Well, today was may first month of the six month supervised weight loss period. I am really disappointed. I guess I was hoping that my doctor would take it seriously and try to help me prepare for this. She basically came in, asked how I was. Said, "Okay, basically you have to come in once a month. I'll ask you how you are and if you're trying to lose weight. We document it and we're done." I asked about the nutritionist. She said we'd find out if my insurance covered it. If not, I'll have to pay out of pocket -- and we're going to find out if I need to meet with the nutritionist monthly or will one time do. That was pretty much it. I asked her..."Do you have a diet for me to follow?" (I mean I waited 45 minutes for her to come in). Her reply.."Well, most of my patients do something like weight watchers. Have you done weight watchers?" When I said yes, many times. She said, "okay, then you know it." That was it. :::shrug::: It was disappointing.

And it's not like I was expecting my doctor to even give me anything new as far as diets go. I don't know what I was expecting. Is it that they view WLS as a last resort, so they think it doesn't matter? I left there feeling really down.

I really want to make the most of these six months. Learn the most I can, try as hard as I can to get myself ready. Anyways...I felt like venting. Thanks for listening.

I'm not sure what you wanted. What doctor was this, your surgeon? Or your PCP? Do you not want the lap band? You've done WW many times with, I assume, limited or only short term success. There's no magic diet they can give us, I wish there were. If you want the next six months to count, you can surely make them do so. Establish a pattern of exercise; don't snack, eat healthy, get ready. If you've been to WW a lot, you know what is healthy and so on; there's nothing stopping you from taking charge and taking care of yourself.

If you are unsure of the band, or feel forced into it in some way, then this six month period will be a time for you to research it, think it over, and perhaps find it isn't for you. Either way, you're in control, so you can use the time as you see fit.

Thank you Restless for writing me. You are absolutely right and I really needed to read your post. What was I expecting! Exactly. I do need to take charge...and I will. Do I have uncertainty about the lapband? Well, sure. I've gotten so much info off this site, from my surgeon's office, etc. I really do want to get my life in control. And I think the lapband will be the tool I need to help me with this.

I think I've got the emotion tho...for how I felt at the Dr.'s office. I just felt like she looked at me and the chart and just determined that there was no point in telling me anything...that I was like a "lost cause", y'know? But whatever. Onward upward!! Thank you again for responding. I really needed that.

Have a great day!

I totally understand being dismissed because I'm fat...and not just in the doc's office, either! So I do feel your pain. Maybe I don't even expect much in situations like that any more? I know I've successfully dieted many many times; keeping the lost weight off is the hard part and the band really really helps with that. My start has been slower than I hoped but it is happening. My best advice to you is to use the 6 months however you see fit...but if dieting=struggling, don't let it get you down. You do have to work with the band, but it helps immensely! Good luck!

I had a similar experience. I was handed a pamphlet with the suggestions for a diabetic 2000 calorie diet, and that was it. At first, I felt a little lost. However, I found that it was actually kind of freeing. I don't feel pressure to be perfect. I have guidelines for healthy eating, and I have to write down what I eat (to file away in case insurance ever wants to see it) and that's really it. With everything else I am doing to prepare myself, I really didn't need something rigid and stressful. Maybe you can look at it that way...