Question:
My surgeon has asked why I failed previous diet programs. I am not sure how to answer

My surgeon has asked why I failed previous diet programs. I am not sure how to answer the question. So many reasons for failing 25 years of dieting. Has anyone been asked this question before?    — mechelle P. (posted on June 4, 2003)

June 4, 2003
I don't know what your particular answer is, but MY answer is that "diets" don't work. I would lose weight...maybe it stays off for a month or so, and then I would gain it all back, plus 10 or 15 lbs. more. Do this enough times, and you've "dieted" yourself up to 276 lbs. (in my case) Then, of course, your only hope is WLS because when you're morbidly obese, the only thing that now works is surgery. Morbidly obese people don't lose weight like people that are 15 or 30 lbs. overweight...the system doesn't work like before. Anyway, people can't stick to a very restrictive diet for very long without the help of a tool, especially if one is morbidly obese. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 4, 2003
Tell him if you knew the answer to that, you'd be a millionaire since we'd then know the reason for obesity (none of the "experts" know) and we'd be able to cure it for good (but then he'd be out of business, wouldn't he ;)
   — mom2jtx3

June 4, 2003
My answer to that question would be, " I did have success with previous weight loss plans, however, I was not able to follow them for more than 6 months because they were so strict, and when I did lose I could not maintain the weight. I need a more permanent 'tool' to maintain the desired weight. I need the lifestyle change that WLS will allow me to acheive versus a diet plan."
   — Jan S.

June 4, 2003
Hi! What I said to my doctor when asked this very same question was that I am in the 90% of the population that can lose weight but cannot keep it off. Doc's are very into statistics-so sock it to 'em!!
   — Beth W.

June 4, 2003
Good question, but I guess I'd ask if losing the weight means you were successful at the diet program? I think most of us have lost the weight we wanted on a diet program so if that is success then we did not fail. You were very successful at dieting for 25 years, tell him that! What we failed to do was keep the weight off-totally different.
   — Cindy R.