So frustrated.

PeachyCarol

OP, where did you get the figure from on your metabolic rate? Is that your BMR or your TDEE?

I would highly recommend that both you and your mother step away from that doctor. NOW.

Most people who lose weight too quickly lose proportionally more muscle mass in the process than a dieter who loses weight sensibly. Muscle mass contributes to your metabolic rate. When you get to the point of weight loss maintenance, you'll have to eat less calories to maintain that weight than you would had you done it more slowly because you have a greatly reduced muscle muscle mass contributing to your overall metabolic rate.

Also? The suggestion upthread for you to eat low carb is a good one. People with PCOS who have insulin resistance issues tend to do very, very well with their weight loss efforts once they switch to it.

Some people with Hashimoto's seem to benefit from reducing their carbs as well, for others, it doesn't seem to have an effect. Your mother could give it a go.

MoiAussi93

michellinademarco wrote: »

MoiAussi93 wrote: »

Emilia777 wrote: »

michellinademarco wrote: »

Thank you for the reply! Yes, this is starting week 4. The doctor said most people lose at least 3 pounds their first week and def lose SOMETHING week to week but "everyones different".

The Dr never gave me a caloric restriction before yesterday. The original plan was to have a shake for breakfast, lunch, and mid day snack (each 160 cal) followed by a dinner of 4 oz protein and unlimited non starchy veggies and to "watch how much oil I use in the dressing". I could eat 1 serving of fruit after dinner if I was hungry or craving. That's all the guidelines I was given.

Yesterday when I was very upset in her office, she gave me a calorie plan with no shakes. She said 1100 calories per day, yogurt and fruit for breakfast, 109 cal almonds mid morning, 3 oz protein and veggies for lunch, mid day snack of apple with pb or a cheese stick, dinner 4-5 oz protein with veggies, fruit if I was craving and had calories left for the day.

Currently I am 5 foot 6 and weigh 176. I want to get to about 140.

Hmmm. This is really making me question the qualifications of this doctor.

First, the “guidance” provided is far too formulaic and restrictive, in my opinion. If you read the sticky threads in this category, you’ll see that MFP is all about maintaining a caloric deficit, regardless of what you eat or when you eat it, with some focus on meeting specific macros i.e. getting enough protein. I’d look into seeing someone qualified to provide nutritional advice based on your medical conditions instead.

Second, 1100 calories per day is completely silly at your height and weight, especially as you don’t have much to lose. The general recommendation for women is to stay above 1200, as it’s more difficult to get proper nutrition at lower intake levels.

I’d highly recommend you use the IIFYM calculator here to see how much energy your body uses up every day just by existing (your total daily energy expenditure or TDEE). Without exercise, you use up about 1880 calories every day. If you maintain a 500 calorie deficit (i.e. eat 1380 calories/day), you’ll loose a pound per week (it takes a 3500 calorie deficit to lose a pound). If you are active 3 times a week, that gives you a bunch more calories to eat.

Honestly, I’m just blown away at the “advice” given by this presumed doctor. I really hope it didn’t cost you too much money. All you have to do is maintain a caloric deficit. I wouldn’t want to lose more than 1-1.5lbs/week if I were you, because you don’t have much to lose. To help hold on to muscle mass, make sure you eat enough protein and do some resistance training (e.g. heavy lifting using programs like Stronglifts, Strong Curves, Starting Strength). That’s all there is to it.

If she only burns 1400-1600 per day, as she stated, then 1100 is not too low...it's only a 300-500 deficit. It needs to be that low to lose anything. If two different doctors, who are unrelated to each other and one of which is an endocrinologist, are okay with 1100 calories, then that overrides what some generic Internet calculator that ASSUMES everybody at a given age and weight is exactly the same spits out.

To be fair, my endocrinologist is pretty uninvolved and was unhappy with the calorie restriction in the new diet, just said he'd help me to not run so many low blood sugars while I did it if I insisted. The other doctor told me I burn 1400-1600 a day based on a scale I stepped on. She had essentially the same info that I entered into the calculator.

I'm just so confused

I don't know how she came up with that 1400-1600 number, so have no idea if it is reasonably accurate or not. Since you are dealing with some medical conditions that both impact your overall health and complicate weight loss, I think that, whatever you do, you should make sure the endocrinologist is on board.

The thing that makes me hesitate to say that 1100 is just too low (it may or may not be) is the fact that you haven't lost in three weeks. However, it is very true that weight loss is not linear. I often lose nothing for a month...or more!...then lose 5-7 pounds in one week. It's hard to know what is going on here after such a short time (3 weeks is a short time!)

Personally, I would stick with the 1100 for two more weeks...so you have given the internist's plan 5 weeks...and evaluate then. If you start to lose very quickly, you may want to eat a little more. If you still aren't losing, or are losing a few ounces a week, then I think it is safe to say your metabolism is really that low. I wish I could be more help, but I don't know enough about your medical conditions.

DawnieB1977

Isn't your mum on medication for hashimotos? I have a friend in her 30s who has it. Once she had the correct dose of meds she started to lose weight, along with eating well and exercising. No need for shakes and silly diets.

I'm 5'6 and about the same weight as you are. I don't have any medical issues (far as I know) and I lose weight fine on 1600 calories per day. I do exercise a lot and I'm very active.

I've also heard that low carb is good for PCOS.

GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS

I'm 2 weeks into a MD Medical Weigh Loss plan and for the first couple of days I was starving; not now. I drink 2 shakes a day and eat 1 protein snack/bar and then have a meal of no more than 550 calories for one meal. I can adjust if I have plans on eating out. I also have found that the "Sparkling ICE" flavored water I drink several times a day helps me in not being so hungry. I use MFP with knowing that I will might eat close to 300 calories at breakfast as well (husband cooks on the weekend). otherwise I drink the 2 shakes - sometimes one at breakfast to get in 2 a day, protein bar is for snack; I can usually figure out how many calories I can have at a mid-day or evening meal - if I go into MFP and plan out the day (or the next day). I don't weigh myself on my home scales - too frustrating and I know they don't weigh the same consistently. I weigh at the MD's office and therefore I know the scales are more consistent because they have to have them calibrated pretty often.

I had not able to work on my treadmill due to a knee injury; but, now I can. It will mean working up slowly to where I was before I had to stop. I need to get a pedometer to clock my footsteps throughout the day - not just the exercising part but for the entire day - you'd be surprised at how quickly they add up just doing housework.

I was told that, at my weight when I started on this diet, for me to start losing I needed to drop below the 1000-1100 calories they figure a woman needs to eat to just 'maintain' their weight. Since I am milk intolerant, I figured the shakes would upset my stomach but they haven't. Husband says he can already tell a difference; and I have found that my clothes fit a bit looser as well. It (weight) did not get here overnight; and I won't lose it overnight either. I figure that after a couple of months I will easily drop a size in my clothes; but, when I buy my clothes I don't exactly say that I am a size 'this or that'. I buy what I like because of how it looks on me. Might be a 12 or an 18 - depending on who makes it and what they are made of as well.

Being older, I realize that I should not lose weight too fast; but, I also know it is unrealistic to weigh what one MD thinks I should weigh and another (younger) MD says would be a good weight for me. I'll never be 125lbs again in my lifetime (unless I am truly ill) and I don't think I would look good at that weight now.

I like reading what others are doing - for weight loss - I know that a lot who use MFP are checking more than just calories to get to their goals or stay at their goal.

PeachyCarol

I honestly don't think you need 1100. A lot of people who have some major issues with PCOS/insulin resistance respond well on higher calories drastically lowering their carbohydrate intake.

michellinademarco

mamapeach910 wrote: »

I honestly don't think you need 1100. A lot of people who have some major issues with PCOS/insulin resistance respond well on higher calories drastically lowering their carbohydrate intake.

Do you recommend Paleo @mamapeach910 ?

pollypocket1021

Wow. IDDM type 1 and PCOS concurrently must be very challenging. I would suspect most doctors have not personally treated someone with all your specific diagnoses. This optifast doctor in particular sounds quite dangerous

I am unqualified to weigh in on your situation, but I wish you the best.

pollypocket1021

Wow. IDDM type 1 and PCOS concurrently must be very challenging. I would suspect most doctors have not personally treated someone with all your specific diagnoses. This optifast doctor in particular sounds quite dangerous

I am unqualified to weigh in on your situation, but I wish you the best.

Unknown

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PeachyCarol

michellinademarco wrote: »

mamapeach910 wrote: »

I honestly don't think you need 1100. A lot of people who have some major issues with PCOS/insulin resistance respond well on higher calories drastically lowering their carbohydrate intake.

Do you recommend Paleo @mamapeach910 ?

Well, paleo is a broad term these days. I did it YEARS ago, back before the first big book came out, and back then, it was a fairly low carb plan.

The thing with your situation, though, is that if you decide to go paleo, you're going to need to control your carbohydrate intake. So if you choose a paleo plan that includes some root vegetables (is that more primal?), it might up your carb count too much for you to see results.

You can probably follow the paleo dietary guidelines, but find better specific carbohydrate intake suggestions by asking on the low carbing group here: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-lcd-group

There's also a group for women with PCOS: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/3070-p-c-o-sis

The low carb forum will likely also have people with diabetes on it as well.

bpetrosky

michellinademarco wrote: »

strong_curves wrote: »

Wait a min... is the Dr selling you and your mom this "weight loss plan"?

Yes. She's an internist/MD and she does medical dieting. Some people do all liquid shakes they purchase through her (3.50 each) some do shakes and nutrition plan, some do only nutrition. She offers vitamin b shots and supplements for sale as well. It's a co pay to see her, 20 bucks for the shot, 20 bucks to step on her scale, and the price of food and supplements. She does weekly or bi weekly weigh ins.

It helped my mom tremendously (nothing had ever worked for her before) so I figured it could help me lose the weight I have never been able to lose. It's cost me about 400 dollar, 3 weeks of being ill ( my colitis could NOT handle the shakes) and I gained 2 pounds. She also prescribes things like phentermine, topamax, and Aldactone (for craving help and water weight. I've stopped taking it because it's made me an emotional wreck.)

I did paleo a couple months ago and I lost a couple pounds and felt great. I told this doctor that and she told me it would be temporary and Id gain weight eventually. I feel so unlike myself bc I've never bought into doctors before and this changed it all. Ugh!

It sounds like time to have another doctor look over your case and what you've been recommended. Normally doctors can be trusted to give sound solutions, but there are some that just use their practice to milk their patients (and their insurance) for as much cash as possible. I don't know if that's the case here, but there's some red flags up there that I'd be worried about.

It is your body, your health, and your money. Don't give up your right to make the best decisions for yourself just because someone's wearing a white coat.

michellinademarco

Update:

I've been doing 1200 calories (up from 1100) but cutting my carbs down... I stopped taking the aldactone that was making me crazy.. And I'm 3.5 pounds down this week!!!! Thank you all for your replies, support, and suggestions. You've made me a MFP addict now!! Lol

Emilia777

So glad you’re feeling better about things! Keep in mind that 1200 cals is still really low, so make sure you’re getting enough nutrition (protein, fat). And maybe consider upping that as you feel more comfortable. I started at 1200 too but ended up going to 1400, and I find it makes a huge difference. Best of luck, you can do this!!