Doctor ORDERED me not to lose any more weight

JoeCampbell85

I mostly just lurk. I think you should be careful with taking the advice of people on an internet forum over your doctor. You need to ask your doctor why he feels this way. Were there blood test done? Were to complaining of any issues during your check up. Doctors are far from infallible but you need to know why he feels this way. They have opinions and their opinions can be wrong. That being said, if blood test, urinalysis, or complaints gave him reason to be cautious then you should understand why and THEN judge whether he is full of it or not. Few people here are qualified to tell you anything about your health.

BMI is an awful 19th century determinate of body composition and gaining muscle weight is far from a cop out. If you want to ignore educated opinions then you need to grab skin-fold calipers and determine your body fat percentage. The world would have been without an Arnold Schwarzenegger if he thought like you. I'm 100% sure that he was constantly considered obese by BMI standards. Even during periods of calorie deficit, the world isn't so black and white. You could undergo metabolic drops resulting in less calories burnt than you think (even measured by a hrm). I'm not saying you can't/shouldn't lose weight but it sounds like you wanna hear what you wanna hear, and when your doctor didn't tell you what you wanted to hear you come to an internet forum that is full of unqualified commenters ( no offense).

Veil5577

I think some (not all) doctors also don't want you to lose weight and get healthy because then you won't have to see them as often..

Ah, I see you took Cynicism 101 as well, eh?

No, I was born that way. :bigsmile:

newyorkmo

Well...a few questions, barring that there is some medical reason for the advice that you're not mentioning...

1. What region of the country do you live in? And is it rural or urban? In some areas of the country, most of the people are overweight/obese - and there may be different social norms in those places?

2. Is your doctor overweight himself? Perhaps he has a skewed version of normal in that case?

I lost 36 pounds, going from overweight BMI to BMI of 19.5 (normal, but on the lower end). I'm in maintenance now and doing fine. Lots of people, especially plump family members and acquaintances warn me to STOP NOW! Don't overdo it, mainly because the visual change in my body is striking, and because typically they themselves are overweight/obese and so at a normal weight, I look "too skinny" to them. Surprised your doctor is falling into that possibly, so you sound think about whether there are other medical reasons you're not sharing with us that might be influencing what he said, or whether your bone structure is very large and so you are actually at a good weight as is.

Ultimately, it's up to you. Good luck!

jdb117308

Went to Dr. today for first time in 3 years for checkup. He was astounded by my loss - (I'm 6'1', 38 yo, I went from 245 on his chart in June of 2011.... weighed in at 192 yesterday at his office).

Here's the thing... I actually am trying to lose the 10 pounds or so which have creeped up on me over the past year or so. I"m torn on what to do here, as he was adamant.

Let me also add that I've added a lot of "tone" over the past year from a lifting program, though my BMI still has me as overweight, which bothers me. Admittedly, I'm in the camp of people who think "gaining muscle weight" is just a copout.

Based on what I know about men. The upper range of the BMI is great especially if you have some muscle. My husband would look scrawny 10 lbs below the upper point of his BMI. He is shorter with a large frame and more muscles and his ideal weight is around 150. That is pretty healthy, IMNSHO.

Want to add that your BMI is 25.3. That is really healthy for a man.

disasterman

This is precisely why I never go to the doctor!! You need to gauge how you feel and if you feel like you should lose 10 more pounds, then go for it!

Huh, you never go to the doctor because some random person on the internet had their doctor tell them to stop losing weight without a reason and that person didn't ask why?

212019156

A general practitioner is one of the last people I would ask for about diet or exercise advice or ideal weight/bodyfat levels. They have very little training in this. The exception would be a doctor who was a former elite level athlete or trained at an elite level.

Shropshire1959

GPs - what do they know .. pill pushers [/generalisation] :-p

csuhar

Any idea what your body fat percentage is?

You may not have the fat to lose. Granted, you are a guy and can carry a smaller percentage of body fat than a woman, but 182 for a guy 6'1" could be too thin. If you are carrying a lot of muscle and very little fat already, I would suggest following your doctor's advice.

My son (young adult) is 6'1" and is quite glad to be at 152lbs (he was a few pounds heavier) but he works out, runs, and quite frankly looks good at this weight. Older son is 6'3" and in the low 160s range-and looks like he could use a few pounds. It really depends on body structure (one son took after my side-the other, my hubby's)...

I would say go with what you feel good at. When I first started losing (using MFP) my principal told me not to lose more weight-just to give you an idea that people will give their opinions-no matter who they are!

My brother and I are in a similar situation to your sons. I'm 6'2", he's just under 6'1", so we're similar height-wise. But when it comes to body structure, I've got the broad, large body frame of my mother's Dutch / Scandinavian family while my brother's got the narrower build from my dad's Ukrainian and English family. For him, the target weight zone is about 160 pounds, while doctors who looked at me as I was getting back in shape after cancer estimate that, based on my frame, musculature, and fitness goals, 225 is what I should be looking to stay around.

But, going back more specifically to the OP's doctor issue, a second opinion is always worthwhile. If they both say the same thing, there may be some truth to it. But if they come to different conclusions, you can start asking them questions based on what the other one said.

bostonwolf

Went to Dr. today for first time in 3 years for checkup. He was astounded by my loss - (I'm 6'1', 38 yo, I went from 245 on his chart in June of 2011.... weighed in at 192 yesterday at his office).

Here's the thing... I actually am trying to lose the 10 pounds or so which have creeped up on me over the past year or so. I"m torn on what to do here, as he was adamant.

Let me also add that I've added a lot of "tone" over the past year from a lifting program, though my BMI still has me as overweight, which bothers me. Admittedly, I'm in the camp of people who think "gaining muscle weight" is just a copout.

You really don't have a BMI target as a goal do you?

BMI was designed to measure the obesity of large populations, not individuals.

I have a friend who is about 5'9 and weights 180lbs of solid muscle and one of his nurse practitioners started on the BMI lecture with him once.

TEMMEAlexa

Well, if your doctor was not comfortable with your weight loss then i think you should have asked him the reason, as you feel you are still overweight. it is a matter of concern that he should have such a view on your weight loss.Do try and reason with him and then see if you are comfortable following his advice.You could also go for a second opinion if you cannot find an appropriate answer.

DiannaMoorer

A general practitioner is one of the last people I would ask for about diet or exercise advice or ideal weight/bodyfat levels. They have very little training in this. The exception would be a doctor who was a former elite level athlete or trained at an elite level.

I agree! Doctors have very little training in nutrition and fitness.

MyChocolateDiet

192 isn't even low for 6'1".

I had a BF who was 180 lbs at 6'2" and he was the image of absolute male perfection.

I can't imagine you are muscular enough for that to be all buffness from what you describe. It sounds like you're probably still a little "fluffy" and could stand to 1) lose a little more weight and 2) benefit from lifting and muscle building.

The Dr. may simply be aghast from seeing how fast/dramatic your weight loss has been and is trying to prevent any problems of the eating disorder variety. Successful weight losers are probably few and far between in Dr's offices and the probably are not used to how to react/evaluate sudden successful weight loss.

wampahoofus

I do not have doctors telling me not to lose more weight, but family members telling me that from time to time.

I am 6' 0", 43 yo. I was 234 lbs and dropped to 184lbs. 184 was a BMI of 25! I announced that I would drop 7 more lbs (to a little under 24 BMI) and my family told me I had already lost too much!

I am now 178lbs and love how I look even though my BMI is still in the higher end of healthy.

I think BMI is inflated for men and demands we lose more than we need to lose but I think you should be able to get to the low 180's and be very healthy.

bcattoes

A general practitioner is one of the last people I would ask for about diet or exercise advice or ideal weight/bodyfat levels. They have very little training in this. The exception would be a doctor who was a former elite level athlete or trained at an elite level.

I agree! Doctors have very little training in nutrition and fitness.

I would imagine that most doctors have more training in nutrition and fitness than the average MFP member.

RekindledRose

Find a new doctor.

pope66682

If you lose 10 more lbs, maybe you'll be too healthy. After all, doctors don't make money off of healthy people.

vickirosenthal

x

NutellaByTheSpoon

Go back and ask why. If he has no good reason. Than do it!

nedtoloseme

I'm 5'3" and lost almost 90 pounds. I'm down to 160 and my doctor told me not to lose anymore weight. I know her reasoning behind it though. I'm 53 years old and sometimes losing alot of weight when you're older makes you look real old. That's what she told me, and honestly others (real friends that is) have said the same thing. I did ask the doctor why she said that though. Ask you're doctor - if he can't give you an answer get another opinion. Best wishes to you!