My Doctor Suggested Eating Low-Carb AND Low-Fat

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Replies

  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    He's just a regular doctor. I had told him that I had hit a plateu in my weight loss and that I just wanted to get bloodwork done to rule out any thyroid problems or deficiencies. Really I wasn't asking advice... just wanted to get some tests run and see how I checked out because I hadn't gotten bloodwork done in 10 years.

    He suggested a few pills for appetite suppressants, and he asked if I had tried low-carb. I am doing sort of low-carb... not purposefully.. just trying to hit my macros and fats and then carbs are irrelevant. But he said low-carb low-fat could work. I told him that I thought that might make me constipated... he suggested stool softeners....

    Typical doctor... want a pill for that? and another pill to take care of the side effects of that pill? ugh so sad :( They know nothing about nutrition. Most doctors only take 1 class on it.

    I would be VERRRRRY leary about low-carb. Carbs are awesome! Low fat is important though.

    Fat is important. Important for proper body function. It's okay to lower fat, but "low-fat" is not a good idea in an otherwise healthy person.
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    NO, your doctor has recommended the one way of eating that can be deadly. Doctors are NOT well educated in nutrition. At all. Get another opinion. Please.

    There are many other options that are safe. High fat/low carb. High carb/moderate fat. Moderate carb/moderate fat. Protein should always be moderate/low depending on the individual. Protein is VERY important but we don't need a whole lot of it. I'm a fan of high fat/low carb but there are human societies that ate high carb and low fat and still thrived but their diet was completely different from today's SAD, so.... when we are not eating certain foods (organ meat, fermented foods, bones, sea vegetables) at all I'm not in agreement with high carb/low fat being healthful.
  • p4ulmiller
    p4ulmiller Posts: 588 Member
    Dr.-Nick.gif
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    He's just a regular doctor. I had told him that I had hit a plateu in my weight loss and that I just wanted to get bloodwork done to rule out any thyroid problems or deficiencies. Really I wasn't asking advice... just wanted to get some tests run and see how I checked out because I hadn't gotten bloodwork done in 10 years.

    He suggested a few pills for appetite suppressants, and he asked if I had tried low-carb. I am doing sort of low-carb... not purposefully.. just trying to hit my macros and fats and then carbs are irrelevant. But he said low-carb low-fat could work. I told him that I thought that might make me constipated... he suggested stool softeners....

    Typical doctor... want a pill for that? and another pill to take care of the side effects of that pill? ugh so sad :( They know nothing about nutrition. Most doctors only take 1 class on it.

    I would be VERRRRRY leary about low-carb. Carbs are awesome! Low fat is important though.

    That last sentence makes me see red. Low carb is NOT dangerous nor does any healthy diet ever exclude carbs because carbs are in vegetables. That said, not everyone needs to very low carb, but anyone with metabolic disorders (excessive fat storage is just one of many) may benefit from a low carb lifestyle based on whole foods for awhile- how long depends on the person. For me, it will be forever. Not only that the recommended MFP carb macro is just ridiculous, for anyone. 300 grams of carbs? WHAT?

    "Low fat is important" for what? To make sure we are malnourished and sick? Please stop.
  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    He's just a regular doctor. I had told him that I had hit a plateu in my weight loss and that I just wanted to get bloodwork done to rule out any thyroid problems or deficiencies. Really I wasn't asking advice... just wanted to get some tests run and see how I checked out because I hadn't gotten bloodwork done in 10 years.

    He suggested a few pills for appetite suppressants, and he asked if I had tried low-carb. I am doing sort of low-carb... not purposefully.. just trying to hit my macros and fats and then carbs are irrelevant. But he said low-carb low-fat could work. I told him that I thought that might make me constipated... he suggested stool softeners....

    Typical doctor... want a pill for that? and another pill to take care of the side effects of that pill? ugh so sad :( They know nothing about nutrition. Most doctors only take 1 class on it.

    I would be VERRRRRY leary about low-carb. Carbs are awesome! Low fat is important though.

    That last sentence makes me see red. Low carb is NOT dangerous nor does any healthy diet ever exclude carbs because carbs are in vegetables. That said, not everyone needs to very low carb, but anyone with metabolic disorders (excessive fat storage is just one of many) may benefit from a low carb lifestyle based on whole foods for awhile- how long depends on the person. For me, it will be forever. Not only that the recommended MFP carb macro is just ridiculous, for anyone. 300 grams of carbs? WHAT?

    "Low fat is important" for what? To make sure we are malnourished and sick? Please stop.

    I know, seriously /:
    Maybe not eating EXCESSIVE fat is important, but you shouldn't eat EXCESSIVE anything.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    You need AT LEAST 45 grams of healthy fat daily, just to avoid serious illness. Haven't we learned just how dumb high carb/low fat diets are? Why wouldn't low carb/low fat diets be even dumber? I went on a low carb/low fat diet once--the only thing I lost permanently was my gall bladder. (Gall bladder disease is associated with very low calorie diets, such as the one your doc is advocating--maybe he's trying to drum up further business for himself??) I have been on my current plan of "lower carbs" (70-125 grams per day, with the higher amounts on my cardio days) for three years and have not felt (or looked) so well for many years. It is actually quite easy to consistently hit a moderate calorie deficit when you cut out added sugar and processed junk. Your body will thank you for not torturing it with low carb/low fat. :smile: If you think you need a larger deficit--add more exercise, especially weight training or resistance work of any sort. As you build muscle, you will burn more calories (even just sleeping) than you would have with less muscle. It is why men usually have an easier time losing weight--because they have a higher amount of lean body mass. If you increase your lean body mass, you will become a calorie-burning machine. It works.
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    He's just a regular doctor. I had told him that I had hit a plateu in my weight loss and that I just wanted to get bloodwork done to rule out any thyroid problems or deficiencies. Really I wasn't asking advice... just wanted to get some tests run and see how I checked out because I hadn't gotten bloodwork done in 10 years.

    He suggested a few pills for appetite suppressants, and he asked if I had tried low-carb. I am doing sort of low-carb... not purposefully.. just trying to hit my macros and fats and then carbs are irrelevant. But he said low-carb low-fat could work. I told him that I thought that might make me constipated... he suggested stool softeners....

    Ahhh consider a new doctor. Replace a symptom with a pill? Stupid.
    I had a plateau really bad, and while it would not hurt to check your thyroid - I would consider a more reliable calorie counter. I purchased a fitbit and a bodymedia armband. Both track your daily activity and how much you should consume. I stuck with the bodymedia armband since it is more accurate - and it has worked wonders! I found out that I was not eating nearly enough.

    Basically, TDEE minus 500 calories or 750 has worked really well for me. Busted right though the plateau like it never happened.
  • get a different doctor
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    Did you last talk to your doctor in 1983?
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  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    Has your doctor heard of rabbit starvation? It's what you get if you try to get all your calories from protein and take in insufficient amounts of fats and carbs. It's called rabbit starvation because rabbit meat is very lean and doesn't contain carbs, i.e. what you get if you try to live off rabbit. The French call it "mal au caribou" i.e. caribou sickness, because caribou is also a very lean meat, and you can't live off caribou alone either. You need to eat carbs and fat as well. The body can only handle so much protein. It can handle quite a lot (bodybuilder recommendations of 1g per lb bodymass etc are all well under the maximum so no worries there) but it can't handle the amount of protein you'd need to get all your daily calories from protein.

    Someone mentioned that doctors don't have training in nutrition. It's true. And depressing. They should have, seeing as it's such a fundamental factor in human health. Medical school fail...
  • sonyapowell
    sonyapowell Posts: 38 Member
    your doc sounds like he is a real people pleaser or just lazy and wanting to get you out of the office by offering a "quick fix". Sad story either way! You can choose complex carbs and good fats and this will keep you healthy and happy. carbs help with serotonin that is a feel good hormone. complex carbs take longer to break down, have more fiber and do not cause blood sugar spikes and dips. healthy fats bring satiety. stay away from the diet pills that is just asking for trouble. Exercise, fiber and water will keep you regular. the more you look into a anti-inflammatory diet or Mediterranean diet the more you will learn about this. I hope you the very best and maybe you could consider a nurse practitioner?
  • He's not the doctor I normally go to-- I only go to the doctor like once every 3 years and my doctor was out on vacation. He also tried to sell me medifast because his wife sells it LOL. Nice guy... I could just tell that he had no idea what he was talking about in regards to weight loss.

    As far as the platau-- I'm thinking I need to be more consistant with weighing and measuring my food. I do weight most of my meats and veggies... but my fats I normally just eyeball. I have a Fitbit, and I eat the calories it tells me to. I'm at 220lbs.... and the number I normally can't get past is 215.... after that its like pulling teeth to lose .6lbs every 2 weeks. The closer I get... the harder it is to lose weight.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    but my fats I normally just eyeball.

    The difference between 7g of butter and 8g of butter? 7 calories. A paperclip weighs about a gram. An extra teaspoon of butter is 33 calories. I'm not trying to stress you out, since what you're doing is working! But fats are the densest calories. DEFINITELY weight them, if you're trying to track your calories.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    He's not the doctor I normally go to-- I only go to the doctor like once every 3 years and my doctor was out on vacation. He also tried to sell me medifast because his wife sells it LOL. Nice guy... I could just tell that he had no idea what he was talking about in regards to weight loss.

    As far as the platau-- I'm thinking I need to be more consistant with weighing and measuring my food. I do weight most of my meats and veggies... but my fats I normally just eyeball. I have a Fitbit, and I eat the calories it tells me to. I'm at 220lbs.... and the number I normally can't get past is 215.... after that its like pulling teeth to lose .6lbs every 2 weeks. The closer I get... the harder it is to lose weight.

    I agree with everyone saying the doctor's advice is pretty terrible.

    To break past your plateau:

    1. Absolutely weight and measure everything. Especially your fats because they are so calorie dense. You can easily blow a calorie deficit by eyeballing things like how much oil you're using to cook, etc.

    2. 99% of plateaus are caused by eating too much. This doesn't mean that you're in the kitchen chowing down all the time, but rather that you're not weighing all your food, or overestimating calories burned through exercise, or haven't reevaluated your TDEE after losing a few pounds, etc. Make sure your numbers are accurate.

    If you stick with it for a few weeks and still zero change in weight loss, maybe start a new thread asking for help...there are lots of people here who would be more than willing to look at your calorie intake, stats, etc and help you make adjustments. :smile:
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    He's just a regular doctor. I had told him that I had hit a plateu in my weight loss and that I just wanted to get bloodwork done to rule out any thyroid problems or deficiencies. Really I wasn't asking advice... just wanted to get some tests run and see how I checked out because I hadn't gotten bloodwork done in 10 years.

    He suggested a few pills for appetite suppressants, and he asked if I had tried low-carb. I am doing sort of low-carb... not purposefully.. just trying to hit my macros and fats and then carbs are irrelevant. But he said low-carb low-fat could work. I told him that I thought that might make me constipated... he suggested stool softeners....

    A pill for everything....

    I agree. I'd seriously find a new doctor.
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    If you're having good success....you certainly don't need prescriptions to continue. Plateaus are normal. Keep eating right..it sounds like your doctor has been reading People Magazine instead of medical journals, or nutrition journals.
  • crystalfisher89
    crystalfisher89 Posts: 196 Member
    He's just a regular doctor. I had told him that I had hit a plateu in my weight loss and that I just wanted to get bloodwork done to rule out any thyroid problems or deficiencies. Really I wasn't asking advice... just wanted to get some tests run and see how I checked out because I hadn't gotten bloodwork done in 10 years.

    He suggested a few pills for appetite suppressants, and he asked if I had tried low-carb. I am doing sort of low-carb... not purposefully.. just trying to hit my macros and fats and then carbs are irrelevant. But he said low-carb low-fat could work. I told him that I thought that might make me constipated... he suggested stool softeners....

    It sounds like we have a Dr. Oz on our hands..... Eesh!!! I would take everything he said and throw it out the window personally. I usually eat about 40c/30f/30p. Works for me.