My Doctor Said I Will Never Lose My Weight

nannurse

johnstonkevin457 wrote: »

Seriously, a heart doctor told me "it's not gonna happen" when I told him my weight-loss plans. So naturally I am doing it. Down 60 pounds so far. 50 more to go. He said it because of my age: 66. What he didn't know is I am getting younger by the day.

I had a similar experience this past January. Down 35# and not stopping. Congrats to you!

judefit1

It's terrible when medical professionals undermine us instead of encouraging us. I'm 64 and lost 20 lbs since Christmas (Just about 5 months), doing it with healthful eating and consistent exercise. I'm sad to see so many of my contemporaries get discouraged about their ability to get healthier- it's never too late to make a difference. Thanks for sharing, you're an inspiration!

salleewins

Some Dr's are horrible. Maybe go one last time to show him you did it and be done there??

gothchiq

This is like my dad saying that I'm too old to learn piano. I started learning at age 48. I'm 52 now. I regularly prove him wrong by sending videos of me playing various songs of medium complexity.

If you can find another doctor, consider it. If you're locked into this one by some kind of insurance network, enjoy proving them wrong!

sikorski

Congrats on your achievement!

I agree with those who told you to change doctors--unless he was trying to motivate you.

I'm a 70-year-old woman with super-slow metabolism who counted calories, changed her eating habits, and lost 23 pounds in 8 months. Slowly, but I did it! Don't let anyone tell you it's impossible.

erniewebbiii

johnstonkevin457 wrote: »

Seriously, a heart doctor told me "it's not gonna happen" when I told him my weight-loss plans. So naturally I am doing it. Down 60 pounds so far. 50 more to go. He said it because of my age: 66. What he didn't know is I am getting younger by the day.

Unfortunately, most medical doctors know very little about nutrition and fitness.

heumpirej

erniewebbiii wrote: »

johnstonkevin457 wrote: »

Seriously, a heart doctor told me "it's not gonna happen" when I told him my weight-loss plans. So naturally I am doing it. Down 60 pounds so far. 50 more to go. He said it because of my age: 66. What he didn't know is I am getting younger by the day.

Unfortunately, most medical doctors know very little about nutrition and fitness.

Sad truth!

Motorsheen

erniewebbiii wrote: »

johnstonkevin457 wrote: »

Seriously, a heart doctor told me "it's not gonna happen" when I told him my weight-loss plans. So naturally I am doing it. Down 60 pounds so far. 50 more to go. He said it because of my age: 66. What he didn't know is I am getting younger by the day.

Unfortunately, most medical doctors know very little about nutrition and fitness.

I had a doctor tell me:

"Weight Training for men over the age of 45 is pretty much a waste of time."

I replied:

"Really? ..... How much do you bench ??"

fietsvrouw

Doctors are just as prone to prejudice against people who are heavier as anyone else and in fact, a recent study showed that weight prejudice is actually more prevalent among them. It definitely shows a lack of objectivity, genuine empathy and, frankly, scientific rigor, and that affects the care you get. You should have no qualms about finding another doctor. Someone like that is likely to write off every medical issue as being a side effect of weight, and that can be deadly.

Ann262

Well, he has probably heard it from a thousand patients who didn't follow through on their plan. Still...he could have been a bit more supportive.

AnnPT77

Ann262 wrote: »

Well, he has probably heard it from a thousand patients who didn't follow through on their plan. Still...he could have been a bit more supportive.

Yeah, the utterly gobsmacked reaction I got from my doctor *and* his med assistant, when I came in for my 6-month appt down several tens of pounds . . . that tells me that meaningful weight loss rarely, rarely happens IRL. They're humans, doctors, it's no wonder that they internalize and project those probabilities. Sad, though, on many levels.

anna_lowe

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Ann262 wrote: »

Well, he has probably heard it from a thousand patients who didn't follow through on their plan. Still...he could have been a bit more supportive.

Yeah, the utterly gobsmacked reaction I got from my doctor *and* his med assistant, when I came in for my 6-month appt down several tens of pounds . . . that tells me that meaningful weight loss rarely, rarely happens IRL. They're humans, doctors, it's no wonder that they internalize and project those probabilities. Sad, though, on many levels.

even after my 6 month appt, down about 30 lbs, my doctor lectured me that winter was coming and to expect all the weight to come back. perhaps she was trying to get me to be diligent but it rubbed me the wrong way.

theIronDad

What a horrible thing for a doctor to say! You could have been the type of person that let his comment dash all your hopes of even trying. Thanks God that wasn't the case and that you proved him wrong. Congrats.

metaphysicalstudio

Great news! Proving someone wrong can be very motivating!

spyro88

Maybe he knew you had the type of personality who would rise to that challenge

lousoulbody

So many physicians want to medicate the body and not the mind. There is scientific proof that the mind & body are connected. Id like to think he was challenging you and if so i would ask. If not i would seek out a new professional, perhaps one thats healthy.

charmmeth

Ann262 wrote: »

Well, he has probably heard it from a thousand patients who didn't follow through on their plan. Still...he could have been a bit more supportive.

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Yeah, the utterly gobsmacked reaction I got from my doctor *and* his med assistant, when I came in for my 6-month appt down several tens of pounds . . . that tells me that meaningful weight loss rarely, rarely happens IRL. They're humans, doctors, it's no wonder that they internalize and project those probabilities. Sad, though, on many levels.

anna_lowe wrote: »

even after my 6 month appt, down about 30 lbs, my doctor lectured me that winter was coming and to expect all the weight to come back. perhaps she was trying to get me to be diligent but it rubbed me the wrong way.

I had the same with my practice nurse: she was really pleased with - and surprised by - my weightloss, and even more so when I maintained for a year. She had warned me that it might be a challenge to keep the weight off. Unfortunately she was right. However, I've lost it all again so next time I see heer she will be pleased about that.

willboywonder

I'm dismayed at your doctor. Many doctors are, unfortunately, not very supportive or encouraging when it comes to their patients' health and fitness goals. Frankly, for some of them it's in their best interest to keep people UNhealthy.

ednaemersonmfp

Congrats to you.. it goes to show you and you alone control your body not the Dr. Very happy for you..

Get_Back_To_Feeling_Good

johnstonkevin457 wrote: »

Seriously, a heart doctor told me "it's not gonna happen" when I told him my weight-loss plans. So naturally I am doing it. Down 60 pounds so far. 50 more to go. He said it because of my age: 66. What he didn't know is I am getting younger by the day.

Gppd for you as Nike says "Just do it"

fdhunt1

So, it's very encouraging to hear that people our age can lose weight. The success stories are great. But what I want to know now is, "How did you all lose the weight?".

Please share the successful strategies.

charmmeth

fdhunt1 wrote: »

So, it's very encouraging to hear that people our age can lose weight. The success stories are great. But what I want to know now is, "How did you all lose the weight?".

Please share the successful strategies.

Basically, I would say: read the forum! But in a nutshell: eat less and move more.

santsy712

Outstanding !!! I'm curious what your doctors response is ??? I also was told something along the lines of "not going to happen" ......I am 61, so far 17 lbs in 10 weeks. The dietician I was told to see was obese.... WTH.....what a joke. She told me it was alright to eat foods that I know I need to avoid. I wish everyone continued success !

FABRICWOMAN

fdhunt1 wrote: »

So, it's very encouraging to hear that people our age can lose weight. The success stories are great. But what I want to know now is, "How did you all lose the weight?".

Please share the successful strategies.

Intermittent fasting 16:8 and daily tracking with MFP and keeping up with motivational articles and forums like this. Have met many friends through MFP. We uplift each other when we are down and celebrate when we are up. I too had a Dr. who would not do double knee surgery until I lost 100 lbs. That was back in July 2020 and weighing 319 lbs. When I went back for my follow up appointment in April 2021 weighting 218 lbs. The man actually was dancing on his toes with my weight loss. He told me he "thought" I wouldn't do it, but was ecstatic that I proved him wrong.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I've seen a kind of evolution of the medical profession:

1960s: Stay thin whatever it takes. Go ahead and smoke. Adults shouldn't exert themselves or they risk heart attack. (Many doctors smoked.)
1970s: Avoid saturated fats and eat low-fat foods. (Except Dr. Atkins, who most thought was a flake.)
1980s: Exercise is the key to health. Go for the burn. Buns of steel. (Fad exercise and diet crazes take off.)
1990s: Obesity is the root of all evil. Direct patients to lose weight. Blame all problems on BMI. (My wife stopped seeing a GP entirely due to his over-emphasis on her weight.)
2000s: Obesity starts in childhood. Teach "healthy eating." (A good trend, but overweight children were shamed.)
2010s: Weight loss is impossible, don't even bother. People who lose weight just gain it back. (Many gloom and doom articles in the news.)
2020s: Where do we go from here? Do we diet or give up? No one seems to know.

I really don't think doctors know what to do right now. If they tell people to lose weight, then they're shaming them. Many don't believe it's possible at all due to the many studies that show how often people gain weight back.

All I can say is that, if you have a tendency to gain weight, and you choose to control your weight, a single period of calorie restriction is not going to solve the problem. You need to be willing to revisit the problem regularly.

cwolfman13

Playing devil's advocate here rather than jumping on the "find a new doctor" wagon. GPs see thousands of patients for a myriad of issues and conditions...that is why they are GPs and not specialized in any one thing. Many of those issues are chronic conditions related to obesity and unhealthy living overall. Statistically speaking, there isn't a particularly good track record of people curing themselves with healthy living and weight loss success and particularly maintenance of a healthy weight has a pretty abysmal track record. Doctors can get jaded just like anyone else. The statistical reality is that an individual is likely to be more successful in...say lowering their cholesterol with a pill than making lifestyle changes...not because lifestyle changes don't work, but because most people fail miserably in making said changes.

I started all of this good livin' stuff years ago due to a myriad of bad blood work and hypertension. My Dr. very much wanted to get me on meds given the number of issues I was having as well as the significance of those issues...ie, this is not mildly elevated, it's through the roof, etc. I told him I was scared strait and wanted the opportunity to turn things around on my own. He basically said good luck, and see you in three months and if there haven't been any significant changes, meds were likely going to be my only way out. Things weren't anywhere near perfect when I saw him again, but they were significantly improved all the way around so he gave me another three months. All in all, it took me about 9 months or so to lose 40 Lbs and put all my markers into the optimal range save for my hypertension, but even that was better controlled on my meds than it was on my meds but still "living large".

Basically, he was rather shocked which was a pretty clear indicator to me that this doesn't happen often. We actually have a much better and more personalized Dr./Patient relationship now which I think is also rare. I don't really race bikes much anymore, but I used to run into him at various events and we'd have a chat and he regularly comments on my social media posts about this or that ride I just did or this hike I just did, etc. He has mentioned to me on more than one occasion how invigorating it is for him professionally when he ends up with a patient that actually takes control of his or her health. I just think it's pretty rare for a Dr. to see.

GummiMundi

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Basically, he was rather shocked which was a pretty clear indicator to me that this doesn't happen often. We actually have a much better and more personalized Dr./Patient relationship now which I think is also rare. I don't really race bikes much anymore, but I used to run into him at various events and we'd have a chat and he regularly comments on my social media posts about this or that ride I just did or this hike I just did, etc. He has mentioned to me on more than one occasion how invigorating it is for him professionally when he ends up with a patient that actually takes control of his or her health. I just think it's pretty rare for a Dr. to see.

I get what you're saying.
When I lost 40+ pounds (and my BP got lower, and my cholesterol got better) my former GP was shocked too. She even congratulated me!
In turn that made me shocked, because I never expected that reaction from her. In the past she always lectured me about something, so much that I dreaded our appointments. A compliment from her was something I had never imagined.

jodi9894

Good for you, congratulations