Question:
How much weight should I lose

My surgeon tells me that I need to be currently on a diet for the insurance to approve the weight loss. I am presently on a diet but I'm not very successful with the weight loss. I also have a diet history of all the other diets I have tried, some with success and regain and others without initial success, therefore no regain history. On the diet I'm on now I'm not losing very much weight. How much am I to lose pre-op. I don't want to lose too much because if I do, my insuance won't cover the letter because I'm doing well in weight loss. Please respond. [email protected]    — tinky471 (posted on April 8, 2003)

April 8, 2003
Hi I 2 am pre-op and my insurance co said I needed at least a 6 month documented supervised dieting before they would approve me. So I am now into my 6th month. My surgen requiered that I lose 10% of my body weight before she would even do the surgery anyways. So for me that would be 40 pounds. To make a long story short I have slowly lost 53 pounds over the last 6 and a half months and my surgen was thrilled and she said I should have no problem getting approved now. I know it's crazy that they want us to lose weight to have WLS...lol Don't make no sense to me either! I think they do it so we can show them that we understand that WLS is not a cure or a magical marical. We have to still work our butts off to lose the weight. The surgery is just a tool to help us along the way:) I hope this helps you. Good luck in your journy.
   — Christy M.

April 9, 2003
Hi Christie, Thanks for responding to me. Luckily, my doc doesn't require a weight loss before surgery (I read that under another posting). Her only requirement is that you don't GAIN anything. I have PA Access but went to UPMC/Best Health Care. I was wondering if I don't successfully lose the weight on this diet (so far only 10 pounds in 2 mos) will I be denied by the insurance company. What do you think? :).
   — tinky471