Question about the purpose of the 6 months of supervised dieting

[Bjornsyouruncle 0]

I'm getting conflicting information about it and I'm wondering if someone can straighten me out.

When I talked to the nurse that was assigned to me she said the diet was to prove that I'm committed to changing my life and making good habits. I'm starting to make adjustments now, like forcing myself to chew my food thoroughly, not drinking at meals, etc. I've been eating healthy and low carb (just Protein and veggies, no sugar, grains, etc) so I've already lost a few pounds. I have PCOS so I respond very well to Atkins or South Beach, and I'm excited about beginning the weight loss process, even if I don't have a band yet.

But the thing is that it was inferred (which could have just been me misunderstanding) at my doctor's appointment today that people aren't really expected to be successful at the 6 month monitored diet. I'm not being monitored by my PCP, but rather a weight loss specialist who deals with a lot of pre-surgical patients because I want to make sure that everything gets documented and submitted properly. Also I've had people I know irl who have been through the process say that the diet was to prove that they couldn't lose weight conventionally.

So which is it? Am I dieting for real, to start the weight loss and to prove my commitment or am I just supposed to be going through the motions?

[jjsmiles 3]

My weight loss clinic is not a "self pay" agency, and they take the pre-surgery weight loss time very seriously. In order to be considered for the surgery, you have to show your committment to losing weight. In large part I think it is to show them that you are ready to move forward and follow the committments required before and after surgery. The readier you are before the surgery, the more likely that you will be successful after surgery.

If you are not truly committed, you will find the pre-op diet extremely difficult and the 4-6 week post surgery diet of Clear liquids, then thicker liquids, then mushies and very little to no restriction almost impossible.

I have been lose weight throughout the process, through a lot of hard work. Maybe I am dead wrong, but I kind of question how a person who "can't" lose any weight before surgery (for whatever reason) will be helped by getting the lap band. The lap band isn't a miracle drug or cure and you still have to eat less in order to lose weight. If you already eat healthy and not very much and still can't lose weight, I don't see how the lap band will help. Just my opinion - I am sure there are exceptions, but I don't think they are the "rule" that the band was made for. :sad:

[Bjornsyouruncle 0]

I think I'll just call the nurse assigned to me from my insurance company and double check with her. I just want to make sure that if I lose weight before the surgery that I won't end up disqualifying myself.

Thank you for your input though.

[MacMadame 81]

From what I can tell from reading here, if you lose weight, the surgeon just submits your pre-diet weight and you can get approved even if your weight after the diet is below insurance's minimum. OTOH, plenty of people haven't lost weight and still got approved.

In fact, I've never seen anyone who had to do this requirement for insurance get denied because they lost weight or get denied because they didn't lose weight. Maybe they got denied for other reasons -- not having the right records, not otherwise meeting the requirements, but never for what happened to their weight during the 6 month diet (unless their surgeon's office submitted the weight after the diet and the BMI was now too low -- but most don't do that.)

Now, some surgeons will not operate on you if you don't lose a certain amount of weight, but that's not an insurance requirement. That's their requirement.

Insurance just seems to want you to do a 6 months medically supervised diet and they don't seem to care if you lose weight on it or not. This is why I can't figure out what the purpose of the 6 month diet is. The best explanation I've heard is that they are just trying to put an obstacle in your way so you don't even get to the point of asking for authorization. I hope that's not true though because that would be very

[mickeymammoth 0]

I think that the 6 month diet is just an obstacle put in the way by insurance companies. I.e. I bet there's some percentage of people who will change their mind after the 6 month diet about the surgery (either they were so successful they think they can go it alone, or with the passage of time they grow less excited about surgery). My PCP said he had 2 patients who considered weight loss surgery (other than me), but they both changed their minds by the end of the 6 month diet.

I don't think my insurance requires the diet, but I am dieting anyway for the past 2 months because I was heavier than I wanted to be (duh) and was slipping into bad health land. I'm just hoping the band will help me stick to this lifestyle change. Otherwise, I lack confidence I could be successful over the long run.

[Froggi 4]

I made a group for 6 month diet people :scared2:

Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - 6 Month Supervised Diet People :thumbup:

[orea15 0]

As frustrating as it is, I have come to the conclusion that the supervised diet, etc., is a good thing. I chose to do the 3 month intensive as prescribed by Aetna. I've had some helpful diet counseling from some nutritionists, a four hour class about what to expect and what to do before, during, and after surgery. I've attended some exercise classes with bariatric trained leaders. It has all been valuable. I feel very ready to move forward and get this done.

While I've been waiting, I've dropped 37 pounds since January, 24 of which came off since my first dietician session in early March. I was already doing a lot of things right, but she helped me tweak it, and the results have been great.

I looked at it like this: Sure, I'd like my band yesterday, but in the meantime, I can do my best to lose 1-2 pounds per week just as if I were already banded. And I have most of my good habits in place in preparation for the band.

My paperwork has been submitted, and I'm waiting for news. This is the hardest part!

Orea

[Bjornsyouruncle 0]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I left a message for my nurse but I haven't heard back from her yet.

I'm not too, too worried since I could lose 40 lbs and still have a 40+ BMI. I just don't want them to tell me, "Hey, you seem to be doing great on your own. No surgery for you." :scared2:

[Jameskc 0]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I left a message for my nurse but I haven't heard back from her yet.

I'm not too, too worried since I could lose 40 lbs and still have a 40+ BMI. I just don't want them to tell me, "Hey, you seem to be doing great on your own. No surgery for you." :wink2:

I am worried about the exact thing. I am a 35 bmi with comrbids. I am afraid of losing weight and disqualifying myself. The surgeons insurance lady told me to diet for 6 months - but to NOT lose any weight or else my bmi will be too low.

[LeighDee 0]

I was worried about the same thing when I started my journey

I did the 6 month supervised

It's insurance garbage..

lost 6 pounds, big woop right?

6# in 6 months doing what she told me

I did the psyco stuff and all the other hoops

only to find out that with my ins.

if your BMI was over 40 you didn't have to do the 6 months...

I could have went right in

ugh...

anyway any weight lost is good weight gone...

keep to it best you can

and remember most of us are yoyos in the diet world

and ins KNOWS that...

and check your INS to see exactly what they are looking for and why

I sure wish I did

[mrucker 0]

What kind of insurance did you have?

[Froggi 4]

I've asked my insurance several times if I have to do the 6 month if I have a bmi higher than 40. Mine is 60 and they still said I had to...I'm going to call and ask again though because I have not seen many people on here with BMI's like mine who had to do the 6 months.

[orea15 0]

My BMI is higher than yours and Aetna requires 6 months of supervised dieting or the three month intensive program I did.

Every insurance company is different, and often it differs from policy to policy.

Orea

[Froggi 4]

Orea who was that post for? lol

[orea15 0]

You, Froggi! Last I checked, my BMI was about 63, and that's after losing 40 pounds (so far this year).

Orea