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MyFitnessPal Community

Dr has recommended the Ideal Protein diet...

shellypaints

And I'm not liking what I'm seeing about it. The Dr has also prescribed a drug for me to take for glucose intolerance. I just restarted here after having surgery to repair my nose so I can breathe. And I'm not sure I need to be on such a restrictive and potentially dangerous diet. I really don't believe losing weight at a rate of 60 lbs in 6 months is healthy long term. I was expecting that I would be exercising, eating higher protein and fewer carbs to lose to the goal I set here with a goal weight of 130lbs and that it would take about 2 years to get there. I'm 48 yo, 5'2" and weigh 223, Dr says I should weigh 150, but I think that is too heavy I weighed 120 when I was 20 so 130-135 should be reasonable if what I've read is correct.

I'm not sure what to think or what plan I should be following.

Replies

disasterman

If possible, I think it would be a good idea to discuss your concerns with your doctor. If they are not receptive, it may be a good idea to seek another medical opinion. You don't necessarily want to go "doctor shopping" by looking for someone who will only tell you what you want to hear but, on the other hand, it's important that you participate in your own treatment and have good communications with those medical professionals who are trying to help. Just my opinion.

parkscs

"You should diet on as many calories as possible." - Layne Norton - PhD

Go on YouTube and watch Layne's video titled Metabolic Damage Part 2 and the go find a licensed Dietician (not nutritionist, there's a difference).

Metabolic damage as advocated by Layne hasn't really been proven nor is his theory widely accepted. Not to mention you need to put that quote in proper context; Layne is almost certainly giving advice for bodybuilders looking to cut weight and retain lean muscle mass, and not someone who is obese, at risk for diabetes and whose doctor is telling them to lose weight and lose it fast. Bodybuilding is not about improving health (or even healthy as a general matter), and likewise bodybuilding advice is not really appropriate for someone looking to improve their health.

AmberM82479

Hi! I don't know anything about this diet, but what I would say is that if you have concerns you need to do one of a few things. First, talk to your doctor about your concerns and ask about other options. Second, if talking to your doctor doesn't make you feel comfortable with the plan, or if they refuse to offer alternatives, find a different doctor. See a dietician who specializes in weight loss and work with them. The same thing doesn't work for everyone and your doctor needs to be willing to help you find something that works for you AND that you're comfortable with. If that doesn't work, then just start experimenting. Use MFP as the tool it was meant to be and follow the meal plan they set up for you and see what happens. Eat as healthfully as you can and the rest will fall in place.

I am a firm believer that healthy eating is the way to go. I am an insulin dependent diabetic and after 2 years, had only lost a fraction of the weight I wanted to lose. I met with a diabetes specialist and she and I worked out a plan that I was happy with. She recommended starting with the least extreme and most healthy option and if that fails, then you consider other options.

Hope this helps. Wishing you the best of luck and please feel free to friend request me if you'd like support along the way!

bajoyba

I have not done Ideal Protein, but I know people who have done the diet, and I know people who promote/sell the program and its products.

Personally, I don't think it's a great thing. It does work, and if you can stick to the program, you will lose a lot of weight in a short period of time, but as you said earlier in the thread, it doesn't really teach you portion control or how to eat a normal diet with appropriate serving sizes.

From what I understand, there are 4 phases to the program. The first phase is very restrictive and requires that you eat around 800 calories a day, which is why physical exertion is prohibited. It's also very, very low carb, and in order to successfully adhere to the program, you pretty much have to buy their pre-packaged food products (many of which are 0 calorie 0 carb... I accidentally bought a 0 calorie salad dressing at the store once and it was nasty, but that's just me). It can get expensive. If you're the only one you have to buy food for, then I guess the food expenses might even out, but if you have a family that you have to continue to feed regular food, you might find it very pricey.

Aside from being very low calorie, which I personally am not in favor of, it seems to be one of those diets that you kind of have to stay on forever. People who lose their desired amount of weight and make it to goal often find themselves gaining weight very rapidly once they reach the maintenance phase. From my understanding, the diet recommends that everyone re-do phase 1 once a year to maintain their weight.

I understand that because you're pre-diabetic, it might be better for you to eat a lower-carb diet. Perhaps you would benefit from seeing a licensed dietitian who can help you figure out a low-carb way of eating regular food that's less aggressive and easier to adhere to.

Sam_I_Am77

"You should diet on as many calories as possible." - Layne Norton - PhD

Go on YouTube and watch Layne's video titled Metabolic Damage Part 2 and the go find a licensed Dietician (not nutritionist, there's a difference).

Metabolic damage as advocated by Layne hasn't really been proven nor is his theory widely accepted. Not to mention you need to put that quote in proper context; Layne is almost certainly giving advice for bodybuilders looking to cut weight and retain lean muscle mass, and not someone who is obese, at risk for diabetes and whose doctor is telling them to lose weight and lose it fast. Bodybuilding is not about improving health (or even healthy as a general matter), and likewise bodybuilding advice is not really appropriate for someone looking to improve their health.

It has not been completely proven, but neither have many scientific beliefs that we maintain, nothing wrong with scientific theories supported by results. If you listen to his videos and even those of his peers in the fitness industry; there is credible evidence that it does exist. It becomes further apparent when you meet people as described as having metabolic damage and you see it first-hand. 100% proven, nope. Results support the theory, absolutely.

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt

This sounds like a diet that you pay your dr to be on?

If so, you are advised not to exercise so that you lose muscle weight as well as fat - so as long as you're seeing the scale moving downwards you'll keep paying the money. They usually sell vitamins/supplements (that you can get cheaper elsewhere) to prevent hair loss etc.

I know from experience this diet will work to help you lose weight. You might not keep it off long term and you could probably get better results (body composition wise) using this site with a lower deficit adding strength training to maintain LM and cardio for heart health and more food

You can set this up to whatever macro balance suits you, so you can do high protein if you want. Good luck whatever you decide. Don't want to scare mongrel too much - a low cal diet like this shouldn't do you any harm, health wise, if you have a lot to lose and the doctor is monitoring everything properly.

^This. Especially if the doctor is practicing at a bariatrics clinic. They have a vested interest in you seeing the scale drop quickly, so that they can make as much money as possible in a small amount of time. Plus, the faster you see the weight come off, the less likely you are to quit coming to them.

greenwrapgirl

I have a friend who did Medifast, lost an amazing amount of weight, and has kept it off. It worked for her because it was structured and easier than having to worry about what to eat. She also took up kickboxing and still does it.

It is not something I would recommend to most people since I prefer to focus on making sustainable healthy lifestyle changes even if the weight doesn't come off as fast.

Some people may do better with that initial boost of weight loss to get them going. For others it will be a waste of money, especially if you go back to old habits that made you overweight to begin with. If it takes all your willpower to stay on the diet and you have to choke down the food while craving something else, you probably won't last long.

It all depends on your personality and priorities.

Froody2

A lot of studies have shown health benefits after losing just 5-10% of total weight, which sounds like what your doctor wants you to achieve. Maybe use his diet until you achieve the 10%, then switch to using MFP with higher protein and lower carb macronutrient goals?

Personally, I could just about stick to a short term plan (although the whining would be awe inspiring lol), with the promise of "normality" further on. Achieving your goal weight will not happen overnight, so why not eat food you like and move in ways you enjoy as well as learning lots of interesting stuff about yourself in the meantime?

parkscs

"You should diet on as many calories as possible." - Layne Norton - PhD

Go on YouTube and watch Layne's video titled Metabolic Damage Part 2 and the go find a licensed Dietician (not nutritionist, there's a difference).

Metabolic damage as advocated by Layne hasn't really been proven nor is his theory widely accepted. Not to mention you need to put that quote in proper context; Layne is almost certainly giving advice for bodybuilders looking to cut weight and retain lean muscle mass, and not someone who is obese, at risk for diabetes and whose doctor is telling them to lose weight and lose it fast. Bodybuilding is not about improving health (or even healthy as a general matter), and likewise bodybuilding advice is not really appropriate for someone looking to improve their health.

It has not been completely proven, but neither have many scientific beliefs that we maintain, nothing wrong with scientific theories supported by results. If you listen to his videos and even those of his peers in the fitness industry; there is credible evidence that it does exist. It becomes further apparent when you meet people as described as having metabolic damage and you see it first-hand. 100% proven, nope. Results support the theory, absolutely.

What's been shown is a metabolic slowdown from eating a caloric deficit, but that came around long before Layne's theory of metabolic damage. But the bigger problem is you're trying to take contest prep. advice from a bodybuilder and apply it to someone who's trying to lose weight due to health complications - it just does not work. Look outside youtube and bodybuilding advice (again, a sport that is not even remotely about health) and you'll find doctors recommending aggressive caloric deficits because they understand the health risks of obesity. With more obese patients, VLCD's are not altogether uncommon recommendations for the same reasons. They're dealing with health; Layne is dealing with contest prep (and even then, others would argue Layne's theory on this issue can be explained with inaccurate logging from bodybuilders and fluctuations in water weight). Cutting as slowly as possible may be great when you're trying to preserve your gains, but it's irresponsible advice to give to someone whose doctor is warning them about diabetes.

Sam_I_Am77

"You should diet on as many calories as possible." - Layne Norton - PhD

Go on YouTube and watch Layne's video titled Metabolic Damage Part 2 and the go find a licensed Dietician (not nutritionist, there's a difference).

Metabolic damage as advocated by Layne hasn't really been proven nor is his theory widely accepted. Not to mention you need to put that quote in proper context; Layne is almost certainly giving advice for bodybuilders looking to cut weight and retain lean muscle mass, and not someone who is obese, at risk for diabetes and whose doctor is telling them to lose weight and lose it fast. Bodybuilding is not about improving health (or even healthy as a general matter), and likewise bodybuilding advice is not really appropriate for someone looking to improve their health.

It has not been completely proven, but neither have many scientific beliefs that we maintain, nothing wrong with scientific theories supported by results. If you listen to his videos and even those of his peers in the fitness industry; there is credible evidence that it does exist. It becomes further apparent when you meet people as described as having metabolic damage and you see it first-hand. 100% proven, nope. Results support the theory, absolutely.

What's been shown is a metabolic slowdown from eating a caloric deficit, but that came around long before Layne's theory of metabolic damage. But the bigger problem is you're trying to take contest prep. advice from a bodybuilder and apply it to someone who's trying to lose weight due to health complications - it just does not work. Look outside youtube and bodybuilding advice (again, a sport that is not even remotely about health) and you'll find doctors recommending aggressive caloric deficits because they understand the health risks of obesity. With more obese patients, VLCD's are not altogether uncommon recommendations for the same reasons. They're dealing with health; Layne is dealing with contest prep (and even then, others would argue Layne's theory on this issue can be explained with inaccurate logging from bodybuilders and fluctuations in water weight). Cutting as slowly as possible may be great when you're trying to preserve your gains, but it's irresponsible advice to give to someone whose doctor is warning them about diabetes.

Well, Layne and others that also believe in this concept do largely deal with contest prep but they also deal with healthy every day individuals struggling with weight loss. Layne was just a more visible individual that discusses this. If I mentioned my professor or others that have discussed this concept people would be like, who the hell are you talking about. I'm a MS student so I definitely look at stuff holistically outside the realm of figure athletes, but the concept makes sense. I personally know somebody that is dealing with this issue and is dealing with it as some of the solutions presented for the concept of Metabolic Damage. Maybe it's not applicable to the OP, but I would still recommend that she goes to a licensed dietitian for specific advice about her situation as a GP is not always the most knowledgeable resource. I may have miscommunicated my initial point as well. I'm not implying that's what she has, but rather be careful of highly restrictive calorie diets. Especially something that she can't commit to in the long-term. I completely agree with what you said about eating food she likes. She needs to set herself up for success by sticking to something that is manageable long-term.

shellypaints

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Let me clear up a few things.

My Dr is an endocrinologist who specialized in thyroid and metabolic disorders. She is not a weight loss or bariatric Dr nor runs that type of clinic. She does offer the IP products but specifically said I did not have to buy from her or use that diet.

She recommended; not required that I do Ideal Protein or that I could do another diet. Her experience is that patients who are not on a strict diet are not successful. She also said I could do WW, but it needed to be structured whatever I do.

She has tested all of my thyroid and adrenal functions and the only thing that was out of line was my glucose which was 102 and a score of 141 for insulin which prompted the 4 hour glucose test (yuk) which results confirmed I am pre-diabetic.

I always have higher BP in her office than anywhere else. She has her patients use one of those machines you see in the Pharmacy. My PCP and I have been watching my BP and it directly correlates to my weight. If I am below 220 lbs I am in the normal range above 220-225 pre-hypertensive and above 225 high BP.

So because of both of the High BP which I disregarded because those machines are notoriously high, and the pre-diabetic DX is why she wants the rapid weight loss.

All of the rest of my labs are in the disgustingly healthy range that you would not expect to see with someone as over weight as I am. I say disgustingly healthy because for over 5 years I've had debilitating fatigue and joint pain that caused me to be tested for everything under the sun but all my labs were excellent. The only thing that popped up in the first round of tests was a Vit D deficiency but that only relieved the joint pain, not the fatigue. It wasn't till I went to see a Dr for snoring that we discovered I had severe obstructive sleep apnea. The obstruction was repaired - and now the fatigue is gone; I can exercise and start to lose weight. To make sure that the 30 years I've had the sleep apnea didn't damage my metabolism was why I was referred to the endocrinologist.

Sorry that this is so long but I think that covers all the questions, comments and assumptions everyone had.

shellypaints

Now for those of you who are saying to track macronutrients where do I find that info? Is there an FAQ for that?

jmv7117

Why are you complicating things?

Just eat the foods you like to eat within a calorie deficit.

Why are you telling OP to go against what his doctor recommended?

126siany

Now for those of you who are saying to track macronutrients where do I find that info? Is there an FAQ for that?

MFP will automatically set up macro targets in your Food Diary. Macros are "macronutirents"--carbohydrates, protein and fat.

You may or may not want to follow MFP's recommended macro targets.

jmv7117

And I'm not liking what I'm seeing about it. The Dr has also prescribed a drug for me to take for glucose intolerance. I just restarted here after having surgery to repair my nose so I can breathe. And I'm not sure I need to be on such a restrictive and potentially dangerous diet. I really don't believe losing weight at a rate of 60 lbs in 6 months is healthy long term. I was expecting that I would be exercising, eating higher protein and fewer carbs to lose to the goal I set here with a goal weight of 130lbs and that it would take about 2 years to get there. I'm 48 yo, 5'2" and weigh 223, Dr says I should weigh 150, but I think that is too heavy I weighed 120 when I was 20 so 130-135 should be reasonable if what I've read is correct.

I'm not sure what to think or what plan I should be following.

You should address your concerns with your doctor including getting advice for the specific diet he has place you on. If you don't want to follow his advice, get a second opinion. The last thing you should be doing is self-diagnosing and placing your trust on strangers in an online forum.

shellypaints

Now for those of you who are saying to track macronutrients where do I find that info? Is there an FAQ for that?

MFP will automatically set up macro targets in your Food Diary. Macros are "macronutirents"--carbohydrates, protein and fat.

You may or may not want to follow MFP's recommended macro targets.

Ok so where is the information about ratios? As I understand it, I may have different ratios than someone without my health issues. If it is not on MFP where do I find this? Yes I can google but I want info that is accurate not necessarily popular.

changing4life

Eat real food - everyone i know who has done IP has gained it back quickly after they go off it. Plus, the IP stuff is pricer than just eating real foods. Is there any reason for your Dr. to want you to drop the weight quickly?

I am officially pre-diabetic with possible glucose or is it insulin intolerance; I need to have some more testing done. So I know I need to reduce my carbs and increase proteins but I'm not sure what the guidelines for that is.

I prefer real food. :bigsmile:

Try not to have more than 30 carbs/15 grams protein per meal and 15 carbs/7 grams of protein per snack. Eat whole foods. Stay away from processed, refined carbs.

3dogsrunning

Now for those of you who are saying to track macronutrients where do I find that info? Is there an FAQ for that?

MFP will automatically set up macro targets in your Food Diary. Macros are "macronutirents"--carbohydrates, protein and fat.

You may or may not want to follow MFP's recommended macro targets.

Ok so where is the information about ratios? As I understand it, I may have different ratios than someone without my health issues. If it is not on MFP where do I find this? Yes I can google but I want info that is accurate not necessarily popular.

As a few others have stated, if you have issues with insulin levels and this is why your doctor wants you on a high protein diet, then you need to speak with your doctor about recommended levels. If you do not trust your doctor, then get a second opinon. Do not rely on the internet. Setting your own macros is one thing when there is no health concerns, but if there is a health issue, I would not advise it.

I asked earlier if your Doctor was expecting you to buy the supplements from him/her. If so, I would see the opinion of another doctor.

You can change your macro settings under the goals tab, custom. Again, I would still base these settings on a recommendation from a medical professional who is familiar with your current situation.

stealthq

I just Googled the plan - it appears to me to be very much like Medifast (I know they have just gone to an MLM - this might be it). As this plan is not sustainable for life (IMO - plus my friends who have done Medifast say it doesn't taste good at all), I agree with a couple of other posters - why complicate life? Eat healthy, exercise, make sure you are at a calorie deficit and you'll lose weight - and enjoy life!

As far as your goal - get to 150 and then decide if you want to drop more. At 5'2" 150 seems a bit high..

Good luck.

It is high. 143 is overweight for 5' 3" - I know because when I started here I was 142 lbs at 5'3". Just shy of clinically overweight.

OP, google the healthy BMI range for your age and height. Shoot for the high end of healthy to start. Lots of us find that we aim for too high a weight and later adjust downwards, and you may find the same.

SLLRunner

Eat real food - everyone i know who has done IP has gained it back quickly after they go off it. Plus, the IP stuff is pricer than just eating real foods. Is there any reason for your Dr. to want you to drop the weight quickly?

I am officially pre-diabetic with possible glucose or is it insulin intolerance; I need to have some more testing done. So I know I need to reduce my carbs and increase proteins but I'm not sure what the guidelines for that is.

I prefer real food. :bigsmile:

It sounds to me like you've got a plan. Follow your doctor's instructions when it comes to what your carbs should be and how you should eat with your pre-diabetes and you glucose intolerance, but tell him you're not going on the Idea Diet. Let him know that you plan on eating real foods and setting your goals to lose weight at a sustainable amount each week.

It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders.

vbrent07

My friend was on that because she was going to get lap band, shes over 100 pounds more than you. She could only eat 1,000 calories a day. She ended up losing her insurance and stopped the diet and gained all of that back. While I think this diet does work short term, once you start back on a regular diet without these protein shakes, it is likely you will gain the weight back. I only say this diet should be short term because eating 1,000 calories is not going to give you all the nutrients you need. With a lot of hard work with will power, exercise and eating right, you will be able to lose it yourself. But you need to determine the route that will be best for you. Just make sure that if you do end up doing this diet the doctor supervises you the whole entire time and see a nutritionist when it's time to stop. Maybe that way you wont gain it back! Good luck whatever you decide!

kimny72

Hi! I don't know anything about this diet, but what I would say is that if you have concerns you need to do one of a few things. First, talk to your doctor about your concerns and ask about other options. Second, if talking to your doctor doesn't make you feel comfortable with the plan, or if they refuse to offer alternatives, find a different doctor. See a dietician who specializes in weight loss and work with them. The same thing doesn't work for everyone and your doctor needs to be willing to help you find something that works for you AND that you're comfortable with. If that doesn't work, then just start experimenting. Use MFP as the tool it was meant to be and follow the meal plan they set up for you and see what happens. Eat as healthfully as you can and the rest will fall in place.

I am a firm believer that healthy eating is the way to go. I am an insulin dependent diabetic and after 2 years, had only lost a fraction of the weight I wanted to lose. I met with a diabetes specialist and she and I worked out a plan that I was happy with. She recommended starting with the least extreme and most healthy option and if that fails, then you consider other options.

Hope this helps. Wishing you the best of luck and please feel free to friend request me if you'd like support along the way!

This!

_Terrapin_

And I'm not liking what I'm seeing about it. The Dr has also prescribed a drug for me to take for glucose intolerance. I just restarted here after having surgery to repair my nose so I can breathe. And I'm not sure I need to be on such a restrictive and potentially dangerous diet. I really don't believe losing weight at a rate of 60 lbs in 6 months is healthy long term. I was expecting that I would be exercising, eating higher protein and fewer carbs to lose to the goal I set here with a goal weight of 130lbs and that it would take about 2 years to get there. I'm 48 yo, 5'2" and weigh 223, Dr says I should weigh 150, but I think that is too heavy I weighed 120 when I was 20 so 130-135 should be reasonable if what I've read is correct.

I'm not sure what to think or what plan I should be following.

OP get a 2nd opinion, start there. And, go to a registered dietician too, form your plan around more then one doctor's thoughts.

thecrushinator

Your Doctor is a DOCTOR. and probably knows more than anyone on these boards. If your really worried ask them to go over it in detail and really explain why they want you to this.

For what it's worth, my 54yr old mother did South beach and lost 15+ pounds with out lifting a finger and she was fine.
I friend from college lost 80+ plus pounds in four months (with doctor supervision) doing gluten free for her celacs.

No carb protein diets will work, their just not necessarily for eveyone

SLLRunner

Your Doctor is a DOCTOR. and probably knows more than anyone on these boards. If your really worried ask them to go over it in detail and really explain why they want you to this.

For what it's worth, my 54yr old mother did South beach and lost 15+ pounds with out lifting a finger and she was fine.
I friend from college lost 80+ plus pounds in four months (with doctor supervision) doing gluten free for her celacs.

No carb protein diets will work, their just not necessarily for eveyone

Any diet works when there is a calorie deficit.

byerley05

The bad breath isn't from drinking the shakes, it's because if you truly follow the program your body is in ketosis. Research ketosis and you'll understand where the bad breath comes from.

Cinflo58

Why don't you see a dietitian? Diets don't work for the long term. Even bariatric surgery doesn't work for everyone. Start exercising and eating fewer and healthy carbs, more vegetables and LEAN protein like skinless poultry and fish. Healthy carbs are legumes, fruits (yes you can eat fruit!), yogurt and whole grains.

Prediabetic means your blood sugar is higher than normal but you are not diabetic yet.

Good luck to you

Cinflo58

If your doctor prescribed metformin, it can help with weight loss and with helping you to have normal blood sugar. But don't be afraid to do your research and question your doctor and ask for a referral to see a dietitian.

nicsflyingcircus

And I'm not liking what I'm seeing about it. The Dr has also prescribed a drug for me to take for glucose intolerance. I just restarted here after having surgery to repair my nose so I can breathe. And I'm not sure I need to be on such a restrictive and potentially dangerous diet. I really don't believe losing weight at a rate of 60 lbs in 6 months is healthy long term. I was expecting that I would be exercising, eating higher protein and fewer carbs to lose to the goal I set here with a goal weight of 130lbs and that it would take about 2 years to get there. I'm 48 yo, 5'2" and weigh 223, Dr says I should weigh 150, but I think that is too heavy I weighed 120 when I was 20 so 130-135 should be reasonable if what I've read is correct.

I'm not sure what to think or what plan I should be following.

I just lose 63.9lbs in 4 months. Of course, I was much bigger(and taller)

daydreams_of_pretty

This actually happened to me. My doctor started selling Ideal Protein and basically just tried to get all of his overweight and obese clients to start the program. He knew I was trying to lose weight and started to pressure me into doing the program through his office. I refused to do so because I know that if I did lose any weight that I would just gain it back because I needed to work on changing my habits and needed to develop new coping skills. I'd already lost some weight before I joined MFP, and I've continued to do better as I learn to eat well/exercise more/avoid emotional eating.

I think that you should address the fact that your doctor sells these items in her office because I honestly believe there is a link between her recommending them and the fact that she sells them. My doctor was pretty transparent about what he was doing. He's not a bad guy, but I don't think that doctors should directly profit from these types of products because it influences the care they provide. These types of programs allow doctors to increase their office's income.