I've officially given up on the sleeve process. I've decided to stick to a healthier lifestyle. The entire process to me is ridiculous and going through insurance it's intended to discourage one and to me personal get money from your insurance company. I didn't get an approval or denial I just stopped. I'm 5'2 203 lbs, I don't think the sleeve is a must for me..yes if I get it it's an added benefit but if I dont life will still be great. I honestly felt like a lab rat the entire process. Millions have lost weight w/out any surgery and I'll be one of them. Good luck to all. Today is the beginning of my new life

I'm all for people making informed decisions about their health. I certainly don't feel like anyone should feel obligated to have WLS. Personally WLS surgery was just another step in my journey to better health.

However, why post here? As far as I can tell no one here knows you in real life. If you are taking an alternative route why are you still posting on a bariatric site? Shouldn't you be on a wellness site that can give you tips on exercise and diet?

I'm sorry you had such an unplesant medical experience. Thankfully my program didn't make me feel as if I was a lab rat. They were and still are very personable and kind.

Whatever your journey is, I wish you well.

to answer your question why post here. . .because I damn well call. . .done?

@@humblestar25 before my surgery on March 3rd. I used "my fitness pal" on my smart phone and lost 17 pounds on my own keeping under 1200 calories. I'm 5' 1" and started out at 207. I had second thoughts about surgery since I managed to take some weight off. But then remembered that I always can get the weight off but never keep it off.

Had I backed out of my surgery plans I would have stuck with my fitness pal.

Good luck to you.

I'm all for people making informed decisions about their health. I certainly don't feel like anyone should feel obligated to have WLS. Personally WLS surgery was just another step in my journey to better health.

However, why post here? As far as I can tell no one here knows you in real life. If you are taking an alternative route why are you still posting on a bariatric site? Shouldn't you be on a wellness site that can give you tips on exercise and diet?

I'm sorry you had such an unplesant medical experience. Thankfully my program didn't make me feel as if I was a lab rat. They were and still are very personable and kind.

Whatever your journey is, I wish you well.

to answer your question why post here. . .because I damn well call. . .done?

Whatever floats your boat. Seem like an enormous waste of space and time. But heaven forbid you not exercise your right to flounce.

I am just an observer...but maybe all the testing, and regulations, and visits, and psych consults manage to weed out the crazies, the qiuck fix seekers, and the mentally ill-prepared...and obviously, on occasion, an internet troll. .... 2¢

@@humblestar25 ... yawn

You said your peace.. if you are no longer considering WLS you are free to leave..

...all the best to you and bless your precious heart..

Oh, I love flounce posts. I haven't seen one in any forum in awhile. This made my day.

You know what's funny? I had surgery In part to AVOID being a "lab rat" later in life from the consequences of being over weight and unhealthy my whole life. If you think a couple months process is bad you better hope and pray you don't stay over weight and get any diseases associated with it. You'll think lab rat. Like I said before all the hating GOOD LUCK!!!

I think this thread took an ugly turn somewhere. It's just as valid for the OP to talk about his/her decision NOT to have WLS as it is for us to talk about our decision to have WLS. These forums aren't just for people who have already had surgery. They are a great tool for people who are just now considering surgery. Is it not valuable to those people to read about why someone might choose NOT to pursue surgery?

I wish the OP the best of luck. They have made their decision and we have made ours and I hope everyone has incredible success in whichever path they choose.

I know how you feel because I've felt it also. I am six months post op this month and before I was approved by my insurance I had to be enrolled in a weight lose program for a year, be psychologically evaluated and be tested for numerous health issues. I decided to stick with the process because I knew everything was being done for a reason and also I tried doing it on my own for years and I failed miserably. I don't and haven't regretted my decision at all.

There are many that have succeeded on their own, and I hope you will be one of them. Only you know what decision is best for you. Good luck!

<p>I went through that so many times.. back and forth on my decision to have WLS.. finally I'm having it tomorrow. But good luck! Believing you can do it is a big part of the way to achieving it. I just kept gaining and gaining. But at 200 pounds, are you even a candidate for WLS?</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Either way, I felt that way many times.. I started in September and just finished all my requirements.. good luck!</p>

Edited March 17, 201511 yr by Chrystee

I've officially given up on the sleeve process. I've decided to stick to a healthier lifestyle. The entire process to me is ridiculous and going through insurance it's intended to discourage one and to me personal get money from your insurance company. I didn't get an approval or denial I just stopped. I'm 5'2 203 lbs, I don't think the sleeve is a must for me..yes if I get it it's an added benefit but if I dont life will still be great. I honestly felt like a lab rat the entire process. Millions have lost weight w/out any surgery and I'll be one of them. Good luck to all. Today is the beginning of my new life

I think this thread took an ugly turn somewhere. It's just as valid for the OP to talk about his/her decision NOT to have WLS as it is for us to talk about our decision to have WLS. These forums aren't just for people who have already had surgery. They are a great tool for people who are just now considering surgery. Is it not valuable to those people to read about why someone might choose NOT to pursue surgery?

I wish the OP the best of luck. They have made their decision and we have made ours and I hope everyone has incredible success in whichever path they choose.

I totally agree @JamieLogical. It is VERY valid to discuss the whys and why nots. What I do NOT understand here is who the OP has such a beef against (besides me, for reasons I am also unclear on).

What is ridiculous about the process? I am genuinely curious. Is it the the approval process? If so, is she railing against her employer who chooses the insurance package or the insurance company whom she also seems to be defending when she states that someone (I am not clear who) is just "trying to get money from" them via the process. Who exactly is making her feel "like a lab rat"? Is it the doctor? The insurance company? The process?

Again, I have no problem with discussing why someone would or would not go through this process. I have discussed and debated this topic many times and like I stated earlier, I support anyone/everyone who makes this decision no matter what they conclude. That said, there are a lot of highly inflammatory accusations in the original post as well as name calling and rude behavior from the OP in subsequent posts. I disagree that it "took a bad turn" as I think it started out that way.

Perhaps I simply misunderstood the OP's original intent in her initial post but I certainly think she cleared up any misunderstanding there might have been in her follow up. She proved me right, in my opinion.

I agree. There have been people who have decided not to have surgery on this forum before. I recall a gentleman from NJ on here a while back. The difference was he was able to articulate why he had decided no to go forward in a manner that lead to discussion. He wasn't defensive and rude to those who asked him why he was no longer going forward with it. It also helped that he didn't imply that everyone who does this is ridiculous.

Anyway, like I said in my initial post, I wish the OP well. Fighting the battle of the bulge is not an easy process. We all have to find out own way.

Well, I think some of the requirements for surgery are onerous. I had very few hoops to jump through and am grateful for it. I had enough practice "dieting" and was highly motivated to know that I could do that. What I needed help with was not being so hungry.... and guidance on how to eat and live differently. I got those things, but it wasn't complicated.

BTW, the OP has made about 19 posts to this forum - 10 of which were this thread. Previous posts were all about insurance approval process including a statement that she would not fool with it if it wasn't immediately approved. So, okay, no problem - to each his own. I guess one might conclude that deciding whether or not to have surgery based on the ease of insurance approval might not be the ideal thought process - but we have our own paths to follow. What i don't follow is how that all turned into name calling.

I personally am very supportive of someone giving it a try without surgery. I believe very deeply that is a more important part of the process than any insurance hoops... and the surgery is always still here for future reference And, I always hold out hope that people CAN achieve lasting weight loss without WLS since I know i would rather I could have done that.

I remember when no insurance would even cover it! That's why it took me so long to get to this point..

There is a reason there are "so many hoops" I don't understand why its so ridiculous either? I had to get the standard tests and clearances like everyone else.. but why wouldn't I? Should they perform a surgery on someone with heart problems? What if they need something special and aren't ready for it? They need to know all they can!

Ok my post is probably going to piss some people off but oh well. Personally (just me) I believe if someone is only willing to go through with the surgery based on ease of insurance approval, they will be a failure at the surgery.

The surgery involved hard work, before and after, as all of us post ops know. The insurance approval actually was the easy part for me and that includes me giving up smoking to qualify. 75 pounds later I wouldn't change a thing.

HOWEVER, while I do think someone looking for ease will fail afterwards, perhaps the process itself will be an eye opener and OP will be successful without surgery. If you're only willing to put effort into one area, then that's probably the best one. Sheesh, if I had been 203, I don't know if I would have done the surgery either.

I do wish best of luck to the OP even if she has shown herself to be a rude individual. I could understand it if even one individual had come on here and told her she was bound to fail or she was ridiculous for thinking she could do it on her own but all I've seen is genuine well wishes while pointing out how she might have phrased her thoughts to be less insulting to those that didn't follow the same path.

Good luck to you.