40 lbs. in 2.5 yrs is too drastic! What?!

em3120
em3120 Posts: 154 Member
in Motivation and Support
My weight loss journey is 2.5 years in the making. At almost 5’4” and 156 lbs I decided to do something about it and began to lose weight to get where I’m at now at 115 lbs at around 20% BF. My goal is to get to 18% BF or 110 lbs. I eat about 1,500 cals per day depending on the amount of exercise I do. I try to eat a mostly clean diet, but I cheat pretty often to go out. I also do pilates and some HIIT 6 days per week for about 20 mins per day. Recently I passed out and was brought to the ER with heart palpitations (that had been going off and on for months). Doctor said I had been standing for too long and was mildly dehydrated. After a bag of IV fluid, I was on my way. Today I had my follow-up appointment with a new GP that I’ve never seen before. She came to the conclusion rather quickly that I have an eating disorder and need to see a nutritionist, cardiologist, and a psychiatrist! She was shocked that I had lost 40 lbs in 2.5 years and said that it was much too drastic. Really? I’m setting up an appointment with the cardiologist to check out my heart because of the heart palpitations I was having, which I’m sure is stress related from finishing my 2nd semester in college and trying to apply for the program I want to get into. Am I being unreasonable for not wanting to see a psychiatrist and nutritionist for this? Or is my doctor the one being unreasonable?
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Replies

  • newmelady
    newmelady Posts: 132 Member
    You mean 2.5 months, right? Because losing 40 pounds in 2.5 years is not too drastic. You can begin with drinking lots of water.
  • shadowgem13
    shadowgem13 Posts: 29 Member
    Oh my goodness I must have an eating disorder too!!!!! ;) Seriously, was the doctor who told you this a little fat? Get your heart checked out and look into a different GP.
  • em3120
    em3120 Posts: 154 Member
    You mean 2.5 months, right? Because losing 40 pounds in 2.5 years is not too drastic. You can begin with drinking lots of water.

    No she said my 40 lbs weight loss over the course of 2.5 years was too drastic. That's why I'm so confused!
  • AiabliamsMommy
    AiabliamsMommy Posts: 60 Member
    Ha! I lost 35lbs in about 8 months and I definitely did not have an eating disorder! That is nuts.
  • GeminiDelight
    GeminiDelight Posts: 45 Member
    that is ridiculous. last time i lost 40 lbs, it only took me 10 months.
  • jenkidney
    jenkidney Posts: 149 Member
    Get your heart checked out and look into a different GP.

    ^^ That. Your GP is ridiculous. At 30 months, that's just over a pound a month. I'd hate to think what they'd think of me given I lost 3 this week alone!
  • rachpetersen
    rachpetersen Posts: 265 Member
    I disagree that 40 lbs in 2.5 years is too drastic...but I also believe that was probably not your doctors primary concern. I am not sure what build you are but 110 lbs is definitely on the lower end of a healthy weight for your height and you are already at a perfectly healthy weight and body fat %. If she feels you need to see a psychiatrist and nutritionist then there is obviously a concern more than the time limit and with a risk to your health itself. And not that you are, but if your doc feels that you are too focused or obsessed on getting to this specific weight than she has reason to be concerned as well. Just another view point.

    **EDIT to say that I am not agreeing with her or stating that you may have an eating disorder at all. I don't know you and there are a lot of other things not mentioned that would have to be evaluated to know that. Just trying to think of where your doc might be coming from.
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
    bahahaha...:laugh: we all have eating disorders to the fatties.....
  • FFfitgirl
    FFfitgirl Posts: 369 Member
    I went to my doctor and she said I was fat, next time I saw her I had lost weight and she said I had an eating disorder. Wtf


    So don't worry about it. I would see the nutritionist just to see if you can learn anything on improving you diet.
  • KristysLosing
    KristysLosing Posts: 683
    Is she new?? :laugh: I can't believe she would think that! Maybe she thinks you said 2.5 months...:huh:
  • BunkyBumBum
    BunkyBumBum Posts: 157 Member
    Not all doctors are created equal. If a doctor told me that losing 40 pounds over 2 1/2 years was too drastic I'd walk out, that's absurd and shows a complete lack of intelligence on her part.

    I suspect your doctor is getting referral bonuses, either that or she really is just plain dumb. I'd see a cardiologist about the palpitations (I get them too, usually due to stress, but you should be 100% certain your heart is healthy). A nutritionist seems like overkill, 40 pounds in 2 1/2 years is not an eating disorder, it's a healthy lifestyle change.
  • amandapye78
    amandapye78 Posts: 820 Member
    ummm I lost 40 lbs since August. My Dr was thrilled
  • Renilicious
    Renilicious Posts: 12
    Maybe she misheard you?

    I've lost 100lb (with Weight Watchers prior to joining MFP)... and I did that in 2 years.

    40lb in 2.5 years is a fraction of a pound a week. THE HELL?

    You're hardly a candidate for head shrinkage. Keep doing what you're doing if it's working for you.
  • basillowe66
    basillowe66 Posts: 432 Member
    40 lbs in whenever is GREAT!!! You worked it off, you just didn't do it by diet!! GREAT JOB

    Basil
  • shargolf
    shargolf Posts: 12 Member
    I'd like to think the Dr . thought you said 2 1/2 months, otherwise she has to be crazy. The way I figure it you lost at a rate of less than 1/3 lb. a week. That is slower than slow. Congrats for sticking with it and almost reaching your goal!!
    :happy:
  • Zerie
    Zerie Posts: 11 Member
    I donate plasma for money on occassion, so they check all my vitals and then some.
    When I had not gone in a while, I had dropped 20 lbs between visits.
    Their conclusion was that I may have HIV because of extreme weight loss!
    Insane. -.-

    Some people just don't get the big picture.
    Don't let the GP scare you.
    We are all here for you with endless amounts of support.
  • ceannesjourney
    ceannesjourney Posts: 250
    I don't think you're telling us the whole story...I think the doctor is checking out things or a reason and you might be trying o get people on your side...if you don't trust your doctor go to another one.
  • louiselebeau
    louiselebeau Posts: 220 Member
    Yeah, 40 lbs is not drastic.

    I recently had a gastrowhateverwhatsit doctor (the guy who diagnosed my reflux) try to put me on a shake diet after I told him I lost 50 lbs in the past two years and 30 since October (my ticker says 20 because I gained 10 then lost all of it and then some)... I think that some doctors do not pay attention to what is really going on.
  • em3120
    em3120 Posts: 154 Member
    Not all doctors are created equal. If a doctor told me that losing 40 pounds over 2 1/2 years was too drastic I'd walk out, that's absurd and shows a complete lack of intelligence on her part.

    I suspect your doctor is getting referral bonuses, either that or she really is just plain dumb. I'd see a cardiologist about the palpitations (I get them too, usually due to stress, but you should be 100% certain your heart is healthy). A nutritionist seems like overkill, 40 pounds in 2 1/2 years is not an eating disorder, it's a healthy lifestyle change.

    This is exactly what I was thinking. Like others have said, maybe she misheard me?
  • Danni3ll3
    Danni3ll3 Posts: 365 Member
    I disagree that 40 lbs in 2.5 years is too drastic...but I also believe that was probably not your doctors primary concern. I am not sure what build you are but 110 lbs is definitely on the lower end of a healthy weight for your height and you are already at a perfectly healthy weight and body fat %. If she feels you need to see a psychiatrist and nutritionist then there is obviously a concern more than the time limit and with a risk to your health itself. And not that you are, but if your doc feels that you are too focused or obsessed on getting to this specific weight than she has reason to be concerned as well. Just another view point.

    **EDIT to say that I am not agreeing with her or stating that you may have an eating disorder at all. I don't know you and there are a lot of other things not mentioned that would have to be evaluated to know that. Just trying to think of where your doc might be coming from.

    ^^^This. I also think you misunderstood your doctor. She is probably concerned that you want to go too low as 110 for 5'4" is pretty thin imho.
  • helpfit101
    helpfit101 Posts: 347 Member
    Hi I would add:

    From what you've said you don't need a psychiatrist. That doesn't mean you don't need one it's just not obvious from the things you've written down :)

    You don't need a nutrionist I don't think either, quite the opposite. Your controlled weight loss shows you have nutrition fairly well under control. Unless you told the doctor you are eating protein powder all day and nothing else. I was buying protein powder the other day at the pharmacy and the lady told me don't eat too much it's dangerous. She couldn't quite say why but just told me don't let it be your main course. Good advice to not eat it exclusively I guess :)

    As to the cardiologist that sounds like good advice. One thing I did think about is that perhaps your doctor thought 6 days of HIIT was too much. Did you mention that? Maybe he or she took that to mean you are obsessed with weight loss. Personally I don't think there is anything wrong with HIIT but if you're having heart palpitations you might want to cut it down to 2-3 times per week. Do regular cardio or weights on the other days. Also take at least 2 rest days a week would be my advice. But better ask the cardiologist about this last part.
  • minionofevil
    minionofevil Posts: 79 Member
    How is that 'too drastic'? I have lost 32lbs in 5 1/2 months, and the doc i saw recently said I was doing great!
  • mrsartis1
    mrsartis1 Posts: 42 Member
    The reason why you had palpitations is you are having anxiety and the reason you passed out is you had a panic attack. You were having an anxiety because (who knows, you could be stress, news, work, school, husband, wife, kid, weather) and when we are having an anxiety, we tend to breathe shorter, so we get heart palpitations then the nerves gets into us and makes us pass out. That's probably why she wanted you to see a psychologist so they can make evaluations. And the amount of weight you have lost is not drastic at all, I think we already have that established. What we need to get into now, is why you are passing out.

    **I am not a doctor, just went through the same thing, and it is still going through it.**
  • GlassslippersAndFairyDust
    GlassslippersAndFairyDust Posts: 518 Member
    Being dehydrated can cause heart palpitations and fainting.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    You mean 2.5 months, right? Because losing 40 pounds in 2.5 years is not too drastic. You can begin with drinking lots of water.

    No she said my 40 lbs weight loss over the course of 2.5 years was too drastic. That's why I'm so confused!

    Well, if you have one than so do I. 72 pounds in 2.5 years. That doc is crazy. It doesn't even seem like you are under eating...although I eat 400 calories more per day than you do. crazy.
  • Summerberry1012
    Summerberry1012 Posts: 109 Member
    1lb weight loss per week is healthy so I would look into finding another GP... ( i agree on getting your heart checked though)
  • Shortie1965
    Shortie1965 Posts: 8 Member
    I have lost 50 lbs from my high in less than 3 months, so no losing 40 in 2.5 years is not drastic
  • Retiredmom72
    Retiredmom72 Posts: 538 Member
    See the cardiologist. Drink water and tea. My daughter passed out once because she locked her knees while standing. If it was the doctor's first time to see you, you may want to switch gp. You are working the weight off and you did it over a long period of time. If you are eating healthy, then don't worry about the rest of the advice. If you feel like you need to see the others, then you know you can get a referral. Good luck.
  • ChanceTakr2131
    ChanceTakr2131 Posts: 96
    Ok, 115 lbs is my goal weight and I am 5'3" and weigh 122 lbs right now. That nurse or doctor that referred you was an idiot and probably jealous at how fantastic you look!! Don't pay any attention to her, and continue doing what you are doing!!! :drinker:
  • amaysngrace
    amaysngrace Posts: 742 Member
    I think your doctor is being unreasonable, especially being new and all. I lost nearly 50 pounds in 5 months, so I wonder what she would have said about that? I just went to my doctor, who has been my doctor for several years, and she congratulated me, there was no concern about an eating disorder or anything of that sort. That is why I think your doctor does not know what the heck she is talking about. Maybe she cheated through grad school, who knows? In the past, I have had doctors who did not know what the heck they were talking about or could not diagnose me properly due to their own ignorance. I had to diagnose myself with something and go to them with it. If I were you, I would try to change doctors, if possible because this doctor is tripping and she obviously does not know anything about nutrition. If she did, she would know you lost your weight pretty slowly compared to other people on here. Well, I wish you luck with this!

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