Would you take the advice of......

Di3012

Just wondering, would you take the advice of a professional or from somebody who posts on a forum?

By "professional" I mean those in the capacity of a Doctor, Dietician, Nutritionist, Fitness Instructor.

Interested to see the opinions here......

kathyms13

professional of cors.

BrianSharpe

Nope, there's no way of confirming credentials and free advice is usually worth exactly what you paid for it (unless dealing in extremely general information). I'm a practicing professional (different discipline) and I'm sure people think I'm an ogre when I refuse to give free tax advice (not just because I like to get paid for my work but it's impossible to get all of the background in a casual conversation).

lambertj

Hi Di,

I'm not sure I would take the advice of a professional without looking into it because I am finding some conflicting information. For instance, for years we were told to eat low-fat/no-fat so I did but now I am finding that low-fat or no-fat products contain tons of sugar and I actually lose weight better by including healthy fats into my diet and keeping my sugar low. We also hear that we should eat whole wheat bread and yet again, I'm finding that wheat bread is full of sugar and wrecks havoc on my digestive tract. I think I would treat the opinion of a professional the same way I would treat the opinion of someone on these boards. I'd take the information and research it further and experiment myself.

Sidesteal

Just wondering, would you take the advice of a professional or from somebody who posts on a forum?

By "professional" I mean those in the capacity of a Doctor, Dietician, Nutritionist, Fitness Instructor.

Interested to see the opinions here......

I know professionals who are excellent and ones who are, in my opinion, using outdated information that is no longer accepted as accurate.

I try my best to research whatever information is being presented and judge that information based on the information, not on who gives it. I would make some exceptions, in that I have a few resources who I consider to be outstanding, and I do tend to rely on these resources and put a little more "stock" into what they say.

montana_girl

Nope, there's no way of confirming credentials and free advice is usually worth exactly what you paid for it.

^^This!

bm99

I pay a professional to give me their knowledge and any opinion they may have based on that knowledge.

I take that information, temper it with my personal experience and any knowledge I may have myself and form an opinion.

Forum people are just forum people. If they make a good point it will probably lead me to look into something for myself.

ElizabethRoad

I know professionals who are excellent and ones who are, in my opinion, using outdated information that is no longer accepted as accurate.

This. Also, let's keep in mind that being in the medical field doesn't make you a specialist in all aspects of it. Your family doctor may be an expert in what he does, but probably has very little training in nutrition.

Di3012

I know professionals who are excellent and ones who are, in my opinion, using outdated information that is no longer accepted as accurate.

This. Also, let's keep in mind that being in the medical field doesn't make you a specialist in all aspects of it. Your family doctor may be an expert in what he does, but probably has very little training in nutrition.

Neither has many of those on the forums though.........

I have seen many a newbie posting frustrating threads imploring for help only to get all sorts of contradicting advice

GasMasterFlash

Nope, there's no way of confirming credentials...

What if they are listed in bold below all of their replies? Bold makes it pretty reputable, doesn't it?

LorinaLynn

It depends. I'd take the advice of some of the folks on here over the advice I've gotten from *some* professionals. I take no one's word as gospel and do my own research.

fiveohmike

I know professionals who are excellent and ones who are, in my opinion, using outdated information that is no longer accepted as accurate.

This. Also, let's keep in mind that being in the medical field doesn't make you a specialist in all aspects of it. Your family doctor may be an expert in what he does, but probably has very little training in nutrition.

Neither has many of those on the forums though.........

I have seen many a newbie posting frustrating threads imploring for help only to get all sorts of contradicting advice

Thats the world of nutrition. Even for experts. They cannot agree on one thing. For every report, there is another report that discounts said report, followed by another report that discounts the second report ect.

No one will ever agree. Do what works for YOU.

_Timmeh_

Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil fo sho!

ElizabethRoad

I know professionals who are excellent and ones who are, in my opinion, using outdated information that is no longer accepted as accurate.

This. Also, let's keep in mind that being in the medical field doesn't make you a specialist in all aspects of it. Your family doctor may be an expert in what he does, but probably has very little training in nutrition.

Neither has many of those on the forums though.........

I have seen many a newbie posting frustrating threads imploring for help only to get all sorts of contradicting advice

I'm not sure I see your point.

fiveohmike

Many experts say the HCG diet is rad!

BrianSharpe

Nope, there's no way of confirming credentials...

What if they are listed in bold below all of their replies? Bold makes it pretty reputable, doesn't it?

Maybe if it was bold and italic it would be more credible......

Many experts say the HCG diet is rad!

Only the ones making money from it! :laugh:

almc170

I generally don’t rely on advice from a single source. For example, I might consult with a dietician but I will also do my own research and get input from other sources (including the mfp forums). A credential by itself doesn’t hold much sway for me, even less if I don’t have any way to verify it.

kgprice11

Just wondering, would you take the advice of a professional or from somebody who posts on a forum?

By "professional" I mean those in the capacity of a Doctor, Dietician, Nutritionist, Fitness Instructor.

Interested to see the opinions here......

I know professionals who are excellent and ones who are, in my opinion, using outdated information that is no longer accepted as accurate.

I try my best to research whatever information is being presented and judge that information based on the information, not on who gives it. I would make some exceptions, in that I have a few resources who I consider to be outstanding, and I do tend to rely on these resources and put a little more "stock" into what they say.

I agree completely. I take forum advice lightly but research it as well to get a better understanding

Crochetluvr

Yep....a professional. I find too many conflicting POV's online.

ironanimal

I learn from the experiences and knowledge of others with many years of dedication to the subject - in this case strongmen, bodybuilders and cage fighters.

Not from my fat doctor or the trainers at the gym that think I'd be better of squatting in a Smith machine whilst only eating up until 7pm because my metabolism shuts down.

fiveohmike

Yep....a professional. I find too many conflicting POV's online.

Visit two or more professionals....you will see just as many conflicting views.

MeliciousGibson

I would take the advice of an accredited professional before taking the advice of your average person here on the forums (although there are some accredited professionals on here). Even then I would do further research on that information instead of taking it as "gospel". Even in our advanced day and age there is almost always conflicting information about every topic - and I would like to make an informed decision about my body. I only get this one....

Although your average person on these forums that is ABSOLUTELY 100% CERTAIN that their way is correct and everything else is just crap does make quite the compelling point....

Pedal_Pusher

Is this a setup?

myfitnessnmhoy

Just wondering, would you take the advice of a professional or from somebody who posts on a forum?

By "professional" I mean those in the capacity of a Doctor, Dietician, Nutritionist, Fitness Instructor.

Interested to see the opinions here......

If I wanted the opinion of a professional, I'd never ask on the forums. I ask on the forums because I get feedback from people who are going through or have been through the same things I have, and often will yield some interesting ideas that I can practice with and adapt to see what works.

This isn't cancer diagnosis, it's weight loss. If I do something horribly wrong, I don't go into remission and die. I stop losing weight and maybe gain a pound, and discover that what worked for someone else did not, in fact, work for me. I then relay that experience where I think it fits so others can do their own experimentation.

Nutrition, exercise, and weight loss are so complex that (barring any specific medical condition where following unprofessional advice could actually harm you!) in many cases the best way to approach it is self-experimentation tempered with a little common sense (if someone advises hemlock, I'm going to research it first), and anecdotal evidence combined with a touch of research works just fine in gathering ideas as to what to try.

It also means I've lost a crapload of weight without burdening the health care system or spending hundreds of dollars on trainer who may or may not give me better feedback than I get here from the forums.

The point of these forums is to share experiences and ideas. I've gotten a lot of great ones from this forum, and it's helped alleviate a lot of misconceptions I had about weight loss that have hampered my progress for a long, long time. I get help from people who may not be as expert as my doctor in nutrition, but people who are willing to offer their time and opinions for my consideration.

So, even to the people who I disagree with because we've found different paths, THANK YOU for your advice, input, and ideas.

And to whomever first mentioned things like refrigerator oatmeal and muscle retention through lifting and calorie cycling, :flowerforyou:

myfitnessnmhoy

Yep....a professional. I find too many conflicting POV's online.

Next time that bothers you, ask multiple nutrition professionals for advice on nutrition. :laugh:

All kidding aside, there are LOTS of conflicting nutritional theories out there, even among the professionals. There are also a LOT of diets the human body can adapt and thrive on, so it's possible that multiple conflicting theories can all be correct, and that something that works for one person doesn't work as well for someone else.

The forums are a collection of ideas. Some good, some bad. I fish it for interesting ideas to try. Many get thrown back.

It's all good. I want to keep this weight off, and in order to do that I need to learn multiple different ways of eating so I don't get bored and fall back on the old habits that caused me to gain the weight in the first place.

mmapags

Depends on the proffesional and depends on the poster here. I've heard some pretty sketchy and uninformed advice given out by proffesionals. Just as bad as some of the stuff you see posted here. I've also seen some pretty creible posts here by some very knowledgable people, some of whom are also proffesionals. TraingingwithTonya and Ninerbuff come to mind. And some who are but are intelligent well read and reseached people. A proffesional certification is no guarantee of knowledge.

Glucocorticoid

Studies show that the amount of letters after a person's title is directly correlated with how smart they are and how much they know. I once ran into an MD BSc MSc PhD. You can take their words to the bank, they spit the truth

In all seriousness, don't take anyone's advice blindly, even if they seem educated and have the credentials. Education just means that the individual was exposed to a certain level of academia and managed to pass through the curriculum with a passing grade, it does not prove that they are an expert, or that they even remotely know what they are talking about.

On top of that, even if the individual seems remotely competent, many of these 'professionals' have an agenda of their own (i.e. pushing their products), and may stretch the truth (and that's putting it nicely). A rule of thumb: if any 'professional' has to constantly remind you of their credentials/throw their qualifications in your face, they're usually full of it.

mmapags

Studies show that the amount of letters after a person's title is directly correlated with how smart they are and how much they know. I once ran into an MD BSc MSc PhD. You can take their words to the bank, they spit the truth

In all seriousness, don't take anyone's advice blindly, even if they seem educated and have the credentials. Education just means that the individual was exposed to a certain level of academia and managed to pass through the curriculum with a passing grade, it does not prove that they are an expert, or that they even remotely know what they are talking about.

On top of that, even if the individual seems remotely competent, many of these 'professionals' have an agenda of their own (i.e. pushing their products), and may stretch the truth (and that's putting it nicely). A rule of thumb: if any 'professional' has to constantly remind you of their credentials/throw their qualifications in your face, they're usually full of it.

I once heard a joke about an old farmer when responded when asked about higher education and what he thought said, "well the first thing you get is a BS and we all know what that means. Then you can get a MS which I figure means More of Same. Then you can go all the way up and get a PHD which, best as I can tell means Piled Higher and Deeper." :laugh:

chatterboxpa

What I've done is take in as much information as you can and do what makes sense and works for you!! Regardless of everything you hear, if it sounds like a quick fix and a dream come true, it is probably something that is really going to disappoint you in the end. I've managed to drop almost 40 pounds so far since January - which is a healthy sustainable weight loss. I am not worried about being able to keep this off. And what has worked, is eating properly and exercise. I've tried some things and let them go because they didn't work for me and this needs to be something I can do for the rest of my life.

Di3012

Is this a setup?

A setup?? lmao!!!

No, why?

LesterBlackstone

Nope, there's no way of confirming credentials...

What if they are listed in bold below all of their replies? Bold makes it pretty reputable, doesn't it?

Maybe if it was bold and italic it would be more credible......

BOLD AND ITALICS ARE IRRELEVANT! THE CORRECT ANSWER IS THE ONE WHO TYPES EVERYTHING IN CAPS !!!!1111ONE!!11

Studies show that the amount of letters after a person's title is directly correlated with how smart they are and how much they know. I once ran into an MD BSc MSc PhD. You can take their words to the bank, they spit the truth wink

http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2010/11/18/paper-credentials-vs-the-fitness-industry/