SO many opinions from so many people on here...

Yes. I highly recommend it. What I don't recommend is taking any "information" you get from this website as fact.

yes, I am working with a bariatric specialist MD, a nutritionist, and an exercise physiologist in addition to my usual primary care doctor. I follow their instructions and guidance, though I do raise with them questions or concerns that I learn about here.

Aren't we really all just trying to help others with things that have worked for us? It's like what you read on the internet....pick out what applies to you and move on.

I for one appreciate the "advise" I get from otheres. Someone may say something that I haven't even thought about.

It's like Dr. Oz. He has all this alternative medicine, foods & advise....but you wouldn't want to do EVERYTHING he suggests. My goodness, you would be downing hundreds of suppliments and drinks 50 different smooties a day.

I have learned a new thing or two here and also that some people are hilarious. Have fun!

If you spoke to 10 doctors or nutritionists you would get at least 15 opinions too, so this forum is like any gathering of minds - they aren't all of a single opinion.

If you pick one professional you'll hopefully get one opinion, but whether it's correct or even evidence based will depend on how well you make your choice.

I've seen two nutritionists, the first about 20 years ago, the second in the last couple of months as a part of a study I was asked to participate in. Both gave me an identical calorie goal that's within 50 of MFP's for weight loss (I adjusted to the nutritionists' goal), assuming little exercise. Both told me that exercise was really important and that I might need to adjust calories up (NOT down) depending upon how much of that I'm getting.

The first one offered a diet, but I don't remember it and long since lost it. In the second case I was contacted because I'm vegan and had melanoma; the medical center wanted to do a study on vegans and melanoma. So the experience was quite different; I tracked my diet for a couple of weeks and then brought the results to the nutritionist. She evaluated it and told me just to keep doing what I'm doing, that it appears healthy and balanced (it's basically the McDougall diet though I'm a bit higher in fat than he recommends). My diary's open, for what it's worth.

It was good to get the opinion. I highly recommend seeing one since a good one will evaluate your diet - what you're eating now - and recommend changes based on first getting you to a balanced diet and second toward your fitness goals if that's what you want. I wouldn't ask a doctor about it unless they're specifically trained in nutrition and fitness because they don't get enough info on it in general and many are going on the two whole classes they had in med school 20 years ago, plus the latest info on statins peddled by pharmaceutical companies and calcium supplements peddled by other pharmaceutical companies (I take no supplements other than glucosamine/chondroitin for lousy joints, B12 about once every two weeks to compensate for being a vegan, and the occasional D if I've been working way too long hours and haven't been getting sunshine). I get all my required calcium from my diet - and I'm a post-menopausal, 55 year old woman - latest bone scan was good.

It's all about the diet, in my opinion - exercise is important to stay fit, but particularly if you want to lose weight, see a nutritionist - oh, heck, see one anyway. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is killing the nation - would be interesting to see what would happen if everyone would start learning more about how to eat - and how they actually _are_ eating. I'm pretty careful but MFP tracking has taught me a few things, that's for sure.

yes, I am working with a bariatric specialist MD, a nutritionist, and an exercise physiologist in addition to my usual primary care doctor. I follow their instructions and guidance, though I do raise with them questions or concerns that I learn about here.

^^^^^ the same here