Problem is that while I have history of a BMI over 35, I do not have any comorbidities.... I feel so much better about the insurance. There may have to be a delay in getting the insurance requirements sorted out after that insurance plan goes into effect (Jan 1 2010) but in the meantime I can keep plugging away on all this other stuff. I do know that I will still have to have the psych consult and a nutritionist consult. I do know there is a supervised weightloss time period - may be 6 months may be 3. But I can keep all this going. And the motivation is back. I no longer feel like there's a potential hurdle to overcome. YAY!:crying::thumbup::thumbup:

My husband and I finally received the information on his insurance options for next year today. His options are staying the same - which means we can switch to his plan and still have something deductible and out-of-pocket-max free. Add to that it will save us $8 a payperiod of my own plan that's going away. So we will be switching to Aetna. From things I read around here, seems Aetna is good about this. But I don't know what my specific case will be. Right now I am on Cigna. Cigna required a six month supervised weight loss program which I am one month into. Cigna required a pysch consult which I have done the testing for. I go back on Monday to get the results. Yes, I'm nuts. Not sure why anyone has to pay for that info. :wub: Cigna required letters of medical necessity from any practictioners with ongoing care. In my case that's my PCP and my OB/GYN. I got one from my PCP. I see my OB/GYN next Thurs but don't expect an issue here as he has mentioned this in the past. The good news about Aetna is all of my doc's - the pcp, the ob/gyn, even the surgeon, are still in-network. So there will be no change of care. Cigna required a nutritionist consult. I will have that on Thurs when I go in for my weigh in. When I go in for that weigh in, I'll see what they might be able to say about this switch. Seems that some with Aetna only have to do three months of supervised weightloss. So maybe this is happening sooner? But in perusing Aetna's website, I found a document that says I have to have documented severe obesity issues for two years or more. I have not been over a BMI of 40 for a year, let alone two. I've been at 40 (and counting) since the start of this year. Last year I hovered around 37-38. Got off BC at the beginning of the year and that threw everything out of whack. Problem is that while I have history of a BMI over 35, I do not have any comorbidities.... I feel so much better about the insurance. There may have to be a delay in getting the insurance requirements sorted out after that insurance plan goes into effect (Jan 1 2010) but in the meantime I can keep plugging away on all this other stuff. I do know that I will still have to have the psych consult and a nutritionist consult. I do know there is a supervised weightloss time period - may be 6 months may be 3. But I can keep all this going. And the motivation is back. I no longer feel like there's a potential hurdle to overcome. YAY!:thumbup::scared2:

Welcome! I have found the blogs are a great source of information and support. I hope you enjoy this site as much as I seem to be. And I agree, I think the successful people are the people that use all of their resources - and this is one of them. Welcome!

Apples2, my condolences to you and your family. You are all in my prayers.