Monday Roll Call

Dear Joanna:

I did not have Medicaid, but I DID have to do the 6 months to prove that diet and exercise don't help.  I also had to take Phentermine (again).  I documented each of the month and had the doctor sign my form.  I stated the weigh-in, my goals and my accomplishments.  Didn't lose but a couple of pounds.  Was approved by Blue Cross right away.  After 2 years of fighting with other insurance.

Thank you!!  Do you think that's why they want you to do it?  To prove you can't lose weight on a "regular" diet?  I have a friend who was told to do the 6 mth thing by his insurance company.  His doctor told him to "feast", because after the lap band he wouldn't be able to eat as much!!  I didn't know if I really trusted what he was saying.  

Then, on the other side, I thought maybe the insurance wants to make sure you are able to commit yourself, ie. lose weight, not a lot, but at least have the willpower that you will need to commit to a forever change.

Also, is there any way you can post that for me, or tell me what I need to do to start my own?  I'm a member but I haven't entered a profile, weight or anything else.  Is that why I can't enter it myself?

Thank you, again.  I'm curious about your opinion of why you think you had to prove to them you couldn't lose weight on your own.  Because, if that's the case, I'll stop worrying about it.  There's always something else that needs to be worried about, you know?  lol

On second thought, I know the insurance isn't "concerned" about your health.  It's all about the money!!  Duh!

YEP!  That  is the point, as I undersand it.  I can look to see if I still have the form I used, but it may have been only on my work computer,

Can you tell me why you understand it that way?  

My insurance required a 6 month diet too.  Along with a bunch of tests.  But my WLS doctor also required at least a 10lb weight loss during that 6 month diet (if you didn't lose it you had to wait till you did).  His logic was this was your "practice" for when you had your WLS of choice.  Get your mind and body ready for the journey ahead.  Get ready for the life style change that are a part of this journey in order to be successful.  Oh believe me...I was annoyed and impatient by the whole process during (everyone here can tell you that) but now being 4 1/2 years out and losing 175 lbs I can see the logic of all of this.  Losing the prerequisite weight and the 6 months did help me get into the right mind set, change my bad habits (like drinking soda), change my life style....it's a lot harder than it sounds.  I still struggle with it every single day.  Even now that I'm no longer obese. 

Wow, I guess I should really start changing now, huh?  The Diet Coke thing will be tough.  But the hardest (I'm assuming) will be to stop smoking.  I know all about the bad stuff with smoking - I hear it and see it every day, and I know I'll feel much better and be glad I did.  It's an expensive way to kill yourself!  I have to quit in September, so I'm 2 mths nicotine free.  Doctor said he WILL do a blood test for nicotine before he'll do the surgery, which will be December-January.

On the positive, I am exercising and am more active now than I have been in a long time.  I am working towards (slowly) changing my eating habits and buying more fruit, and eating salad regularly.  I have a hard time getting my vegetables in.  I have no problem with protein.  I'm a meat eater!  I mainly cook for my 17 year old son - who likes his cheesy, processed food.  I need to remember I can cook for myself.

Anyway, I'm rambling!!!!   Thank you for replying.  One more question - what type of protein shakes do you like?  Or what is your diet like now?  And I think I assumed you had the gastric sleeve, did you?

Jonna

Actually I had Band surgery...Realize Band to be exact.  Right now I have my band on the lose side.  Too many people I know have lost their bands and I dont want to push my luck by keeping really tight. 

The diet coke was my hardest change.  I quit right before surgery and never had another sip.  I was a huge soda drinker and I know it was horrible for me.  I am so glad I stopped that habit  Every once in awhile I crave a soda (ya even after 4+ years).  The next thing I had to stop entirely because I felt it was an addiction...was fast food restaurants.  I used to eat at places like McDonalds and Burger King about 5-7 times a week sometimes more (I ate there at lunch every day and sometimes dinner).  It was hard to stop that too.  I would pass by a Mcdonalds and the smell would kill me...now I can't smell hardly anything???  But I stay away from those places...it's a bad habit I don't want to start.  I will go to places like Subway or Chipotle....if they have healthy alternatives and no burgers and fries...I'm safe...hahaha!!!  I never was a smoker...thank god for small favors.

Other healthy habits...eat breakfast (didn't before) or would eat crap like sugary cereals.  I exercise daily...even if it's just a walk.  But I workout hard core now.  I stopped going out to eat at lunch time with friends.  Even the healthy meals are far more calories than what I pack for myself.  Now I walk with a friend at lunch and eat at my desk.  I am single and live by myself so it was really easy to just pick up dinner or pop in a frozen dinner.  Next big change...I now make my dinners.  I do not do out to eat.  I treat myself to Chipotle once a week...everyone here knows that!!!  Hahaha!!!  A lot of people think making dinner is such a time consuming chore...but I have so many recipes that take me minutes to prepare and ready for me when I come home (crockpot meals) or bake in the oven for 45 minutes.  I joke with people that some of meals take less time to make then it takes for them to stand in line at Burger King.  Sure I do have some time consuming meals...but I have come to like cooking now.  I go on Pinterest and find recipes and if they are time consuming then I treat myself on Sunday.  Sunday has become my eat in and have a yummy meal day. 

Ok other things I want to say...when making your meals you controls what goes in them.  So instead of buying frozen dinners and boxed convience foods that are packed full of sodium and cholesterol and chemicals and artificial flavors and colorings (which some believe leads to obesity)...you can make these things and add less salt and not put in all that butter or cheese.  So when I changed my lifestyle...I really changed.  I went organic, I went healthy, I exercise.  I also keep my diet high in protein and low in carbs.  But I eat complex carbs...fruit...veggies. 

My typical day looks like this...everyone is different and has different diets to follow.  Seeing that I am so far out I no longer follow my NUT's diet...just her guidelines.  I also tend not to eat snacks in between my meals...that is just my personal choice. 

Breakfast-  Apple and 14 almonds

Lunch- 1 cup cottage cheese and carrot sticks, smart chips (100 calorie chips)

Dinner-  2 chicken thighs (boneless, skinless), salsa, 2 tbls low fat refried beans, 2 tortillas (low carb), one slice of cheese. 

I cook the chicken in the salsa and cover and then right before its done I uncover and put a half of slice of cheese on them. Bake @ 400 for 45 minutes.  I call it cheesy mexican chicken bake.  I warm the tortillas and spread the refried beans on the tortillas.  You can use breasts but I prefer thighs.  It takes me less than 5 minutes to make...and 45 minutes to bake.

I make enough for two nights.  So this was leftovers from last night.  Then tomorrow I will make something else that will last me 2 nights.  And Thursday is easy meal night.  Meaning either I will have a mini pizza or a turkey burger..or something else that is super easy.  Then Friday is my Chipotle night...hahaha.  I have it down to a science and that helps me stay on track.         

They want to be sure that you are really trying and the surgery is the last resort.  If you can't lose weight on your own, under medical supervision, then the surgery is medically necessary.

Jonna, Medicaid is hard to work with. I have a close friend in St. Clair County that just got through her 6 month supervised diet. She lost a total of 10 lbs. She is waiting to go back and see her Dr. So, I can't help you with that. There have been some that were on Medicaid, but they aren't on anymore.

We are glad that you found us, and hope that you come back. We are here to help you as much as we can,

Hugs,