Is this nutritionist bananas?

Anonymous
I have had a hard time losing weight so I went to a nutritionist. She actually sets up shop in my doctor's office and they refer patients to her. I have been counting calories but have only lost 7lbs in three months. She told me calories don't matter. She said it is carbs and fat - which I agree with, but she said this:

Meals should have less than 45g of carbs and snacks should have less than 15g of carbs. Okay, easy enough.

However, it was the fat that got me. She said in order to lose weight, I had to limit my fat grams to 15 per day, but you only count things that are over five grams. For example, if a piece of light cheese was 3 grams of fat, you don't count it, but if a full fat piece of cheese is 7 grams, you count all 7. For the remainder of the day, you have 8 fat g left. (and this it total fat, not saturated)

So an egg has 5g of fat, so I would have one for breakfast and then that is a third of the fat I am allowed to have the rest of the day. When I asked her about olive oil for my salad (I only use a homemade balsamic dressing) she told me to buy fat-free processed salad dressing. Does it make sense to buy processed over natural ingredients?

She gave me a food chart. It was full of fat-free dairy products (cottage cheese - which I hate, yogurt, cheese), turkey breast, fish, fruits and vegetables. No meat, no nuts, no oils, etc.

FOr me, this is completely unsustainable. I could do it for maybe a month, but then I woudl go bonkers. Too much to cut out. Is this really the ONLY way to lose weight?

And again, I should be choosing fat-free processed ingredients over natural? Seems bizarre to me.

Anonymous
No, what she's suggesting is what we thought about food in the 90's. We know better now. Go to someone else.
Anonymous
It seems like advice someone whose sole goal is for you to drop pounds would give.

It does NOT seem like good advice if you also value good nutrition, which one would think a nutritionist would consider.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:No, what she's suggesting is what we thought about food in the 90's. We know better now. Go to someone else.


Where can I go? She was recommended by my doctor (which makes me reevaluate my doctor), so where can I find a good one? Or should I go to a dietitian?And where do I find a good one of those?
Anonymous
No, this isn't the only way to lose weight. It is one way, though, if it appeals to you. My husband chose this way, pretty much mandated by the nutritionist associated with his bariatric surgery practice. But I think I'd go crazy on that diet, plus it affronts my whole food sensibilities, so I chose something else to lose weight. I cut out sugar and processed carbs, including rice and whole wheat, for about 4 months, and overall tried not to overeat. But all dairy was full fat, plenty of olive oil, and a ton of vegetables and fruit. I really like eating this way! I've lost the weight I wanted to, and now have added back in modest portions of sugar and processed carbs. Husband has stayed on his diet, too, and has lost and kept weight off. To each his own.

For what it is worth, when I had my husband ask the nutritionist why they recommended things like fat free, sugar free pudding mix and Lean Cuisine type things, she said it is because no one knows how to cook or likes whole foods. They are trained in nutrition school on micro and macro nutrients, not on whole foods and cuisines.
Anonymous
I find it really odd that she is recommending fat free food at all. These items are filled with sugar to make up for the lack of fat. Eat good fats - they will keep you full longer, and you will eat less food. Eliminate processed food. Focus on real food items, particularly those that are high in protein and fat, and go easy on sugars of any kind (including fruits).
Anonymous
I bought a diet book for kids just to help me serve them balanced and reasonably portioned meals. I've been following her advice as well, which includes using fat-free and sugar-free versions of food. The diet emphasizes lots of fruits and vegetables, so it's not like I'm eating a lot of this other stuff. I was having a hard time losing weight, but since I've been following this diet I have lost niceable amounts of weight.

I think as long as you follow the nutritionist's guidelines on fat and carbs, you don't have to eat the fat-free foods she is suggesting. Those foods may help you meet those guidelines without feeling too deprived.

You said you couldn't lose weight before. Why don't you give her a shot and see what happens? If your not losing weight then maybe your doctor will refer you to another nutritionist.

Anonymous
Yes, I am a nutritionist and she is bananas. Seems like she went to school a long time ago because her recomendations are super outdated. Not only do you need fat to feel full and inhibit snacking, but you need it for your brain, mental health, etc. Even if you did lose weight on that diet, you would have dry hair and skin and feel miserable! Try to find someone else - good luck!
Anonymous
Your nutritionist is bananas... I'm not a health care professional at all but both my husband and I lost a significant amount of weight by changing what we ate and how much we were eating. We stopped buying processed and pre-cooked foods with a few exceptions. And we also seriously started measuring our food intake.

My typical day in food looks something like this...

Breakfast: Coffee (I use sugar & cream), yogurt, nuts or granola, & fruit

Snack: Water & fruit or veggies

Lunch: Water, 1/2 whole wheat bread turkey or chicken sandwich, salad with oil & vinegar

Snack: Water & veggies or cheese & crackers

Dinner: Wine, chicken/turkey/fish, starch, veggie
Anonymous
Walk for 30 minutes about 5 times a week and you will see a big difference.
Anonymous
EB Nutrition in Rockville
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Yes, I am a nutritionist and she is bananas. Seems like she went to school a long time ago because her recomendations are super outdated. Not only do you need fat to feel full and inhibit snacking, but you need it for your brain, mental health, etc. Even if you did lose weight on that diet, you would have dry hair and skin and feel miserable! Try to find someone else - good luck!


The nutritionist isn't telling her to cut out fats entirely, but to limit her intake of high-fat foods and concentrate on low-fat and fat-free foods.

Also, she is not insisting that OP eat fat free foods. She is just offering them as alternatives to an otherwise strictly low fat diet.

Is she still bananas?
Anonymous
You need to move in order to lose weight.

If you can't walk 30 min a day for 5 days. Start with just half of that. Walk fast for 15 min every other day.

If you are hungry, just let it be for about 20 min and it will pass. If you need a snack, grab a fruit.

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Yes, I am a nutritionist and she is bananas. Seems like she went to school a long time ago because her recomendations are super outdated. Not only do you need fat to feel full and inhibit snacking, but you need it for your brain, mental health, etc. Even if you did lose weight on that diet, you would have dry hair and skin and feel miserable! Try to find someone else - good luck!


Wow. I would love to drop 10 pounds, but even more I would love to get rid of this feeling of hair and skin dryness. I had no idea that what I ate contributed to this. I thought it was simply hormonal and aging.

So - I could see a nutritionist about my skin/hair?? I would absolutely love to do that.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Your nutritionist is bananas... I'm not a health care professional at all but both my husband and I lost a significant amount of weight by changing what we ate and how much we were eating. We stopped buying processed and pre-cooked foods with a few exceptions. And we also seriously started measuring our food intake.

My typical day in food looks something like this...

Breakfast: Coffee (I use sugar & cream), yogurt, nuts or granola, & fruit

Snack: Water & fruit or veggies

Lunch: Water, 1/2 whole wheat bread turkey or chicken sandwich, salad with oil & vinegar

Snack: Water & veggies or cheese & crackers

Dinner: Wine, chicken/turkey/fish, starch, veggie

This sounds healthy! What kind of granola do you get in the morning? I can't find good granola low on sugar.
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