I'm On A Diet And I Hate It

[Whitewater]

Yuck.

Ok, so a while back (a good ten years, actually) for no reason known to man I suddenly started losing my hair, getting man-type facial hair, gaining weight, and my asthma suddenly became life-threatening.

Every test came back normal. I did life as best I could, all the while gaining weight and trying to disguise my wierd physical issues.

A couple years ago, while in college, I discovered that I have very high chloresterol, though everything else was ok back then.

A few weeks ago I discovered that though I've changed what I eat and exercise more, it wasn't enough. my chloresterol is now EVEN HIGHER than it was before, which is scary and disheartening.

My endocrinologist (the new one, the one with the bedside manner of a rock) decided that all my problems could be attributed to the fact that I'm about 100 pounds overweight. He diagnosed me as obese, and sent me off to a nutritionist.

The nutritionist, yesterday, figured out a diet plan to help me cope with my wierd blood sugar issues (I have no identifiable problems, but my sugars are still uncontrollable, diving and peaking and so on apparently at random) and she's limited me to 1600 calories a day, instead of the 1800-2000 I was trying to stay within.

She's also restricted my carbs and sugars to the extent that I can't have ANYTHING I like, she is only allowing me to eat 2 cups of vegetables a day and I can't drink anything but water or unsweetened ice tea . .. except for milk, which I can have 1 cup a day.

Apparently this is all supposed to help me lower my chloresterol and lose weight.

Personally I can't see how deprivation is supposed to *help*. I don't object to the diet (oh, oops, according to her it's NOT a diet, it's 'healthy lifestyle choices') per se, but I DO object and strenuously, to being told that I have to eat only this stuff, regardless of how I feel about it, or whether or not I can afford it.

Did I mention that I can't afford to eat all the expensive fresh food that she insists I eat? I told her quite explicitly that I have a very limited budget (which is going to get even tighter in a couple of weeks -- I've been downsized!) and that I can't afford fresh fruit and to make meals wholesale from scratch. Or to always buy fresh veggies instead of frozen.

Man, I am really bummed out about this. And since this is Day 1 of this diet (which I will adhere to no matter how much I hate it for the next 18 months) I haven't even gotten to see if it really does work (I doubt it) or not.

Nothing else has . . .why should this?

Just a rant. A long one. Sorry. *sigh*


Whitewater

[StJohnBride]

Sorry. That must be hard. It's unfortunate the nutritionist was unwilling to listen to your concerns and work out alternatives with you. :(

[lize566]

I am also at least 100 lbs overweight, but last time I checked, my cholersterol and everything was normal (except for high blood pressure, but I think my BC contributes to that). And I really am not trying to lose weight. I know I need to, but I just don't feel like nor can I afford to. However, it is your health at stake. If I ever get motivated enough, money wouldn't be the real issue, b/c if, God forbid, your weight problems cause you to die at a younger age, what good does the money do you then? Trust me though, I absolutely know where you are coming from!!!! Maybe you will discover something new that you like, or can at least live with :). Try not to get discouraged, it will only make it harder! Good luck, and I will keep you in my thoughts!

[bichonlvr]

Try the South Beach Diet..LOVE IT!!!!

Although I have been eating like a piggy lately....

Don't you just hate being the chubby one??? :)

[firespirit]

Wow that seems pretty drastic. Is there a second opinion you can get? I only ask since at my height, weight, age and activity level it takes (62", 125lbs, 30 and almost nothing) it takes 1600 calories for me to maintain my weight (from averages I've found on various places on the internet), the Mayo clinic actually says a lot more calories to maintain my weight.

I've read one of the better ways to lose weight is to find the calorie requirement for about 10lbs less and lose weight till you hit that goal, then maintain it for a while then take another 10lb step.

If you are currently overweight and excersizing it almost seems like 1600 might be counterproductive at this point since it would be like an average person eating less than 1200 calories per day since your body doesn't actually get enough nutrients.

For the fresh vegetable things, if you know anyone that has a costco membership maybe you can ask them to pick up some things, that's where I tend to get most of my fruits and veggies, then I just pack them in lunches everyday for me and FH. Plus frozen veggies might not really be as bad as she/he thinks... http://www.eatingwell.com/health/qanda/fresh_vs_frozen.html

If i were you I'd maybe start doing some online research (like go to the mayo clinic online) and talk to your nutritionist and maybe even get a second opinion.

For cholesterol, oatmeal, lots of oatmeal.

[KMS]

Wow, the nutritionist seems like she has her priorities all wrong. The idea of consulting a patient is to put them on a diet that they can afford and be willing to follow. I usually refer to things like that as lifestyle changes as well because it is hoped that patients will stay on the right track with this new way of eating rather than going on a diet and reverting back to their old way of eating at a later time. Also, I don't know why she is insisting on fresh produce. Depending on where you're buying your produce form, fresh fruits & veg can be just as good or even better for you because they are frozen at the peak of ripeness. As long as they don't have any extra sauces or sugars and they are just the plain product then I don't think that is an issue at all. I'm sorry that you're having such a bad experience with your nutritionist.