My surgery date is 5/30. I have been on the protein shake diet for about a week. I started with a BMI of 32, but I've lost enough weight so far that my BMI is 30. I have another week of a liquid diet to go, and I'm on my period this week, and I usually drop 2-3 lbs that week anyway (if I'm not gorging myself ....). Anyway, have any low BMI bandsters been under a BMI of 30 at the time of surgery? I'm afraid they're going to weigh me that morning and tell me I'm no longer a candidate! And I don't want to ask my surgeon because I don't want to put the issue in his head!

IF you're going through insurance - it all depends on what weight they submit to the insurance company. I had to practically caudle my BMI to keep it above 35 until the surgeon submitted it to insurance, I was losing too much weight on the pre-op eating plan.

Otherwise, it wouldn't hurt to pass it by the surgeon or his nurse, but the point of the pre-op diet is for you to lose weight. You're being a good patient in my opinion.

Interesting, my BMI was 32 - went for 1st consultation (uk) on the 11th May - and was booked in for surgery 16th may (self pay) - i did not have to do 2 weeks pre op as my liver shouldnt have been too fatty.

It seems every hospital has their own guidelines - and very different ones at that - good luck - its the best thing I have done for myself x

I had surgery yesterday with a BMI of 28. Insurance paid. I qualified for surgery with BMI of 35 last November but had to go through the medical nutrition program as well as a huge bunch of other tests and classes to meet insurance requirements. I was reassured by the insurance coordinator that my qualification would not be cancelled for being successful with weight loss prior to surgery.