I am hearing so much about this six month preop diet, it scares me. I know it is to make sure you can stick to this long term but I just can't imagine waiting so long to have surgery. Yes I have waited my whole life for this but now since things are really speeding up I don't know if I could handle another half a year. Also I know of people who had to do the six month diet and others who didn't. Is it something that insurance companies request or does it just depend on what the doctors think or what??? I'm soo confused. And very freakin nervous.

My surgeon didn't require it but I know that some insurance companies do. It will be hard but worth it in the end.

I found it helpful to make gradual changes in my lifestyle leading up to the pre-op diet.

Cutting carbs is the best thing that will jump start you on your way.

Making incremental, minor adjustments further out from surgery is easier and more effective than "crash" dieting just prior.

Break down larger changes into smaller ones.

No diet will kill you. Carrying extra tonnage through your life will. Only the first two weeks are hard, then it becomes habit.

"Do, or do not, there is no try"

ok because my BMI was 40.2 i was told to just maintain. So i went each month and met with the nutritionist and learned the steps that would help me while having the band but I was told just to start eating as healthy as i could(which didnt mean squat because I was on my farewell tour of all the fastfood places outthere). But every month for weigh-in i stayed steady. This is all they are looking for. They dont want to see you drop 20 lbs because then the insurance company will say....hey they dropped 20 lbs making changes we dont need surgery for this person they can lose the weight on their own. So my advice is be honest with the nutritionist and I wish you good luck!! My 6 month pre-op diet was a breeze.

I think if you are self pay it doesn't really matter....I just got off the 6 month insurance required diet. Really it wasn't bad. I did the low carb and on that you can eat lots of things. All my blood work improved and I lost 26 lbs. I was kinda afraid the insurance co (Cigna) wouldn't approve me but I heard to day they did.

The six months really flew by. You will have a lot of appointments and before you know it you will be planning the surgery...

Best of luck with your diet.....

I was warned that my insurance company was requiring the 6 month supervised diet for a lot of patients prior to approving the surgery so I was worried about it too. My BMI is over 40, but I have no co-morbidities. They approved my surgery without making me jump through any hoops so GO FIGURE! Prior to the approval, the dietician told me that the 6 months can help you to prepare to be successful after the surgery. Blah, blah, blah . . . :huh2: I know she was right but I didn't want to wait either so I know what you mean about being worried that they are going to require it. Good luck!