A word of warning to new comers

While I agree that people need to be careful on here of bad information, I think it would be much more helpful for you to write a post about what you've learned from the experts and what is working for you instead of just saying, "watch out." For people just starting out, it's not easy to tell what is good and bad information. The media makes weight loss sound so incredibly difficult and expensive, when, while difficult, it's not as hard as people think and definitely doesn't have to be expensive.

Otherwise, I agree with this post's message to be wary of poor information.

He cannot post what you should be weary of or what you 'should be doing' because then he would be one of the people giving advice without having proper credentials to do so. Weight loss is incredibly difficult. It takes a ton of mental strength and will power to undo all the bad/unhealthy habits we have become accustomed to.

OP- Kudos to you! People can be incredibly mean, sarcastic, rude and just downright ignorant on these forums and for what purpose? ( eh hem coughsourgirlcough eh hem) I've found a great group of supportive friends on here. :flowerforyou:

I lost 42 lbs before I got pregnant, so I am quite familiar with what it takes to lose weight, and people DO make it much harder than it is especially in the beginning (see follow up comment above). You, as well as the people above me seem to be completely misreading what I wrote and assuming that I said that weight loss is easy. I said the exact opposite. My comment is simply that cryptic "be wary" messages like this don't really help much if you don't share what you know or try to help clarify what you mean by "bad" information. For people just starting out, it's not clear what is good or bad information, and not everyone has access to a dietician, doctor, etc. Plus, you all seem to forget that doctors don't have much training in nutrition. I've had doctors tell me some absurd things (or try to put me on weight loss drugs) before. Not all doctors are qualified to give good nutritional information. Think for yourself. There is outstanding information out there if you just put in a little brainpower and legwork to find it.

Furthermore, if we all had to be M.D.'s to share information on here, there would be absolutely no one helping anyone on here. There are a lot of really knowledgeable people here who have a passion for learning about nutrition and fitness and are a wealth of good up-to-date knowledge. You're basically saying that none of them are qualified to offer advice, however good, because they didn't go to med school or get trained as a dietitian which is silly. Take the information as it is presented to you, study for yourself the merits of that information, and don't just assume because someone has credentials that they're right.

Just to clarify - make sure you are consulting with a Registered Dietitian, not someone who calls him or herself a nutritionist. To say you are a "nutritionist" requires no credentials.

I am having my cards printed up tomorrow...lol
Bobby Clerici
Nutritionist / Bail Bondsman

Can you fix my lawnmower? And do my taxes, too?

Not all doctors are qualified to give good nutritional information.

^ AGREE. I took my food diary (with calories etc), exercise and he didn't even look!!
Just said - "This is what we give people who are overweight" and prescribed Orlistat. I was fuming and it went straight in the bin.

I want REAL advice not a quick fix. (but if other people want to take it then that's fine for them, not trying to make a judgement on others just how useless my doctor was!)

Not all doctors are qualified to give good nutritional information.

^ AGREE. I took my food diary (with calories etc), exercise and he didn't even look!!
Just said - "This is what we give people who are overweight" and prescribed Orlistat. I was fuming and it went straight in the bin.

I want REAL advice not a quick fix. (but if other people want to take it then that's fine for them, not trying to make a judgement on others just how useless my doctor was!)

Yup. I had a doctor tell me to stop eating all carbs (yes, ALL CARBS), eat 6 meals per day, and start taking stimulant OTC weight loss drugs. I have a fairly severe congenital heart condition. No thanks!

I'm new here and so far I love the site....BUT it is confusing for me to figure out my numbers.I understand the need for a deficit and from what I've read it is calculated in my my calories, and I keep reading over and over to eat your exercise calories.This puts me at 1700 or so and it seems like too much and I am seeing a lot of posters complain that they are not losing on that many.I'm so confused.Would someone please help me ? ( I have read the sticky posts for newbies and I am still confused)

Not all doctors are qualified to give good nutritional information.

^ AGREE. I took my food diary (with calories etc), exercise and he didn't even look!!
Just said - "This is what we give people who are overweight" and prescribed Orlistat. I was fuming and it went straight in the bin.

I want REAL advice not a quick fix. (but if other people want to take it then that's fine for them, not trying to make a judgement on others just how useless my doctor was!)

Yup. I had a doctor tell me to stop eating all carbs (yes, ALL CARBS), eat 6 meals per day, and start taking stimulant OTC weight loss drugs. I have a fairly severe congenital heart condition. No thanks!

^^This is why I love my doctor. He is hard-core. He looked at my glucose meter printout and my MFP printout, made sure that I wasn't eating in an unsustainable way (ie: 1 lettuce leaf and 1 can of tuna a day), and pronounced me good to go. He is not a pill-pusher.

While I agree that people need to be careful on here of bad information, I think it would be much more helpful for you to write a post about what you've learned from the experts and what is working for you instead of just saying, "watch out." For people just starting out, it's not easy to tell what is good and bad information. The media makes weight loss sound so incredibly difficult and expensive, when, while difficult, it's not as hard as people think and definitely doesn't have to be expensive.

Otherwise, I agree with this post's message to be wary of poor information.

He cannot post what you should be weary of or what you 'should be doing' because then he would be one of the people giving advice without having proper credentials to do so. Weight loss is incredibly difficult. It takes a ton of mental strength and will power to undo all the bad/unhealthy habits we have become accustomed to.

OP- Kudos to you! People can be incredibly mean, sarcastic, rude and just downright ignorant on these forums and for what purpose? ( eh hem coughsourgirlcough eh hem) I've found a great group of supportive friends on here. :flowerforyou:

I lost 42 lbs before I got pregnant, so I am quite familiar with what it takes to lose weight, and people DO make it much harder than it is especially in the beginning (see follow up comment above). You, as well as the people above me seem to be completely misreading what I wrote and assuming that I said that weight loss is easy. I said the exact opposite. My comment is simply that cryptic "be wary" messages like this don't really help much if you don't share what you know or try to help clarify what you mean by "bad" information. For people just starting out, it's not clear what is good or bad information, and not everyone has access to a dietician, doctor, etc. Plus, you all seem to forget that doctors don't have much training in nutrition. I've had doctors tell me some absurd things (or try to put me on weight loss drugs) before. Not all doctors are qualified to give good nutritional information. Think for yourself. There is outstanding information out there if you just put in a little brainpower and legwork to find it.

Furthermore, if we all had to be M.D.'s to share information on here, there would be absolutely no one helping anyone on here. There are a lot of really knowledgeable people here who have a passion for learning about nutrition and fitness and are a wealth of good up-to-date knowledge. You're basically saying that none of them are qualified to offer advice, however good, because they didn't go to med school or get trained as a dietitian which is silly. Take the information as it is presented to you, study for yourself the merits of that information, and don't just assume because someone has credentials that they're right.

I didn't misunderstand your post, I knew what you meant about it being marketed improperly and being made to look easy. I was not saying that someone who is educated on nutrition/ fitness should not lend advice. My point was more about him posting any advice that he had learned from the experts because then he would just be another person posting what he learned and what worked for him which may not be good advice for other people, OR he will be attacked by those who don't necessarily agree with what he has learned from the experts. He was just making newbies aware that there is a huge difference of opinion in here sprinkled with good advice and bad. That's all. I didn't mean to offend you by any means. I thought he had a great original post because of some of the advice and mean feedback I have seen on here. Again, my apologies if I offended you. :flowerforyou:

I didn't misunderstand your post, I knew what you meant about it being marketed improperly and being made to look easy. I was not saying that someone who is educated on nutrition/ fitness should not lend advice. My point was more about him posting any advice that he had learned from the experts because then he would just be another person posting what he learned and what worked for him which may not be good advice for other people, OR he will be attacked by those who don't necessarily agree with what he has learned from the experts. He was just making newbies aware that there is a huge difference of opinion in here sprinkled with good advice and bad. That's all. I didn't mean to offend you by any means. I thought he had a great original post because of some of the advice and mean feedback I have seen on here. Again, my apologies if I offended you. :flowerforyou:

No offense at all taken Just healthy debating here.

I agree with you now that you clarified your meaning.

all the OP was saying is to do your research.. dont take everyones advice here to heart.. "everyone" here is "right" and you will see that in time.

take the advice, with a grain of salt! Talk to your doctor with any REAL questions and use the rest as a friend talkin to you who has no idea! LOL!

Good luck!! the OP seems like a good friend!

thank you for that great advise!