Doctor Who?

acatters

100 days to a new me and I'm only down about 23 pounds. I weigh 240 pounds right now and I'm hoping to get to 175 by summer. I started seeing a physician just to ensure I am on the right track. In October, I lost 9 pounds and the doctor was thrilled. I'm exercising twice a day and cut out most carbs, still eat good carbs and lots of veggies/fruit/protein. For November, I lost 8 pounds and went to the doctor this past week. The doctor told me that "it's not enough, you should be losing more than that if you are going to the gym twice a day." He told me that I would soon plateau and lose interest. He said I was a great candidate for weight loss surgery and handed me the brochure telling me he would make a call and refer me there. WHAT THE WHAT?

I am not interested in that - I want to do this myself. I feel defeated. I thought 8 pounds in one month was good! I'm feeling depressed and especially down right now. Looking for some support or help to get through this funk. I seriously don't think I can lose more than 8 pounds a month; I'm eating less than 1200 calories a day.

=(

danae16

I think this is crazy! You need to find a sustainable diet and exercise program that you can maintain forever. There are always ups and downs, but I think 8 lbs is right on track. You will likely slow down as you get slimmer. I wonder if he gets a "bonus" for the referral.

try2again

I almost always defer to people's doctors, but unless you have a life-threatening health condition that requires immediate attention, that's ridiculous. You're doing great and losing at the perfect rate. You shouldn't be eating less than 1200, especially at this stage, but make sure you are accurately logging what you are eating. Keep up the good work and start looking for a new doctor.

Kadoober

Please don't eat less that 1200 calories a day. It's not sustainable at all, and it's not good for you. It sounds to me (Not a doctor!) that you are on the right track, other than eating too little.

23 pounds in 100 days is awesome!

Any chance you could start seeing a different Doctor? Because this one sounds like a tool.

ZoneFive

Ohhhh no you don't. Don't you dare feel defeated! You're having very good success! Your doctor is a horse's *kitten* to say any such thing. Did he get struck by lightning between October and November?

Now, having said that, let's take a better look at your calories. Less than 1200 a day is probably well undereating for you. Did you input your stats in MFP?

jenna_nicolo

What a quack doctor - folks must be careful sometimes as often doctors partner up with single-service providers (like weight loss clinics) or even a specific pharmaceutical company (as what happened with the brand Alli) in order to get kick-backs or promotion.

8lbs/month is amazing progress, 2lbs a week is the top end of what you should be losing and what's generally considered healthy and sustainable. You might have expected to lose more than that in the first few weeks considering water weight but 23lbs is an amazing feat regardless.

Look, you only wanted to lose 88lbs and you've already lost 23 of them - congrats, by the way! It sounds like you're doing well on your own, and if you don't have a serious medical condition that requires immediate weight loss, weight loss surgery sounds seriously dramatic and necessary. Don't be defeated, just keep chugging along!

lemurcat12

You are doing great! Your doctor is being unreasonable, and should not push WLS on you when diet and exercise is working.

fitoverfortymom

If you are steadily losing weight, and are committed to measuring your input/output, you will have weight loss success. Will you weigh 175 by summer? Who knows. But if you are eating at a deficit, you'll keep losing weight. In fact, you could probably eat more than 1200 calories a day (and at your weight, you probably should). I mean, what if by chance you were 185 by summer? Would you be disappointed or elated?

I started losing in September 2016 and wanted to get from 256 to 150 in a year. Well here we are in December and I'm hanging out in the middle of the 150s. But you know what? I'm not disappointed AT ALL. Why not? Because I've changed my life. I took the time and I understand what it takes to live in a calorie deficit for a long time. I've learned how to navigate and enjoy special occasions and holidays with food temptations and understanding how to enjoy those occasions without losing sight of my long term goal.

In two days I will run a half marathon. A year ago, I couldn't have run to the end of the block.

Am I disappointed that I'm not at my goal weight yet? Not. One. Single. Bit. Because I've already won.

If you don't think you need weight loss surgery, then you don't need it. Just keep tracking your calories and ensure you are in a deficit, and watch the scale go down, down, down.

Rogstar

Wow, yeah 8lbs in one month is incredible! Great job!

In fact your average has been right around 2lbs/week, which is a perfect spot for you to be in. It's hard to say negative things about doctors, but assuming he is a OB/GYN or General/Family Dr, he may not be the best individual to talk to about losing weight.

I started at ~240 myself 5 years ago, and I'm still working my way down. I'm currently fluctuating between 190-195, just hanging around the threshold between obese & overweight BMI for my height. There was ups and downs (never reached my highest weight again, but I have gained up to 220) but as long as I'm consistent, I'm happy with my progress. Plus, I've gained an appreciation for exercise that I used to abhor in high school and college! I drug my feet to run 2 miles for a fitness test, but now I happily donate money to run 5k!

Any reduction of weight is a positive change for your health. Please, take it as fast/slow as you want to and are comfortable with. Sometimes I think even doctors can get caught up in the "Biggest Loser" phenomenon, while us in the real world need to live with our changes.

Good luck, and stay healthy!

Maxxitt

Time to recalibrate I think. Eight pounds a month is awesome. But eating less than 1200 calories a day is not awesome. Under-eating like that puts a huge amount of stress on your body which messes with your endocrine system. Up your calories and continue the journey. Will you lose 65 pounds in six months? Likely, no. But you WILL be closer to your ultimate goal, and you won't be destroying your body in the process. Going to the gym might be over-kill unless your really love it. A reasonable strength training program (to preserve your awesome muscles) and a bit of cardio may be more sustainable in the long run.

Nony_Mouse

I'll just leave this here: https://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html/

TL;DR - stop starving yourself, stop doing stupid amounts of exercise. Your cortisol levels are probably jacked through the roof, and the incumbent water retention is masking fat loss.

Nony_Mouse

Also, 2lb per week is as much as you want to be losing currently, and that should be scaled back as your weight drops. You'r doctor has unrealistic expectations. Don't take those on yourself

(but still read the article I linked and take that info on board!)

duskyjewel

Your doctor is an a**hole.

And eat more than 1200 calories a day.

You're doing great.

Lounmoun

You have made great progress. Your rate of loss is fine and healthy. Tell your doctor you are happy with your rate of loss.

Eating less than 1200 and exercising is not fine but you are probably being inaccurate there or you would be losing more (unhealthily) at your size. You are fortunately likely consuming more than 1200 or burning less than you think.
You will plateau when you reach your maintenance calorie level for some weight. You are supposed to reduce calorie intake as you lose and you are already thinking you are eating below the reccomended minimum. If you think you are eating very little and exercising like crazy you might get frustrated and give up when this happens.

Instead of weight loss surgery or more restrictions improve the accuracy of your logging. Find out what you really are taking in. Get a food scale. Log everything you consume. Check that the database entries are correct.
Once you have done that don't eat below 1200 calories. If you exercise you also need to eat more.

jsminer827

It would seem to me that your doctor should be celebrating with you not tearing down your efforts. The key to long term success is going to be your ability to find something that works - it is a way of life not a diet.

I wonder if you might lose more weight if you were eating more, especially since you're going to the gym twice a day. 1,200 calories is like a bare minimum. When I started I ate 1,200 calories a day, but once I started going to the gym about a month in, I was ravenous and hated life... I now eat 1,400 calories a day and on days I go to the gym (between 3 and 4 days a week) I allow an extra 160 calories for my post-workout protein shake. I have lost more weight subsequent to increasing my calorie intake along with the exercise than I did from cutting calories alone.

If I were you, I'd find a new doctor. I would feel discouraged in your shoes too - and like I said at the beginning, it seems like there is lots to celebrate here... a loss of 2 pounds a week means you are burning off 7,000 calories above and beyond - that's nothing to wag a finger at! You go girl... keep on keeping on and with or without him you'll find success. Whatever you do, don't let him push you into a surgery you don't want (or need - judging by your progress).

MsHarryWinston

Your doctor sounds shady AF. Ditto what everyone else said. You’re doing GREAT!!!

GottaBurnEmAll

Your doctor is being completely unreasonable.

You are doing just fine and have a good mindset.

Please think about eating more calories, no less than 1200! And definitely switch doctors.

jemhh

Agreed. Your doctor is wrong and you need to be eating more than 1200 calories.

Please read this and take it to heart: https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/

PaulaWallaDingDong

I seldom suggest that people go against doctor's advice, but this is insane. You're doing perfectly, it sounds like you're overworking yourself as it is. I started off a tad heavier than you, and my doc did start mentioning surgery, but once I started doing it on my own he completely backed off.

apullum

Your doctor is trying to scam you. Period. He’s trying to sell you a procedure you clearly do not need. Please find a new doctor.

You should also not be eating less than net 1200 calories a day, and 1200 may still be too low for you. If you go to the gym twice a day, you need substantially more than 1200. Eat the number of calories MFP recommends, and eat back your exercise calories.

QueenBee2018

I am a doctor and would be elated with your loss of 8 pounds in a month. So few patients will actually follow advice to lose weight. The only reason I can think of for his response is that he has some investment in the surgery or is just disillusioned from seeing so many people fail at weight loss. Keep up the good work, don't make yourself crazy with extreme deprivation, keep logging and you will win this race.

Heather4448

David Tennant is my favorite Doctor.
Also, eat more
It’s okay.

brightresolve

^ what all of them said. The only surgery you need is a Doctorectomy, and fortunately, it is a painless procedure that will not have any negative impact on you.

Seriously: WLS for someone doing a spectacular job of losing already? Bet he does get a kick back for referrals. And as many have said, make sure you do take care of yourself and do this sustainably. 1200 sounds pretty low for your weight.

acatters

I'm wiping my years, thank you all for the support. I am so glad I have found this community, your words made a difference.

acatters

Thank you so much.

rheddmobile

I'm happy you feel better! Remember doctors like money too.

You can definitely do this, and 2 lbs / wk is a great rate of loss. I'm down 110 lbs in a year, and a healthy BMI now. It happened one pound at a time, just like it will for you! And doing it for yourself you will learn healthy eating and exercise habits, and avoid a very painful surgery with a high risk of complications.

Meanwhile, my friend who had bariatric surgery has regained all the weight, and is suffering from kidney failure due to her uncontrolled diabetes. Surgery won't help you if you aren't willing to help yourself, and you have already proved you are willing to work for your health!

grinning_chick

Something is definitely rotten in the state of Denmark.

No competent M.D./D.O. would be pushing to refer patients who are clearly losing weight at a good clip for WLS, unless they presented as a WLS candidate and were just demonstrating pre-surgery that they could successfully formulate, follow, and stick to a prescribed weight loss diet plan.

Judge Judy is right, you know; if something doesn't make sense, it's because someone is doing/saying something they shouldn't be. Something is up with your doctor. If you don't feel like confronting them and calling them out on this, I'd just fire them and get another to be done with the doubt/second guessing you absolutely do not need in your life.

ms_maruska

Congratulations on your weight loss! You may as well put your story in the Success story section rather than doubting yourself because of stupid advice about losing more faster and end up yo-yoing or going through a painful and stressful surgery.

canadianlbs

acatters wrote: »

I feel defeated.

don't feel defeated. feel contemptuous - or enraged, if you like, that this supposed health pro is negging you just because he has something to sell.

yeah. i would go with enraged. and 8 pounds in one month IS good. the man is a shill and a dick.

ladyreva78

I ended up in the clutches of a similar doctor and nutritionist team. Every time I'd see the doc or the nutritionist (NOT an RD), they'd bring up WLS in some form or other. I was starting to feel like a failure for only losing 1lbs per week, sometimes less (some times nothing at all). I was also on a super restrictive program that was triggering binge episodes because of undereating and they in fact made me feel even worse for not sticking to the program. After all, everyone has success on it... why not me? I had appointements there about every 2-3 weeks, so that idea kept on being hammered into my brain.

I was in a pretty dark place when I found MFP. I ditched the doctor/nutritionist. Started logging my intake and expenditure. Started consistently losing weight.

Went to another doctor who is THRILLED with my on average 0.5-1lbs rate of loss and whole heartedly encouraged me to take a 1 year maintenance break when things went south at my former workplace and I needed to sort out the mental fallout from that. I see her on a 'need to' basis or for the regular yearly check up for blood panels that we've agreed on.

Unless a check up shows some kind of a serious problem, you don't need to go more often than once a year. Any doctor who requires more is just out to suck money out of you.

sytchequeen

8lb in a month IS great, you are spot on with your instincts. Do this yourself and show him!