Dietitian frustration
Alatariel75
Posts: 18,227 Member
Just a vent.
I am back on the weight loss train after regaining a large amount of weight I lost 2014-2016 (thanks MFP!) but then fell off thanks to a diagnosis of MS, a new job with much longer hours, my TKD dojang moving too far away for me to keep going, and then the never-ending Melbourne Covid lockdowns.
Thing is, I *know* how to lose weight, what to eat, how to eat, what works for me and what my issues are (compliance, emotional eating etc).
But I wanted a referral to an exercise physiologist because of the MS issues and also some knee/hip issues and I don't want to injure myself coming back from the least fit I've been. My GP gave me a care plan which included 3 trips to the exercise physiologist but he also insisted it include 2 dietitian visits - no worries, maybe I'll learn something new, can't hurt, right?
I go, and she basically listens to nothing I say (that I know how to eat I'm just not good at adhering), explains the food pyramid to me, does the whole "fat makes you fat" thing, gives me lecture on how I must eat chicken breast and not thigh, and gives me a bog standard, non-customisable 1200 cal a day meal plan that includes Optifast products. Zero guidance on how to eat anything aside from meal replacements and "palm sized piece of meat, 1/2 plate of veg, fist sized starch". BUT then she tells me she only wants me to lose 1.4kg a month (on 1200 cal?? I'd do that per week!!) and to aim for 17kg loss in a year. For the record, I'm just shy of 120kg. Oh, she also told me, in response to me saying that the plan includes 2 pieces of fruit a day and that I don't eat fruit (I love all veg, I have an aversion to fruit) that I should just learn to like it.
Honestly, the plan is in the bin, and I'm back eating the way I did when I lost a ton of weight a few years ago, and relying on my knowledge from my own learning, and what I learned from the good folks on here.
But I feel so sorry for anyone who doesn't have that knowledge who paid money to go see this person. No wonder people struggle, if this is the professional advice.
Anyway. Just a vent and also a "Hi, I'm back!" post.
I am back on the weight loss train after regaining a large amount of weight I lost 2014-2016 (thanks MFP!) but then fell off thanks to a diagnosis of MS, a new job with much longer hours, my TKD dojang moving too far away for me to keep going, and then the never-ending Melbourne Covid lockdowns.
Thing is, I *know* how to lose weight, what to eat, how to eat, what works for me and what my issues are (compliance, emotional eating etc).
But I wanted a referral to an exercise physiologist because of the MS issues and also some knee/hip issues and I don't want to injure myself coming back from the least fit I've been. My GP gave me a care plan which included 3 trips to the exercise physiologist but he also insisted it include 2 dietitian visits - no worries, maybe I'll learn something new, can't hurt, right?
I go, and she basically listens to nothing I say (that I know how to eat I'm just not good at adhering), explains the food pyramid to me, does the whole "fat makes you fat" thing, gives me lecture on how I must eat chicken breast and not thigh, and gives me a bog standard, non-customisable 1200 cal a day meal plan that includes Optifast products. Zero guidance on how to eat anything aside from meal replacements and "palm sized piece of meat, 1/2 plate of veg, fist sized starch". BUT then she tells me she only wants me to lose 1.4kg a month (on 1200 cal?? I'd do that per week!!) and to aim for 17kg loss in a year. For the record, I'm just shy of 120kg. Oh, she also told me, in response to me saying that the plan includes 2 pieces of fruit a day and that I don't eat fruit (I love all veg, I have an aversion to fruit) that I should just learn to like it.
Honestly, the plan is in the bin, and I'm back eating the way I did when I lost a ton of weight a few years ago, and relying on my knowledge from my own learning, and what I learned from the good folks on here.
But I feel so sorry for anyone who doesn't have that knowledge who paid money to go see this person. No wonder people struggle, if this is the professional advice.
Anyway. Just a vent and also a "Hi, I'm back!" post.
22
Replies
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@Alatariel75 Ugh - sorry you're forced to see someone who doesn't listen and gives such unhelpful (and very outdated!) advice. I actually wanted to see a dietician to help with weightloss, but when I finally got up with one a month or so ago, she didn't want to see me because "studies show you can't maintain a loss of more than 10% of your bodyweight through dietary changes". Um - thanks? If your experience and mine are typical of dietitians' "help", then we're better off without it.4
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@Alatariel75 Ugh - sorry you're forced to see someone who doesn't listen and gives such unhelpful (and very outdated!) advice. I actually wanted to see a dietician to help with weightloss, but when I finally got up with one a month or so ago, she didn't want to see me because "studies show you can't maintain a loss of more than 10% of your bodyweight through dietary changes". Um - thanks? If your experience and mine are typical of dietitians' "help", then we're better off without it.
UGH, I'm sorry you had a bad experience too! What a thing to say??
Honestly I was so surprised at how out of date the advice was, especially as she was quite young, so must have been taught this fairly recently.0 -
omg I would so not go back to that person. I'm all about following drs orders but man, that sucks. You know what I'd do? I'd log every bite and work your plan that you know works, print out your OWN diet for when you go back to the dr who sent you to that dietician in the first place, and SHOW him your OWN what works lol. Especially cuz ya know that scale will be moving down from your last visit to him. Malicious Compliance at its finest.7
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Yeah, I'm a veteran in the US who has consulted with several dietitians through the VA and like you have received more valuable information here on the MFP forums.
I wish I could advise you on compliance and emotional eating as that is a current struggle for me as well! I work on root causes with my therapist and the dietitians haven't been helpful.4 -
This happened to me as well when I was pregnant, sick to my stomach suffering from hyperemesis and not gaining weight. OB referred me to a nutritionist (which in the USA means no college or formal credentials) and she told me I need to eat more. 🙄🤦♀️ Gee I hadn't thought of that.6
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You do you. I wouldn’t follow those recommendations either. I do what works for me.2
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You do you. I wouldn’t follow those recommendations either. I do what works for me.
Absolutely, I just feel so bad for people who go to see them and don't know better or how to find what works for them. I can't imagine that even a small fraction of her clients stick to this plan for more than a few weeks at most - no flexibility, no advice on handling different circumstances, no advice on varied or interesting meals.
She even completely ignored me specifically telling her that I am able to avoid sweet things altogether with little effort, but the smallest taste of sweet sets off epic cravings, and for that reason I wasn't interested in shakes and bars instead of meals. So disappointing.3 -
I am a Registered Dietitian and am appalled at the poor information and attitude of the one you saw. Just like any profession, there are good ones and not so good ones. I personally specialize in renal, but I frequently assist my patients with weight loss for transplant purposes. It can be quite tricky to help someone navigate weight loss with a renal diet, but the number one most important thing is to listen to the patient and help them tailor the recommendations to their preferences and lifestyle.
I’m sorry your experience was so awful. I wish you the best in following a plan that works for you and makes you feel better.7 -
I am a Registered Dietitian and am appalled at the poor information and attitude of the one you saw. Just like any profession, there are good ones and not so good ones. I personally specialize in renal, but I frequently assist my patients with weight loss for transplant purposes. It can be quite tricky to help someone navigate weight loss with a renal diet, but the number one most important thing is to listen to the patient and help them tailor the recommendations to their preferences and lifestyle.
I’m sorry your experience was so awful. I wish you the best in following a plan that works for you and makes you feel better.
Oh, I definitely don't think all dietitians are like that! I saw one a while back (different city, sadly) for food intolerance who was fantastic. I'm just so disappointed that one can be *so* bad and still getting referrals from a good GP, and being employed in a decent allied health practice.2 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »Just a vent.
I am back on the weight loss train after regaining a large amount of weight I lost 2014-2016 (thanks MFP!) but then fell off thanks to a diagnosis of MS, a new job with much longer hours, my TKD dojang moving too far away for me to keep going, and then the never-ending Melbourne Covid lockdowns.
Thing is, I *know* how to lose weight, what to eat, how to eat, what works for me and what my issues are (compliance, emotional eating etc).
But I wanted a referral to an exercise physiologist because of the MS issues and also some knee/hip issues and I don't want to injure myself coming back from the least fit I've been. My GP gave me a care plan which included 3 trips to the exercise physiologist but he also insisted it include 2 dietitian visits - no worries, maybe I'll learn something new, can't hurt, right?
I go, and she basically listens to nothing I say (that I know how to eat I'm just not good at adhering), explains the food pyramid to me, does the whole "fat makes you fat" thing, gives me lecture on how I must eat chicken breast and not thigh, and gives me a bog standard, non-customisable 1200 cal a day meal plan that includes Optifast products. Zero guidance on how to eat anything aside from meal replacements and "palm sized piece of meat, 1/2 plate of veg, fist sized starch". BUT then she tells me she only wants me to lose 1.4kg a month (on 1200 cal?? I'd do that per week!!) and to aim for 17kg loss in a year. For the record, I'm just shy of 120kg. Oh, she also told me, in response to me saying that the plan includes 2 pieces of fruit a day and that I don't eat fruit (I love all veg, I have an aversion to fruit) that I should just learn to like it.
Honestly, the plan is in the bin, and I'm back eating the way I did when I lost a ton of weight a few years ago, and relying on my knowledge from my own learning, and what I learned from the good folks on here.
But I feel so sorry for anyone who doesn't have that knowledge who paid money to go see this person. No wonder people struggle, if this is the professional advice.
Anyway. Just a vent and also a "Hi, I'm back!" post.
Update on your dietician: they got a gender change (lucky duck) and came here because I just had that EXACT SAME SITUATION!
I was soooooo excited and I had been putting things off a little until I was going to talk to him. On the bright side (sarcasm), he's all about dominating people, so he'd beat you into submission if you like "compliance." He was very emphatic about me having him to answer to.
Very domineering. Didn't do anything in relation to helping me. Didn't get one single question answered.
Very very domineering, in so many ways. Treated me like a criminal. So weird.
And apparently, to him, "no means...scream at me until I stop protecting my boundaries that I tried to establish at the start. " (no assault, just no respect for clearly and repeatedly stated boundaries.)
I hate myself for giving in.
I got the feeling when I came in that I should just turn around and walk back out.
I wish I had.
Same deal, I threw out the paperwork before I even left. He already knew that none of it even remotely fit my situation, so much so that it was just plain insulting.
On the bright side, he inspired me : to give up and say screw it. Thinking of him makes me want to vomit, so....not sure that's the way this is supposed to work though.
Although admittedly, in these ten minutes on the site, I've learned much of the information I had hoped to learn there...
I guess it could have gone worse, but next time I'll pay to get advice from a five year old, at least it would be more interesting, and respectful.
Wish I'd read your post first.
6 -
I hate to say it, but every interaction I've ever had with dieticians has been like that. And 2/3 of the ones I saw were morbidly obese. Getting bossed around when I was at a healthy weight by someone pushing carbs and low-fat alternatives was kind of maddening. But I was also pregnant and hormonal so I just shut my mouth and cried on the way home.
Hang in there! You've got this!5 -
SplashofColor3 wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Just a vent.
I am back on the weight loss train after regaining a large amount of weight I lost 2014-2016 (thanks MFP!) but then fell off thanks to a diagnosis of MS, a new job with much longer hours, my TKD dojang moving too far away for me to keep going, and then the never-ending Melbourne Covid lockdowns.
Thing is, I *know* how to lose weight, what to eat, how to eat, what works for me and what my issues are (compliance, emotional eating etc).
But I wanted a referral to an exercise physiologist because of the MS issues and also some knee/hip issues and I don't want to injure myself coming back from the least fit I've been. My GP gave me a care plan which included 3 trips to the exercise physiologist but he also insisted it include 2 dietitian visits - no worries, maybe I'll learn something new, can't hurt, right?
I go, and she basically listens to nothing I say (that I know how to eat I'm just not good at adhering), explains the food pyramid to me, does the whole "fat makes you fat" thing, gives me lecture on how I must eat chicken breast and not thigh, and gives me a bog standard, non-customisable 1200 cal a day meal plan that includes Optifast products. Zero guidance on how to eat anything aside from meal replacements and "palm sized piece of meat, 1/2 plate of veg, fist sized starch". BUT then she tells me she only wants me to lose 1.4kg a month (on 1200 cal?? I'd do that per week!!) and to aim for 17kg loss in a year. For the record, I'm just shy of 120kg. Oh, she also told me, in response to me saying that the plan includes 2 pieces of fruit a day and that I don't eat fruit (I love all veg, I have an aversion to fruit) that I should just learn to like it.
Honestly, the plan is in the bin, and I'm back eating the way I did when I lost a ton of weight a few years ago, and relying on my knowledge from my own learning, and what I learned from the good folks on here.
But I feel so sorry for anyone who doesn't have that knowledge who paid money to go see this person. No wonder people struggle, if this is the professional advice.
Anyway. Just a vent and also a "Hi, I'm back!" post.
Update on your dietician: they got a gender change (lucky duck) and came here because I just had that EXACT SAME SITUATION!
I was soooooo excited and I had been putting things off a little until I was going to talk to him. On the bright side (sarcasm), he's all about dominating people, so he'd beat you into submission if you like "compliance." He was very emphatic about me having him to answer to.
Very domineering. Didn't do anything in relation to helping me. Didn't get one single question answered.
Very very domineering, in so many ways. Treated me like a criminal. So weird.
And apparently, to him, "no means...scream at me until I stop protecting my boundaries that I tried to establish at the start. " (no assault, just no respect for clearly and repeatedly stated boundaries.)
I hate myself for giving in.
I got the feeling when I came in that I should just turn around and walk back out.
I wish I had.
Same deal, I threw out the paperwork before I even left. He already knew that none of it even remotely fit my situation, so much so that it was just plain insulting.
On the bright side, he inspired me : to give up and say screw it. Thinking of him makes me want to vomit, so....not sure that's the way this is supposed to work though.
Although admittedly, in these ten minutes on the site, I've learned much of the information I had hoped to learn there...
I guess it could have gone worse, but next time I'll pay to get advice from a five year old, at least it would be more interesting, and respectful.
Wish I'd read your post first.
UGH sorry you had such a crappy experience too!!
I was booked in for a follow up appointment with her yesterday but called and cancelled when I got the reminder. I told them it was because I wasn't well but really I just didn't see any point. I was half tempted to print out my food diary and show up with my average 1500 calories a day of real food and 4kg weight loss for the month, but it would have just been a waste of my time. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and satisfy myself that she won't be getting anymore income from me.5 -
This is why I've never been to a dietician.
I have a fructose intolerance. Fructose is fruit sugar. This means I get sick like a hangover about two strawberries in, or one quarter of an apple. So....I don't eat much fruit.
I also have IBS. Through food diary work about ten years ago I figured out that I cannot eat most legumes or cruciferous vegetables without my gut going crazy for about four days. (NOTHING is worth four days of that sort of misery.)
I guarantee they will say, "OMG, where are your five fruits and veggies a day! You eat too many carbs! You eat too much protein!" At this point, I eat what doesn't make me sick, and yeah, it is pretty much bread, rice, and meat.
But I've lost 60 pounds just eating less of that in small portions, so I know what works for me, and I don't need someone to waste an hour not listening to me when I say that fruits and vegetables make me sick and so I'm not going to eat them.4 -
I do not know almost anything about dieticians....especially not outside of the US...but if you are working with someone who is telling you to eat 1200 calories/day....fire them/get out/whatever.....get tf away from that person.1
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That just sounds awful. I've had several bad experiences with doctors when I repeatedly asked for help with weight loss. If you haven't seen a psychiatrist yet, I'd really recommend it if you're still having trouble sticking to what you know works. Of course, there's always good ones and bad ones in that field like everything else. But it helped me or has so far1
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