In my last post, I shared that my plan was to lose 40 more pounds medicinally (using a GLP-1 called Zepbound, which is Tirzepatide) so I could get my incisional hernia repaired. I thought that once I reached a BMI of 35, we’d schedule the hernia surgery and then possibly move forward with a bariatric surgery if I felt like I couldn’t keep the weight off. But after talking with the patient advocate at my new Weight Loss Center, I learned something important about my insurance coverage.
It turns out that my insurance will only cover my bariatric surgery if I’m still considered obese, which means a BMI over 35. This changes my approach quite a bit. Instead of aiming for the hernia repair first, I think my next surgery will actually be a gastric bypass. I’ve already started the doctor’s appointments to prepare for it, and my next one is scheduled for Tuesday of next week.
A Delay That Turned Out to Be a Blessing
Interestingly, Tuesday was also supposed to be the day I started a new contract role with my previous company. But that’s been pushed back a week because the hiring manager is traveling, and they haven’t sent my computer yet.
This turned out to be perfect timing, because we’re also starting Remy, who will be 2 in October, in daycare. We chose The Goddard School because it’s right down the street, has the best reviews in town, and gave us a great impression during our tour. We also toured Busy Bees, but Goddard’s schedule felt like a better fit for us.
I think Remy will thrive there. He’s very social and can play independently. And now that he’s a bit older, he has the security he needs at home to be confident and play, learn, and explore at daycare without feeling abandoned. That was a worry of ours, but it turned out to be a blessing, as I was laid off during my maternity leave, and ultimately I spent these last two years dedicated to being a mom before going back to work now.
New Routines and Fresh Perspectives
It feels like a season of big changes for our whole family. Yesterday, we visited our new local library for the first time, and I checked out a book titled Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink, Ph.D. It’s already fascinating.
In my career, I’ve worked in A/B testing and digital experimentation as a front-end web developer. Because of that experience, I understand how strategy, human behavior, and data all connect, and this book takes that same kind of experimental thinking and applies it to eating habits.
For example, research shows that bigger containers lead people to eat more, even when they think they’re only eating until they’re full. Americans, in particular, tend to underestimate how much they eat. The book is full of studies like this, and it’s making me think about how my environment shapes my choices.
Looking Ahead
Over the next 3–6 months, insurance will require me to go through a preparation process for gastric bypass surgery. This includes making sure I’m mentally ready for the lifestyle changes that come with it.
Some changes might be small, like pre-plating my food (which I already do), using smaller plates, or buying individual cans of soda instead of big bottles so we can literally see how much we’re drinking by keeping the empties (even Coke Zero isn’t harmless for kidneys!). Others will be more significant, like adjusting the way I cook or how we stock our kitchen. I will keep checking in with Marc because he’s a big part of this too; it’s imperative for me to have his continued support, and I honestly couldn’t ask for a better partner!
Even though the plan has shifted, I’ve never felt more confident. My goal is the same: lose the weight, get my hernia fixed, and build a healthy, sustainable lifestyle so I can be here for as long as Remy needs and wants me, hopefully, his entire life.
We’re on the right track.