BMI question

Mrsace13 · June 13, 2008

I have a couple of friends that have had gastric or in their 6 month pre op that started out over 270 pounds. I thought of Lapband since I don't have as much to lose as them but I have seen on this site that it does not matter. What is the reason you have decided on lapband instead?

My insurance states I have to have a BMI of 40 or more 35 with a medical condition. My BMI is 37 so I may be OK however I am seeing on this site that during your 6 months you have lost weight. Is there anyone that can tell me, if I lose weight during the 6 months but I started out with a higher BMI will that change anything with my insurance? If I don't lose weight during the 6 months, what does that mean?

I'm sorry, I am really new with this and don't know if I weigh enough but I know I weigh too much for myself and can not lose it on my own.

Bringing me to another question...my problem now is I eat when I'm not hungury so will that change with lapband? I don't want to be one of those that gain it back.

Thank you for any help. I do have an appointment and I am sure I can get answers soon I would rather hear it from those who have done it or about to do it.

JenniLeen · June 13, 2008

First off, welcome! Glad to have you here! I am fairly new here too, but here is how I can help.

I did not have to do a pre-op diet. I had to provide my diet history but didn't have to do a diet before. So I can't help on that part. But the other question, you are going to have to make a concious effort to change your habits. My mom had this done a year ago and before she was totally like you. She'd just eat cuz she was bored, had nothing to do, etc etc. So she started finding things to do to occupy her time. She started knitting, riding bikes, reading books, going to friends houses. Just anything to keep her mind off of food.

Lap Band is a great tool and you can suceed if you put the work in. Good luck!!

jenn :smile:

Mrsace13 · June 17, 2008

What kind of diet history did you have to show not to have to do the pre op diet everyone is talking about?

JenniLeen · June 18, 2008

simply had to write down the things I have tried. I've done WW for a long time but only lost 40 pounds in a year and a half. I tried Atkins, South Beach and also medifast. The only thing I really had to show was the WW log book thingy, and they took my word on it for the rest of it.

sailingirl · June 18, 2008

I didn't have to do the pre-op diet either. All I had to do was to show 1 visit for 5 years (did not have to be consecutive) from a Doctors office showing my weight. I was really stressed because I couldn't find one year and when I called my insurance company they said the years didn't matter as long as I was overweight at the time of the visit.

I used to be a boredom eater but now I am so full for so many hours that the thought of food turns my stomach. I can only eat a tiny amount. I've learned that as soon as I hear that thought "I think I'm getting full", I push the plate away and toss the rest of the food on it because in about 15-20 minutes, I will be really full. If I eat the rest, I'm sick to my stomach.