Maintaining Weight

Hi Everybody,    Last week when I went to my seminar at GWU hospital for the lapband they told everybody there that if they were going to get surgery to maintain their current weight. They said that the only thing they are concerned with for the time being was that 2-3- weeks prior to surgery they would put you on a liquid diet to of course shrink the liver. Well i am going to WW's and my nutritionist so what am I suppose to tell them about that. WW's is to help you lose weight, and the nut is to help teach you to eat better. I am a little confused, oh and they also said that they wouldn't even mind if you fluccuated 1-2 pounds either way up until surgery. I do know that a few people had been turned down by their insurance company due to them losing weight that took them below a 35-40 BMI, and the only thing I can think of it is because of that.

Hi.  If your BMI is near the 35-40 mark then your surgeon might suggest that you maintain your weight for the very reason you mentioned.  Insurance may decide to deny you due to lower BMI.  If you are SMO then you will probably be asked to lose some weight so that the risks of surgery will decline.  I know it sounds like an oxy moron to maintain your weight before having WLS.  However, many insurance companies feel that if you are able to lose some weight, even just 10 lbs, on your own then you do not need WLS to continue losing weight.  All of us who have struggled with obesity for years know how easily and quickly we can (and usually do) gain back the 10 lbs we work so hard to lose (and usually more with it).   WLS surgery is a wonderful tool, which when used with good nutrition, proper portion control and exercise will help you lose a considerable amount of weight and then maintain a "healthy" weight for life.   I wish you all the best on your journey.  It has been worth everything to me. Robin 

So now, I'm really confused. Just starting out on this journey and know that my insurance will require a 6 month documented diet. Do I follow it with the possibility of losing too much and then be denied. Or cheat and not lose too much? On the horns of a dilema!

I don't think thats the case at all mini. I think they want you to do it so to get you adjusted prior to surgery and to make sure you are going to make the changes necessary after surgery to lose the weight. I will keep losing a little here and a little there and possibly make it flucuate a little also but for the most part since I don't have any underlying health problems I have to keep my BMI at 40 and no lower. I was 304 when I started WW's and the nut and now I am 287 and I can't go below 275 in order to be at the 40 BMI I have to have to be ok'd by my insurance company.