January/February weight management challenge

[Gypsy]

So, I made an appointment for a nutritionist and the appointment is tomorrow.

Now, I want to cancel it.

She called today to confirm the appointment (I think it was her or maybe it was her assistant) and that was it. I asked if I should bring anything with me (like food diary etc.) and I was told if I wanted to write down what I eat on a typical day (weekday or weekend) that would be fine, but that they would give me a menu plan.

*sigh*

This is what I wanted to avoid. I don't know if I should go just in case I'm wrong. Or if I should just cancel it and go with someone else.

In addition to this nutritionist, I found someone else who has worked with other women who cycle (a friend of hers did, used her, then referred her to other women cyclists, and now knows about it) but she doesn't use insurance and her rates are really high.

Or, I can just continue through trial and error and figure it out on my own.

Thoughts? What would you do?

[indysteel]

I've never worked with a nutritionist, but perhaps it would be worth your while to call the office back and tell them specifically what kind of information/assistance you're looking for from the nutritionist. Be frank but polite that you're interested in something different from, or in addition to, a menu plan and ask if they work for clients in that manner. If the answer is "not really" or a grudging "yes," then tell them that you think it would be better to seek assistance elsewhere. It could just be that this is the default approach that the nutritionist takes because most of her/his clients simply want to be told what to eat.

Again, I don't know what's standard in this area, but I've learned over time to be more assertive (but polite) even when it comes to the services that I get from people like doctors, PTs, therapists and the like. I realize they're the "expert," but it's my body and my money. I make sure I state what I want and need out of the relationship.

[Jones]

I have read all the articles and have learned much, but it still all seems to come down to the same thing. There are no short cuts in losing weight and it will be a life long commitment. I just need to wrap my head around the fact that if I eat cookies I am choosing to be fat and my weight is nobodys fault but my own.

On a different topic: I want gills too. Every time I swim I dream of not having to turn my head to breath. That is why I like the drill of pulling 300 yards and breathing every three strokes on the first 50 every five strokes on the second 50 and every seven strokes on the thrid 50 and repeat. When you only breath every fifth stroke you get accross the pool much faster, but every seven strokes is hard.

[goldfinch]

I have read all the articles and have learned much, but it still all seems to come down to the same thing. There are no short cuts in losing weight and it will be a life long commitment. I just need to wrap my head around the fact that if I eat cookies I am choosing to be fat and my weight is nobodys fault but my own.

I really dislike using the concept of fault in conjunction with weight gain. Sure, you are the one who has to make decisions about how you want to live your life, but to say that your weight is your fault is a pretty heavy judgment when there are so many factors that went into how much you ended up weighing.

But yes, weight loss and maintaining that loss is a life long commitment where you may be fighting your own biology and if you are not willing to make that commitment day after day, year after year, it probably is better to be happy where you are at. And there is nothing wrong with being happy whatever you may weigh.

FWIW, IMHO.

[goldfinch]

Friday, 1/27, 107 pounds.

Up a few ounces but maintaining. Averaging about 1550 calories a day for the week with a fair amount of exercise. I think my calorie counting is fairly accurate, but hard to be exact. All the calories burned calculators indicate that I should have maintained my weight this week at anywhere from 1800 to 2200 calories a day. I know I am not that far off on counting. I guess I'll never trust calories burned calculators.

[Crankin]

105.8
I've been up and down all week. After x country skiing last Sunday my weight was even lower than today's. Then it went right back to 107, which is my set point.
Of course, after weighing myself, I rewarded myself with a whole wheat cheese crisp with black beans, avocado, and salsa. And an orange. For some reason, oranges make me gain weight, but apples don't.

Mr. Crankin 149.8

Both of us have noticed our pants fitting much better!

[Catrin]

135.2, the same as last week but I am not complaining. For some reason I've increased my calorie intake this week with the same activity level but my weight stayed constant.

I really have a hard time dropping my net caloric intake below 1,300-1,400 and with my activity level I doubt that I should. I am also ramping up on building strength now that my neck is starting to improve, so I certainly don't need to decrease anything and I do need to increase my protein intake since I am focusing on building strength right now.

Currently I am on a free month's membership at a new fitness club, but once that is up in mid-Feb, I will be eligible for a free Bod Pod session and also a free visit with a sports nutritionist. The new facility is based on fitness/sports research, and my membership will also provide a discount on metabolism testing. I think I need to take advantage of all of these before I made any significant dietary changes.

I am 60 pounds lighter than my last metabolism testing and at that time it was faster than expected...

[Gypsy]

I've never worked with a nutritionist, but perhaps it would be worth your while to call the office back and tell them specifically what kind of information/assistance you're looking for from the nutritionist. Be frank but polite that you're interested in something different from, or in addition to, a menu plan and ask if they work for clients in that manner. If the answer is "not really" or a grudging "yes," then tell them that you think it would be better to seek assistance elsewhere. It could just be that this is the default approach that the nutritionist takes because most of her/his clients simply want to be told what to eat.

Again, I don't know what's standard in this area, but I've learned over time to be more assertive (but polite) even when it comes to the services that I get from people like doctors, PTs, therapists and the like. I realize they're the "expert," but it's my body and my money. I make sure I state what I want and need out of the relationship.

Thanks. I will do that. I think I need to find out exactly if I'm going to get what I need/want out of this otherwise, there's no sense in spending the time or money.

[emily_in_nc]

I wish I had a newer digital scale that measured to the 0.1 lb. accuracy; mine only measures to .5 lb, making day-to-day fluctuations look larger than they probably are at times.

Anyway...I weighed 105.0 and 105.5 just about every day in the past week, but yesterday I blew it eating out with friends, drinking beer and plenty of high-sodium food, so was 106.0 this morning, just like last week. It could have been worse, I guess.

Next week we're traveling (within Belize) so will be eating out a lot. Hopefully we'll also get a lot of exercise, but if I could just maintain, I'll be happy.