Diet plan by a dietitian?

Jay9201

Has anyone been on a diet plan by a dietitian? I'm a bit wary of how much my diet plan will be changing and how quickly the weight came off for you.

Old_Cat_Lady

Why not give this place a try? Go to walmart and get a $15 food scale and this place will rock. Log your food (every single bite) for 3 weeks. You WILL see results.

Mkneedtogetfit

I have a nutritionist who was the best thing that ever happened to me. His approach is so practical. I don't starve. He doesn't give me a diet plan per say but initially checked my food diary to educate me on how to develop a plan that suited me.

deannalfisher

I work with a group of RD's that specialize in nutrition for sports performance - they give me macro guidelines and review my progress/make tweaks as necessary - I lost 12lbs initially, then leveled off into maintenance - eating significantly more than I was eating (I avg 2700ish most days now) and weight stable

Jay9201

Oh wow that all sounds great! After my initial check up from the doctors ruling out any medical reasons why my weight loss is super slow I was referred to a dietitian. And I'm worried my nutrition isn't great as I have a history of yo yo dieting I have 45lbs to lose now. 40lbs lost so fingers crossed dietitian can help me lose weight consistently!

SCoil123

I worked with a dietitian when my thyroid disease and food allergies were diagnosed and it was great! She really helped me find foods I enjoyed but that would help me reach my goals and get my health under control.

I've also met with a nutritionist a few times who had similar recommendations (higher fat diet and calorie recommendations) but did not understand my health issues and how foods affect me personally. She kept trying to tell me I should try wheat grass and that I could since it's gluten free - I'm on a gluten free diet but have a wheat germ allergy so wheat grass is pretty much poison to me. She didn't get it.

nowine4me

Education is key, whether it comes from a dietician or the great people here. Mine helped me widen palette of foods for better satiety.

MelodiousMermaid

Unless your nutritionist understands your medical issues, has good conversations with your doctor (who is hopefully good and thorough), and can take into account and special considerations you need for your diet, here's my recommendation:

Take their advice with a grain of salt.

(Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.) I am serious, though. I've been working with a nutritionist, and while I've had a few good tips/tricks I've taken away from it, a lot of what I've been told to do/eat has been unrealistic to me and based on 10/20 year-old information. That and the "food pyramid." No. Not for me. As in many things, a reasonably healthy dose of skepticism and research/understanding goes a LONG way. Hopefully you'll have a far better experience though, if you go through with it.

I second the food scale idea. I have a digital one that can do pounds/ounces/grams. It is WONDERFUL.

ugofatcat

So I am a dietitian and I hate giving people meal plans. You can just google a meal plans you don't need to come and see me.

Giving someone a meal plan doesn't actually teach them to make better choices. What if you don't like something on the meal plan? What if you get home late and don't have time to cook? What about parties, holidays, and eating out with friends? Is it a 4 week meal plan rotation that you now have to follow for the rest of your life?

I am more then happy to help someone create a meal plan. I have cookbooks, cooking magazines, even Pinterest for ideas. I help them plan balanced meals with correct portions and make grocery lists.

lgill1127

I've been seeing an RD for the past 17 months. For the first 3 months or so I saw her every two weeks - now I see her once every other month. I've lost 62 lbs since then and have roughly 40 more to go. She's given me great advice and tips at every stage of my weight loss journey thus far, and has helped me tweak my calories/macros and adjusted my exercise schedule as I close in on the last bit of weight to lose. Her intuitive eating approach has really changed my life for the better. I've gotten the binge eating under control 98% of the time, which is a HUGE improvement.

I knew diet and exercise were the main components of weight loss, I just needed the consistent guidance and accountability to make it a sustainable lifestyle, instead of giving up after the first 25 lbs. Now, I track my food intake DAILY (using a food scale), exercise at minimum 5 days a week, and enjoy my occasional indulgences with zero guilt.

mph323

blomsj wrote: »

Unless your nutritionist understands your medical issues, has good conversations with your doctor (who is hopefully good and thorough), and can take into account and special considerations you need for your diet, here's my recommendation:

Take their advice with a grain of salt.

(Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.) I am serious, though. I've been working with a nutritionist, and while I've had a few good tips/tricks I've taken away from it, a lot of what I've been told to do/eat has been unrealistic to me and based on 10/20 year-old information. That and the "food pyramid." No. Not for me. As in many things, a reasonably healthy dose of skepticism and research/understanding goes a LONG way. Hopefully you'll have a far better experience though, if you go through with it.

I second the food scale idea. I have a digital one that can do pounds/ounces/grams. It is WONDERFUL.

A nutritionist isn't a Registered Dietitian, though. At least in the US anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, and can get credentials after taking one or two rudimentary online courses. A Registered Dietitian requires a minimum bachelors degree

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RDN credential:

Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a practice program will run six to 12 months in length.
Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR’s website at www.cdrnet.org.
Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

eta: I would take an RD's advice with a lot more than a grain of salt...

Jay9201

lgill1127 wrote: »

I've been seeing an RD for the past 17 months. For the first 3 months or so I saw her every two weeks - now I see her once every other month. I've lost 62 lbs since then and have roughly 40 more to go. She's given me great advice and tips at every stage of my weight loss journey thus far, and has helped me tweak my calories/macros and adjusted my exercise schedule as I close in on the last bit of weight to lose. Her intuitive eating approach has really changed my life for the better. I've gotten the binge eating under control 98% of the time, which is a HUGE improvement.

I knew diet and exercise were the main components of weight loss, I just needed the consistent guidance and accountability to make it a sustainable lifestyle, instead of giving up after the first 25 lbs. Now, I track my food intake DAILY (using a food scale), exercise at minimum 5 days a week, and enjoy my occasional indulgences with zero guilt.

Oh wow congratulations!

Jay9201

Thank you all its been such a relief to hear both sides. Because of my history of yo yo dieting and binge eating it's hard for me to lose weight as I can become super restrictive and end up cutting out food groups so it's been hard eating with all food groups. Fingers crossed dietitian can help! X

ugofatcat

Jay9201 wrote: »

Thank you all its been such a relief to hear both sides. Because of my history of yo yo dieting and binge eating it's hard for me to lose weight as I can become super restrictive and end up cutting out food groups so it's been hard eating with all food groups. Fingers crossed dietitian can help! X

If they are a good dietitian they will likely discuss your history of yo yo dieting and binge eating. They won't want you to cut out food groups. They will listen to you and explore your history, why you want to lose weight, you struggles, you challenges. We are trained on counseling, and I continue to read and educate myself about effective counseling techniques.