Should I go against my doctors suggestion... Please help!!

Naomilynn72

Hi, I have been journaling my food, calories and sodium by the suggestion of my doctor. This has been a tremendous help to me in seeing in black and white what I am eating and why I am in the "morbidly obese" category. My dilemma is, at my first doctor visit 6 weeks ago, my doctor recommended that I set my caloric daily goal at 800. Well, I didn't exactly do that, I followed the recommended goals set on myfitnesspal, and I was staying under that. When I went back 2 weeks later to get my blood work results I showed her that I was journaling every day "religiously" and how I was exercising more and drinking more water and I lost 3 lbs and I was not feeling hungry. She was proud of that, but my sodium was way too high. Okay, I get that, so no more pre-packaged meals or canned soups. But she went back to the 800 calories. I have not eaten much over the 800 and my body feels hungry, even after I have eaten. But also, after I have eaten my meal I feel like I have gained, so I go on long brisk walks everyday to hopefully get rid of it. On one hand I feel that its just my body not understanding what its going through because its never been deprived for this long and that its a whole new way of living and until my body makes that adjustment its going to feel like this. But on the other hand, I fear that I am putting my body in shock in a "bad way" and will mess up my metabolism. I have been told by my friends and family that this is not right and actually unhealthy way to lose and not a "realistic" calorie goal. I have placed a call to my doctor, but no reply just yet. I hope to soon, but I was just wondering if there are any nutritionists or dietitians or someone that has experienced the same thing that can possibly give me advice.

Thank you in advance

Naomi

sandram82

Personally I would not go less than 1200 cals a day and more if exercising!

anemoneflynn

I think you should seek a second opinion - if you're starving your body, instead of helping it lose the weight, then you could be in trouble later on. Walking is great, though, keep it up!

♥_Ellybean_♥

Drs are not nutritionist and unless they are certified to do so should not be giving out such information.


I would seek our WHY she is recommending such a low calorie diet.. possibly by just flat out asking her... and go from there.

Also maybe she can refer you to a nurtitionist that can give you proper guidance if she feels you are not doing well.

But it seems to me your doing well on your own.

mavila1978

800 sounds really low especially if you're not provided with a strict list of foods to eat and not to eat. I wonder what type of diet she's recommending, if she can provide you with literature about the studies regarding such a calorie restricted diet, or if she is just full of it.

naomihandler

I am not a nutritionist or a dietition, but it sounds like you should visit one. 800 seems like waaaay too low. You must be so hungry! I would make an appointment with someone who specilizes in nutrition and work out a better number, especially since you are getting in some exercise too.

PS. I'm Naomi too

Wraiythe

My doctor put me on a 1600 calorie diet and when i first started it I felt like that was torture...but 800??? Wow. I don't know that so sounds not right to me. The dietitian they had me seeing always recommended not under 1200....you might want a second opinion on that one!

Isley361

I am no Dr. by any means but am a Paramedic with enough medical knowledge and training to know that 800 calories is not enough for anyone! That is crazy! Your body needs a certain amount of calories to function. I cannot believe that your Dr. would even suggest this. By doing this you will basically be starving yourself, your metabolisim will drop and your body will go into starvation mode, storing everything and potentially causing you lots of medical problems. If your Dr. is concerned about your sodium, there are ways to control that and at the same time will help you drop weight as well but if I were you, I would not take your Dr.s advice regarding the calories and get a second opionion from a qualified nutritionist, not a doc in the box.

beatlemom

My doctor said noone should go under 1200 calories. It's not healthy.

bachooka

If you look up some information on dieting for people who are morbidly obese... it does tend to say that they can go with less calories because they have a bigger store. But if you feel deprived up your input! you know what your body is asking you for! And make your opinion known to your doctor!

abra526

Well, I'm not a professional by any means, but I would consider seeking a second opinion. 800 cals seem so low, no matter how much weight a person has to lose. Sorry I'm not more helpful, but just though I'd throw in my two cents. Good luck with everything!

Seesaa

if you are following the mfp suggestions and losing the weight and making better choices then you shouldn't have to go to an 800 cal diet losing weight and all that has proven that.

Sodium is a hard thing to over come, but you know it comes from pre packaged so now you can track that and eliminate some of it by making better choices. I have struggled with sodium I have really good days and some bad days but more good then bad. If ya need more ideas or anything I'm willing to share what I've learned.

o2blori

I think it's very important to listen to your body. 800 is not healthy, even for the person that's 120lbs. You're right. You will throw your body into starvation mode, and will hinder, not help. If you were feeling good at whatever your caloric goal was before, and losing weight, I would stick to that. You know your body better than any Dr will.

Just my opinion. Good luck!

jamie78

Your body needs more then 800 calories a day to survive! I would stay around 1200 a day or even 1600... You will still lose weight and it will come off faster as you learn to lower your sodium and up your water intake...

msiddiqi

Yeah, 800 calories per day seems ridiculously low. FIgure out your base metabolic rate (which I think you can do on this site under Tools) -- this represents how many calories you'd burn just lying in bed all day. Whatever that is is really the minimum of what you should consume -- then continue with your exercise. 800/day? Crazy!

girlofsun26

I had a friend that had to have a hip replacement but because he was so overweight they couldn't do anything untill he dropped the weight and he needed to do it fast. His doctor sent him to Lindora and they had him on a 600 cal diet a day. He dropped the weight and they have slowly moved him back up to a "normal" calorie intake...Maybe your doctor wants you to drop the weight fast but from what I understand when you are on a low calories diet like that you should be also seeing someone a few days a week to make sure your body is reacting to it ok..I would def talk to the doctor and express your concerns and make him/her explain why so low. Good luck to you!!! Either way your making a difference in you and your going to succeed! Congrats on your 3lb weight loss!! That is Fantastic!

Newfiedan

My advice is to get a 2nd opinion as it never hurts, some docs will recommend such a massive cal cut to get you to drop weight but I did not see in your post if she recommended the content of those cals to you. I applaud you for making the effort and I have had quite a few people ask me what I have done to lose weight but furthermore make such a dramatic turn around in my overall health. I started clean eating and I make an effort to comprise my diet of 90% clean eating as best I can. I would hope that she recommended seeing a dietitian to get a proper meal plan and not just say drop to 800 cals and that is it.

jamiek89

Without wanting to act like I know more than a doctor... in this case I do!
800 calories is not only extremely unrealistic, it is also setting you up to fail, because you are so hungry that you end up binging anyway. Also it is unlikely that you are getting all of the nutrients you need on an 800cal diet.
I woud stick to the standard recommended minimum of 1200 & maybe exercise more if you feel like your not losing enough weight. Also reducing your sodium will surprisingly help you on your weight loss journey. Good luck!

ltlmsmrysnshine

I definitely agree with the other girls! I don't think it's safe to restrict youself to that low of a calorie intake! I would go with what's on here, and btw- I am proud of you for your adjustments!!! You go girl!!!! Keep it up! Lift yourself up and look for support on here! XOXO

therobinator

Please get a second opinion, or see a nutritionist. If your body is asking for food, that's because it needs it.

tross0924

Some doctors persribe a Very Low Calorie Diet for people who are morbidly obese. The risks of being over weight in some cases out weigh the risks of the diet. If you have a lot to lose, you're not going to harm yourself by going very low for a short period of time.

As for wether or not to follow the advice, that's up to you. If you need that "boost" for confidence to help you stick with it, do it. If you want fast results and are sure you can follow the plan after you lose the initial weight, do it. If you'd rather be the tortise than the hair, don't.

tamanella

I was doing Medifast with my doctor for awhile and that is a liquid diet of 500 calories a day, BUT I also saw him every week so he could examine me and make sure I was tolerating it ok. I did just fine on it and dropped a lot of weight, but I also gained it all back and then some because I never learned the right behaviors it took to keep it off. I too would make another appointment with your doctor to discuss her reasons behind 800 calories and then I would tell her that you'll only go that low if she sees you every week to make sure your body is ok with it. Otherwise I agree with everyone else and I'd see a nutritionist to get you on the right track. :0)

DianaPowerUp

You can google this, and apparently some drs. will put patients that are extremely obese on what's called a VLCD, or Very Low Cal. Diet. The idea is to drop the deadly weight off fast, if the patient's health is comprised. For example, say you have someone who is 600 lbs, and needs surgery, but b/c of their weight, is too much of a risk. Then they'll go on a VLCD.

Having said that, it seems to me that this is very drastic. Not only drastic, but unsound medical advice, if you are not actually GIVEN a written menu to follow. It seems negligent at best to say to a patient, "Ok, now go out into the world and don't eat more than 800 cal/day.", and not say anything about the essential nutrients, fat, carbs, etc that need to be in that 800 cal.

I would RUN to get another opinion. Seriously, the BMR for my goal weight is a good 500 cal more than what you are being told to eat daily. BMR! I net about 1400 cal or so/day, and I am often RAVENOUS. I can only imagine how hungry you must be! You could EASILY eat twice as much, and STILL lose weight!

Naomilynn72

WOW!!! Thank you all so so much for your positive and informative suggestions. She pretty much told me to cut it to 800 and then a list of possible foods but no real reason why so low. After thinking about all of this, I know that deep down this 800 is very wrong for me. But from what I understand, if I increase the calories I will just keep encouraging myself to exercise more to sweat it off and like many of you said continue eating healthier. When I speak to my doctor I will ask her to recommend me to a nutritionist. Thank you again ladies for your support.

rockabyesarojane

you should definitely talk to a nutritionist about your daily calorie intake instead and then on your next doctor visit explain that you're seeing a nutritionist. you could even ask your doctor for a referral to one.

TrainingWithTonya

Okay, I'm a nutritionist and studying to be an RD. Before I would follow the recommendations of a doctor on nutrition, I would want to know their nutrition education. In helping a friend of mine plan her pre-req classes for medical school, I've seen the coursework that doctors go through and there is generally only 1 nutrition class and it is a basic class that I took as a pre-req for my nutrition minor. That one, basic nutrition class doesn't qualify them to prescribe a diet in my opinion. That being said, some doctors do specialize and take more coursework in nutrition. Generally, those doctors also go through more advanced courses in how to combine nutrition with pharmacology to help with rapid weight loss for the morbidly obese. Without knowing the full plan your doctor has you on (meds and such to go along with the diet and exercise) and your specific needs, I couldn't say if it is a good idea to follow her advice or not.

That being said, I can also say that in my 15 years in the fitness industry, 5 of which I've been a certified nutritionist, and especially since learning more in my nutrition program at college, I would never recommend a calorie intake that low, especially for someone who is exercising. I base calorie needs on the individual and I can honestly say there have only been a handful of people I've ever recommended less then 1200 calories for, but those people were literally only 90 pounds of lean body mass and very sedentary and even still it was no less then 1100. If you are more then that lean body weight or activity level, then you need more food to safely lose weight without slowing your metabolism. Doctors can prescribe less because they are also giving medications that can help prevent some of the metabolism slowdown (Yes, prescription diet pills are generally stimulants that help keep metabolism increased.) where I'm not licensed to prescribe medications. If your doctor is just telling you to eat that little but not giving you anything to help with your metabolism, I wouldn't follow the diet recommendations, personally. Especially if you were seeing results with the MFP recommendations and were feeling better about your eating.The number one thing I'm learning in my dietetics classes is that the changes we recommend have to be things that are doable for the patient and realistic for the long term. We can prescribe eating an apple a day, for example, but if the patient doesn't like apples, they won't stick with the plan and therefore our plan hasn't helped them at all. If your doctor isn't willing to recommend changes that you can do long term that won't cause you to feel like they are things you can't stick with, then you need to find a nutritionist or dietitian that can work with you and give you recommendations you can stick with. Or since the MFP recommendations were working for you, then you can stick with those. But above all else, don't beat yourself up emotionally because you "can't stick to the doctors plan" because the doctor should be tailoring the plan to you not you tailoring your life to the doctors plan.

rockabyesarojane

WOW!!! Thank you all so so much for your positive and informative suggestions. She pretty much told me to cut it to 800 and then a list of possible foods but no real reason why so low. After thinking about all of this, I know that deep down this 800 is very wrong for me. But from what I understand, if I increase the calories I will just keep encouraging myself to exercise more to sweat it off and like many of you said continue eating healthier. When I speak to my doctor I will ask her to recommend me to a nutritionist. Thank you again ladies for your support.

haaha. whoops. i was a little too late!

susu5

I would go 1200 - 1400 calories and you will get all of your nutriants. and walk any amount at first and only eat good wholesome food!!!! Good Luck and God Bless You!!! You can do this!!!

Losing2Live69

I would seek a second opinion. I saw my doctor and a registered dietician that works with the hospital where I live. They both recommended not going under 1200. Even with 1200 with my exercise I wasn't losing. I upped mine to 1400 and I am losing again. If you eat only 800 calories a day and your body gets used to that, as soon as you start eating a "normal" amount of food you are going to gain weight back. It isn't right for you to feel deprived and hungry during this. Having those feelings are the very things that cause so many people to just give up and quit. This is a lifestyle change, not a diet. You are learning how to eat right, exercise, drink water, etc. This has to be something that you (somewhat) enjoy. If you lost 3 pounds eating more calories that goes to show that you can lose weight eating more than 800 calories. Your body is going to hold on to every morsel you put in it if you go into starvation mode. That is what halts weight loss. Eating more calories is the way to go. Definitely seek the advice of another professional.

marianmaj

Are you going to a MD for Medifast or HCG shots? If not 800 is too low. Start with 1200 and eat all and only fresh unprocessed foods. Low glycemic index fruits only ; You may be a good candidate for the HCG diet. Many of my clients have lost 30 pounds in 30 days. Homeopathic drops only. Check it out and read Dr Simeons book online: ":POUNDS AND INCHES" good luck in your journey

marianmaj

Are you going to a MD for Medifast or HCG shots? If not 800 is too low. Start with 1200 and eat all and only fresh unprocessed foods. Low glycemic index fruits only ; You may be a good candidate for the HCG diet. Many of my clients have lost 30 pounds in 30 days. Homeopathic drops only. Check it out and read Dr Simeons book online: ":POUNDS AND INCHES" good luck in your journey