chubbola

yep-i'm a big fat smoker:eek: ! i am weaning myself off cigarettes, and am wondering what the general criteria is for smoking---how long before surgery do you have to quit? hope to hear from ya!

well, my fear came true this morning-my insurance denied me. i called to find out why, and it's because my bmi is over 50-basically, i was 12 pounds over the limit for getting a lapband! i just wanted to scream! i had heard of this nightmare, but figured i was so close they couldn't deny me===HAHAHA!!!so, of course when they weighed me, it was the day before i quit smoking...so now i have about 25lbs to lose before they will approve me! what a joke! any suggestions for the latest starvation diet? i'm on a mission and i'm not going to give up! iceberg lettuce and water sounds like a perfect lunch today (and every other day until i get my way)...lol hope to hear from my wise bandster friends!!!! ~courtney

isn't this weather gorgeous??? i just keep thinking maybe next summer i won't have to wear jeans and hoodies!!!! hooray to the future non-fatties!!!

:rolleyes ok come on...i know i'm not the only fatty in wisconsin! i'm just starting my band journey and would like to connect with fellow chedderheads who have had the lapband or who are contemplating getting one (like me)! i have my first seminar on 12/11/06 and am so excited to start my journey! hope to hear from you!!!! have a great day!

~lap- they cover both surgeries, but in order to get approved for a lapband, you must have a bmi between 40-49. they say that there's no data supporting a bmi over 50 would be successful with a lapband. UGH! it's ridiculous, but written in black and white in their policy. i am currently appealing their decision as i speak...wish me luck...

i agree...you shouldn't rush into anything...do your research!one thing i would like to say is 'congrats' to you for doing something about your weight issues while you're still so young. i often wish that i didn't wait so long! as far as the smoking goes-i had to quit for at least 3 months for them to even consider doing my surgery, so i just quit. believe me-it's not easy (i smoked for 16 years) but if you really want to commit to a healthier life, wouldn't it be great to be thinner and not stink like a cigarette? you can kill two birds with one stone! good luck with whatever you choose-keep in touch!

ok.............what? i'm confused!!!! please explain this one-it sounds really interesting!

hi laurend--- just checking in on your progress...sounds like we're still in the same boat! can you believe that at some point we're not going to have to be mad at people?! there will be a day when we'll actually appreciate our bariatric clinic AND our insurance company! hang in there---we can do this! courtney

hooray for you, wheetsin! i love your posts----so inspirational...keep up the great work! courtney

yeah---i'm not real happy right now-i'm pretty much starving...i think i might try atkins induction-at least i can eat things that fill me up-carrots and celery and yogurt aren't doing the trick---i've eated 12 points every day (weight watchers) and for my weight i'm supposed to eat 32---i just feel so desperate and mad all at the same time! i'll keep plugging away though, like i said before 'keep my eye on the prize', right?! thanks for all your support!

i just woke up and realized that i REALLY want to change my life. every time i think about smoking, i try to remember why i quit. i continue to keep my 'eye on the prize'...i want to be banded more than anything right now, and NOTHING is going to stop me! you can do it-just remember that it's all worth it in the end! good luck!

welcome to LBT! my bariatric clinic has the same 'hoops' to jump through--i think it's pretty common! this is a great site--i often refer to it as my 'prozac' lol! good luck with your journey-keep us posted! ~courtney

i know-they're freaking nuts...i got a really good appeal letter from a bandster and i'm contemplating on sending it to BCBS...i'll continue to starve for now, but i'd love to try to appeal before i lose the stinking 20 lbs! thank you all for your support! i wouldn't be so confident without ya!

renebean is a member of this forum-she emailed me info for my fight-get in touch with her-she'll help! good luck!

btw...i have BCBS anthem PPO

omg the same thing just happened to me! they wanted me to switch to the gastric bypass! i have to lose around 20lbs to get my bmi back under 50, so i'm just pretty much starving myself! i know you can appeal with statistics in which it proves that lap band is successful with patients over 50...there's people on here who have appealed with research and have won! maybe your bariatric clinic has info on this? keep in touch...as for me i'm STARVING lol! ~courtney

wow-28lbs? that's awesome! good job-you're doing great! welcome to LBT! keep in touch! ~courtney

i went to the bariatric clinic first. they did all of the paperwork that i needed. then i went to my pcp and he ordered bloodwork and wrote me a letter of support. there are several different policies for BCBS-just make sure you've covered all your bases before submitting to them! the bariatric clinic will help you jump through the hoops! good luck with your journey---keep in touch! ~courtney

kathy, welcome to LBT! thank you for sharing your story-i hope you find comfort in some of ours! you'll love this site-everyone is wonderful! good luck to you-keep us posted on your journey! ~courtney

YOU CAN DO IT! when i think of things that i love to eat, i just tell myself that they're 'wormy'...it's the big joke around here-it's kinda funny! pizza and chocolate are full of worms!!!!! good luck to ya! ~courtney

welcome to our little group!!! i will send 'approval vibes' to BCBS for you! it wouldn't hurt to call them---they can tell you if they have reached a decision yet! good luck-keep us posted!

welcome! yes----you 'aregonnabehot' lol! awesome attitude!

hooray and congrats on your band birthday! hope to hear from you-keep us informed! get back on here when you're up to it!!! i'm soooo jealous! courtney

welcome to lbt! this is such a great support site for people who are banded as well as pre-bandsters...this site has been my lifeline since last november when i decided that it was time for me to do something about my lifelong weight issues. keep in touch and hope to hear more from you! love your success story-i love inspiration! talk to you soon ~courtney

by the time i get banded i'll have a bmi of 49.9...i'm over 50 right now but got denied my band until i get under 50...so-i'm deciding that i fit in this category! it's nice to see that i'm not the only one that needs to lose more than 40lbs lol! talk to you soon! courtney