Previous Weight Loss Attempts

Sorry to start a new thread about this, but my old thread isn't updating for some reason. I had my orientation the other week, and we were told that attempts like the cabbage soup diet, slim fast, dieting on your own, etc, do NOT count as formal weight loss attempts. We were told that these attempts must have been in adulthood, and are mandatory to be qualified for the program.

I'm pretty worried now that I will be discharged, because although I have had many weight loss attempts, including a couple of formal ones as a child and youth, my attempts in adulthood have all been on my own. My question is, do they ask for proof that you have completed a formal weight loss program? I'm thinking of just saying I've done something like Herbal Life. Thoughts and advice?

Wow. I am really surprised! I don't recall ever be asked that in Hamilton. I think I just wrote down a few diets that I had tried and I did list a few of them with the nurse when I met with her, but that was it. I have only done weigh****chers (2x) and Dr. Bernstein (1x). The rest of the time I dieted, was on my own. I guess it depends on which centre you are at (as they are all so different), but I still got accepted.

Barb

No one asked for proof from me!! Put a couple down... weigh****chers, Herbalife. :)

Surprising because in Windsor those are definitely included. I have included a pic of the list that I had to fill out, sorry it's blurry and half cut off but I took it as I handed it in, this will at least give you an idea. And I never had to provide proof just wrote it down. So if you add one or two programs they won't really question it, they are not going to make you go back and ask for the records. The doctor skimmed it once and it's never come up again.

Thanks very much. I'm wondering now if Guelph is a bit more rigid than other centres.

I know that Guelph is somewhat more rigid in some things as my clinic is Windsor but have to choose either Guelph or Toronto for surgical site and Windsor mentioned over some diet stuff they are more strict. Not what you have to have done before but you must cut out pop and carbonated water pretty quickly and things like that. I was drinking carbonated flavoured water and my dietician said Toronto will let you drink it nearly to surgery but Guelph won't let you progress if you are. Also that you stay on fluid diet longer with Guelph after surgery. However, in terms of the pre-diets they can't (and won't) expect you to provide proof and I one hundred percent say put a formal program or two on there plus the things you actually did and you will be totally fine, I was! Nobody on here that I have read has ever spoken about having to provide proof I'm sure it won't even be something you're asked.

Thanks so much Stitch.

As for carbonated drinks, I'm not a big pop drinker so it doesn't really bother me, but I plan to ask the nurse about their "no carbonation ever again" policy. I've read about other surgeons and programs who say that you CAN have carbonation after surgery (after a grace period, of course) IF your pouch/sleeve can handle it, and that it's a myth that it stretches it.

They can't ask for proof, really; who keeps receipts for WW etc? I know I didn't. If you're worried you can just tell them what they want to hear. I don't like lying but they shouldn't be saying they'll only take formal attempts because those formal ones are expensive and not everyone can afford them. Even Weigh****chers is expensive.

We weren't asked for evidence in Sudbury. They did ask what I'd done and I told them weigh****chers, slimming world (UK based when I lived there) and then the calorie counting etc. They did ask about how I managed to lose 70lb on slimming world and what made me gain it all back (a baby, a transatlantic movie). They did not ask for evidence of it though.