Did anybody here gain weight or use ankle weights, fishing weights, etc. to add to their weight? I'm considering it as I only need a few extra pounds to be a shoo-in for approval. Wanting to know others opinion on the subject and if anyone else has ever done this.

My opinion on it? you may not want to hear it.

If you don't qualify, then you probably are less than 100# overweight. I know its hard -- trust me I know its hard! but the lap band is only a tool, its not a magic fix, you will still need to watch your diet and exercise and I would recommend starting there. Its still possible to stuff bad food down your throat and unless you have discipline you can fail with the lapband also.

I am well over 100lbs overweight for my height and size. However, with my insurance company I have to have 2 co-morbidities to go along with that or I have to be 200% my ideal weight. I have at least one co-morbidity and the other stuff will be determined by my ins. co. However, I am only short a few pounds to be 200% over my ideal weight. This is why I am giving it consideration.

It's easy to have 2 comorbidity (sleep apnea, arthritis, joint pain, back pain, shortness of breath). These are comorbidity issues which an insurance company can't claim you don't have if you say you do (OK, sleep apnea is something that can be checked, but if you are nearly 200% overweight, I bet you have it!

Cobrien ~ I assume you have Tricare?? If so, I also have tricare. They don't ask for confirmation from other doctors for your comorbids. And like Donna said earlier, I'm sure you have back pain because you are overweight, joint pain, shortness of breath. My PCM referred me to my doctor because I had knee/joint pain to the bariatric surgeon. When I completed my paperwork with surgeon, I told them of all the comorbids I had. That was it...no extra weight needed.

Good luck!!

Thanks mommieof4!

I'm just starting to freak because the dr. I got my referral from was telling me I don't qualify because I don't have any co-morbidities. And I was like I do and he kept telling me they didn't qualify as a comorbidity.GRR! So of course I'm second guessing and freaking out.

Sounds like you need a new doctor, if you can get one. I know with military insurance, sometimes it's not your choice.

I'm with Donna. IS your MD is anti-banding? Does he really understand bariatric issues as well as he should? OR ---- perhaps he doesn't like your insurance and doesn't want to deal with them? It's REALLY important you have a surg who knows the surg, system and has a good attitude. Get someone else! Also---call you ins co and see if they will itemize their requirements for you. Then prep out your own lists and give it to your next MD. It's a shame -- but sometimes we have to do half their assessments for them.

I'm self-pay and while I would have loved it if my insurance would have paid, in some way I'm glad I self-paid so I didn't have to deal with all those issues and wait for months while the insurance company hemmed and hawed. I just wish I had made this decision years ago but as with everything in life, the aha moments arrive only when you're ready.

All you need is to shave some off your height. One place measured me 5 7 in my tennis shoes and took off an inch for the heels, poof, Im a higher BMI when Im only 5 6. Iv been at least 5 6 1/2 all my life, but they did help me have a higher BMI for their records. No insurance, but was interesting how they came up with my BMI.

Have you heard about Water loading ? If you are only a few pounds short, it may work and will not be considered "fraud" like wearing ankle weights.

Basically you eat lots of salt and salty food for a few days and drink as much water as possible before getting weighed, since you are retaining water you will weigh more.

I saw a contestant do this on biggest loser Australia, she gained 5 pounds!

I don't understand how I have a BMI of 36.8, yet I have over 100lbs to lose?! Anyway, tricare doesn't go by BMI which is good. I'm hoping they will do my height at 5 7, but I usually get measured at 5 8. It sucks to be tall and overweight cause most people don't look at me and think I'm obese even though I am.

My opinion on it? you may not want to hear it.

If you don't qualify, then you probably are less than 100# overweight. I know its hard -- trust me I know its hard! but the lap band is only a tool, its not a magic fix, you will still need to watch your diet and exercise and I would recommend starting there. Its still possible to stuff bad food down your throat and unless you have discipline you can fail with the lapband also.

Cobrien-do what u have to do to live longer. most of us have been up and down in weight for a very long time.. so you may be a few pounds lighter today and then the ins. required weight in a month. Yes, the band is a tool and if you are obese you deserve the opportunity to see if it will help you.

I say: Call your ins. co. ask them to send you your guidelines in writing and then go see a surgeon after you are certain that you meet the ins. requirements.

Don't allow life to happen to you ,make life happen for you!

Cobrien...

I agree with two of the posts, number one you do what YOU have to do to make it happen. I'm not going to lecture you like some about how this is a tool.... You should know that if youve come this far :-)

I will say I highly recommend a GREAT BIG meal of like a 12" subway sub and TONS of water.. all you can drink right before your office visit. You easily put on 6-8=10 lbs.. trust me :-)

If ur farther... wow... You'd probably NOT be caught cause it isn't like Dr's pat youdown :-) But I'm not so sure about it...

I will say in closing, if i were you and had to do it and it was the only way... i'd be on my way to wal mart for some new ankle weights :-)

I certainly thought about it, I had a BMI of 36 and I thought it would have to be 40, I didnt realise that all the info I was finding online was specific to the USA and you can be banded much more easily here in Australia.

I wouldnt have hesitated to gain 2 or 3kg had I needed to but we were talking 10 or 12 and i really dont think I would/could have done that to myself, much as I wanted the surgery.

My 2 Dr. recommend I get Lap band surgery for medical reasons and right now I'm 5'8" and 272lb. (I'm always 280 and can get to 250 but always spring back to 280). We are doing our own biggest loser at work and I have to admit til I get approved I been almost sabatoging myself on this diet contest. I didn't want to admit that cause I'm trying to keep my BMI up there. My point is I now know I'm not alone. Thank you!