I have Aetna and I am going to be required to do the 3 month multi surgical prep diet before surgery. Has anyone done it? What type of diet were you put on? What about the exercise component? Will Curves count? How do the monitor the behavior specialist etc...Any info would be great. I have my consult next week. I hope to have the Lap band in June or July.

Anne

Hi I am a little confused on what you mean are you having several sugeries r is that just what they called it? What most people go through is a physican supervised diet. That is just your basic diet with 30 min excercise a day. The only differance is that you have to go to the doctor once a month to let them check all of your vitals and to be able to talk to you about what all is going and how you handle the diet. Most insurances require this for eiher 3 or 6 months. Some are a year, but that is very rare, (I think only medicare and medicade). You just need to lose like 2-3 pounds per month unless you are way over 40 bmi. Just be careful you can lose to much weight and and then not be qualified for the surgery. That is my issue. I am starting my 6 months as of Monday, and I only have a BMI or 40.3. If I lose more than 10-15 pounds I won't qualify for the surgery anymore. I am required to lose 10 pounds, by my doctor, but if I lose more than 15 pounds they will assume that I cando it on my own. Also my insurance will not approve the surgery because my weight will be to low. Anyway I hope this is what you were talking about and I was not just rambeling on.

I have Aetna and did the 3 month program. It was part of the prep needed at my center, I went through the weight management center at the Methodist hospital in Houston. We had a class with a nutritionist once a month (4 total meetings) we weighed in, got nutritional information usually a powepoint and had to keep a log of all our eating and exercise that we turned in each month to the nutritionist. We also met with a psychologist. I was really glad I was able to do this program rather than the 6 months. But, we could not miss a meeting and had to turn in materials each time.

I also have Aetna and started my 3-month "multi-disciplinary" diet 2 days ago. Basically I meet with my PC once a month, a nutritionist once a month, and keep an exercise log. Curves would definitely count. I have a herniated disc in my back, so walking is about all I'm able to do now and they said that was fine. Basically what the nutritionist said she is doing to getting me to start eating and acting like I will after having the surgery. Eating Protein first, veggies/fruits, and then carbs. It's basically low carb. She said don't worry about losing weight as much as developing new habits. Also start eating with smaller spoons, not drinking with meals, chew chew chew.

I don't think it will be too bad. But I was ready to have surger in March. I've already been to the seminars, nutrition classes, psych evaluation, etc. But now I've got to wait till May. Oh, well.