Stupid BMI requirements/Food funerals!

[lizonaplane 1,613]

So, I have been working on getting surgery for 6.5 months and decided right at the beginning to change my eating habits in preparation. I lost 45 lbs, but then I was getting down to where if I lost 8 more pounds I wouldn't qualify for surgery anymore; my BMI would be below 40 (I don't have any comorbidities). Since I figured I would lose weight on the pre-op diet, I decided to eat whatever I wanted until my pre-op diet starts on 30Aug2021. So far, I have gained 4 lbs back and I feel gross. This is four pounds in like a week! Granted, my parents were in town and I ate out so many meals.

I wish my insurance would have just taken my starting weight, when I had a BMI of 49.6! I honestly don't know what weight they will use, since because of COVID I haven't been weighed in person yet; all of my visits have been over zoom. I've tried to ask the surgery center, but I don't get any response.

[kristieshannon 1,668]

I’ve read a couple folks who were close say they wore ankle weights to their weigh in appointment to make sure they were over the BMI requirement. 🤷‍♀️

[lizonaplane 1,613]

LOL! I don't think I can wear those the day of surgery, and that's the first time they will weigh me in person.

[catwoman7 11,220]

most companies use the weight that was recorded when you first started the program (although not all). Hopefully yours does..

[lizonaplane 1,613]

55 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

most companies use the weight that was recorded when you first started the program (although not all). Hopefully yours does..

I'll have to send another email to the coordinator. I just realized another reason I feel so gross is that I got my period for the first time in over a decade. I had to go off my birth control to reduce the risk of blood clots and I am just miserable!

[FutureSylph 377]

2 hours ago, lizonaplane said:

LOL! I don't think I can wear those the day of surgery, and that's the first time they will weigh me in person.

You could have intentionally bad posture that day. If you don't stand up too straight when your height is measured, it will revise your BMI upward. <innocent whistling>

[lizonaplane 1,613]

Just now, FutureSylph said:

You could have intentionally bad posture that day. If you don't stand up too straight when your height is measured, it will revise your BMI upward. <innocent whistling>

LOL! I love it. Too bad my height is recorded already in my chart because my doctor is part of the same system.

[ShoppGirl 5,009]

2 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

LOL! I love it. Too bad my height is recorded already in my chart because my doctor is part of the same system.

Also, they didn’t have anything to measure height at the hospital when I went. It was just a scale. Who knows if yours will but they may not. Mine was more of a scale thrown in a random room as an afterthought.

[lizonaplane 1,613]

Update: I heard back from the surgery coordinator and they have submitted the prior authorization with a weight that has a BMI of about 43, so I'm cleared to lose weight again! Yay! Now, if only I hadn't bought that tub of ice cream...

[ShoppGirl 5,009]

Just now, lizonaplane said:

Update: I heard back from the surgery coordinator and they have submitted the prior authorization with a weight that has a BMI of about 43, so I'm cleared to lose weight again! Yay! Now, if only I hadn't bought that tub of ice cream...

Can you give it away to a friend or neighbor??

[lizonaplane 1,613]

2 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

Can you give it away to a friend or neighbor??

I might just eat a little every day for the next few weeks until I start my pre-op diet. I already ate a little and it seems rude to give away ice cream with some taken out! Plus... I kinda still want some 🙄

[Wahinebythesea 49]

Wow - that's rough! My surgeon took my starting weight and if lost "too much" on the pre-op liquid diet before surgery, that was just fine.

And when I presented for surgery, they just asked me what I weighed - didn't bother actually verifying it.

On 8/9/2021 at 9:18 AM, lizonaplane said:

I was getting down to where if I lost 8 more pounds I wouldn't qualify for surgery anymore

[Lem32 46]

On 8/9/2021 at 2:53 PM, lizonaplane said:

I might just eat a little every day for the next few weeks until I start my pre-op diet. I already ate a little and it seems rude to give away ice cream with some taken out! Plus... I kinda still want some 🙄

Eat just a little each day until your pre-op diet starts. It's going to be a while till you can even think about eating it after your surgery.