Doctor says 1500 calories is too drastic

MeIShouldB
MeIShouldB Posts: 578 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I had my physical today and told her how many calories I'm on and I told her 1750 and asked if that's healthy. She said that's fine as long as you don't go under 1500, that is too drastic.
«1

Replies

  • VegKate
    VegKate Posts: 55 Member
    My physician said the same thing, she told me it would be unhealthy to eat less than 1500.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    Sounds like you both have doctors who paid attention in nutrition class :drinker:
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    My endocrinologist told me 1200 was fine. I have since dumped her because she was horrible.
  • smithed812
    smithed812 Posts: 289
    Sounds like you both have doctors who paid attention in nutrition class :drinker:
    This!
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    They sound like sensible doctors.
  • nope31
    nope31 Posts: 174
    Your Dr. Didn't spend 9 yrs in Medical school just for Fun.
    Listen to your Dr.
  • autumnpath
    autumnpath Posts: 72 Member
    Mine told me the same thing. I wanted to slap her at the time...but I've since come to my senses!
  • wannabpiper
    wannabpiper Posts: 402 Member
    Did the docs say why? How tall are you both? I'm wondering because I'm just under 5"4" and can't seem to stay below 1300 cals - I just like eating too much. My weight loss has been REAL slow, and was considering going even lower if I could stand it. I walk about 5-6 times a week for about an hour at a pretty fast pace and hope that's helping.
  • kitka82
    kitka82 Posts: 350 Member
    Your Dr. Didn't spend 9 yrs in Medical school just for Fun.
    Listen to your Dr.

    I know that's right.
  • ken_hogan
    ken_hogan Posts: 854 Member
    Sounds like you both have doctors who paid attention in nutrition class :drinker:
    This!

    Agreed....
  • dcr5452WECHANGED
    dcr5452WECHANGED Posts: 121 Member
    Your Dr. Didn't spend 9 yrs in Medical school just for Fun.
    Listen to your Dr.

    I thought medical school was 8 years. Maybe that extra year was for fun :)
  • ken_hogan
    ken_hogan Posts: 854 Member
    Your Dr. Didn't spend 9 yrs in Medical school just for Fun.
    Listen to your Dr.

    I know that's right.


    I understand the 9 year medical school thing, but I've always understood that although they have all that schooling, very little is actually applied specifically towards nutrition, which is why there is a Nutritionist specialty, although maybe my misunderstanding may be wrong.
  • hjy319
    hjy319 Posts: 269 Member
    Not from my dr but my trainer told me 1500 ESP with what I was doing at the gym.
  • dianeb613
    dianeb613 Posts: 121 Member
    I am losing weight, not a lot, slowly, since I upped my calories to around 1,500 a day.
  • mixmastermolly
    mixmastermolly Posts: 272
    I used to try 1200 and it was nearly impossible even when eating almost entirely clean and vegan. I almost always felt hungry, too. Now I try to stay around 1500-1700. Even if my weight loss is slow, it's more likely I'll stick to it longer because after a few weeks of less I'd get too burnt out.
  • kaykaylaws
    kaykaylaws Posts: 3
    how heavy and/or tall are all of you? if you don't mind me asking. i'm at 150 and 5'4. should I still be coming in at 1200?
  • leebesstoad
    leebesstoad Posts: 1,186 Member
    Your Dr. Didn't spend 9 yrs in Medical school just for Fun.
    Listen to your Dr.

    If your doctor spent 9 years in med school, I would recommend getting a different doctor. Med school is 4 years max.
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    I used to try 1200 and it was nearly impossible even when eating almost entirely clean and vegan. I almost always felt hungry, too. Now I try to stay around 1500-1700. Even if my weight loss is slow, it's more likely I'll stick to it longer because after a few weeks of less I'd get too burnt out.

    Slow and steady wins this race every time.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    Your Dr. Didn't spend 9 yrs in Medical school just for Fun.
    Listen to your Dr.

    If your doctor spent 9 years in med school, I would recommend getting a different doctor. Med school is 4 years max.

    I think they were talking med school + residency + fellowship = 9 years.
  • leebesstoad
    leebesstoad Posts: 1,186 Member
    Your Dr. Didn't spend 9 yrs in Medical school just for Fun.
    Listen to your Dr.

    If your doctor spent 9 years in med school, I would recommend getting a different doctor. Med school is 4 years max.

    I think they were talking med school + residency + fellowship = 9 years.

    Different animal entirely. And if you had your physical, it was probably with a family physician or internist, who is internship + 2 years of residency which is only 7 years not 9.

    And what they cover on nutrition in med school you could put in a thimble and still have room for Andre the Giant's thumb.

    Nada. Zip. Zilch. I'm sure it may be discussed some in training for Endocrinology, and maybe a lecture or two at most for Family docs and internists, but that's it. No more. People on these forums have read as much as your average doc who have no interest in diet and nutritition. Sorry but that's the way it is.
  • exohglo
    exohglo Posts: 49 Member
    I pretty well stay below or at 1200 calories a day. Never usually go above 1300 calories and I find I am definitely eating enough. I'm never really starving. I just started this diet May 1st with My Fitness Pal. Started at 235lbs and it told me to eat 1350. When I lost my first 10lbs it told me to eat 1300 and then after my next 5lb loss it told me to eat 1200 which it has kept me at even with the further weight I've shed.
    If it isn't a problem for me to stay in that 1200 zone and i'm not starving, is it a big deal that i'm only having 1200 a day?
  • Balance_Breathe
    Balance_Breathe Posts: 41
    I agree with them. I personally developed gallstones and required emergency surgery after 8 weeks on a 1200 calorie diet. I don't want to assume that was the reason, but it seems possible-- check out this news story from 3 days ago. The lower your calories, the greater the risk of gallstones, apparently.

    http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/07/us-crash-diet-gallstone-idUSBRE95615J20130607
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    Your Dr. Didn't spend 9 yrs in Medical school just for Fun.
    Listen to your Dr.

    If your doctor spent 9 years in med school, I would recommend getting a different doctor. Med school is 4 years max.

    I think they were talking med school + residency + fellowship = 9 years.

    Different animal entirely. And if you had your physical, it was probably with a family physician or internist, who is internship + 2 years of residency which is only 7 years not 9.

    And what they cover on nutrition in med school you could put in a thimble and still have room for Andre the Giant's thumb.

    Nada. Zip. Zilch. I'm sure it may be discussed some in training for Endocrinology, and maybe a lecture or two at most for Family docs and internists, but that's it. No more. People on these forums have read as much as your average doc who have no interest in diet and nutritition. Sorry but that's the way it is.

    I don't think anyone is arguing with that. At least not me. I'm no stranger to the medical profession. But most of the general population knows that it takes many years to become a doctor and 9 years was a general statement.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    [/quote]

    Different animal entirely. And if you had your physical, it was probably with a family physician or internist, who is internship + 2 years of residency which is only 7 years not 9.

    And what they cover on nutrition in med school you could put in a thimble and still have room for Andre the Giant's thumb.

    Nada. Zip. Zilch. I'm sure it may be discussed some in training for Endocrinology, and maybe a lecture or two at most for Family docs and internists, but that's it. No more. People on these forums have read as much as your average doc who have no interest in diet and nutritition. Sorry but that's the way it is.
    [/quote]


    This is true...my doctor told me he lived on nothing but chicken breasts and salad for 3 months, and ran on the treadmill daily for 2 hours. He also told me I'm going to look like a man if I keep lifting heavy. I would go to a certified nutritionist before I'd go to my family doctor, he's useless. Even my gyno laughed at him for saying such stupid things.
  • leebesstoad
    leebesstoad Posts: 1,186 Member
    I think it comes down to this: if you want advice on a diet plan as far as calories and how to structure it from an expert on what is too little for you based on your health condition and weight, the person you should be talking to isn't a doctor but a registered dietician. That is their training, that is their job. And that is who the doctor will refer their patients to. It is who the doctors will consult with. They are the experts in the field. An MD does not confer expertise in all areas of health.
  • TonyStark30
    TonyStark30 Posts: 497 Member
    That Medical term drastic.

    No one will die eating 1500, especially someone with Fat reserves. Its just hard to do mentally and no fun!
  • fat2strongbeth
    fat2strongbeth Posts: 735 Member
    Sounds about right. My nutritionist told me to aim for 1500 per day.
  • shar140
    shar140 Posts: 1,158 Member
    My endocrinologist told me 1200 was fine. I have since dumped her because she was horrible.

    My dr (not an endo) wanted me on 1200, 1400 max. When I was a good 50lb heavier. I still eat way more than that now, and can lose. :)

    Oh, and I fired mine, too. Skinny B!%)(@. :laugh:
  • cori1089
    cori1089 Posts: 5 Member
    Medical school itself is 4 years long, then there is the residency portion which ca nvary anywhere from 3-8 years, depending on how specialized. "nutritionist" isn't a "specialty" and no , as far as i know nutrition isn't covered as much as it could be and last i heard, they're making efforts to include more. Nutrionists are "below" Dietitians and that is a masters or doctoral programs. Medical school is a professional school, not really graduate school in that sense.

    This is just what I kind of know as a pre-med
  • cori1089
    cori1089 Posts: 5 Member
    .
    I think it comes down to this: if you want advice on a diet plan as far as calories and how to structure it from an expert on what is too little for you based on your health condition and weight, the person you should be talking to isn't a doctor but a registered dietician. That is their training, that is their job. And that is who the doctor will refer their patients to. It is who the doctors will consult with. They are the experts in the field. An MD does not confer expertise in all areas of health.

    ^^ YES!

Categories