Hello,

My name is Lisa and I am 31 and now faced with the decision I need the Weight Loss Surgery. I can't do lap-band because my body doesn't tolerate foreign substances.

I weigh 300 pounds and I know for the last three years I have stayed at this weight range. I have tried Weight Watchers...etc...personal training you name it.

Right now I have to see my Primary Care doctor to get the approval from my Insurance to go for it. It will be a long journey before the actual surgery and after. With my insurance I have to do a Psychological Assessment and nutrition and fitness with the hospital doctor for six months before being even approved for the surgery.

What if I lose a lot of weight in the six month dieting? I don't understand that part? Not like I have lost a lot of weight before. Or what if I keep yo-yoing? I'm confused about the six month dieting and exercising before surgery.

Thanks for any information you can give me,

Lisa

Hey! I'm in the same boat you are, coming up on a whole dang decade of obesity. I just started my 6 months in April. It actually is going by quite quickly. As far as the six month physician weight counseling requirement, I went through the specialists that are going to do my surgery. They have a very streamlined system since they do this type of thing exclusively. For the visits, they start talking to you about the goals/requirements of the post-surgery diet, and you'll start working out the logistics of how you will get x amount of Protein and y amount of carbs each day, how you'll get a certain number of meals in each day, start separating fluids from meals, etc. My doctor said that it is not required for you to lose weight, although I have by starting to change some of my habits. I guess I feel like whatever I can change beforehand will just make for an easier adjustment afterwards. I've been making smaller changes, and I'm not trying to do everything at once- btdt and it never worked long term.

I originally wanted the surgery over summer, but due to the six month requirement, I'm actually going to wait until December even though I'd be able to go in september/october so that I can get the surgery done over Christmas break (i'm a teacher). I was really disappointed at first, but now I'm very happy that it will give me a bit more time, and that I'll get to actually work on carving out the time to eat/drink during the school day and figure out how to get exercise and everything else in balance with work before the surgery gets here.

Best of luck to you!

I had to wait 6 months before my surgery and I actually gained 10 pounds in those six months, I felt like I needed to eat all the bad foods because after surgery I wouldn't be able to. Had the sleeve done April 17th and I have lost 70 pounds since my surgery date! I was worried I would Stoll want all the bad foods still but its actually the opposite. Good luck!

_{Lisa -}

_{Have you called your insurance company to get all the requirements? I have BCBS MI and they also require the 6 month physician supervised diets UNLESS your BMI is greater that 50. At 5' 6" 303 lbs I am right above a BMI of 50. I met with the surgeon Friday and already had the psych eval done so they are going to be submitting my paperwork sometime this week. Hoping to get approved, and quick!! If I were you I'd call your insurance company to see if they have something similar to waive the 6 month diet.}