Went to a Registered Dietician. WOW!

bonniejo

I wonder where the OP went...

3dogsrunning

I wonder where the OP went...

OP came back on this page

No diabetes yet, but have had borderling hypertension since I was 15 i'm now 42. Was put on high blood pressure meds about a month ago

neandermagnon

Hi all,

I was recently put on high blood pressure pills. I've been fighting borderline hypertension for the last 25 years. I can use to lose around 40-45 pounds and have been on and off MFP for the last 2 years. To make a long story short, I had my Dr. refer me to the Diabetes clinic at the local hospital to see a registered dietician. I'm a bit confused on what she told me to do. I had been on a modest high protein, vegetable, low carb eating plan for a while now. Not losing any weight and eating around 1800-2000 calories a day. That is what MFP has me at for my height and weight. (5'10" 238 pounds). For the most part I am keeping within the different categories, keeping sodium under 1200 a day and struggling to keep sugar around 40 which once again is what MFP has set.

The dietician told me to get 45% of my calories from carbs, 25% from protein and 30% from fat. This is based off 2100 calories per day. Does this sound right to the MFP community? That would allow me 2 oz of protein per meal if I were to eat 5 small meals a day. Honestly 2 oz is not really worth it. That's not even a forkful of chicken breast....crazy. The other thing that shocked me was this was coming from a diabetic clinic. My father has been a diabetic for over 40 years and they tell him to limit the carbs due to insulin resistance. Once again strange.

Can maybe some of you explain this to me so I can better understand something that I might have missed.
Thank you for the advice.
FATBOY235

those are pretty balanced macros, I eat 40% carb, 30% protein and 30% fat when tracking.

25% of calories from protein = 2100/4 = 525 cals/day from protein = 131g protein a day... that's a lot of protein. I don't know how you got from that to "not even a forkful of chicken breast" ....

I think you're confusing grams of protein with grams of food.

131g protein divided by 6 = 22g protein per meal. That's about 4 eggs; that's not a small serving of protein food. It doesn't mean 22g of food containing protein per meal... it means 22g of actual protein which would require quite a lot more than 22g of food to get. i.e. a lot more than "barely a forkful of chicken breast". That's more like the entire chicken breast (though obviously it depends on how big it is). Personally I aim for 130g protein a day and find it *really* difficult to eat enough protein, my protein often tops out in the low 100s. And I include high protein foods in every meal.

Also, you don't have to eat 6 meals a day if you don't want to.

It's important to distinguish between % of calories, and % of food weight or volume. If you eat 30% fat by food volume you'll be overeating by a lot. It's 30% of calories and as fat is more calorie dense than the other macros, the fat you eat is quite a bit less than 30% of the quantity of food you eat. Macronutrient ratios are percentages of calories.

Delicate

Im curious why they refered you to a diabetic clinic, unless they are worried about you developing diabeties?

Hypertension can be a result from prediabeties (so can a few other problems). So you may not be full blown diabetic but you could be itching there.

Ask them if they are worried about you becoming diabetic?

ndj1979

I have to chime in here since I am a Registered Dietitian. She gave you sound advice. 45% Carbs is very reasonable for a Diabetic. Not sure you are Diabetic though? The lowest I would rec. is 40% of your calories from Carbs. Why not increase your Protein amounts at lunch and Dinner to 3 oz each, a more standard size serving, have 2 oz at B-Fast and 1 oz each for your two snacks. Your calorie goal sounds perfect too. I came up with 2200 calories per day to lose 2 lb per week, so very close. If your not losing weight then try bumping down to 2000 calories per day after 2 weeks. Also be sure to get adequate fiber in your diet 25-30g per day and plenty of water. Good luck in meeting your health and weight loss goals!

In addition, 3 oz of protein is approx. the size of a deck of cards or the size of your fist. Even if one is not Diabetic, a Diabetic Meal Plan is a very healthy eating plan for many individuals who are trying to lose weight.

OK - I have a question ..if OP is not losing on 1800 how will she lose at a recommended increase to 2100 eating 300 more calories a day, 2100 calories a week. By my math, that is little over a half pound increase per week....

hmmm the "dietician" never came back to answer..interesting...

nleighp

Do you believe a Registerd Health Professional or loads of random people on an internet forum who think they are experts ..................... Hmmm I know what one I'd go for

This.