Who's the crazy one?

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  • MissMarley137
    MissMarley137 Posts: 17
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    If you are under the care of a physician, do what he says - period!

    I know you followed this up with seeking a second opinion (which I agree the OP should do), but this might be the most reckless statement anyone can follow when it comes to medicine. Doctors are not all created equal, and doctors quite frequently are blowhards who give advice as if they are specialists in a field they took one class on in med school. You wouldn't go to a cardiologist for your gall bladder, so listening to a GP who doesn't necessarily have any advanced knowledge in nutrition or fitness isn't wise either.

    The best advice I was ever given when it came to dealing with medical issues was be a strong advocate for yourself, because no one else will be. If you believe your doctor isn't hearing you, or is dismissing your concerns, find a new doctor. Plain and simple. It can sometimes truly be the difference between life and death.

    I wholeheartedly agree.
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
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    If you are under the care of a physician, do what he says - period!
    And if you need another opinion, seek out another Dr - don't troll MFP for somebody to agree with you.
    Sounds like you just want to eat more.
    Join the club.
    Either take your doctor's advice, or fire him and seek medical services elsewhere.
    Good Luck:flowerforyou:

    I agree that if you're under the doctor care, do what he says and if you need another opinion seek another doctor.

    I COMPLETELY DISAGREE that you sound like you "just want to eat more". Completely disagree with that.

    You asked for opinions so I'll give mine. I agree that it takes more to move something heavy. It's a workout for me to mow but when I was lighter it was easier. If you are eating too few calories you're body will go into starvation mode and you won't lose....and at 1500 I think that would happen. Maybe try a few other BMR's to get a good average for you.

    I would: increase plain water, increase fiber, maybe stick around 1900 calories - and find a new doctor. His "bedside manner" really sucks.

    Good luck~!

    "starvation mode" doesn't happen until very low body fat percentages.
  • DonniesGirl69
    DonniesGirl69 Posts: 644 Member
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    While the doctor seem to have an attitude problem, and should perhaps work on his bedside manner, I have to say it's not necessarily the Depo causing the stall in weight loss. (Not that it ISN'T that, but it's not 100% that's it)
    People can call that shot evil or dangerous or whatever, but different people react differently to it...just like diet, exercise and evrything else.
    I was on Depo for 5 years with no issues...I actually lost weight on it.

    Now, I agree with another poster....basic advice on strategy is fine to ask for on here, but for nutritional advice, stick to an expert. If not this doctor, get a second opinion from another doctor or a certified nutritionist.
  • patchesgizmo
    patchesgizmo Posts: 244 Member
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    plain and simple - GET A SECOND OPINION. If you are ever unhappy with a doctors response or treatment then get another doctor.
  • MustBeTheRows
    MustBeTheRows Posts: 377 Member
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    He's not totally wrong. BMR formulas are only estimations, 2800 is too high IMHO.
  • steph1278
    steph1278 Posts: 483 Member
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    I have the Body Media and generally burn an average of 3000 calories per day including exercise. I eat around 2000 calories per day and am losing 1.5- 2 pounds consistantly every week. What does the Body Media give you for an average daily burn? Being that you still have a lot of weight to lose, you can safely cut 1000 calories from that amount daily and lose weight. I do agree that it seems that you are not comfortable with your doctor so it might be a good idea to search for a new one. Good luck to you.
  • chachita7
    chachita7 Posts: 996 Member
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    Most doctors are not fit themselves - lets just be honest on that one... for eating seek a nutritionist, for weight seek a trainer, for your health seek a medical doctor...

    The best thing you can do is do your own research try different things... try TDEE instead of the BMR... as with anything else weight loss is a trial and fail until you find the right thing for yourself -- if you do not have any health issues then I don't really think there is a need to consult a doctor because you are trying to lead a healthier life... (just my opinion of course)

    He does sound like he doesn't have your best interest at hand, to say the least.
  • DonniesGirl69
    DonniesGirl69 Posts: 644 Member
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    As for BMR........I have no idea what mine is. I eat around 1500-1700 calories per day and burn more than that...the result is that I lose weight. It's not magic, it's math.....
  • temsabi
    temsabi Posts: 45 Member
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    Wow. Definitely get a second opinion. I understand doctors have years of studying under their belts, but I still hate it when they start getting angry over a request to switch birth control. The "there are no side effects, it's all in your head" mentality is, to me, a marketing ploy. I know doctors mean well and many of them are very smart individuals, but this by no means takes away their prejudices and character flaws. All doctors are, above all, human. Doctors are not all-powerful demigods who can do no wrong. And years of women experiencing blood clots, abnormal hair growth, and (yes!) weight gain at the hands of bcp tells me that injecting hormones into our system does, in fact cause side effects--one of which is no pregnancy so don't tell me that bcp doesn't cause side effects! (and the depo shot is FAMOUS for causing weight gain!)

    As far as your calorie goal, I don't understand thyroid problems and I have absolutely no medical expertise. So take everything I say with a grain of salt and an ounce of sugar, but I eat more than 1,500 cal/day (my target is 1,600 but it is very common for me to go into the 1,700 or 1,800 range) and I am losing weight. I also eat back my exercise calories, btw. The weight loss is slllooowww, no lie, but I feel a lot better and that, to me, is the most important thing. For reference I weigh 127 lbs as of this morning. I'm 5'6".

    I read somewhere that you should eat as the person you want to be. If you continuously eat as this person, you will eventually become this person (sort of like an extension of the "you are what you eat" mentality). So maybe try calculating your target maintenance goals at your target weight. For example, say you are 5'8" and want to weight 155 lbs. Calculate how many calories a 5'8" you would neat to eat everyday in order to stay at her 155 lb. weight. Then start eating that amount of calories now.

    This theory might not work for you, but it seems to work for me because I'm not good at severely limiting my intake. 1,600-1,800 cal/day works for me (I'd just like to find the time to be more active!), and I can't imagine a life where I have to eat fewer calories than that for the rest of my life, or even for a few months. I tried and I was miserable. And if I'm miserable then it's not realistic. The vision I have of a healthy, thinner, fitter me is a me who eats three round meals a day and chooses fruit salad over donuts for breakfast. By tracking my calories and fitness on MFP, I am slowwwwly becoming that person. And by the time that I reach my goal weight I'll have been in the habit of eating at maintenance for that weight for so long that I won't have to change a thing.

    Again, I don't know anything about thyroid problems so this way might not work for you, but it works for me. Above all, I would never stick with a doctor who says it doesn't matter what kind of food you're putting in your body because "food is food". Any good nutritionist knows this isn't the case. Choosing unhealthy choices over healthy ones is how all of us got to a higher weight in the first place. Choosing a healthy smoked salmon sandwich with salad for 600 calories over a cheeseburger for 600 calories will fill us with more energy due to the added nutrients in a salad and sandwich over processed food and satisfy our hunger longer, as well as providing us with necessary Omega nutrients for healthier skin and mind. Not all food is created equal, even if the calories are the same.
  • carld256
    carld256 Posts: 855 Member
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    I don't think MFP will set your calories below your BMR unless you force it too. I know it adjusted my weight loss per week to keep me at my BMR until I forced it to recalculate. Am I wrong about that?

    Yes, it will go down to a floor of 1200. For most of us, that's below BMR.

    That's interesting. MFP has reduced my goal calories two or three times as I've lost weight, and the last time it reduced my weight loss from 1lb a week to .9lb a week to keep me at my 1750 BMR. I wonder why the different behavior?
  • Ivyzmama
    Ivyzmama Posts: 108 Member
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    Some doctors, who feel insecure, act like jerks when they don't know the answer. Because if they act like a jerk, then they put you on the defensive, and it does distract a lot of people from going back to the point of needing advice from their doc. Glad you didn't fall for it! I'd recommend a new doc who 1. admits when he doesn't know or understand something and 2. respects you. I don't care what you weigh, you deserve respect simply because you're a human being, and doctors are supposed to preserve life and respect all human beings.
    That said, I think that just about any birth control can make women gain weight. They should do studies on men, put them on birth control, and find out how much weight they gain! I'm sure they'd gain, too! I had depo-provera for a year and hated it, it made me depressed and gain weight. I've had the Mirena IUD for 2 years and truthfully, I'm not crazy about it either and am thinking of having it taken out. I think it might be what's been making my ankles swell up hugely off and on for the last 2 years because I never had water retention before in my 42 years.
    But, in any event, if you're not losing weight, you do need to cut calories further. Not 1500 - that's close to what MFP tells me to eat and I'm 190 lbs. But less than you are eating now. Are you taking Omega 3 oils? I read today that getting enough Omega 3 can make people feel satiated more easily, and I'm going to try it.
  • Sepheara
    Sepheara Posts: 208 Member
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    Honestly 2800 seems high for a BMR. I plugged your information into two different online BMR calculators and they both came back with about 2400. Have you tried just putting your information into MFP and seeing what numbers it comes up with? My guess is your BMR is lower than you think, maybe not 1800, but lower.

    I don't have much experience with thyroid medications, but that might be the root of the problem. I really don't know. My suggestion would be, since what you're doing isn't working for you, that you cut back on your calories (not to 1500 just yet though), and don't eat back your exercise calories. Unless your thyroid is seriously screwing up your metabolism then eating a bit less should work.

    I don't think I was much help, so maybe someone can offer you better information, and good luck.

    MFP says 2990, thanks for checking for me :smile:
  • MsNewBooty83
    MsNewBooty83 Posts: 1,003 Member
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    I'm definitely not a doctor, but I have strong opinions on the depo shot.. I porked on 20 pounds after that thing, as well as everyone else I know that took it. Go to your ob/gyn for your b/c. There are MANY other b/c options out there now that don't cause the weight gain.

    Number 2.. second opinion from a different primary doctor.. he sounds like a *kitten*.

    Number 3.. ask for a referral to a nutritionist :)

    You are on your way!

    agreed!!! plus depo will stop you from having your period. i think theres something wrong with that in itself. i was on it for 4.5yrs and gained 30lbs over the 1st year, it slowly came off after that on its own....but it tricks your body into thinking its pregnant already, so ya, it does F with ur hormones! lol. also, when i decided to go off it, it was because of some pretty nasty reasons, which i wont get into here...so ya, glad to hear youre switching at least! i have my tubes tied now so im done worrying about that kind of stuff, lol
  • Sepheara
    Sepheara Posts: 208 Member
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    Hi there,

    I have an underactive thyroid gland too and was on levothyroxine for years which wrecked my body. have recently switched to armour thyroid and feel amazing on it!
    I gained a ton of weight on my previous meds and felt so miserable because no matter how much I dieted or exercised the weight would not come off.

    You should think about switching to armour....
    I could NOT even lose 1lb while on the levothyroxine no matter how hard I tried :(

    Grat, thanks, I'll have to ask about that when I got back at the end of the month :)
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
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    He lost all credibility when he suggested it couldn't be the Depo. Seek a second opinion.
  • Sepheara
    Sepheara Posts: 208 Member
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    One other thing with the sleep -- have you had a sleep study done? At your weight, sleep apnea is a very common disorder that could cause the problems you've described.

    Bottom line, I agree with everyone who said to get a second opinion. And when you do, mention the things that have been mentioned here.

    Sorry, I havn't, but I do know that I average between 6-7 hours of broken sleep a night. On my days of I get closer to 8 or 9 but it's also broken.
  • kittzle
    kittzle Posts: 190 Member
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    Get a new doctor, one with respect

    If you've done anything at all to try and improve your health and lose weight, then you've made the right move! And if he's chastizing you for anything you've done or telling you that your exercise isn't good enough, he needs to go!

    I first started MFP at 315 pounds, and my calories were set at just over 1700 calories. With a combination of eating 1600-2000 sometimes and walking, I lose 14 pounds in my first month. I'm currently stalled yet again, but I've learned so much in the last 9 months and changed my diet and habits so much in the last 9 months that I know it will get moving again.

    And if it weren't for tracking calories eaten and calories burned, I never would have gotten to the point I am right now. So don't give up on that! You had all these amazing tools to present to him and he waved them off!
  • cjdcmom
    cjdcmom Posts: 28
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    The shot is horrible but on some of the other things I agree with him. I weighed 265 at one time. I lost most of it by walking and counting calories. When he says just move he means take the stairs, park farther away, turn the radio up and shake it up while doing your house work, go for walks, get outside.

    I disagree when it comes to the shot....GET OFF IT! I've used it twice both times I gained 15 lbs in 3 months. Drink tons of water. When you get hungry have tons of water and then veggies, veggies, veggies. I don't think 1500 calories will hurt you if your Dr says it's ok. You can lose more than the recommended 2lbs a week if you are very overweight and your Dr approves.
  • Sepheara
    Sepheara Posts: 208 Member
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    Just reading your letter made me sad. I would say you have classic sleep apnea! I think you need to demand a sleep study test and get treated for that before you do anything else. Also, have you looked to see if your gym offers water aerobics of any sort? I swear I can work for a solid hour doing movements I couldn't do on dry land! I work up a sweat and have sore muscles when I am done! My goal is to go 5 times a week! I am here for you! Let's encourage each other!
    they have water aerobics but not when I normally go, they do have a class called Pitaiyo (it's pilates, tai chi, and yoga) and I really like it, I might look into seeing if I can find my own water aerobics program and do it in the pool on the less busy times. My friend does water aerobics and gets a great burn :)
  • bigdawg025
    bigdawg025 Posts: 774 Member
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    It sounds like you need a new doctor. This one sounds like a moron.

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