Lower BMIs...your experiences?

Hi everyone! I have been studying up on Lap Band and would love to hear the stories of anyone with lower BMIs. I am 5'8'' and weigh 225-235. At the Doctor's office I always weigh more. I need a new scale at home. Please let me know what type of experiences you faced when trying to get approval. I have posted this before, but thought there may be new people on the boards now. I have lost weight before and got down to a size 12, but would love to be able to get below a 12 and stay that way for life. The band would be a great tool...if only I can get approved. Do they require each person to have sleep studies done? I have depression due to my weight and isolate myself from social events due to my weight. I also have had back troubles, but never went to medical doctors, only chiropractors. When I was a size 12, life was full of activities. I was always out and about. Now I stay home a lot. I want to live life without this hang up! I also had time to walk three miles each day and exercise a couple more hours in the afternoons. I also took herbs to help me keep the weight off. I lost 60 pounds on an herb supplement before I started the exercise routine. The weight stayed off for two years. I do over eat and usually just do that at meal times. Chocolate is a craving I have all day. My coffee helps with that craving sometimes. Just wanted to hear from other members in the lower BMI ranges. Thanks for all the responses last time I posted ...These messages are so fun to read. I am addicted to reading them each night! Almost like Chocolate...but not fattening. ha!

I'm a lowere BMI, too...I think it's 35.6 or something so I'm right at the edge..lol. I lost 75lbs on my own but after an illness gained 30 back. Luckily I've maintained the rest of the loss...or not so luckily as for a year I've been trying to lose again to no avail..hence my WLS hope. I have co morbidities - hypertension, high cholesterol, and PCOS (which isn't a comorbid, but contributes to the weight). My nutritionist, surgeon, and physician all say as long as there are comorbids and your BMI is 35 or higher you're ok for surgery. I'm waiting for approval myself, but I'm hopeful. Make sure your comorbids (e.g. depression) is submitted. I'm sure your surgeon will make sure all that stuff is included. I was lucky - I have a great team of doctors who all work together and they've made sure everything has been documented from day 1. Does that help?

Thanks Meredith for your response! Yes, that message did help me. Its encouraging to hear that your surgeon was positive. I read your profile. The only thing I see that may be something they will ask me to do is the one year with a nutritionist or a one year of some kind of diet. That is great you have that on your record. I am actually ready to have it done now and stop all the obsessing over my weight. I dont want to have to wait and go on another diet. I know this is how everyone on the boards feels too. The only time I was able to lose was with herbs. Now they say ephedra is so unhealthy and my herb supplement has this in the ingredients. How tall are you? I am 5'8''. You look young in your profile photo. I am 37 years old. Thanks for your reply. Did your insurance pay for the nutritionist?

Your insurance may require it. I was told some require 3 mos, some 6 mos, some a year. I'm not sure what my insurance will do as their only requirement is 2times the "normal" weight. So, we'll see. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. My insurance did not pay for my nutritionist. They've hardly paid for anything and it's incredibly frustrating. I've never used the herbs because of my high blood pressure, it's always scared me. I don't know why I can't lose weight the traditional way..and it's even more frustrating that no one can tell me why!!! But it's ok...if I have to learn to live with it, I will. The important thing is for us to be healthy, right? Right! By the way, I'm 5'9....and as for my age....I'm 30, 31 in 2 weeks. Is that young or old? lol

I hope it all works out for you. Two times...boy that is alot of weight to have to qualify. I will be on United Health Care insurance once I apply. I guess they require you be above BMI of 35 and have health troubles...so I am not sure if I will be a eligible to have the lap band done. I do not have high blood pressure or other major health troubles. Being full time home with my kids has made me more apt to eat each meal. They always want to know why mom is not eating if I decide I am not hungry. Its hard to cut back with pressure from people wandering why you arent eating with them. Even my fiance keeps asking and feeding me more when I am trying to lose weight. I will keep you posted on the progress. Sounds like we are about the same size. I will keep you in mind and write to you when I get further along in the steps. Going to get my cholesterol checked, heart blood work done, xrays of my back...due to disc troubles and also I am going to ask Doctor for blood sugar test. I had gestational diabetes with last baby. They recommend you get another test after baby is born. Its been a few years..so getting that done too. So...we will see. You are very pretty as you are now; I saw your photo on your profile. My face really shows the weight, but you look young and full of life!!! I hope it works out for ya! Oh yeah and 31 is Young in my eyes!!

Thanks