nallygirl

Thank you for the responses! @NCBandit and Amanda - That's such great news to hear you've both lost so much weight with the pre-op diet! I did hear you can lose up to 20 pounds but wasn't sure if that was true. @Honk - Thanks for the info on the MP3 player! That would be amazing to be able to swim and still listen to my music!! I've loved being back in the pool and swimming has really helped me get back into the the mindset of working out!

Hi everyone! I start my pre-op diet on Wednesday. I'm required to use Optifast shakes plus a bar each day for the next two weeks. I've been really good lately about working out and have somewhat of a routine going right now that I really don't want to break. It's not much, just two classes and one day of swimming laps or the eliptical. I was just curious if anyone noticed a loss of energy from their pre-op diet and if they were still able to workout during that time? Should I keep at it or just stop until after surgery?

It's crazy to think 7 months ago I was so sad I had to wait 6 months to get a surgery date. Now that the surgery is two weeks away I'm like "am I ready for this?"!! My surgery date is also March 16th and I'm super excited to start my new life but I'm really nervous too. Just picked up my Optifast shakes and bars for my pre-op diet that I'll be starting on Wednesday!! Yay surgery is right around the corner!

Hi Rachael! Good luck with your pre-op diet! I start mine on Wednesday with surgery on March 16th

That sounds like a great pre-op diet! Mine starts on Wednesday but I can only have Optifast shakes, sugar free jello! Good luck with everything!!

Hi Jenny, I had my 6 month diet and exercise program done through my sugeon's office. Each month we met as a group (around 8 people) for a nutrition class. The nutritionist would pick a different topic each month (eating out, reading nutrition lables, importance of physical activity) and we would have an opportunity to ask questions. I was very surprised how much I learned and how quickly the time flew by!! Good luck to you in your journey!

Hi Jshivery! Welcome and good luck with your appointment!

I had to do a 6 month nutrition and exercise program for my insurance (Cigna). I lost about 8 pounds during the program. When I started my BMI was at 40.6 and my final weigh in before all my paperwork was submitted my BMI was 39.5. I didn't have any issues with approval and my nutritionist said its always good to lose a little weight to show you are committed. Good luck to you!

Yay congrats on your approval!!

Thanks! I have Cigna for my insurance. Good luck with your approval and hopefully it will be speedy!!

Wow that is crazy fast!! I wish mine had been like that!! Good luck tomorrow!

I'm approved I can't believe it went through so fast!! After 6 months of nutrition classes and another month of dealing with BS from my PCP all my paperwork was finally submitted to Cigna on Thursday afternoon. I got the call this morning that they received an approval!! My surgery date is March 16th!! YAY!! I can't wait to start my new life!!

They must have been having issues. I wasn't able to log onto the site for the past couple of days!!

I'm with KristenC, the 6 months really isn't that bad. The time flew by for me and I'm so grateful for all the knowledge I have now as compared to when I first started this process. I have Cigna and they required the 6 month nutrition and fitness classes before I could get approval. I'm now going on month 7 in this whole process and while there have been some frustrating moments I feel 10 times more prepared than someone who was able to start their process and get their surgery in a months time. Good luck with your process and your insurance!

Good Luck today ManningFan, TylerAshton567 and Shawnypoo!!!

Yay Congratulations on your surgery!!! Hoping for a speedy recovery process for you!!

Congrats on jumping through that last hoop!!! I can't wait til I can say the same thing!! Still waiting on my PCP to write my medical clearance letter. Good luck and I hope you get a speedy insurance approval!!!

Good Luck with your surgery!!!

Took my first Kickboxing class today!! I'm not sure if I kicked fat's ass or if it kicked mine...either way I'm going to be feeling THAT tomorrow!!

Hi Everyone!! I'm kinda out of the loop, it's been a crazy week but wanted to say Welcome to all the new future bandsters, CONGRATS to everyone who has their approvals and Good Luck to all of us still fighting through the insurance process!! I had my final round of testing on Wednesday which included gallbladder ultrasound, chest and abdominal xrays and my UGI scan. Now it all needs to be sent to my PCP so she can write my medical clearance letter. Then that all needs to go to my surgeons office so they can submit everything to insurance. Little by little things are getting done. Hoping I'll get an approval in early Feb and a surgery date in late Feb!! Hope you all are doing well!! ~Natalie

@aDORAblesista - I don't have a surgery date yet but my surgeon said I will have to do a 2 week pre-op liquid diet. He makes all his patients do it to help shrink their liver prior to surgery. It seems like each surgeon requires something different though. @cheechtrish - Congrats on your surgery date! Good luck with everything!! :thumbup:

I have no idea! I've never bought anything like that online...only powdered protein. Do you have to use a specific type of drink or is that just what you perfer? I think the powder is cheaper than the ready to drink shakes...at least from what I remember but I haven't bought the ready to drink ones in a long time.

Oh wow that's really cheap! I just looked online and couldn't find it cheaper than that for an 8 pack. Sounds like a good deal!

Hi Mewizza...I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. I have Cigna and was so upset when I found out they required a 6 month supervised diet program. I just finished my last appt on Jan 4th and am still jumping through insurance hoops to get approved. The good news is the 6 months flew by and it gave me a lot of time to mentally prepare for the surgery. I've learned so much in these past few months that I'm almost grateful for the time. Don't get me wrong, if they had said you can get surgery tomorrow I would have done it! Good luck with everything. Just stick with it and hopefully things will work out!

Yep not bad at all! I haven't really told anyone either, just my mom and my 2 close friends. I figure once I'm approved, have the surgery and the pounds start dropping then I'll tell people if they ask. I couldn't agree with you more about this board! I'ts been such a huge help and the people on here are great!!