CurvyCat

I worried about the same thing. But it seems most insurance companies go by the weight you are at your initial consult (not the seminar). I was told by my insurance liaison that my weight loss during my 3-month diet probably worked in my favor in getting approved. I did not have all the medical history the way they would have wanted, but she said that my compliance during the diet showed that I am serious about this and that I am a good investment in the company's eyes for the procedure. So, if your insurance goes by the same guidelines and uses your starting BMI, go for it! Getting a head start on things is fantastic. I love knowing that I could by almost halfway there BEFORE I get my band. :smile2:

I've got a June 15 date.... I finally think I've decided to actually go through with it, even though I'm scared silly. I didn't really believe I'd get approved on the first try, so it seem sort of unreal to me still I think. :scared2:

Fish is a staple around here, both because it's good for us and because it's FAST. The cedar planks for grilling really do add something to the flavor, but we only grill every couple of weeks or so. Let's see. Trout and salmon are both frequently for sale at costco at a good price, so I'll pick up some and split it into two meals. I usually just sprinkle some smoked salt like Salish on it and throw it in the oven for 10-12 minutes at 435 degrees. We like ours on the rare side, so if you prefer this kind of fish more well-done, increase time. I'm a huge fan of bulk purchasing salts (and other seasonings), especially for experimenting with new flavors. If you have a place you can buy spices by the ounce, where you scoop it into baggies yourself instead of having to buy whole jars, give it a shot! Another favorite recipe for salmon or trout is to saute' some almond slivers or chopped macadamias in olive oil, and bake the fish. When the fish is done, put the nuts over the top of the fish. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and a dash of lime juice. Yum! We pan-sear tuna with blackened spices, bake orange roughy with tomato/fresh basil/sea salt mix, grill or bake halibut in foil with peppers and onions. Poaching like AllegrasGramma says above is another simple way to get lots of flavor. I always go for what's on sale, so I pretty much never end up with King salmon (but oh MY it's tasty!). I like the Sockeye salmon least of the salmons. Trout can come in huge fillets or they come in smaller whole (headless/tailless) fish that are great seasoned and then secured with a strip of turkey bacon, like a belt, and grilled. My local store usually calls these "ruby red" trout. Ok, now I'm hungry, and lunch time is WAY too far away. heheheh :confused:

The Soy Slender also is pretty darn good as a replacement, has more Protein than almond or rice milk, and is VERY low in carbs. I've heard good things about hemp milk too, but I haven't tried it. I'd been on skim cow's milk for years, but finally eliminated entirely as a beverage within the last year or so. My kids still drink skim milk every once in a while, and I cook with skim milk when milk is called for in a recipe (or use dry milk in baking). I mix the Soy Slender with Protein Powder to make a creamer, higher-Protein shake, especially if I'm in a rush and have to squeeze in a meal. It's quite tasty, as such things go. It comes in chocolate, vanilla, and Cappucino flavors. I like the Vanilla, but my kids think the Chocolate is pretty good, and I imagine if you like coffee (I don't), the Cappucino would make a great creamer.

This is me to a tee! I switched to a mostly whole foods way of eating while I was pregnant with my first over 7 years ago, so that I would have those habits well in place when she was born. My kids have really great eating habits and love healthy food as much as I do. And fortunately, they have portion control. I don't. I can sit down and eat half a baked chicken, 2-3 cups of brown rice, and at least 2 cups of broccoli in one sitting, no problem. I can down an entire bag of puffed wheat and half a quart of milk, a huge bowl of oatmeal, or an 8-egg omelette without batting an eye. I can easily eat a couple of pounds of sashimi, most of a wok-ful of stir-fry, or a healthy salad meant to serve an entire family with leftovers. And then I can do it again within an hour or two, easy. Between my kids, I took off 100# through diet and exercise alone. I did WW, but completely failed at their no-points "Core" program because my portions were so out of whack. By counting points and being hungry ALL the time, I eventually whittled off the weight. It took me 3 years, and I was hungry and miserable every day. I got pregnant again, and put back on most of it. My appetite increased with breastfeeding and I put back on the rest. The idea of going through all that AGAIN brings me to tears. The idea of being hungry for the rest of my life brings me to my knees. So, while I was on the fence for the last several months about getting banded, I have decided that I am going to take this step. I have been ultra-compliant through my 90-day diet and am continuing it until we go on vacation next week. I'll try to keep things sane while on vacation, but won't be able to track with any sort of accuracy. Then, when I get back after Memorial Day, I start back with my pre-op diet for two weeks. I'm scared, but I think it's the right choice for me at this time. I've already made all the other right decisions relating to food for myself and my family. I just want some help in tackling this last obstacle.... the portions. The band looks to be the perfect tool to do that with me.

Needabreak, I hope your appeal goes through, that BMI is SO close!! My approval was a surprise to me and to my surgeon both. We fully expected to have to appeal. I sent in what amounts to a one-page essay detailing my ups and downs over my life with my initial submission, so that might have helped. What my insurance liaison at Aetna told me, though, was that I was probably approved because I had shown in my 3-month diet that I was VERY motivated and ready to be compliant, and that that makes me a good candidate for success with the Band.... thus a good investment in Aetna's eyes. I am not over 40 BMI now, so I'm glad they looked at it that way.

I finally had my official first consult with my Dr. last week, and talked with the insurance liasion about a week before that. Both are saying that Aetna has gotten very strict about the 2 year history. I've decided to do the 3-month program, much of which I have to pay for out of pocket. My Dr. warned me, though, that Aetna may still not approve me because of the lack of history. I am going to try putting together a photo portfolio and essay like I read here that some others have done. My BMI is over 42, I don't have any co-morbidities, and the only medical history I have is last year's physical, which has me at just under 40 BMI. I also can get my kids' birth certificates (2004 and 2007) that show me at over 40 BMI at the times of their birth, but that may not be acceptable as gain during pregnancy is expected and doesn't show a 'normal' state, weight-wise. I had a birth center birth and a home birth, so no hospital or doctor records there. Any ideas on what I might be able to do to improve my chances of approval? If it's a lost cause, then I want to know now before I have to pay for the 3-month program so I can start working on possible ways to self-pay. His office is also having a contest right now for a free surgery - which, of course, I entered. I'll find out later today if I'm a semifinalist. Here's hoping!

Susi, even though it wasn't specifically required by my surgeon and his staff for my 3-month plan, I've been doing pretty much what I'll have to be doing post-banding (after I'm back on regular food, that is). I haven't changed the drinking during/after meals thing yet, but otherwise my diet since the start of February has been as you describe. And so far, so good! I can't wait to see what my weight is next week --- I haven't weighed since my last appointment on 04/07, but I think I'm down another 10# or so. :thumbup: It's great because by the time I get banded, I'll already have made a decent dent in my weight, and hopefully I'll have developed some of the habits I'll need to make the band work for me. If you're able to stick with it, then I think it's an awesome idea! I'm really good at sticking with diets for a few months at a time, but not for the long haul. So now, just about the time that my willpower usually gives out on me ---- I'll be getting a tool to help me make it ALL the way!

I am neither a regular smoker or regular drinker. The two do tend to go hand in hand for me, but usually it is weeks or months between my 'party' nights out. I don't drink or smoke at all when not in these sorts of social situations, and I do neither to excess when I do go out. Once every year I go on a campout with a group of people that is pretty much a party group. I've been going to this event for over 10 years and it's my one time of year when I get to let my hair down for a few days. This year, it happens to fall over Memorial Day weekend, which is right before my 2-week pre-op diet. I am going to TRY not to drink more than a beer or two each day or smoke any cigs at all, but I know it's going to be difficult around this crowd. I'm wondering how much effect a few days of less-than-perfect behaviour with the alcohol/nicotine thing might have, or would the two weeks of following the pre-op diet to the letter be enough.... *sigh* I'm also not going to go off my BC pills until 2 weeks pre-op (as the idea of dealing with feminine hygiene while camping is not a good one), and I hope that 2 weeks will be good on that too. Argh, I hate second-guessing all this. :thumbup:

Thanks again. :thumbup: I tend to agree with most of the comments of yours that I've read on LBT in general, and it's unlikely that I will smoke during this trip. I am going to have a final indugence in some high-quality brews, though, as I'm going cold turkey on all carbonation post-op. hehe Here's hoping that all the secondhand smoke and the campfire smoke won't be too hard on me, LOL!

I know I'm not post-op yet, but I've been trying to go high Protein for a while now, and one of my fave ways to get some extra in in the morning is an omelette made with 4 large egg whites and about 1/2 of a yolk. I add 1/4 cup of fat-free shredded cheddar to it too. 25g of protein and very satisfying. I like the Optimum Nutrition 100% whey Protein in the vanilla Ice Cream flavor, mixed with 1 cup of Soy Slender vanilla flavor soymilk. I also tend to add in about a tablespoon of Benefiber. This powder's not bad just mixed with Water, but it's really pretty creamy and tasty when mixed with the Soy Slender. 30g of protein total. :thumbup: The last several weeks of doing this whole low-carb/high-protein thing haven't been easy, but I feel very prepared for post-op dieting. And, it's been awesome for my pre-surgery weight loss. I haven't weighed since my last appointment on April 7, but I'm pretty sure I've dropped close to another 10 since then (the weight on my ticker). :thumbup:

Thanks for the replies. :thumbup: I knew the alcohol would be less likely a problem. The smoking thing I was more curious about, and your response, Besty, is dead-on for a habitual smoker. I come from that rare breed where for me it really is a social drug just like alcohol, though, so I don't have the build-up of lung damage from smoking. I don't know how fast lung damage occurs from it, but I'm guessing it's not too much from 4-5 cigs/day for 4 days. :thumbup: For perspective, IF I do smoke over this trip, it will only be the second time in 2010 that I've smoked at all. I don't get out a lot, LOL! So I'm not worried about going through hacking or withdrawal or any of that. Your comment does tell me what the surgeon is concerned about regarding smoking, though, which is helpful. I wasn't sure if it was because of the nicotine possibly constricting blood vessels, or what. I'll ponder how the information might apply in my case as a very infrequent social smoker. :smile: I know that the cigs and alcohol aren't necessary to have fun.... If that was the case, I'd only be having fun a few times a year, and that certainly isn't true! It's pretty much something I only do around a particular group of friends, and I don't see them often. Now I think I'm probably more concerned about not stopping my BC early enough.... heheh

I think it just depends on your insurance company. I thought my 3-month diet would finish in time for me to get a surgery date at the end of March. Turns out that my 3-month requirement was actually a 90-day requirement, so I couldn't even submit until after April 6. So, for me, that means a surgery date in June, as I wanted to do it when I knew I wasn't going to be travelling during the post-op liquid/mushy stages. Nean is right, though, it goes by really fast -- and if you can buckle down during those 3 months, you can really make a dent in what you'll have to take off post-op. I can't maintain the indefinite self-control needed to get all this weight off, but I sure can do it for a few months when I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel -- a short-term sprint is way easier than the marathon! :thumbup:

Hi there! I'm 36, in Texas, and scheduled for surgery June 15th. My starting weight was 268, but I think I'm down to somewhere between 230-235 now (started this in January). My goal is 150, and I'm 5'6". I have my pre-op stuff done on May 21, the morning after I get back from a week-long vacation at Disney World, and a few days before I head out for a week-long camping trip, so we'll see how *that* goes. :redface: I have the option to do either a mostly-liquid diet or a low-carb, low-fat, high-Protein diet pre-op. I will probably take the mostly liquid option, as I've been following a slightly modified version of the other one for several weeks already. For the liquid, I'll be using the Optimum Nutrition 100% whey Protein Powder in vanilla Ice Cream flavor. I like it best mixed with Soy Slender soymilk in Vanilla or Chocolare, but it's decent with unsweetened soymilk too. Post-op, I'll just be mixing it with just Water for the first two weeks, but it's not bad that way either. I just found out that one of my best girlfriends is getting banded with the same doctor on the same day, so I definitely will have a local buddy, but I could always use more! I have a lot of friends that have done other bariatric surgeries, but no one else I know well has gotten the lap-band.

My Dr. performs a whole variety of bariatric surgeries. At the initial seminar I went to, there were about 8 of us there, I think. Four of us were interested in LB, and the rest in GB. By the end of the seminar, I was the only one left still looking at LB. However, this is not because he was pushing GB, but because he was very blunt about the fact that LB is a TOOL and that it will very likely NOT work if the patient is unwilling to be very compliant and make the lifestyle and diet changes needed. He made sure we were clear that the LB was a restriction-only surgery, and that there was no malabsorption factor involved - and he laid out the pros and cons of that. He showed comparative risks of the various surgeries, rates of weight loss, etc. Most of the questions that the other potential patients had were all about making sure they could still eat fried foods, bread and Pasta, sweets, etc. He said that most people *could* eat those foods easily with the Band, but that those who did were less likely to lose. It was very strange seeing the difference in perspective that I had from the other prospective patients. I was completely put off by the risks involved with bypass, with the idea of dumping syndrome, and by the idea of having part of my body permanently removed. The other folks switched to bypass because it required less compliance because of the malabsorption factor and had likely faster weight loss. I made the switch to a healthier *quality* of food a long time ago. My interest in the lap band comes from a desire for help in controlling the *quantity* of food I eat. My surgeon and his staff agree that I am a great candidate for the band. But he knows that it is not for everyone and I think would rather see people who are less likely to succeed with the band take a different route.

Actually, I'm pretty sure I've lost even more than that, but I'm making myself stay off the scale until just before my first trip in mid-May. My surgeon's pre-op diet is not nearly as restrictive as some. _______________________________ 1200 calories max - I usually hover between 1000-1200, but about 1 day/week I end up spiking it to about 1400 30 grams of carbs max - this was hard at the beginning, but has become easier. This is net carbs, dietary Fiber doesn't count 70 grams of Protein MIN - I have been getting well over this, typically over 100g/day 10 grams of fat max -- but I have not been following that one as closely for now. I will pare down the fat as well in the last 2 weeks before surgery. I do minimize the fat intake where I can, so no whole-egg omelettes with bacon and full-fat cheese, etc. But I'm not watching it like a hawk either. I tend to hit 20-35g per day. _______________________________ I'm going to be doing this until May 13, at which point I'll be at Disney World for a week. I'll try to eat sanely there, but I won't be able to track my food. Then I'll be home for about 6 days before I go camping for almost a week. There I won't really be able to track either, but at least I'll be prepping my own food. Then back home to start the pre-op diet again - this time to the letter - if I decide to have the surgery. I eat a lot of lean chicken, beef, pork, and fish. A BIG egg-white omelette most mornings with veggies and fat-free shredded cheese. Leafy salads with low-fat, low-carb dressing. Very little fruit (which is the HARDEST part for me). No grains, breads, starches of any kind. Minimum of dairy. If I'm ravenous and I need something to take the edge off before I crater, I'll make a shake with Optimum Nutrition's 100% whey Protein powder. I'll usually make it with Soy Slender vanilla or chocolate Soymilk too, and it's pretty tasty that way. I can do restricted diets pretty well for a few months before I completely lose it and fall off the wagon hard. So knowing that I have a finite date (May 13, and then June 15) makes it MUCH easier than feeling like it's just this never-ending hunger. It took me over 3 years to take off 100 pounds between my pregnancies with diet and exercise alone (I gained it all back and then some), and the idea of torturing myself with hunger for that long again is VERY daunting. If I decide not to have surgery, then I will have to reevaluate a plan that is more sustainable for the long-term. If I DO have surgery, then I have gotten a short break in the dietary monotony with my travels and can get gung-ho again pre/post op.

I'm still only about 85% sure I want to do it, but I have set a surgery date for 6/15.

While I'm still on the fence on this a little bit, I have scheduled my surgery date for June 15. I *could* probably do it in May, but I'm going to be travelling about half the month and I didn't want to be dealing with the post-op diet or any possible complications while away from home. So.... June works best for me, as I don't have any more travel until late July. :thumbup: I've been following something very close to my surgeon's pre-op diet for several weeks now -- not exactly, but close -- and then I'll do it to the letter for the two weeks prior to surgery. If I decide to go for it, that is. I'm about 85% sure I'm going to go for it. heh

Just wanted to say that I got my approval from Aetna today even without a strict 2 year history. Or rather, they accepted my post-partum weights in '04 and '07, plus the weights from late 2009 and early 2010. I'm travelling a lot in May, so I'm going to try to get a mid-June surgery date. :smile:

I'm right there on that fence with you, for many of the same reasons. I have only told a few people that I'm considering it, and have had mixed responses. I just finished up the 90-day medically supervised plan required by my insurance and lost 23# during that time. I don't know whether or not I'll even be approved for the surgery, and even if I am, I won't be able to have it until June due to a TON of travel I'm doing in May. So, I'm just continuing the plan on my own until I leave on my first May trip, and I'll decide after Memorial Day, if I'm approved at all. It's so hard to decide because I have done it before on my own. It was only pregnancy and then a total lack of motivation afterward that put it all back on (100+ pounds down and then back up). I'm not having any more kids, so that particular scenario is not going to happen again. BUT, it took me over 3 years to do it via diet and exercise alone, and the whole thought of being hungry again every minute of every day for another 3 years (and after) is VERY daunting. Just call me a waffle and pour some maple on me. :thumbup:

I'm hoping it'll be smooth sailing with the insurance. It's a brand-new policy, but I got the benefits info from the company (as far as what's covered) and I meet all the criteria for qualifying. Congrats on your surgery!! I'm in Austin... where in TX are you?

This intro actually started out as a comment in another thread that I decided to post here instead, so bear with me if it's a bit convoluted. I just recently came to this decision, and it's been OK so far, but I'm not telling a bunch of people. My husband isn't thrilled, also thinks I am taking the 'easy' way out. I have been pretty anti-WLS in the past, I've seen too many gastric bypass friends with problems and regaining issues. I don't know anyone else who's done the band, so I don't have anyone to ask about that specifically. In my past, I have been heavily into the fat-acceptance/BBW movement, so I don't have many people I can talk to about this. I don't plan on telling many people. Friends have seen me yo-yo over the years, just as they have done, and that seems to be OK, but as a whole they come down pretty hard against WLS. Believe it or not, my job (even though I'm self-employed) sort of revolves around being a BBW and supporting BBW, so that may come crashing around my head too. I just know as I get older I am starting to see negative effects of my weight, and it's getting harder and harder to try to take it off the 'normal' way. My hips and feet hurt. I can't run and play with my kids they way they want me to. I don't have any clothes other than my husband's clothes and my maternity clothes that fit me. I'm done. It's easy for me to eat healthy foods. I can easily forgo the fried foods and the sweets. What I can't do is portion control. I can't leave food - any food - on my plate. I eat too fast and too much. Right now, I'm technically healthy. I don't have diabetes, or HBP, or sleep apnea. But I know that's not going to last much longer, and I'm willing to take on the sacrifices that the band entails in order to finally, hopefully, not be fat anymore. My mom was initially not thrilled with the idea, but now she has actually offered to help me pay/get financed if getting approved my insurance doesn't pan out. My best friend of 15 years has also decided, independently, to take this same step. I'm hoping that we can start the process together and help each other along the way. I fully expect some pitfalls along the way, but I hope against hope that the band will help me do what I seem to be unable to do on my own. I am currently at between 41 and 42 BMI (maybe between 40 and 41 depending on if they take me as 5'6" or 5'7"), 254#. I am hoping to start the approval process next month after my new insurance kicks in. I know I'll have to do at least a 3 month doctor-supervised program before I can get approval, so I'm eager to get the ball rolling on it. I don't have 2 years medical history. I think I can get 'official' weights sent in from my midwife and my PCP for the last couple of years, but I wasn't over 40 BMI then --- over 35 for sure, but not over 40. Here's hoping I can get it approved via insurance. Otherwise I get to put the equivalent of another car payment into my tight budget, but it will be worth it even if I have to take that route. Anyways -- Hi! I'm finding this forum really informative, and making notes of lots of things to ask my band doctor (I hope to be able to go through Dr. Ganta in Austin, and have my fingers crossed that I'm a good candidate for the trans-umbilical SILS surgery).

Thanks so much! I'm getting more and more eager to get the process started. Who'd have thought that after all these years of being fat, that I'd be in such a rush now! I'll probably be antsy through the whole pre-diet process, but at least with that I should have a general idea of whether or not I'm going to be approved. It's the waiting to have insurance at all that's driving me crazy right now. hehehe

Maybe I should do something like that the whole way along, then. From the initial visit on --- because as of right now, if I lose more than 6 pounds during the 3/6 months diet (not sure yet which I have to do), then I'll be under 40 at the end of that. Hopefully I'll be ok without being above 40 BMI for 2 years. I've definitely been over it for MOST of the last 6 years, and over 35 BMI for another 8 or years before that -- I just don't have the medical history as such to prove it. But if I give myself another 5# buffer then I should be able to lose a bit during that time without going under 40 BMI.

Well, this gives me some hope. I am barely over 40 BMI, and will be on Aetna Choice POS II starting in November. I don't have much in the way of medical history.... I had my first physical in years about a year ago, and I was about 38 BMI then. The only other records I have are the birth certificates for my two children, which show my weights at time of delivery (278 and 254, respectively - I'm about 254 now). I did not have regular medical workups with either pregnancy - both were delivered by midwives outside of the hospital setting. I'm hoping that whatever doctor I choose can help walk me through the process, but I think I will definitely be putting together a photo portfolio or something like described in this post. My best girlfriend of 15 years is also looking to get banded, but she's already been through the approval process with her insurance. I would love to be able to walk this path with her as my 'band buddy', but I don't know if I'm going to be able to wrangle the approval with my insurance being brand-new (to me) and the lack of medical history. eep!!