cakegal

:confused:I've been doin my six month supervised diet for just about 4 months now. I haven't lost a pound. I'm pretty healthy except for the weight. I've exercised regularly for about 8 years and have perfect blood pressure. No knee problems or back issues. I have Gerds but keep it pretty much under control. I'm 45 and have gained about 20 in the last year. I have a current BMI of 44. I can always eat better, less, and drink more Water, but it just seems so hard to loose the weight. About 4 years ago I did a spin class. I went religeously for a whole year straight. I lost 4 pounds. I felt great. Buat I was hungry all the time. I finally concluded that I was working to hard for my body, and although I was getting stonger, and my lungs were in great shape, I needed to eat only a can of cat food (LOL) a day to loose weight. My doctor has had me stop exercising in hopes that I will eat less. He is concerned that I wont be able to stick to a 1000 calorie a day diet. Any ideas? I really am not a slacker, although I am not perfect. Give it to me straight. Am I just fooling myself, or do some people have problems loosing weight? Even still, I need to get real. Hit me with it...what do you think? Will I fail?:crying:

Congratulations on your surgery date. Who is your doctor going to be? I'll be finished with my six month weight loss supervised diet just about June 4, so I wont be far behind you...I hope. I'll be interested to see how you do. Good luck!

I atarted with Great-West Healthcaare three months ago, and they were bought out by cigna in February. I know have an open access plan. I'm told that's a good one. I sure hope so. I've submitted a copy of my new insurance card to my coordinator and am waiting for instructions. I'm currently doing the six month supervised program, and am assuming that will count with Cigna as well. Anyone have open access?

I would suggest getting started with your six month diet. Make sure you see your doctor every month around the same date, give or take a few days. Make sure they record your weight and blood pressure. My doctor also didn't understand the whole 6 mo. issue, but I explained what I was doing, and every month I have to remind them what I'm there for and what they are documenting. You can enlist their support by asking for blood work to be done, and having them recommend any diet solutions. I keep a food journal, (as best I can), and when we meet we discuss how the last month was, and set goals for the next month. He documents that. I even photo coppied the evaluation form that I got from my doctors office, and give him one every month to fill out. He filled one out the first visit, and as soon as he has 7, (beginning with the first mo., and ending with the last day of the 6th mo.) then I will submit all my paper work into my doctor. I don't think you need to start your six month program when they necissarily tell you to, I would get staarted right now. Good luck!

I'm working towards being banded. I have over 3 mo. of my supervised diet done. I've chosen Dr. Francis in Fountain Valley at Memorial Care Hospital. It's good to hear good things about her. I have already expected as much. I pray every thing will go well and I will be banded this summer. Good luck!

WOW! You look great! I haven't even been banded yet, getting discouraged with my 6 mo. supervised diet, I'm half way there. You've really made my day. I hope some day I can have an ass like that! You've given me great hope!:biggrin2:

Congratulations on your start with the lapband process. I know how you feel. When I first started this journey back in October, and found out my insurance covered it, I was over the moon. That was until I found out all the criteria I had to do just to get them to consider it, I got really depressed. I'm half way through my 6 month supervised diet, 3 months still seems like such a long way to go. I live in South Orange County. Who is your doctor?

Okay, you guys are so funny I feel pretty safe telling my lapband introduction story. I found out my surgery would be covered by insurance and got an appointment with the Obesity Center at the Hospital I was going to. It was one of those initial appointments, the ones that take your stats and give you information and what to do next. Feeling like I had a new hope I decided to dress nicely and make a good impression and sort of feel good about myself. I put on some nice slacks and a button up blouse with some high heels (not really to high) and off I went. While I was being interviewed for insurance info, my button popped right off my shirt. The nurse handed it to me. I was so emarassed that all I could think to say was "I want this documented as proof that I need this surgery". We had a little laugh and went on. When I left, a little deflatted from my button experience, my foot got caught in my shoe and I tripped going up the stairs. Good thing I was going up. Everyone asked if I was okay, and I was minus a few more self esteem points. I went directly to a shopping center, and as I was walking in, my cell phone fell on the ground. Now I'm one of those gals who plays Tennis, at 270, and try's yoga, bike rideing etc. I can certainly bend to pick up something of the floor. I pick up tennis balls all the time. But because I was in high heels, I ofcourse fell over in front of everyone. To top it off I couldn't get up! I had to crawl over to the Water bottle display and crawl up. As everone was waiting for me to move, a little old lady said, "I think your shoes are to high." I was either going to go back to my car and cry like Lucille Ball or have a good laugh. I called my sister and she laughed so hard, we both laughed. She said this was a sign that I was headed in the right direction for the surgery LOL. Needless to say, not one of my most confident days!

Thanks Kat!!! You are so supportive!!!

Thats great advise. I am calling my insurance tomorow just to check. I've never gone over my initial start day, just maybe a few days before. But I will make sure my last appointment is an the day I started, infact I'm going to try to book all the remaining appointments now. Thanks for your replay and support!

I'm from so cal too. What part are you from?

when you had to do your six month diet, how did it go with scheduling your appointments. where they exactly 1 month to the day, or was there a day or so grace period. I'm on month 3/6 and its not always easy to get into my doctor, even when I make the appointment a month in advance. I should probably call my insurance but I'm afraid I might have already screwed it up because my appointments have all been 2-5 days apart each month. How did it work for you?

I understand you're frustration. I have Gerd's, and for the longest time, if I at anything dairy or spicy after 7pm, I'd be up at midnight with acid in my throat, trying to cough it out of my lungs. Gross I know. I told myself each time this happened, that I would never do it again, and I did it again. It took several of these episodes to finally realize that I just couldn't eat that way any more. I think I was rebelous with my body, thinking that it wasn't fair that I couldn't eat ice cream or any dessert for that matter after 7. I was mad. But my body finally won, and I'm not up any more crying my eyes out because I was so stupid with my food choices. Granted, I haven't been banded yet, and I'll have to make many more adjustments after that. I'm just saying I know about the feeling stupid part. They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. I guess I have moments of insanity. Good luck and keep up the good work. I love reading posts like this because it gives me thought for when I'm there, going through something similar... Thanks!

Is that the cook book by Jerry Seinfields wife by any chance? I wanted to get that book.

Hi OC gals. I live in south OC. I'm waiting to be banded. I've completed all my requirements except the 6 mo. supervised diet required by my insurance. I'm 2 mo. into that. My sugeon will be Dr. Francis in Fountain Valley. I've learned so much from this site. I've been to the support group in Fountain Valley, and there weren't alot of Lapband people, and no one had heard of this sight when I went, so I told them. Hope more people from OC come forward.

Trixie, you're right. I stand corrected. I guess I could use a little of my own advise. It's always been my intention to just deal with my own issues. Nobody likes to be shot down. Keep posting!

Hi! I'm from so cal too. I looked into Dr. Johnsrud at St. Joesephs and was very impressed. I really wanted him to do my lapband, but he wasn't on the list of Dr.'s I could use. I am now going with Dr. LePorts associate, Dr. Francis in Fountain Valley at the Orange Coast Memorial Hospital for the Center of Obesity. I'm happy with them as well. My only problem is I have to do a 6mo. diet first. I'm 2/6 and can hardly wait! Good luck!!! I'm sure you'll be fine.

OMG! I went on this sight to see before and after pics, they are always so encouraging, no matter what angle. I didn't realize this was a rant. I appreciate the photography eye, (I don't have one) but what makes you think only fat people manipulate the camera to their advantage. We are not the only people with image problems, and coming from a fashion stand point, if I can manipulate the camera to make me look thinner, even at my goal weight, well you bet I'm gonna do it! You may have a photographic mind but I think you should leave the psych stuff to the professionals and "Dr., heal they self".

Has anyone argued or apealed to reduce 6 mo. required diet and won? My psyc. doc and pcp both said I was an excellant candidate and should call my insurance company and talk them out of a 6 mo. required diet (I've already finished 2 mo.) I've done every other requirement so my psyc. doc says I should just start calling my insurance company and bugging them about it. Anyone ever do this and be successful? Any suggestions?

what did you use as 5 year history? Did you need to show weight for each year, or just back to 5 years, whatever you can find?

I went to a required support group last night. About 30 people attended, most of them were bypass surgeries. It was really interesting, and being new and not even banded yet, I kept my mouth shut. A rare thing for me. Close to the end of the 2 hour meeting I realized I knew quite a bit more about my pending proceedure than those who had already had it. The long timers who had the bypass and had already lost over 100 lbs. were complaining that their Doctors didn't give them much information and was there a way to get ideas about products, recipes etc. I couldn't keep my mouth shut any longer, I asked, isn't there a gastric bypass web site like the lapbandtalk.com site I visit. I told them how I could ask any question and I had the resources of thousands willing to share. They looked at me with this dumb founded look on their faces:doh:. They decided someone would research these types of forums for bypass patients, and I of course gave the lapbandtalk website to all those lapband patients. I am coming to realize what a great tool I haave found for my journey. Why don't more support group leaders think to search the web? DUH Hope to see more so cal bandsters out there. I'm spreading the word!:clap2:

Don't forget that muscle weighs much more than fat. And if your water intake is higher, your body will find hundreds of ways to store it. Most of us are dehydrated and storing water will eventually help in releasing and burning fat. Also, besides the body's natural way of storing food as a defense to starvation, most dieters who normally exercise, increase water and lower their calories will gain weight before they loose. Keep the faith!!! Don't let those nasty demons in your head take over and give you doubt and discouragement. These thoughts are also what we need to change if we plan on being succesful long term. Good luck!! This is an exiting time!

Thanks Jason! My first visit was Dec 6th, second visit was Jan 5th with notes on my first months diet. My second visit is Feb. 5th which will be 2 month of aactual dieting and 3 visits. I think I'm on track. I just wonder if I should give my doctor another form to fill out with notes starting on my first Visit, not just at the end of each month. Any Ideas? I guess it's better to be saff than sorry. 7 visits, 7 notes?

I know exactly how you feel! I was told my insurance would cover the surgery, I got all excited, set up as many appointments as possible to expedite things, only to be told well, we'll cover you but you need this 6 mo suppervised diet. Why didn't they tell me that 3 mo. ago?! It took all the wind out of my sails. 6 mo. seems sooooo long. I've got 1 mo. down, and I'm very discouraged. I hear your frustration!!!! I've been over weight for 17 years and they want me to try for 6 mo.!! arrrrgh!!

Okay, I just want to get everything straight. When you have a 6 mo. diet does it mean that a paper needes to be filled out, say Jan. as the start, then feb. another paper filled out which nets you 2 papers and one month, so at the end you actually have seven papers and six actual months or do you need 7 actual months?! I do not want to get to the end and be denied because of 1 month or stupid paper work, (which no one seems to know the answer to in the medical profession). I'm sure the pysch. evaluation is to be sure you don't kill anyone regarding your insurance and not the actual weight loss. LOL