Reality Check: Nutritionist Advice

[rebeccaC]

talk to your primary care about your interaction with the rd.

[ny biker]

Do you mind my asking, how much weight would you like to lose?

[Blueberry]

NY Biker - I'll message you. Here, I'll just say more than a little I have a long history of being overweight - I know why I have gained when I have - it is the losing that has perplexed me.

My diet now is heavy on protein, veggies, and fruit. I do eat plain, full fat Greek yogurt in small quantities and some whole grain carbohydrates (mostly oats and brown rice). Very little sugar or processed food.

I will talk to my primary care when next I see her. She is also new, as my old primary care relocated - and I haven't decided how I feel about her. I should have more contacts to find more appropriate providers when I start med school (at the latest). In the mean time, I will talk to my awesome physical therapist to see if she has people she would recommend. I have worked with her for a while, and she hasn't led me astray.

[tulip]

I went to a nutritionist a few years ago, not because of weight, but because I have borderline high cholesterol. I was pretty disappointed that the nutritionist recommended an extreme low-fat, high grain diet. That's pretty much been de-bunked for high cholestrol. Instead, I dropped all sugars (including most fruit) and all "white" foods except full-fat yogurt and half-and-half. Result: I lost 9 pounds the first month and felt amazing. My cholesterol also dropped to acceptable levels after 3 months.

While your concerns are different than mine were, I wonder if upping your fat intake and reducing your sugar (fruit/juice) and dropping grains completely would be effective. Have you tried doing that? Don't count calories, just don't eat fruit (sugar) or grains (turns into sugar) and increase fats and proteins.

You also might want to investigate soy, including tofu. I understand there are questions around soy and particularly women's health. It would not surprise me if a high-soy diet might effect the metabolism.

[Blueberry]

Thanks, Tulip! I actually have tried that - for some pretty extended periods of time. There is so much conflicting research out there on soy - but I definitely agree there are questions! Most of what I use is fermented (miso, tempeh), with some unfermented (tofu - 1-2 times a week on average). When I have done periods of veggie/protein, the soy gets completely cut out - and it didn't make a difference.

To say I'm heavy on fruit now is probably a bit of a stretch. I'm eating 1-2 servings of berries a day (either fresh or unsweetened frozen mixed in yogurt). Not much other fruit, and the only juice is cranberry when I feel like I'm getting a UTI. I have been playing with adding grains back in over the last 1-2 months because I was feeling really tired all the time. It has helped some. I feel like my energy levels have stayed more constant (which is ironic, I know, since usually protein/veggie should be better for that).

Back to a thread I started I while ago - this could *all* be my frigging birth control pills - as you all have told me. Trying to psych myself up to taking those out of the equation and seeing what happens (yes, I have been a spoiled happy person taking them continuously - but it might be causing problems).

[tulip]

Oh BC pills can really screw up a body. I took them briefly decades ago and was heavy(ish) and my cholesterol spiked. I went off them and I lost the weight quickly and my cholesterol decreased (it is genetically high but was in the 300s when I was on BC pills).

Have you tried going off BC pills? I'm no doctor but I just cannot see how they would NOT affect all sorts of things that are connected to hormones. Metabolism is on top of that list.

[Blueberry]

Not yet. I went on them because of horrifically heavy periods - and hence have been reluctant to get off of them. My docs keep *swearing* they couldn't be the cause of the weight issues. I have been more carefully watching my portions, and I think getting off them is my next step.