VERY annoyed with my doctor.

Just going on how you described the encounter, I'd be a little bit put off. It sounds like you went in with a decent amount of information and a desire to get your weight loss headed in the right direction and you got a response that might have been dismissive. I wasn't there obviously so I don't know but from what you provided, that was a bit curt. I'd schedule a follow-up appointment solely to discuss weight loss, and if your physician still doesn't seem engaged, you might consider making a change. Finally getting a doctor who was on my team has made all the difference for me.

Also, I have Hashimoto's, but thought I was within the normal range for TSH. As it turns out, my doctor said I fell into the old normal range which went up to 5 (where I was), but now levels from .3-3 are within normal. Changing my medication to get me in that narrower range has helped. Don't know where you're at but just a thought.

ETA jwdieter is right, you may need to further explain what you've been doing, and if you don't think programs like WW will suit you, make that clear too.

When I told my doctor I was using MFP... He said, is that one of those apps? I told him my goal and laughed.. he stopped himself but he laughed. Then told me how hard that would be and I more then likely wouldn't get there.

Looking for a new Dr...

I am not in the normal range but my doctor won't change my meds because I am losing weight. I found that I can maintain with diet alone but if I want to lose I have to get at least 3 hours of exercise in a week. I have also lowered my carbs to 45% and increased my protein to 25%.

And my tsh is in the 3's. I forget the exact number

Oooh! That's too high. Optimal TSH range is <2, closer to 1. The range has been severely narrowed in the past few years. I'm hypothyroid too and take T4 & T3. We keep my TSH around 1, and Free T4 and Free T3 about 1/2 to 2/3 of the range. Free T4 and Free T3 levels are really the best test, along with how the patient presents.

Soooo... if thyroid is properly managed, and there's still no weight loss, it might be that calories are set too high. We hypos have to keep our calories a bit lower than euthyroids. I'm male (obviously from my avi), 5'5" 192 lbs and about 20% b.f. My weight loss cals. are about 1700-1800 to get to 165 lbs and 15% b.f.. AND I have to avoid starchy carbs.

Just some things to consider.

My doctor recommends mfp, and since I told her that even diet and exercise is doing nothing she opted to push WW.
I might just look into another doctor, because with the amount of effort I've put into losing weight over the last 10 years I really should have lost some by now...not the same 5 lbs over and over again.
I'm just really very frustrated.

And my tsh is in the 3's. I forget the exact number

Maybe the doc suggested WW because of the meetings/weigh-ins aspect--more personal (vs virtual) than the MFP app (that the doc also appears to recommend but isn't working for you).

Haha, I hear ya. My pdoc put me on Dopa... I mean, Topamax a few weeks back because "it's the only medication that will work as a mood stabilizer and also make you lose weight!" I told him I'm not really having a problem on my own, as I've lost almost 15lbs in the past month and a half, but he acted like it was the greatest thing ever. Took it for 2 days, that crap f****d me up for over a week and the rest of the bottle went into the dirty kitty litter.

I feel like at this early on in the game, a lot of people, including doctors don't really want to believe I'm actually eating a relatively decent diet and that I'm as active as I am. I guess they'll find out in a few more months...

Pdoc however, did order bloodwork for me due to my new meds, and added TSH on the script because it's something I've been wanting to have checked for a long time (runs in the family) so that was nice of him, I guess...

You have to measure your success not so much by the scale or pound lost. I been on my journey for about two years now and I log my food into MFP everyday. I see a nutritionist once a month, and at first I was losing about four lbs a month and after about four months or so, I lost less than 10 lbs or 8 lbs. Last month I lost only 1 lb. and that was very disappointing because she suggested some pre packed program that delivery your meals everyday and I told her I did not find that feasible or cost effective for my budget. Your problem is that you have other medical issues going on and you are not going to lose weight so easily especially if you have metabolic issues which can reflect what you see on the scale. I agree with most people comments on this site that medical doctors are not trained nutritionist or dieticians but ultimately its the choices you make in life and weight lost is a journey. When I started my weight lost journey in 2011, I weighted 324 lbs. and according to trainer scale I weighted in 272 lbs. but the reactions I receive from numerous people in my life, I lost a tremendous amount of body fat and see completely new person. Although I still have about 100 lbs. to lose, I know that during these two years, I learned to measure my progress on accomplishing goals like being about to jog for a mile without stopping or being able to run in a relay boot camp class with cheerleaders (LA Fitness gym friends in Stone Mountain GA) encouraging me every Thursday night or completing five miles when I wanted to stop or climbing top of Stone Mountain. So rather than being annoyed with your doctor, for suggesting Weight watchers which I have done for three months in the beginning of my journey, I learned about setting goals, eating healthy tips and learned about perseverance many people I meet. Financially I was not able to afford weight watchers but like my fitness pal and other fitness apps. like Spark People, its a learning tool. So rather than being annoyed with your doctor, take a good look at yourself and measure your success not on scale but realize that this is a lifestyle change which will take you through ups and downs even on scale but you just keep moving forward and learning on the way.

I went to the doctor last brought up the difficulty I've been having with my weight the last few years. I log everything between this app and my fitbit, every aspect of my diet and exercise is accounted for.
I explained this, and all she told me was to try weight watchers instead.
Really?? I'm feeling very disappointed and let down by this appointment.
Honestly, am I over reacting here?



Oh I guess I should add, I explained how I'm not losing any weight, despite strict diet and exercise. I am hypothyroid and take medicine that has me within normal range.

what did you expect want your doctor to say? You went in telling him you were doing everything right then expect him to come up with some miracle solution? In reality your either eating more than you think it not burning as much as you think. As good as things like fitbit are they can be wrong

My doctor was very much the same when I approached her about weight loss and healthy eating. I went to see a Dietician/Nutritionist a few weeks later - I would recommend seeing someone more specialised in this area.

Read or watch Forks over Knives and Hungry for a Change, then find another doctor.

I was having alot of issues trying to lose a qhile ago, when my chiropractor told me about thopse movies.

Doctors can be morons just like anyone else. I've had the same doc for 10 years. In all that time she never spoke to me about my weight, even though I ranged from 240-290 during that time. Last spring I mentioned I was considering weight loss surgery and she said "have you ever tried dieting?" DUH!

Honestly, doctors know very little about nutrition. On a more pertinent note though, your TSH level is a little high. It could do with being nearer 2 or a little lower, so you should discuss your thyroxine dose being adjusted. I think seeing a nutritionist may be a step in the right direction as well.

When H was diagnosed with diabetes, his nurse practitioner went on and on about WW. You would have thought it was the cure to every ailment known to man, seriously. Every bit of advice she gave was geared towards joining. When he came back 14lbs lighter 6 weeks later and with better BS readings, she assumed he had joined. He told her he had simply joined here and started counting calories and carbs, per advice from a dietician who specializes in hypoglycemia and diabetes. She was shocked because she'd never had a patient be that successful on their own.

There's nothing wrong with WW, but it does seem to get a lot of push from medical staff because it's so popular and known to be successful.