The title says it all

I assumed I weighed more than I do. Sounds like a good thing unless you are trying to get approved for the lap band. I am about 12 lbs. less than what would make me have a bmi of 40. Right this second I am about 38 bmi. I know my triglycerides are through the roof, I have shown in the past to have prediabetes, I have a fatty liver and I've shown high cholesterol in the past, too. I get officially weighed in on June 6th. Without getting jumped on here - I am just hoping I can gain the necessary weight to be approved by insurance. Anyone else felt the need to do this? I just don't think my version of comorbidities matches with bcbs of california. I think their comorbidities demand you be on death's door. A shame they make it so difficult when you are so terribly close.

This is stressful. Geez.

It would be great to hear some inspiration or advice or encouragement from you all

I'm so sorry you're dealing with that. That's total crap! It blows my mind they make it so difficult for people to get a surgery to improve their health. It's like telling a heart patient "Oh you have a blockage in one artery, but we won't do surgery until at least three are blocked". Ridiculous!!

I won't lie, if I were in your shoes, I'd be packing on the 12lbs for the insurance to cover it, too. I know, it's horribly unhealthy and likely wrong, but if only 12lbs is standing between you and a healthy future, I say break out the Hostess Cupcakes and some Coca-Cola to appease them.

I absolutely agree!

You can actually put on quite a bit of weight by drinking water. You could drink 2 liters of water (which I do in an hour of cardio); eat a large meal, wear heavy clothes and be pretty close to 12 pounds.

put a few rolls of quarters in your pockets!

I put on 10lb before my first consult because of the bmi threshold. I was weighed with clothing on as well (no shoes), so I was okay.

a roll of quarters weigh a half a pound btw...so yeah that would be a lot of quarters...

perhaps wear sweats the day you are weighed and wear ankle weights heh

Thank you all SO much!! I really appreciate getting comments from people who understand!!

Insurance can definitely be a pain! I had BCBS of Virginia and got 100% coverage for lap-band with a BMI of 38 and one co-morbidity (high blood pressure). I've lost 30 pounds and am completely free of my acid reflux and my high blood pressure! Yay me!!! Now we've had a job loss and lost insurance, so I applied for BCBS private insurance. I was denied coverage... for having a lap-band of all things!!!

I say do what you have to do!!!! It will be the last time you ever have to gain!!! I'm liking the sweats with ankle weights though... That is ingenious! I know when I weighed in the PA told me to keep everything on including shoes because they wanted the highest weight possible... :-) good luck!

FUNNY about the ankle weights - as i didn't weigh enough - needed to weigh 12 more pounds to reach BMI of 40 - so I took the ankle weights apart (the ones i got at WalMart had little separate weights in them) and put them in my socks (high up so they didn't slip down), pockets (wore large shirt over my pants so they couldn't tell) and added a few to my bra on the sides. I came in at 201pds and 41.1 BMI - so then I was worried that I'd have to do that every time, but I checked with my insurance and they only use the INITIAL weigh in).. i'd say GO FOR IT

My doc's nurse helped me, actually... as wrong as that is! I was a little shocked, but I'm happy she did.

The next visit I came in and put my purse down...and she went, "oh my goodness, girl - you've lost 10lbs!" I said, "Umm...no, I didn't - remember last time??" LOL

She said next time just get on, purse and all!

I agree! Do whatever you need to! If it wasn't for my high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, high cholesterol and possible sleep apnea, I would be exactly where you are! My bmi is 38.4. If I didn't have the co-morbidities, I would be wearing those sweats and ankle weights!

FUNNY about the ankle weights - as i didn't weigh enough - needed to weigh 12 more pounds to reach BMI of 40 - so I took the ankle weights apart (the ones i got at WalMart had little separate weights in them) and put them in my socks (high up so they didn't slip down), pockets (wore large shirt over my pants so they couldn't tell) and added a few to my bra on the sides. I came in at 201pds and 41.1 BMI - so then I was worried that I'd have to do that every time, but I checked with my insurance and they only use the INITIAL weigh in).. i'd say GO FOR IT

I've lost over 10lbs since my initial weigh in, unfortunately, my insurance goes by your weight at the end of your supervised 6 month diet! Luckily, I will still have a bmi over 35 with several co-morbidities by the time of my pre-op appt. 7/2. I had to check into that, I was worried and thought I may have to scale back on the weight loss until after my surgery.

I too was concerned about the weight before the surgery....but I phoned my insurance and spoke with the bariatric nurse and she confirmed that they only go by the initial weigh in. However, my last visit I added a handful of the weights so i'd be right on the edge....