Need to lose 10% excess weight before surgery..HELP!
Hey guys... this is my first time using the forums, so be gentle.
I am in the process of getting insurance approval for my WLS. I've done all the necessary steps the insurance has required and jumped through all their hoops, however, they said I have to lose 10% of my excess weight. This was 3 months ago and I still can not seem to get the pounds off.
I have seen a dietician who started me on an 1800 calorie diet. I didn't mind counting the calories and I learned a lot about making better food choices, however I didnt lose anything. I saw my bariatric surgeon a month later and let her know I was not doing well and getting frustrated about not having lost the weight yet. The doctor told me to forget about counting calories and start eating low carbs. Basically she said I should only be eating protien and veggies. I was all for it..and I did this for over a month with no success. In fact, I started having major abdominal pain and constipation (sorry). So I ate "normal" for a few days until my plumbing was working again. I'm now back to eating low carb. I havent seen any changes in my weight yet, it pretty much stays - / + 2 pounds of my starting weight.
If anyone has any suggestions about what has worked for them or any advice, I'm open to it.
Thanks, Barbara
I am in the process of getting insurance approval for my WLS. I've done all the necessary steps the insurance has required and jumped through all their hoops, however, they said I have to lose 10% of my excess weight. This was 3 months ago and I still can not seem to get the pounds off.
I have seen a dietician who started me on an 1800 calorie diet. I didn't mind counting the calories and I learned a lot about making better food choices, however I didnt lose anything. I saw my bariatric surgeon a month later and let her know I was not doing well and getting frustrated about not having lost the weight yet. The doctor told me to forget about counting calories and start eating low carbs. Basically she said I should only be eating protien and veggies. I was all for it..and I did this for over a month with no success. In fact, I started having major abdominal pain and constipation (sorry). So I ate "normal" for a few days until my plumbing was working again. I'm now back to eating low carb. I havent seen any changes in my weight yet, it pretty much stays - / + 2 pounds of my starting weight.
If anyone has any suggestions about what has worked for them or any advice, I'm open to it.
Thanks, Barbara
How much do you have to lose? how many pounds? I sympathize, I am so glad my surgeon did not want me to lose weight before surgery. I know I would have really struggled with it.
What are you eating in a typical day now?
Did you stick to the 1800 calories when you saw the dietician? Do you have any idea how many calories you were getting in a typical day prior to that?
What are you eating in a typical day now?
Did you stick to the 1800 calories when you saw the dietician? Do you have any idea how many calories you were getting in a typical day prior to that?
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
hi Kelly.. I have 26 pounds to lose. It doesnt seem like a lot when you look at the BIG picture I know. In the very beginning I lost 13 pounds but I attribute that to jus****er weight. Some medications I was taking were increased (lasix) But then I gained it all back. Right now I'm consuming >30 grams of carbs per day. Today I started my day with an omelette with spinach, mushrooms, cheese. Lunch was a salad with 2 oz chicken breast. Dinner will something similar to lunch. Last night I had a 3 oz NY strip on the grill and steamed broccoli.
Prior to this I was eating 1800 calories per day, most of the time it was significantly less than that. I used myfitnesspal.com to help me keep track of my daily caloric consumption. It was a great tool and I would recommend it to anyone. Before that I'm sure I was eating at least 2400-2800 calories a day.
When I start something, I stick to it. With each diet attempt, I stayed with it for at least a month before I said, hey this isnt working for me. I am committed to losing the weight and becoming a healthier person. I quit smoking in December 2011 Cold Turkey. So will power is not an issue. I am determined to do this.
I should also mention that exercise is almost impossible. I can not walk more than 50 feet with out tremendous pain. Now that it is warmer, I am in the swimming pool 3 times a week if not more.
Thanks again Kelly :)
Prior to this I was eating 1800 calories per day, most of the time it was significantly less than that. I used myfitnesspal.com to help me keep track of my daily caloric consumption. It was a great tool and I would recommend it to anyone. Before that I'm sure I was eating at least 2400-2800 calories a day.
When I start something, I stick to it. With each diet attempt, I stayed with it for at least a month before I said, hey this isnt working for me. I am committed to losing the weight and becoming a healthier person. I quit smoking in December 2011 Cold Turkey. So will power is not an issue. I am determined to do this.
I should also mention that exercise is almost impossible. I can not walk more than 50 feet with out tremendous pain. Now that it is warmer, I am in the swimming pool 3 times a week if not more.
Thanks again Kelly :)
OK, your ability to really stick to something is going to be such a big help to you. 26 pounds might not sound like a lot in the grand scheme of things but I know how overwhelmed I would be if someone told me I had to lose 26 pounds.
One issue when you were doing the 1800 calories a day but most of the time were ending up with significantly less than that, is that if you don't get enough calories, for a while your body kind of goes into starvation mode and weight loss will slow way down. Now, if you kept getting too few calories, you'd eventually lose, and not in a healthy way because your body needs a certain amount of calories just for your heart to pump and your lungs to breathe and stuff. I know it sounds backwards, but if you were getting way under 1800 calories, that could have actually made it harder to lose weight.
You might wanna go see the dietician again, and keep in closer touch with her as you keep trying the diet she recommends.
Don't do any exercise that causes you pain, but any movement you can do is going to help you. There are exercise programs designed for people in wheelchairs and people that can't even stand, that you do sitting in a chair. You can probably find a free video online somewhere. And losing just a little weight might make it a lot easier to move without so much pain. But listen to your body and if it hurts, don't do it. You could also ask your doc to refer you to a physical therapist that could help you figure out an exercise program that is safe for you. The pool is great, too. Just walking in the water can burn a lot of calories. I used to have a lot of pain in my knees and my surgeon really recommending walking in the pool to me.
One issue when you were doing the 1800 calories a day but most of the time were ending up with significantly less than that, is that if you don't get enough calories, for a while your body kind of goes into starvation mode and weight loss will slow way down. Now, if you kept getting too few calories, you'd eventually lose, and not in a healthy way because your body needs a certain amount of calories just for your heart to pump and your lungs to breathe and stuff. I know it sounds backwards, but if you were getting way under 1800 calories, that could have actually made it harder to lose weight.
You might wanna go see the dietician again, and keep in closer touch with her as you keep trying the diet she recommends.
Don't do any exercise that causes you pain, but any movement you can do is going to help you. There are exercise programs designed for people in wheelchairs and people that can't even stand, that you do sitting in a chair. You can probably find a free video online somewhere. And losing just a little weight might make it a lot easier to move without so much pain. But listen to your body and if it hurts, don't do it. You could also ask your doc to refer you to a physical therapist that could help you figure out an exercise program that is safe for you. The pool is great, too. Just walking in the water can burn a lot of calories. I used to have a lot of pain in my knees and my surgeon really recommending walking in the pool to me.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Darlin'---if 10% of you EXCESS WEIGHT is 26 pounds, then you need to lose 260 pounds--and you really ned to have the Duodenal Switch. Your surgeon doesn't DO the Switch---so you probably haven't been told the complete, accurate truth about the DS.
Research more, cut once.
There's SO much more I could say to you---and I will, if you only ask. There IS a better choie available to you.
Research more, cut once.
There's SO much more I could say to you---and I will, if you only ask. There IS a better choie available to you.
Thank you so much for your input. Everyone on OH has been wonderful in offering different suggestions and recommendations. The 26 pounds is the excess weight and you are correct that my weight loss goal is 260 pounds. I will be having the duodenal switch and Dr. Robyn Blackstone will be the surgeon. Previously I had consulted with Dr. Swain, who informed me that he does not perform DS. I've been researching WLS for 5+ years and initially I thought I could have the lap band. lol boy was I wrong. I'm very interested in talking to you more, Do you mind if I add you?
On June 7, 2012 at 10:46 PM Pacific Time, Barbara F. wrote:
Thank you so much for your input. Everyone on OH has been wonderful in offering different suggestions and recommendations. The 26 pounds is the excess weight and you are correct that my weight loss goal is 260 pounds. I will be having the duodenal switch and Dr. Robyn Blackstone will be the surgeon. Previously I had consulted with Dr. Swain, who informed me that he does not perform DS. I've been researching WLS for 5+ years and initially I thought I could have the lap band. lol boy was I wrong. I'm very interested in talking to you more, Do you mind if I add you? I'm 8+ years post-DS, and LOVING it. You certainly may add me---but the management here at OH hates me, so I can't reply to PMs. You're more than welcome to e-mail me at [email protected].
26 pounds IS a big thing---a HARD thing. And totally unnecessary, in the big picture.
Does your surgeon require this, or is it your insurance company? Pre-op weight-loss IN NO WAY indicates post-op success---according to the ASMBS (or whatever the big-boy bariatric surgeons are calling themselves these day.)
The truth is---if you COULD lose weight, you would have, already. There's NO reason to punish you by forcing you to lose weight before having the life-saving WLS you've chosen to have.
Does your surgeon require this, or is it your insurance company? Pre-op weight-loss IN NO WAY indicates post-op success---according to the ASMBS (or whatever the big-boy bariatric surgeons are calling themselves these day.)
The truth is---if you COULD lose weight, you would have, already. There's NO reason to punish you by forcing you to lose weight before having the life-saving WLS you've chosen to have.
MsBatt, I agree if I could lose 26 pounds on my own, I would keep going. I asked the bariatric coordinator about this and she assured me it was the insurance company that wanted this done. I've completed more than 6 months physican supervised dieting, I had the psych eval, I've met with the dietician, and have had numerous tests..basically everything they have asked of me. Those 26 pounds are the only thing keeping me from having this life saving WLS.
On June 7, 2012 at 10:54 PM Pacific Time, Barbara F. wrote:
MsBatt, I agree if I could lose 26 pounds on my own, I would keep going. I asked the bariatric coordinator about this and she assured me it was the insurance company that wanted this done. I've completed more than 6 months physican supervised dieting, I had the psych eval, I've met with the dietician, and have had numerous tests..basically everything they have asked of me. Those 26 pounds are the only thing keeping me from having this life saving WLS. This is a faulty mind-set. The facts are that less than 5% of people who CAN lose 50+ pounds CAN'T maintain that loss for five years. Screw that. (*grin*)
I've lost and regained THOUSANDS of pounds. I was 45 when I chose to have my DS---and the only significant, SUSTAINED weight-loss I've EVER had has been in the 8 years since then.
I hope to see you here for a long time. I really think having a support-group to talk to helps a LOT---not that I think today's OH is the best place you can get that support. E-mail me at [email protected].
Most Active
Recent Topics
