So I am starting my WLS journey and have all ready hit a road block. The only hospital that takes my insurance will not operate on anyone over a 60 BMI. Mine is 74 and I will have to lose 70 lbs before I get the surgery. It seems daunting, so much that I don't even want to continue on the journey because it will take so long and I will have months of extreme hunger trying to lose enough weight.

I have been under anesthesia before at this weight and never had an issue.

I understand it's their policy and as such I don't want to change it, just that for me 70 lbs seems impossible. I have never lost more than 60 lbs before in my life. I'm hungry ALL the time no matter if I just ate or not, surgery is the only thing that will stop it.

I'm sorry i'm being so negative i'm just now so deflated after finding this out. I have my first appt in 2 days. It is 2 hours away from me. I all ready have to wait 6 months because of insurance and I'm fine with that, but losing 70 lbs will take me at least a year if not more (or never).

I started out in a swim fitness class at the Y. We have some people in the class 300-400 lbs .. Who cares ? We're proud of them for showing up and trying ! One lady has lost 100 lbs or so, she is on the Paleo diet. Google it, it looks really good !!! One thing that helped me alot was a year or so before WLS we started cutting back slowly on fast food and anything white or high carb. ( Husband was diagosed diabetic) We switched to whole grain, whole wheat, more chicken , fish and lean meats, plus more veggies and salads. ( I dont like soda, alcohol or fried foods) I was still eating too large amounts but lap band took that away, and at least I did'nt feel like I was giving up anything by the time I was banded. Good luck to you !

You have received some great advice, and I'm not going to repeat it. There are many of us who were in your shoes and have gone on to have very successful surgeries and post-op results. My BMI was over 60, I weighed 331 on my first doctor's visit and I am only 5'2". Now, I was only asked to lose 20 pounds, but I lost 40 pounds in the three months leading up to surgery. I used MyFitnessPal.com. A free website / app that has become a very powerful tool for me. I am over a year post-op, and still use it every day. I have lost 205 pounds (I weighed 127 this morning) and for the first time in my life, my BMI is in the 'normal' range. I am not a kid - I am 49 years old - if I can do this anybody can!

MyFitnessPal is an amazing tool. You use it to track what you are eating. It will help you set goals for how much weight you want to lose and how fast you want to lose it. After surgery I have found it invaluable to help me track how many grams of Protein I am getting every day. Now that I am on a maintenance plan, I am using it to help me keep my weight where I want it.

Beyond that here are a couple more tips that helped me. Obviously, stop eating out - anywhere. No restaurant food is as healthy as something that you can make at home - you just don't know for sure what is in it. Wherever possible, replace carbs with protein. No more oatmeal for breakfast - or if you really love it like I do, then make sure that you are having something with it that has at least 10 grams of protein.

This is a hard one, but one that you will need to do for the rest of you life post surgery - separate drinking and eating. Begin following the 30/30/30 rule. No fluids 30 minutes prior to eating, Chew every bite of food 30 times, no fluids for 30 minutes following a meal. It is really amazing how much fuller I felt when I didn't drink when I ate. Chewing your food more slows your eating down and you actually feel full faster as well.

Finally, I also had horrible joint pain. My knees were so bad that I couldn't walk - not even 20 minutes on a treadmill. I joined my local YMCA and found a recumbent elliptical that I was able to do. You sit, so it isn't as hard on your knees and back. I saw a chiropractor every week for my neck and low back - it was hard to just stand for 20 minutes let alone walk. But I was able to do this elliptical. I started with just 20 minutes three times a week and worked up from there as the weight began to come off. I had a VERY easy recovery from my RNY. I really believe that the exercise leading up to surgery made all the difference for me.

I think you have seen that this can be done! One thing the clinic is looking for is your level of commitment and determination - they want you to be successful. Setting up this roadblock is your test to see if you have what it takes to make this a life long change. It is not an easy journey - even after surgery - or after reaching goal. You have to be committed to doing the hard work. YOU CAN DO IT!!! Believe me, life on the other side is SO much better!! I never want to go back to the prison my old body was. Life is just too much fun!!

Feel free to message me. I would be happy to help you in any way I can.

Carol

Edited July 22, 201412 yr by Baconville

I was put on a pre-surgery diet. I had two meal replacement protein shakes a day with a sensible dinner. Sometimes I measured everything out, other times I just had a lean cuisine or smart one dinner. I lost 25 pounds in three weeks, I probably could of lost more if I would of exercised with my diet. Try to stay away from high sodium foods too, such as fast food. I cheated on my two week diet and had two burritos from taco bell. I gained four pounds from it. If you feel you have to go out to eat, go to subway. I did that a couple of times on my pre-surgery diet. You have a lot of support here and some people were even in the same boat as you are. Don't give up, you can do this!!! If I can go from someone who could barely walk thru the mall to someone who bikes 10 miles a day 3 weeks after surgery. You got this!

You can do this! You said the most you ever lost was 60 lbs... 70 lbs is only 10 more than that. It's a challenge, and the payoff is great. Keep posting and telling us how you are doing, ask for help when you need it, like in this post, and let us support you. I can't wait to hear how you're doing in a week or two!