Doctor advice conflicts with MFP

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1stampermom
1stampermom Posts: 12 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I went to my Internist last week for my 6-month checkup, and just about everything she told me was against what I’ve learned and what I’ve read on MFP. I think I need to find a new doctor!

I was frustrated because I hadn’t lost any weight in over 3 weeks, but I’d started eating healthy (from eating whatever I wanted) and had added a 2nd round of exercising several days/week. When I mentioned I burn between 400 - 900 calories in a day through exercise, she said there is no way I could burn that many unless I was a younger, very athletic person. When I told her I used a heart rate monitor, she informed me those aren’t a reliable measure of caloric burn.

She also said the only way for me to lose weight is to eat 1200 calories per day, regardless of how much I exercise. And that if I don’t lose the weight now, I will really balloon up once I hit menopause (I’m 45). How’s that for encouragement?

So I think I’ll find a new doctor before my next checkup!
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Replies

  • cwalters1540
    cwalters1540 Posts: 39 Member
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    Wow! I can't believe she basically called you a liar then told you to eat only 1200 calories NOW or you'll just keep getting fatter. Run, don't walk, to a new doc.

    Remember that just because docs have medical degrees doesn't mean they know everything. Weight loss (and having a good bedside manner) clearly isn't her specialty.
  • Princessbrene
    Princessbrene Posts: 112 Member
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    I would find a new doctor as well... I know that *I* don't burn that many calories in my exercises, but I'm on the next to lowest setting on the eliptical and only doing 20-30 minutes right now. If you've worked up to a higher level of exercise and doing it for a longer period of time, I don't doubt that you are losing over 400 calories a day. Plus, what she said about eating 1200 calories no matter how much you exercise doesn't really make since given that weight gain or loss is dependant on the number of calories you are consuming - the number of calories you are burning. Yes, find a new doctor.
  • Sl1ghtly
    Sl1ghtly Posts: 855 Member
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    'Doctor' doesn't mean high priest of truth. Just as with mechanics, there are skilled docs and there are idiots...
  • kateroot
    kateroot Posts: 435
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    My mom is 48 years old and eats 1200 calories a day at maintenance level. She's 5'4, 120 lbs, and exercises every day. Your doc may not be totally nuts.
  • thunderbolt37
    thunderbolt37 Posts: 17
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    I concur with the others, find a new doctor. Regarding your plateau, you may need to alter your workout. If you are doing long periods of cardio try doing intervals (treadmill, elliptical, bicycle, walking). If you are doing any kind of strength training and using light weights (1-5lb) during one session a week use heavy weights and low reps. In addition, you may need to increase your calories by 200-300 with clean foods. I've been exercising consistently for years and the only way I can get the scale to move is to always mix up my workouts and of course alter my diet... My scale was stuck and I increased by calories by approx 250 for two straight days and voila I lost 1.5 lbs.
  • rcwible83
    rcwible83 Posts: 42
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    Wow! I can't believe she basically called you a liar then told you to eat only 1200 calories NOW or you'll just keep getting fatter. Run, don't walk, to a new doc.

    Remember that just because docs have medical degrees doesn't mean they know everything. Weight loss (and having a good bedside manner) clearly isn't her specialty.

    I couldn't have said it better!
  • Kristine072499
    Kristine072499 Posts: 3
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    Never forget doctors are "Practicing Medicine" I have had good ones and bad ones and anyone who tells you that is not worth the deductible you amay be paying to see them. You know how your body feels and in this area maybe you want to talk to a trainer at the gym to see what can get you moving in the direction you want to go. Good luck at any rate!!!
  • kateroot
    kateroot Posts: 435
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    So basically, because your doctor didn't tell you what you wanted to hear, and her advice conflicts with the advice you get on a message board full of mostly people who have very little actual knowledge of metabolic processes, aging, and nutrition science, you think she sucks and you should find a new doctor? Her job isn't to "encourage" you. I'm sorry to disagree with just about everyone, but I think you're writing your doc off a little too quickly. Why not actually try what she advised you to do, and see what happens?
  • Ke22yB
    Ke22yB Posts: 969 Member
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    I am 64 eat over 2200 calories a day and burn between 500 and 600 calories exercising and lose weight on my goal schedule see if you can find a Dr who works out and understands a little better. I have a pedometer and a HRM I use and both are close to the same calorie number ( I also use an app on my phone not that I am manic or anything) approx 10 calories a minute jogging close to 4 mph
  • StarvingDiva
    StarvingDiva Posts: 1,107 Member
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    So I went to my Internist last week for my 6-month checkup, and just about everything she told me was against what I’ve learned and what I’ve read on MFP. I think I need to find a new doctor!

    I was frustrated because I hadn’t lost any weight in over 3 weeks, but I’d started eating healthy (from eating whatever I wanted) and had added a 2nd round of exercising several days/week. When I mentioned I burn between 400 - 900 calories in a day through exercise, she said there is no way I could burn that many unless I was a younger, very athletic person. When I told her I used a heart rate monitor, she informed me those aren’t a reliable measure of caloric burn.

    She also said the only way for me to lose weight is to eat 1200 calories per day, regardless of how much I exercise. And that if I don’t lose the weight now, I will really balloon up once I hit menopause (I’m 45). How’s that for encouragement?

    So I think I’ll find a new doctor before my next checkup!

    Uggh yeah, I would find a new one as well. I remember when I was doing 2 hours of boxing/kickboxing and bootcamp classes and I wasn't losing weight, my doctor looked at me as if I was lying about all the exercising, she sent me to a nutritionist, who said she knew I wasn't lying due to my HDL levels going up. But she put me on more calories than 1200 because of the fact I was working out 2 hours a day in a very high intensity workout.
  • sbeisel1
    sbeisel1 Posts: 181
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    This may sound shallow but is your doctor heathy or unfit?(thats the nice way to put it) I have had a variety of doctors in my life and I have had 2 that were "unhealthy" one a smoker and overweight the other was very very overweight. the advice from them was always "heres a percription for that". I realized I cant ask a doc. to care about me if they dont care about themselves, I finally found a doctor that is healthy, has kids and is very much a supportive person. she only percribes medications as a last resort. She was thrilled with my last check in, and she knew what MFP was and was glad I had found it, she reccomended a heart rate monitor and was glad im not starving myself. It took me years to find her and even longer to get to be her patient, there was a waiting list. My doctor always says to listen to my body and use common sense.
  • lori4013
    lori4013 Posts: 73 Member
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    I'm 49. My doc told me 1,200 is not enough calories. She wanted me on 1,500...which I'm still doing 1,200. lol....she said exercise, watch what you eat and low calorie. Same as it's always been. BUT, yes, it's harder at this age to take it off. I NEVER had a problem getting weight off before the last few years. Although, I have also noticed I have gotten more sedentary...so I'm kicking it up a notch...ugh!
  • rc630
    rc630 Posts: 310 Member
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    So basically, because your doctor didn't tell you what you wanted to hear, and her advice conflicts with the advice you get on a message board full of mostly people who have very little actual knowledge of metabolic processes, aging, and nutrition science, you think she sucks and you should find a new doctor? Her job isn't to "encourage" you. I'm sorry to disagree with just about everyone, but I think you're writing your doc off a little too quickly. Why not actually try what she advised you to do, and see what happens?

    Most doctors aren't specially trained in nutrition, and from what I have heard and read from those who have actually studied dietetics and nutrition, eating this little while exercising is not healthy for the long term. This doctor is obviously giving a point of view that most specialists disagree with, which indicates something is probably not right.
    Plus, plenty of people have lost weight while being able to eat more... why would you want to restrict yourself so much when you don't have to? I <3 food too much to do that.
  • PJilly
    PJilly Posts: 21,719 Member
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    Why not actually try what she advised you to do, and see what happens?
    Personally, I wouldn't trust the advice of anyone, doctor or not, who says that the only way to lose weight is to eat 1200 calories regardless of exercise.
  • Jaxster12
    Jaxster12 Posts: 25 Member
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    Doctors know jack**** about nutrition, only like 5% of doctors actually have some kind of nutrition background
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
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    I don't use a HRM but I have read that the less fit you are, the less accurate they are. So unless you have been exercising regularly over a period of time, it might not be giving you an accurate reading. Get a second opinion if you feel it's necessary, but don't willy nilly take advice of MFP members over your doctor.
  • danagisana
    danagisana Posts: 42 Member
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    You might not rush to dump the doctor but a second opinion is always useful.
    Yes, it is harder to lose at this weight but there are also a lot of other factors at play when our bodies are changing, and hormone levels have a lot to do with things.
    There are a lot of really great books on perimenopause that spell out why it is hard to lose weight at this age and what can be done about it.
  • badgerbadger1
    badgerbadger1 Posts: 954 Member
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    So basically, because your doctor didn't tell you what you wanted to hear, and her advice conflicts with the advice you get on a message board full of mostly people who have very little actual knowledge of metabolic processes, aging, and nutrition science, you think she sucks and you should find a new doctor? Her job isn't to "encourage" you. I'm sorry to disagree with just about everyone, but I think you're writing your doc off a little too quickly. Why not actually try what she advised you to do, and see what happens?

    Doctors don't have a strong background in nutrition or exercise science. They are trained in pathology. It's why we have a nutritionist round with us every morning on my unit. 1200 is below BMR, and not eating exercise calories on top of that puts you at a severe deficit for your body to function appropriately.

    Just as you are railing against what other people are saying here, I'm not really interested in what your mother is doing because it is no indicator of a healthy routine.
  • conniehgtv
    conniehgtv Posts: 309 Member
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    if you feel that she doesn't "fit" with your beliefs try another dr, or a nutritionist. Lots of people loseweight by journaling, that is what MFP does best. Good Luck
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member
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    When I told her I used a heart rate monitor, she informed me those aren’t a reliable measure of caloric burn.

    Without a shadow of a doubt she is correct about that point.

    Those monitors use algorithms to estimate caloric burn. There are many algorithms and they are all based on theoretical models and maybe statistical averages. They don't actually measure your caloric burn.

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