Question:
I need to gain 15# in a matter of about 3 or 4 weeks to qualify for surgery!
I am having one heck of a time. I don't have any co-morbids that my ins.co. likes. I do have some, but not the ones that they want. I need to gain 15#'s to have a BMI of 40. I really don't want any harrassing answers..I wish I would have posted this anonomusly, but I'm pretty real, so think what you may.. I just need some good suggestions. How do you gain weight that rapidly?? What types of food or drinks?? HELP!! Its easy to put it on over the years, but not in a few weeks. I've been fat forever, but now I actually want to GAIN?? It usually came on when I was DIETING..lol.. Thanks for your help... — Nickie C. (posted on January 2, 2003)
January 2, 2003
Go to any GNC or gnc.com and buy some Weight Gainer ...It will pack it on
in no time.
— Jon S.
January 2, 2003
Wear high heels for your measure and weigh in. This assures your height
will be checked in bare feet. Slump when you get measured, this is NOT the
time to stand up tall. Wear heavy clothes, eat a HUGH meal right before
weigh in, some carry rolls of quarters in their pockets. Do check how your
BMI changes with height, a couple inches makes a big difference and most of
us get shorter as we age.
— bob-haller
January 2, 2003
Hi,
I'm in the same situation that you are...I'm only 4lbs from a BMI of 40.
Unfortunately, my info has already been submitted for insurance approval.
Heck yeah, I'll gain it if that's the only thing that will keep me from
being approved! My suggestion for you is to visit GNC. My brother took
"Weight Gainer" the summer before fall football started. Worked
for him...I think he gained about forty pounds. I think it's a shake, and
the one he took had like 4,000 calories per shake (big gulp size). As I
recall it tasted like something between chalk and sandpaper. Good luck to
you!
— Kimberly S.
January 2, 2003
You can do the Homer Simpson "Paper bag" diet. Eat only what
will cause a paper bag turn transparent after being rubbed by the food!
Seriously though milkshakes have a good volume to calorie ratio and will
asorb pretty quickly. Fried foods are good as well.
If you want to gain superficial weight. This might sound bizarre and a bit
sick but look up some "pro-anny" (pro anorexia) sites. They have
many tips on how to fool the scale without being caught. If you are not
weighed naked, you can also try to wear some ankle weights an such.
<p>
Take Care, Be Well, and Be Happy!
— John T.
January 2, 2003
If you aren't already doing so, start weight training. There are a lot of
good books about how to get started. It will be a good habit to get into
also, since you'll be wanting to exercise after surgery. Weight training
helps build muscle, which I know pound for pound doesn't weigh more than
fat, but there's something about starting exercise that makes you gain
weight. I remember from past diet and exercise attempts that I would
always be very discouraged about a week or two after starting regular
exercise because I'd get on the scale expecting a loss, and would have
gained several pounds instead. Good luck to you.
— Carlita
January 2, 2003
Boy! you sound familiar! Are you sure you aren't me, a year ago? I got
some suggestions when I was in your boat and I'll pass them on to you. You
do with it as you like. Drink tons of water before your Dr.s Appt. get a
weight belt from wal-mart and sew some five lb. weights into it and wear it
under a t-shirt with a heavy sweatshirt. Be sure to take a large purse
with you to put the belt in once you get into the exam room. Eat like
there's no tomarrow. Make the nurse measure your height at the time they
weigh you. Slouch. Wear a long skirt so they can't see you bending your
knees. Practice at home, so you know what you gotta do to get the height
you need. I hope you don't have to resort to these things. Luckily, I
gained enough weight over the holidays that I got my BMI to 41. You can do
it! Good luck.
— Carolynn J.
January 2, 2003
Sounds familiar- I would try Ensure PLUS- nutritional supplement. It has
350 calories for each drink and is loaded with 50g of Carbohydrates and 13g
of Protein. If you were to drink 2 of these a day for the next 2-3 weeks
and still eat your regular meals- I am almost sure you will gain the
weight. You can go to walmart and get the Equate Plus-which is the same as
the Ensure Plus- only it is cheaper. Also I don't know about all the extra
weights in the pocket or in the bra- I mean what if you were to get
caught-talk a bout embarrassment and also for sure you would not be
accepted as a patient- I mean they can not trust you at a 'weigh in' why
could they trust that you would follow up accordingly?!! I would think
twice about adding stuff to my clothes or body- Good luck. I am sure you
will do fine!!
— Jan S.
January 2, 2003
Boy! you sound familiar! Are you sure you aren't me, a year ago? I got
some suggestions when I was in your boat and I'll pass them on to you. You
do with it as you like. Drink tons of water before your Dr.s Appt. get a
weight belt from wal-mart and sew some five lb. weights into it and wear it
under a t-shirt with a heavy sweatshirt. Be sure to take a large purse
with you to put the belt in once you get into the exam room. Eat like
there's no tomarrow. Make the nurse measure your height at the time they
weigh you. Slouch. Wear a long skirt so they can't see you bending your
knees. Practice at home, so you know what you gotta do to get the height
you need. I hope you don't have to resort to these things. Luckily, I
gained enough weight over the holidays that I got my BMI to 41. You can do
it! Good luck.
— Carolynn J.
January 2, 2003
I would have to agree with the milkshakes/body building shakes answer. That
would seem to be the quickest way to put on the pounds. Also the slumping
when measured. Lots of salt. Water loading too. And try to schedule right
before your period when you are bloated anyway! ;)
— ctyst
January 3, 2003
Are you sure you want to gain weight in order to lose weight? I'm not
criticizing, just wondering if that is something you REALLY want to do. I
would suggest having your 'last supper' every night, and during the day,
too! German food is great for packing on the weight! Weight lifting and
treadmilling will pack on around 10 lbs in no time, too! You really can
play around with your BMI and height, two inches will make a huge
difference. Eat all carbs, drink the bodybuilder shakes and lift weights!
— jenn2002
January 3, 2003
You don't have any comorbid conditions your insurances company LIKES? What
criteria do they use? My husband has a BMI of 38.5 and we are appealing
his denial. Does it makes sense that you would need to increase your risk
of surgical complications by gaining more weight in order to qualify for
surgery? I don't think trying to gain weight or falisfy information is the
safest way to go just yet. Contact the insurance company and find out what
do-morbids they "like". Do you have joint pains, elevated (not
necessarily "HIGH") blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, lipids
or blood sugar? What about an elevated insulin level? Sleep apnea? Wake
up choking or coughing from a sound sleep? I work for an insurance
company, and you would not believe the stuff people try to get away with to
get things covered. I would try the honest approach first. I am not being
judgemental, since you have to do what you have to do, but by being honest,
you may actually help other people in the same situation. (If the
insurance company starts getting requests for surgery on people with BMI
between 35 and 40, they may rethink the criteria they use. Wouldn't it be
better to have people with lower risks have surgery before they get any
bigger or develop more serious conditions as a result of becoming morbidly
obese?) I know you are really working on getting this approved for you, and
not everyone else, but it's something to think about. Good luck, and I
hope you get approved one way or another.
— koogy
January 3, 2003
Why don't you just make yourself an inch shorter when figuring out your
BMI. My doctor never measured me, he just asked me how tall I was. This
would be a better situation than packing on more weight. Just a
suggestion.
— Michael N.
January 3, 2003
Every time this question comes up, there are some who suggest "less
than honest" methods of increasing the amount you weigh at your
consult with the surgeon. As an attorney, I would like to caution anyone
against putting rolls of quarters in their pocket or wearing weights, or
even lying about your height, slouching or bending your knees. This is
insurance fraud and it is a felony! If you get caught, I know nobody wants
to risk the memorable experiences of the handcuffs, the ride in the police
car, the mug shots and fingerprints, the holding cell, bail or remand to
jail pending trial, the public humiliation, the trial and possible jail
time, and the damage to your reputation. And, of course, the surgery would
never be approved. People who file fraudulent insurance claims hurt all of
us who want to get approval for a legitimate claim. Insurance companies
will start tightening up their criteria for approval for WLS.
— Michele C.
January 3, 2003
I was paranoid about not qualifying because I'm just 40 BMI and I thought
about an extra roll of quarters or ankle weights just to make sure but
decided against it. It's a good thing too because when my doctor weighed
me, the nurse not only had to move my feet on the scale (and grabbed me by
the ankles to do so) but also gave me an EKG and applied electrodes all
over the place including my ankles. So if I had done ANYTHING dishonest I
would have been outed so I implore you not to do it.
I have to agree with the previous poster about the dangers of doing things
that can be construed as insurance fraud. If you're in that desperate
place, no one is going to talk you out of trying to qualify (and I myself
am just 40 BMI) so do it honestly. Icecream, milkshakes, weight gainer,
bread with butter etc etc etc. You might even feel sick trying to pack on
15 lbs, but I concur that doing ANYTHING to fudge your weight will harm not
only you but others who come after you. Good luck
— susanje
January 3, 2003
I drank about 3 - 4 BOOST HIGH PRO chocolate flavor everyday for about 3
weeks and put on 15 lbs. actually i love the stuff. but have stopped
drinking it..don't do the weights. wouldn't want you to get caught...
— zapuback
January 3, 2003
I went from 5'3 to 5 '2 overnight. :>) put me at 40.8
Good luck
— my J.
January 3, 2003
I too...shrunk from 5'5" to 5'4"
— Shannon R.
January 4, 2003
My sis-in-law drinks slimfast drinks between meals to gain weight...she is
typically under weight and docs are always nagging her to gain. This works
for her. High carb.
— [Deactivated Member]
January 4, 2003
Just eat all the things I avoid----please! Enjoy them for me! Milk &
bananas (with added sugar if you like) (the old recipe for wt gain), the
canned nutritional drinnks as mentioned below or Slim Fast. Drink them with
a meal, if you don't mind them. The usual cookies & sugary things.
Fat may make you lose, so don't avoid it.
— vitalady
January 4, 2003
I, too, had to PUT ON weight to qualify since I was on the borderline. I
just spent a heckuva lot of time at drive thru windows and never went a day
without eating at least 1/2 dozen dunkin donuts! Sick? I know--but I had
lost weight and my BMI was usually a good bit above 40..but when it came
time to qualify for surger I was at a BMI of 39. Good luck.
— Karen K.
January 8, 2003
you might not like this answer, but it's honest. If you have to GAIN
weight to qualify, you don't need this surgery. I'm almost a year post op
and I can tell you that you need to learn new eating habits with or without
the surgery. If you are less than 40 BMI, try a protein ONLY diet with at
least 64 oz. water and exercise as much as you can. This is what you will
need to focus on anyway, for the rest of your life. I've lost 150 and I'm
struggling with the last 30 and trying to gain weight for the surgery just
sounds WRONG to me. This is serious stuff and there is a 'window' for
losing, the rest is up to your new habits.
— etta B.
January 8, 2003
Just to let you know,I too once had a BMI less than 40. But then it ended
up there plus more. Do what you gotta do, cause at the rate you are, you
will be gaining that 15 pounds if you don't get the surgery. I think my BMI
was 44, a couple weeks before surgery I gained 15 pounds from just eating!
Don't let any one tell you that you don't need this, if this is what you
really want! Good luck and take care!
— D S.
Click Here to Return