Question:
Need to Gain Weight Fast. Please Help!!!
My BMI was 36 one month ago. In addition,I have many serious co-morbidities and have already been approved by my insurance. I recently got sick and for the first time in years lost ten pounds just like that. During this last month, I decided to change surgeons. I see the new surgeon next week (weigh in time), and need to gain these 10 (or at least 5 pounds) back to qualify for surgery. As crazy as it sounds I need suggestions to accomplish this weight gain very fast. — Natalie F. (posted on May 16, 2002)
May 16, 2002
Why am I currently 250 pounds? daily consumption of peanut butter and a
bowl of ice cream every evening....drinking lots of whole milk will do it
too.
— jennifer A.
May 16, 2002
Well, I know my doctor never checks for what's in the pockets before he
tries to get me on the scale. I have to stop him and tell him I want to
empty my pockets, and I empty it <i>all</i>. Try putting a lot
of change and keys stuff in your pockets, and wear heavy things like jeans
and boots. Maybe come with your hair wet, too. It's probably not a good
idea to try and gain fat. I've heard some people even put rolls of
quarters in their pockets.
— Jennifer Y.
May 16, 2002
When my daughter was trying to get into the Army Reserves she was
underweight and did not meet the criteria. Her recruiter told her to eat
several bananas dailey a week before her weigh in and ice cream shakes with
an egg every night. He also said to drink a lot of Ensure. Hope that helps.
Good luck!
— Janie C.
May 16, 2002
So let me understand. You do not qualify for this surgery aqnd you want to
gain weight? You undestand that insurance companies have a limited pool of
money to pay for surgery and by you getting a proceedure that you would not
qualify for normally you are either 1-making the criteria for this surgery
harder for people who qualify under current guidelines or 2- making it
harder for people whose life is threatened by another disease. Please think
about what you are doing
— Robert L.
May 16, 2002
You want help gaining weight?! Are you sure you're at the right web sight?
What I wouldn't give to have to gain weight to have a BMI of 36.....
— Debby M.
May 17, 2002
I agree with Debby and Robert, please think about this.
— Toni C.
May 17, 2002
I am very disturbed by this question. The reason they won't approve you
for this surgery with a BMI of 36 is that you are not in the "morbidly
obese" category! This is something you should be happy about ... not
complaining about! LOL In my opinion, you should give it one more shot
the "old fashioned" way, and if you can't do it, don't worry,
you'll gain it all back and then some anyway. There's no huge hurry to
rush into surgery right this very minute. When I got my surgery, I was 407
lbs. and had a BMI of over 60! I never would have gotten it if my BMI was
36. The risks as compared with the potential payoffs would not balance
unless I was morbidly obese.
— Terissa R.
May 17, 2002
I think the last two poster are being a little harsh. Natalie did say she
originally qualified and only lost the weight because she was sick. She
also said she has serious co-morbids. I am sure that those co-morbids
didn't go away just by loosing 10 lbs. Chances are she will gain the
weight back anyway. She just wants to do it sooner to avoid jumping
through hoops to get approved.
Natalie, Eat salty foods as they can make you retain water which will in
turn make you weigh more. Things like lunch meat and chicken broth are
very salty. Also potato chips, corn chips, etc. You can eat alot of fried
foods. Or you can always go to GNC. They have shakes and other things
that wrestlers take to gain weight
— Karen W.
May 17, 2002
According to your bmi of 36 you are severly overweight.I know being severly
overweight is not easy, I'm not here to scold you, because it do depends on
how tall you are and if this weight is keeping you from breathing normally,
sleeping normally or ache and pain in your back and knees that keep you
from doing normal things,to gain weight eat lots and lots of fatty things
like big cheesey hamburgers,milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, big juicy
steaks, buttered buns(you get the point?) eat this three times a day and
you'll surely gain. But if you are doing this for vanity think about this,
this surgery is a drastic end of the road decision that a lot of us might
regret along the line, it's not easy never being able to eat like you
really want to for the rest of your life, worrying about if you don't do
what you were instructed to do the rest of your life you can die, or you
can die during the surgery itself. All I'm trying to say is , if you only
have 50 pound or so to lose, do it though diet and excercise . For many of
us this surgery was the only way we would be able to survive, don't scheme
to take up a spot for someone who really needs it.
— Rebe W.
May 17, 2002
Natalie..I definitely DON'T recommend you doing anything that could be
considered FRAUD..i.e.-rolls of quarters in the pockets, etc.. My surgeon's
staff visits this site regularly..who knows..maybe the insurance companies
visit this site also..(?). That being said...to gain weight, I recommend
MILK and lots of it. Look at a calf--when it's born, it weighs about
40lbs..within 6 months, it will weigh about 10x more (400lbs
approx!!)..with most of its intake being pure MILK!!! Best
wishes..~jennifer~
— Jennifer C
May 17, 2002
I just want to say that I don't agree with either cheating the system with
quarters etc. nor do I agree with the people on this site telling you to
eat "crappy" food. Isn't that what got all of us here in the
first place. You said you already qualified and that you have a BMI of 36.
Most insurance companies will consider you for the procedure with a BMI of
35 and the co-morbidities you said you have. Do it the honest way and you
will be better off in the end. Good Luck!
— Heather ..
May 17, 2002
Natalie, if you have already been approved, there shouldn't be a problem.
There are some doctors that like for their patients to lose weight before
surgery anyway. That includes those with low BMI's. They still do the
surgery, you will just be a little ahead of the game. Don't let anyone
discourage you in taking control of your life and striving for health.
There are those that wish they had done something sooner. And we fluctuate
as much as 5 lbs. on a given day of the month too. Your surgeon will know
this. And by the time you see him, you will have probably gained that
weight back without even trying. And as for those that think regular
dieting *works*, why didn't you do it that way? Don't let them deter you.
— Cheri M.
May 17, 2002
Hi, I'd agree with the other posters about the milk, and bananas, eat a
lot. Don't listen to the other posters stating that what you are wanting
is wrong. Everything is fine to do when "we" want it done, but
when someone else wants help, we bash, is that fair? WE ARE ALL in the same
boat here, 100 lbs over weight, or 500 lbs overweight, we to encourage, not
discourage. Natalie you go for it girl!! Do what you need to do to get the
surgery, if it will save your life and help those comorbs go away then it's
worth it.
— Carey N.
May 17, 2002
First of all I was never asking for a fradulent answer (quarters,etc)to
defraud insurance or anyone else for that matter and I don't appreciate
anyone jumping to the conclusion that was my intention. I was asking for
help to gain weight because I do not want my BMI to go below 35 and not
qualify for the surgery. The new surgeon's office will weigh me and if my
BMI is not 35, I will not qualify. I need this surgery just as much as
anyone else! I have severe co-morbidities including out of control
diabetes, severe sleep apnea, GERD, etc. I have been told by my physician
that unless I get the weight off I have a good probability of dying within
5-10 years. Is that enough of a reason?
I don't understand why people who are obese with a BMI of 60 with no
co-morbidities feel they are more deserving of this surgery than someone
with a BMI of 35 with severe co-morbidities. If you read Dr. Wittgrove's
literature he is pushing to have the surgery approved for people with a BMI
of 30 and above with severe co-morbidities.
My hope from writing this second message is that people responding to
questions, CAREFULLY READ THE QUESTIONS WRITTEN BEFORE RESPONDING and in
addition have some compassion that we are all in the same boat.
— Natalie F.
May 17, 2002
Natalie, I hope you don't let some of these posters discourage you! You
deserve this surgery as much as anyone here. I personally feel that if
this surgery had been an option for some people with bmi's of 50 or 60 or
more when their bmi's were "only" 35-40 that they would have
jumped at the chance. You shouldn't have to wait until you cannot walk to
get help. My personal suggestion is high calorie drinks. Drinking sodas,
milkshakes, and juice all day long in addition to your regular foods will
help put it back on. But don't worry too much, as someone already said,
when you lose weight from being sick it usually comes back with a vengence.
ALSO, YOU HAVING THIS SURGERY WITH A LOWER BMI WILL NOT TAKE SOMEONE
ELSE'S PLACE!! Don't let an ignorant person place responsibility for
someone else's poor health and misfortune on your shoulders!
— cjabates
May 17, 2002
You are so right, Sorry if I seem mean, I didn't mean to. I think
everything will work out for you, Since you were already approve, just tell
your doctor , I'm pretty sure that all you will need is the paperwork from
your other doctor. I changed surgeon and all she asked for was my paperwork
to be faxed over to her, got a date an month later, Just pray , everything
will be fine. Good luck
— Rebe W.
May 17, 2002
I have read all of the answers and just want to put my 2cents worth in. I
know some insurance companies have different criteria, like BMI of 35 with
severe comorbs, or 40 without them. Chances are that when you're feeling
better again, you will regain the weight you lost while being ill. I think
that happens to everyone! My husband was injured several years ago and had
to have his jaw wired shut for months--he lost about 60-70 lbs and never
thought he'd be able to gain his healthy weight back--well he did and then
some. My point is that you most likely will reagain the lost weight
without even trying. I lost about 30 lbs pre-op and my insurance didn't
give a hoot--didn't even mention it. Another thing to consider is that
people weigh different amounts on different scales. I weigh 5 lbs more at
my surgeon's office than I do at the grocery store and that weight is about
10 lbs less than at my scale at home--I ALWAYS go with the lower of the
three--heeheehee! You need this surgery and you will have it, plain and
simple!
— jenn2002
May 17, 2002
I wish I had read down a little further before posting my question about
this same exact thing. Oh well, it should be appearing shortly. Anyway, I
got a few answers to my questions through yours. Don't feel discouraged by
what some people have said. For those who have stated she should try to
lose weight on her own due to her low bmi, I'm sure she has tried to no
avail to lose weight on her own, which is something we all know is
extremely difficult or else this website would not exist. We have ALL felt
desperate at some point in our overweight life regardless if we are 75lbs
overweight or 200lbs overweight. This is why she is here. Let's not
discourage people who are not as overweight as most. It's not fair to them.
Ok Natalie, I agree with some of the other posters below. If you have
already been approved by your ins. co. and you do have comorbidties, then
you shouldn't have a problem. Go for it and good luck to you and God bless
you!
— Belinda S.
May 17, 2002
As I am sure most of us do, I am POSITIVE Natalie has a mother.. Lay off
people for Christ sake GROW UP. IF YOU DONT HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY
DON'T SAY IT AT ALL, SHE WASN'T REQUESTING RIDICULE. Put yourself in HER
position and don't be so damn self centered. JEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS
(Yes, do the whole milk drinking girl) youll be fine
— Kim S.
May 17, 2002
I don't really have any tips on gaining the weight, Natalie, but I just had
to let you know that I understand your reasoning behind asking such a
question. If your insurance already approved you then I doubt very
seriously that the doctor would discourage you in any way by turning you in
for being too "thin". I'll bet he's had situations such as this
on many occasions. I would also like to add, to the people that decided to
verbally bash you for your question; how much do you know about this
woman's life? Do you feel in some way that you are more qualified than her
physician and her insurance company to determine whether or not she
deserves this surgery? Obviously they have made the decision that she does
require surgery for the sake of her health and your negative comments only
make you appear selfish. People who are overweight have to take a lot of
abuse and you have the audacity to belittle this person for not being
overweight enough. We all know how difficult it is to get approved for
this surgery and obviously Natalie meets the criteria. She came here for
support and she deserves just that. Keep your cruel and UNWELCOME comments
to yourself! Good luck, Natalie! It will all work out, I'm sure of it!
— Nikki L.
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