Seeing a registered dietician?
ellioc2
Posts: 148 Member
I’ve been struggling with some obsessive thoughts around food/exercise (currently eating 1200 calories a day, working out 3-4 times a week). I’ve decided it’s time to see a dietician to help me because I’m just struggling and my weight loss has stalled out which I’m not happy about. I understand they’re the expert but I’m so worried she’ll have me on a plan I actually gain on. I feel like my body needs a serious deficit to lose (even under 1200, seeing as I’m stalled out). I’m just wary about trusting her. Or it might be the whole “trust your body, eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full” thing and not even a real meal plan which is what got me in this mess to begin with. It’s just so hard for me to find a middle ground. Has anyone sought the help of a registered dietician, and were they helpful? I’m having a hard time with it but I’ve been pretty miserable lately and so think I need some help. I just feel like I can’t trust anyone anymore, especially my own body which is a really sad and lonely feeling. All my progress and goals are being hindered by me feeling inadequate and like I need to do so much more to never be fat again.
15
Replies
-
Do you need to lose weight, what are your stats and goals?
How accurately to you track food and how long have you been on a diet for?
Don’t hate on yourself, life’s too short x2 -
I’ve been struggling with some obsessive thoughts around food/exercise (currently eating 1200 calories a day, working out 3-4 times a week). I’ve decided it’s time to see a dietician to help me because I’m just struggling and my weight loss has stalled out which I’m not happy about. I understand they’re the expert but I’m so worried she’ll have me on a plan I actually gain on. I feel like my body needs a serious deficit to lose (even under 1200, seeing as I’m stalled out). I’m just wary about trusting her. Or it might be the whole “trust your body, eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full” thing and not even a real meal plan which is what got me in this mess to begin with. It’s just so hard for me to find a middle ground. Has anyone sought the help of a registered dietician, and were they helpful? I’m having a hard time with it but I’ve been pretty miserable lately and so think I need some help. I just feel like I can’t trust anyone anymore, especially my own body which is a really sad and lonely feeling. All my progress and goals are being hindered by me feeling inadequate and like I need to do so much more to never be fat again.
from what you have said, it sounds like someone who specialises in eating disorders would be better for you to see than a dietitian?
what are your stats?18 -
You absolutely need to see a dietitian who has a background in eating disorders.10
-
collectingblues wrote: »You absolutely need to see a dietitian who has a background in eating disorders.
Agreed.3 -
This content has been removed.
-
at 160lbs you are barely outside the healthy BMI range for your height - 1200cal is likely a too agressive calorie goal for your needs; in addition to your working out (are you eating back exercise calories?)
concur with a dietician who has experience with eating disorders and maybe even a therapist to discuss your issues8 -
This content has been removed.
-
MFP is designed to eat back at pleast a portion of your workout calories - at your height/weight - 1200cal is less than your BMR (what your body would burn if in a coma)3
-
deannalfisher wrote: »at 160lbs you are barely outside the healthy BMI range for your height - 1200cal is likely a too agressive calorie goal for your needs; in addition to your working out (are you eating back exercise calories?)
concur with a dietician who has experience with eating disorders and maybe even a therapist to discuss your issues
I am not eating back exercise calories. I want to get to the lower end of my BMI range - more “insurance” that I won’t get fat again
That's not insurance that you won't gain again. If anything, it's the opposite.
Insurance that you won't gain again comes from knowledge, experiences, and building good habits.13 -
This content has been removed.
-
deannalfisher wrote: »MFP is designed to eat back at pleast a portion of your workout calories - at your height/weight - 1200cal is less than your BMR (what your body would burn if in a coma)
Isn’t that the point of weight loss though? To be eating at a 500-1000 calorie deficit a day?
Sort of.
The size of the deficit varies person to person. And the deficit is relative to their TDEE, NOT from their BMR.5 -
here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal8 -
This content has been removed.
-
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.4 -
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
So to lose 2 lbs a week, I’d be at 1200 calories
yo don't need to lose 2lbs a week - that agressive of a deficit with you only needing to lose 20-30lbs - can cause muscle loss/hair loss and a miryad of other health issues11 -
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
So to lose 2 lbs a week, I’d be at 1200 calories
But with less than 75lb to lose, it's not healthy for you to lose 2lbs per week. Or, by another reckoning, at 160lbs, the MAXIMUM safe loss is 1% of your body-weight, i.e. 1.6 lbs per week. And frankly, with only 20-30lbs to go, that still sounds extremely aggressive. You don't have that much fat to burn, which means your body will start on muscle. Your heart is a muscle.6 -
This content has been removed.
-
This isn't a sprint. It's a marathon. You didn't gain 30lbs in a couple of weeks. You won't lose it in a couple of weeks.7
-
sustainable weight loss isn't a race8
-
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.
That’ll mean I won’t be at my goal for a minimum of 5 months, which seems so long :-/ I feel so gross right now and I’m tired of being judged
IMO, you need to work on the mental part more so than the dietary part.18 -
This content has been removed.
-
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.
That’ll mean I won’t be at my goal for a minimum of 5 months, which seems so long :-/ I feel so gross right now and I’m tired of being judged
So I obviously don't know this for a fact, but I'd bet the person doing most of the judging is you. If you're talking about your husband, you really need to let him know he is making you feel judged, and perhaps he needs to participate in your doctor visits. You haven't answered the question in your other threads, but if he doesn't know your history, he should. And if he does know your history, he needs to be aware of the dangers of pushing you, and should be ashamed of himself if he's doing it knowingly.
Five months is not a long time. Please believe us, so much of this is you putting unnecessary pressure on you, which is why we are pushing for you to make an appointment. Hang in there!11 -
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.
That’ll mean I won’t be at my goal for a minimum of 5 months, which seems so long :-/ I feel so gross right now and I’m tired of being judged
IMO, you need to work on the mental part more so than the dietary part.
I’d love to snap out of it, but the fact that I’m “overweight” really bothers me. I want to get out of this state ASAP and then maybe I’ll be gentler in myself
In my experience, that's not the way it works. You like yourself first, then work on the rest of it. Not work on the rest of it so you can/will eventually like yourself.
Also in my experience, it's not a "snap out of it" process - it's a long process that involves a lot of self-reflections, trial and error, failure, success, growing pains, etc.
I say all that making a lot of assumptions about you based on some similarities I've seen with myself... so take it for what it's worth.18 -
This content has been removed.
-
I’ve been struggling with some obsessive thoughts around food/exercise (currently eating 1200 calories a day, working out 3-4 times a week). I’ve decided it’s time to see a dietician to help me because I’m just struggling and my weight loss has stalled out which I’m not happy about. I understand they’re the expert but I’m so worried she’ll have me on a plan I actually gain on. I feel like my body needs a serious deficit to lose (even under 1200, seeing as I’m stalled out). I’m just wary about trusting her. Or it might be the whole “trust your body, eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full” thing and not even a real meal plan which is what got me in this mess to begin with. It’s just so hard for me to find a middle ground. Has anyone sought the help of a registered dietician, and were they helpful? I’m having a hard time with it but I’ve been pretty miserable lately and so think I need some help. I just feel like I can’t trust anyone anymore, especially my own body which is a really sad and lonely feeling. All my progress and goals are being hindered by me feeling inadequate and like I need to do so much more to never be fat again.
A Registered Dietician can be very helpful if you are struggling with knowing what to eat and I would highly recommend scheduling a consultation.
Your issues seem to lean more towards finding a psychotherapist who specializes in food related issues. Disordered thoughts around food isn't necessarily the big ED's like anorexia, binge eating, etc., it can also take the form of fear of food or anxiety about knowing what to eat.
A 2 pronged approach sounds like something you should consider. See a therapist to get over your fears and see a RD to get more practical advise. Therapists who specialize in food issues often have RD's they work with or at least recommend so that is where I would start.4 -
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.
That’ll mean I won’t be at my goal for a minimum of 5 months, which seems so long :-/ I feel so gross right now and I’m tired of being judged
So I obviously don't know this for a fact, but I'd bet the person doing most of the judging is you. If you're talking about your husband, you really need to let him know he is making you feel judged, and perhaps he needs to participate in your doctor visits. You haven't answered the question in your other threads, but if he doesn't know your history, he should. And if he does know your history, he needs to be aware of the dangers of pushing you, and should be ashamed of himself if he's doing it knowingly.
Five months is not a long time. Please believe us, so much of this is you putting unnecessary pressure on you, which is why we are pushing for you to make an appointment. Hang in there!
He told me yesterday he’s going to get skinny (to lower his resting heart rate) and has been doing burpees a lot in the apartment. He’s starting at 150 pounds, and is 5’9”. It’s bothering me thinking how slim he’s going to get and I’ll be the same old me.
Someone who is 5' 9" and 150lbs and saying they are going to "get skinny" probably isn't a good person to follow. Sounds like they have some problems of their own.9 -
Why does working on yourself at a slower, healthy pace="staying the same old you"?
Sad fact: On average, it is easier for men to lose weight than women. From https://www.livescience.com/63324-men-women-weight-loss-difference.html:Men, thanks to their body composition, have more muscle and a higher metabolic rate than women, Lowden said...
Men typically have more weight in their midsection, known as visceral fat, which surrounds the internal organs, Lowden said. When peoplelose visceral fat, it improves their metabolic rate, helping them to burn more calories, she explained.
Women, on the other hand, typically have more subcutaneous fat, which is fat around their thighs, rear and hips that is important for childbearing, Lowden said. When people lose subcutaneous fat, this does not improve their metabolic risk factors, because this type of fat is not metabolically active, she explained.
Indeed, in the study, the researchers pointed to previous research that has suggested that the differences in metabolic outcomes observed in men and women who follow the same diet could be because men may mobilize more fat from their abdomens during weight loss, while women may lose more subcutaneous fat.
This isn't a race to see who can take the pounds off fastest. It's a steady progression to get down to a healthy weight. There is nothing wrong with doing so at a pace your body can handle safely.10 -
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
So to lose 2 lbs a week, I’d be at 1200 calories
And that's not an appropriate rate of loss at your current weight and goals.
Strive for 1 instead.
Weigh and track your food. I find it very hard to believe that you're not losing at 1200 -- and I suspect the reality is either that you *are* losing, but not what you want (considering that you'd previously posted about super early aggressive losses), or that you're eating more than you think.
See a dietitian to get manageable goals and expectations.
Talk to your therapist and PCP about what you're feeling and doing, and what your goals are. I think you know that aiming for the bottom of the range isn't going to make you happy, and it's not going to give you any insurance.
You've said before that you want to be back at the body you had when you were in an active eating disorder -- you may have been weight restored at that point, but with <1000 calories a day and intense cardio at that body, you certainly weren't recovered.
Overshoot is common and normal and natural when recovering from anorexia. Now you need help finding what a healthy body looks like.
You need professional help.7 -
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.
That’ll mean I won’t be at my goal for a minimum of 5 months, which seems so long :-/ I feel so gross right now and I’m tired of being judged
IMO, you need to work on the mental part more so than the dietary part.
I’d love to snap out of it, but the fact that I’m “overweight” really bothers me. I want to get out of this state ASAP and then maybe I’ll be gentler in myself
You know as well as I do that you're not going to be any happier when you're not overweight.
Were you actually legitimately happy and healthy at your lowest weight?7 -
deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.deannalfisher wrote: »here is a rough estimate: https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=30&g=female&lbs=160&in=66&act=1.55&bf=&f=1
maintenance - 2267cal
to lose a lb a week - 1700ish cal
This. Deficit should come off your TDEE, not your BMR. BMR is what you would burn in a coma. And with 20-25 lbs to lose, you should be aiming for no more than 1 lb per week, or a 500 cal deficit. 2 lbs per week is only realistic and advisable for obese folks.
That’ll mean I won’t be at my goal for a minimum of 5 months, which seems so long :-/ I feel so gross right now and I’m tired of being judged
So I obviously don't know this for a fact, but I'd bet the person doing most of the judging is you. If you're talking about your husband, you really need to let him know he is making you feel judged, and perhaps he needs to participate in your doctor visits. You haven't answered the question in your other threads, but if he doesn't know your history, he should. And if he does know your history, he needs to be aware of the dangers of pushing you, and should be ashamed of himself if he's doing it knowingly.
Five months is not a long time. Please believe us, so much of this is you putting unnecessary pressure on you, which is why we are pushing for you to make an appointment. Hang in there!
He told me yesterday he’s going to get skinny (to lower his resting heart rate) and has been doing burpees a lot in the apartment. He’s starting at 150 pounds, and is 5’9”. It’s bothering me thinking how slim he’s going to get and I’ll be the same old me.
Someone who is 5' 9" and 150lbs and saying they are going to "get skinny" probably isn't a good person to follow. Sounds like they have some problems of their own.
Seriously. *Especially* if he knows his wife's history with an eating disorder.
That's as bad as my father, who told me -- someone working on recovery from a restrictive eating disorder -- that it felt good to skip meals. (My therapist's response? "What the *kitten* is wrong with him?!")
Just because we have an influence in our lives doesn't make them a good influence.13
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions