Conflicting Info From Primary Doctor and Nutritionist HELP

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  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    Is it a nutritionist or a Dietitian? There's a vast gap between the two.

    Anyway, the nutritionist is probably more on the right track though the no-fat part confuses me as fats are important for hormonal balance.

    Exactly, a higher fat plan is what will put the hormones (especially female hormones and insulin) back into balance and start reversing this dreadful disorder.

    No fat dairy, does not mean a no/low fat diet. If her diet is high protein there is a good chance it is moderate in fat, not low

    Even moderate fat way of eating is not going to balance her hormones from the start if her hormone levels are anything like mine where when I was first diagnosed.

    My old Endocrinologist that was a Metabolic Endocrinologist at the Strelitz Diabetes Institute in Norfolk, VA put me on a 80% fat, 15% protein, 5% carb way of eating to get my hormone levels to re-arrange themselves................then we slowly brought down the fat level and raised the protein and carb levels until I was around 50% fat, 30% protein and 20% carbs.

    Just because it is high in protein, doesn't mean moderate fat in any way. If they are wanting her to eat no red meat (chicken and fish only) then that is low fat right there. Couple that with no fat dairy and you are way under the level of fat needed to HEAL the body.

    She stressed the importance of fat especially in females.

    And in my experiences (many doctors, dieticians and nutritionists) when they say no fat dairy, they are wanting you to eat low fat in general.

    I am merely lending my personal experiences and what the Dr's have told me over the years. I have the same issues and it is very hard to keep things in balance with eating low / no fat.
  • xcatsaxon
    xcatsaxon Posts: 43 Member
    Wow, thank you all so much for your responses. I am going to listen to my 6th sense and your advice which all seem to agree- listen to the nutritionist! I feel the doctor means well, and because her body has responded to the 1200 calorie quick start using weight watchers worked for her it should be one size fits all or something I dunno. As for the hormone thing, my endroconologist said body builders would pay for my levels...lol so I guess I have a long way to go for balancing that.
  • xcatsaxon
    xcatsaxon Posts: 43 Member
    I live in norfolk area too I will have to check them out see what they say as specialists in PCOS.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    First of all - 7 pounds in 2 months is fantastic!! With the amount of weight you have to lose, around 1.5 pounds per week is a reasonable healthy rate of loss and you've actually exceeded that by a bit. Stop being so hard on yourself! Well done!!!

    OP lost 7lbs in 2 months. That's about 8 weeks.

    7lbs / 8 weeks = .875 lbs per week

    Darnit! My bad...only calced for 1 month, not two. Still, that's almost 1 pound per week which still isn't too bad, especially given PCOS tends to slow down weight loss. I stand by my statements of not being hard on herself and well done!! :)
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    I live in norfolk area too I will have to check them out see what they say as specialists in PCOS.

    Make sure you get referred to one of the Endocrinologists that are Metabolic specialists. That way your treatment will encompass the PCOS, Insulin Resistance and they can thoroughly check to see if the PCOS has caused you to have thyroid issues also.

    That is what was found to be the case with me. And I was vegetarian at the time, so the soy I was eating was making the hormone issues with PCOS and the thyroid worse and worse.

    The Dr advised me to do Atkins style elimination and slowly add back in higher carb vegetables, fruits, grains, etc............I had great success.

    P. S. - I lived in Newport News, VA for 15 years. I moved back home to the St Louis area back in 2008. I miss the Tidewater area and the 7 cities!!
  • chrispholt
    chrispholt Posts: 3 Member
    Your doctor has less training in nutrition than your dietitian. Also, you have 76 lbs to lose, so 1200 would be VERY low and near impossible to sustain without help.

    This. Doctors get practically no nutritional training in med school and most are woefully ignorant. Listen to the nutritionist.

    My pet duck could become a nutritionist, and she has no training...
  • xcatsaxon
    xcatsaxon Posts: 43 Member
    First of all - 7 pounds in 2 months is fantastic!! With the amount of weight you have to lose, around 1.5 pounds per week is a reasonable healthy rate of loss and you've actually exceeded that by a bit. Stop being so hard on yourself! Well done!!!

    OP lost 7lbs in 2 months. That's about 8 weeks.

    7lbs / 8 weeks = .875 lbs per week

    Darnit! My bad...only calced for 1 month, not two. Still, that's almost 1 pound per week which still isn't too bad, especially given PCOS tends to slow down weight loss. I stand by my statements of not being hard on herself and well done!! :)

    THANK YOU!
  • Travelbug1955
    Travelbug1955 Posts: 61 Member
    I would do what the nutritionist says. You are getting results with her plan, stick to it.
  • jess1992uga
    jess1992uga Posts: 603 Member
    My nutritionist gets frustrated with this. Doctors take MAYBE on session in nutrition and then think they can give out advice. As long as you are seeing a registered dietitian/nutritionist they have had years of training AND passed a certification exam. I say go with her.
  • corgicake
    corgicake Posts: 846 Member
    Go with the bigger expert in that area.
  • Charlottesometimes23
    Charlottesometimes23 Posts: 687 Member
    My nutritionist gets frustrated with this. Doctors take MAYBE on session in nutrition and then think they can give out advice. As long as you are seeing a registered dietitian/nutritionist they have had years of training AND passed a certification exam. I say go with her.

    I agree! I have spent some time working as a dietitian in a diabetes clinic and the senior dietitian holds training sessions for the Drs (including endocrinologist specialists) because their knowledge about the dietary management of diabetes is lacking.

    OP go with the nutritionist/dietitian because the advice you have been given is sound.

    Also congrats on your loss so far!

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