laurajh

I’m only a month into it, my 2nd visit is tomorrow, and I haven’t lost a thing. Maybe the scale will show a single pound if I’m lucky (if I go in on an empty stomach so no breakfast or lunch for me tomorrow).

I joined Weight Watchers online like my doctor recommended, and I’m not doing well at all, every day my points go well over. To make it more convenient I’ve started eating Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones meals for at least a few dinners per week, but they’re expensive, gross, and I’m still hungry afterwards. Looks like I might have to tack on another month after the 6 is up to make up for my first month’s failure.

I’ve complied with my doctor’s suggestion to join Weight Watchers, but she also suggested I see a nutritionist, which I had to cancel because it turns out my insurance doesn’t cover nutritional counseling (how stupid is that???)
If I’m going to have to pay for it out of pocket I want to wait until the surgeon TELLS me I have to go, for his own requirements. I just hope that BCBS doesn’t check me off as non-compliant because of it.

Sigh, I don’t know how I’m going to get through another 5+ months.
I hate this

poet_kelly

I'm sorry it's so frustrating. I know a number of people who did not lose weight on their six month diet. I recall one person posting here who said her insurance actually required that she lose weight on the six month diet and denied her because of that, but that is the only time I've ever heard of that happening. Every other time I've known of someone not losing weight, it didn't reallly matter. You might check with your insurance company to put your mind at ease, but probably it's not that important if you lose or not.

I know that sounds stupid. Why bother to do it if it's not important if you lose or not? Well, it's good if you do lose. And you can use the six months to start developing new eating habits that are going to serve you well after surgery. So it's not necessarily a waste of time, although I'm sure sometimes it seems like it is.

A lot of insurance companies don't cover nutritional counseling, which I think is stupid. If you can possibly afford it, I would go see the dietician anyway. He or she could give you some good advice on what to eat during the six months that might help you lose weight and help you not feel hungry the whole time you are doing it.

I don't think you'll have to do an extra month just because the first did not go well. I've never heard of anyone having to do that.

Kelly

__________________
RNY 11/4/08

surgery/current/goal
270/147/130

Axel

Yeah, same thing happened to me too. I didn't lose anything, I GAINED! Not something you want to strive for, but it's not horrible to lose weight on the six month diet.

One thing you want to keep in mind though is making sure your doctor takes copious notes AND types them out before she submits them to the insurance. She has to explain why you gained or lost weight, make adjustments and observe your behavior. What I did, in addition to the six month diet and Weight Watchers, is print out the receipts that I got from WW. They can't say you weren't on WW because you have the dates posted and the money paid (if that makes sense).

Keep going on the six month diet. I know it seems like a long way off, but it's only five more months; keep your chin up!

__________________


Angst + Negativity + Skepticism = Axel

Highest = 264 lbs
October 21, 2009 (surgery) = 253 lbs
October 26, 2009 = 244 lbs
November 10, 2009 = 230 lbs

adagirl

Before you start stressing about this, you should find out if your insurance really requires you to lose weight on the diet. I know for Aetna you do not. In fact, I gained about 10 pounds over the 6 months. My nutritionist (from my bariatric surgeon's office) kept saying 'good job' when I would gain one or two pounds because I'm in the 35+ BMI w/co-morbids category and she didn't want me losing below 35. So, instead of actually trying to lose, we focused on other goals like incorporating more protein in my diet, taking time to chew my food, sipping water throughout the day, getting some exercise every day. She was trying to help me incorporate the habits I will need after WLS rather than focusing on the scale.

Anyways, I am in appeal w/Aetna now cause my 2007 weight was too low, but my 6 month diet was accepted.