My appointment with the Nutritionist

Did you see a "nutritionist" or a registered dietitian?

There's absolutely, positively, no way a dietician wrote those replies.

They sound like pretty standard dietician replies to me. They are not the answers I'd expect from a sports nutritionist, but from a medical dietician they sound about right.

What makes you say that?

I work in healthcare and until she switched her focus, my daughter was studying to be one so she has a lot of friends who are now registered dieticians. Plus, I'm just really interested in nutrition (from a health perspective more than body composition). So I've talked to quite a few and read more than a few articles by them.

Like I said earlier, I'm studying to be a dietitian myself and from the dietitians I've worked with, I don't think those sound like standard responses. At least not from someone who's focused on evidence-based practice and keeping up with current research in the world of nutrition.

Did you see a "nutritionist" or a registered dietitian?

There's absolutely, positively, no way a dietician wrote those replies.

They sound like pretty standard dietician replies to me. They are not the answers I'd expect from a sports nutritionist, but from a medical dietician they sound about right.

What makes you say that?

I work in healthcare and until she switched her focus, my daughter was studying to be one so she has a lot of friends who are now registered dieticians. Plus, I'm just really interested in nutrition (from a health perspective more than body composition). So I've talked to quite a few and read more than a few articles by them.

Like I said earlier, I'm studying to be a dietitian myself and from the dietitians I've worked with, I don't think those sound like standard responses. At least not from someone who's focused on evidence-based practice and keeping up with current research in the world of nutrition.

I've seen numerous posts on MFP from members who have met with dieticians that say pretty much the same thing. They are all met with responses similar to those on this thread. The dietician is wrong. S/he is a quack. Get your money back.

But they all pretty much say the same thing.

Sounds spot-on to what my dietician told me earlier this year, also. When I mentioned eating back exercise calories, she was genuinely surprised anyone would want to do that. But, that's a different conversation that's happened 187,000 times on these boards. I think like most people say, there's no definite right or wrong, just listen to your body.

Well if that's the case, sounds like there are a lot of crappy RDs out there. Makes me sad to hear that. I guess I've been fortunate to be around ones who know what they're talking about.

Or they just know more than a student.

It's not nice to make someone laugh that hard, especially when drinking water. Ouch.

I think it all sounds very reasonable to me. Maybe the people saying she is a moron are actually morons themselves.

No, they are just smart enough to be able to read and comprehend all at the same time.

Q: Does this apply the same way if I don't NET 1200 calories.
A: Net calories mean nothing. If you eat your recommend calorie intake for the day then exercise off a good portion, your body still got those calories. Your body still got the nutrients. Don't pay attention to net calories.

Q: Do you recommend eating exercise calories?
A: No. We recommend you aim to eat the same amount each day. So if you start eating your exercise calories your body might adjust to the higher calorie intakes. Plus you might not see as many pounds lost.

As a newbie, I am now extra confused, wahh - I just barely figured out what net calories are and how they work! (I know, I'm slow, ha ha). So now I am thinking maybe I shouldn't be eating them back? Maybe I need to experiment more..hmmm

Do what works for your body. I think the key is to figure out how much you need to eat and exercise in order to lose 1% of your body weight per week. If you're obese your body is able to shed more weight quickly. I started at 220, which was about 20 lbs into obese for my height. I was eating 1400 cals a day as a base and I ate my exercise cals back. I do not have a heart rate monitor, so I always record my exercise cals conservatively. I started out aiming to lose 2lb per week, but typically lost 2.5 until I broke through 200 lbs. I lost at 2 lbs. per week for about another 10 lbs, but then started to slow more after that. I play with my base cals and I always eat back a conservative amount of my exercise cals. I did have the occasional cheat for special occasions and what not, but I never ate over maintenance cals on those days. I don't know if I got lucky when it came to figuring out what my body needed or if it was me deciding to be completely honest with myself about how much I was eating and exercising. I think it's honesty. I used a few tools to keep me honest as well. I bought a reliable bathroom scale and I weigh every day. I also have a food scale and lots of measuring cups and spoons. I weigh or measure everything. This is after all about reteaching yourself how to eat right, which includes portion sizes.

I agree with Jadenwind17! Some of the replys to posts I've seen lately are downright rude and not supportive at all, which is the opposite of what I thought this website was about. Everyone will always have their opinions so take them with a grain of salt and keep moving forward Thanks for sharing your appointment with us!

Amazing how a post from someone that clearly states what was told to the for their situation by someone who has studied and went to school to learn a profession must be completely wrong, a moron, stupid etc simply because you do not agree with them. I have read plenty of articles and talked to numerous people with degrees in nutrition and related fields and my sister in law is a Endocrinologist with her PhD and getting her degree in nutrition as well. I have picked her brain for info. I am currently about half way through my Certified Personal Trainer course through NASM. I have lost 67lbs went from a 42 pants waist to a 29, so with all that said can I give advice at this point and say I must be right over all others and these others are morons? NO!

Ease up on people, it helps no one when you bash others to make yourself feel better then others because you think you know more then EVERYONE else.

Enjoy your journey to getting and staying healthy for what ever reason you choose.

I think it all sounds very reasonable to me. Maybe the people saying she is a moron are actually morons themselves.

Yeah... calling someone a moron that was obviously educated in this field?? Pretty funny if you ask me.

Like, it's ridiculous to tell someone you MUST workout for an hour a day, six days a week. That is a flat-out lie.

^^ I head this from a dietician as well. I'm pretty sure I was told that is the new guideline--can't remember exactly though.

I find the answers interesting because they are what I have been told by dieticians as well (as a Type 1 diabetic, I've been seeing registered dieticians for years). Of course, the things I was told in 1990 are not the same things I am being told today.