Question:
How can you possibly remeber 10 yrs back on failed diets?

Can someone help me? I have been dieting my whole life but nothing is documented. My new pcp told me to gather atleast 8-10 yrs of failed diets so he can submit them, that would be the only thing holding me back. Can someone help me figure out how to write this?    — Big_Sassy (posted on June 7, 2005)

June 7, 2005
Hi Denise, I know how you feel about documenting the failed diets. I had the same problem. I just started by writing down all the diets I could remember I had done and then tried to link something else I could remember about the same time to try to pinpoint the timeframe. I found one of the Dr's. names in an old address book I had when I couldn't remember the name. I also requested my medical records from my primary physician I had been seeing for the last 8 years. Some of the stuff in the file helped to trigger my memory on other things. What BCBS do you have? I have both BCBS-IL & BCBS-Fed. They are not the same in the way they pay. Illinois, which is my primary won't even consider the surgery without a Dr's documented diet program within the last 24 months. However the Federal plan has approved the surgery with just a BMI over 40 and at least two co-morbities even though their policy shows to require the Dr. documented diet history too. You may want to call your insurance and find out for sure what they make you have if you haven't already done so. Good luck.
   — Diana C.

June 7, 2005
The insurance companies are looking for you to demonstrate that you've tried other programs. I created a lot of the types of programs I tried, a quick summary of how much was lost, approximately how much I regained after the 'diet' and then how long I was on the program. It doesn't have to be an exact science. I thought I would have to come up with receipts or program materials. (Turns out I had them but didn't need to show them).
   — Laurie L.

June 7, 2005
Sorry - change 'lot' to 'log' in my last reply. Typo!! Laurie
   — Laurie L.

June 7, 2005
I was amazed when I started writing all the diets I'd been on - from Dexedrine (legal back in the 70's - and awful) to shots of pregnant woman's urine to lots of Weight Watchers attempts, Phen/Fen - I don't have the best memory in the world but man, it just comes pouring out! Try just writing casulally and I'll bet you'll be surprised how many attempts you've made! We sure have given it the old college try! Good luck - Bette
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 8, 2005
I began my Pre-op journey at age 44, and diet history was one of the first things I had to come up with . I remembered even back to the diet my pediatrician put me on when I was in the third grade. Diets in high school, college, after college. Official programs (like weight watchers), unofficial programs (like dexatrim, AYDS candies (I'm dating myself here)), and programs from books (like Atkins, Beverly Hills, Carbohydrate Addicts). If you are anything like most of us, you have 5 or more diets lurking back there. Just try to remember each one, the year or years you were on them, approx. how much money was spent, how many pounds lost. You will be amazed when you sit down with pen and paper and just remember. One side benefit--it steeled my resolve to get this surgery no matter what, after I saw in black and white how many failed diets over how many years of my life there actually were, and the pounds had just gone up and up and up.
   — Cisbell

June 8, 2005
ok i know this may sound wrong but make it up as you go along, you yourself know you have tried and tried to lose weight but not many people keep a log of it, so go back in time and just write down every diet you tried, ie, jenny craig, ww, phen fen, etc...then put some dates and results in there. if you need help, email me at [email protected] ...good luck
   — Deanna Wise

June 8, 2005
Hon, all I did was tried to remember all the diets I have ever been on and guessed at how far back. I have tried a prescription from a Dr. once in the 90's, then a life time membership with Jenny Craig, Slim Fast, Low Carbs, Weight Watchers..and I just did my best to approximate the dates sweetie, you do not have to be exact. Hugs! and Good Luck!
   — Angelfirewithwings

June 9, 2005
if you go to this link... and see all the types of diets listed it will be probably that you have done some of these in your past. I wrote a diet history using some of this as my reference... a link on my profile at bottle of my profile will show you my diet history letter I used but I believe many use a time line and other ways to do the diet history... diets link --> www.chasefreedom.com/
   — WLS_Deb