My clinic has not had a dietitian/nutritionist on staff for months now (part of the Great Resignation, I guess). So they've been contracting with people, and I finally had had enough of it.

She asked what I have been eating. I track religiously, down to the teaspoon of mustard (which probably isn't necessary, but...). So I told her. It came to about 850 calories. She absolutely lost her mind, whipped out a booklet, and told me I'm to be eating no more than 1/3 cup of food five times a day. I pointed out that I run or work out literally every day, that I am going back to a pretty physical outdoor job, that I'm losing weight steadily, and that eating this amount gives me the energy I need.

I asked how I was supposed to get the protein goal the surgeon gave me (80-100 g a day) on that little food, and she told me to stop being difficult, that I was obviously going to just gain it all back (lol, on 850 cal a day, lol lol lol), that too much sodium would spike my blood pressure and heart rate (lol, it was 114/74 during intake with a resting heart rate of 54), etc., etc.

So I fired her. At the top of my lungs. Which meant that a bunch of other people came running and there was kind of a scene.

I don't care. I asked a friend who's had VSG who she uses for a NUT and she recommended her folks, so I signed up there and will be given macros to meet by someone who has experience with athletes who've undergone bariatric surgery. I'm not going to be wedged into a one-size-fits-all kind of thing because she's reading from some Nth-generation copy of some manual.

Edited October 21, 20214 yr by vikingbeast

3 hours ago, vikingbeast said:

she told me to stop being difficult, that I was obviously going to just gain it all back (lol, on 850 cal a day,

The audacity.
Congratulations moving forward

I wouldn’t stop there. At your next appointment I would let the team know so they can stop recommending that person. This is all confusing enough without being told to listen to someone who is handing out a once size fits all approach.

Oh Viking, you are my hero! Well done!!

She has no business dealing with bariatric patients - or anyone else if that's how she talks to clients.

Bleh! To the darkest reaches of the blacklist with her! In the bin!

I have a lot of words I'd use to describe this woman, but as a new member here who hasn't quite figured out where the line is yet...I don't think any of them are appropriate to type out.

Good for you for setting a boundary. It's completely out of line and unacceptable for her to speak to anyone like that.

1 hour ago, pintsizedmallrat said:

I have a lot of words I'd use to describe this woman, but as a new member here who hasn't quite figured out where the line is yet...I don't think any of them are appropriate to type out.

Good for you for setting a boundary. It's completely out of line and unacceptable for her to speak to anyone like that.

Oh, I bet they're similar to the words I wanted to say. (I only used the f-bomb once, and as a proud son of New Jersey, that counts as INCREDIBLE restraint, we toss that particular four-letter word around like it's a comma.)

I went to see a different doctor for a workup today, a cardiologist, and he congratulated me on the weight loss and said it shows in my heart health. So NYAAAAAAH to the now-fired NUT.

Edited October 25, 20214 yr by vikingbeast

Picturing this scene absolutely made my day! Good for you for making a scene! What kind of supposed medical professional treats someone that way!?
She obviously put the NUT in nutritionist!!

I’m so happy you’re speaking up for yourself @vikingbeast! I’ve noticed that’s a positive attribute many of us achieve after WLS. Maybe it’s the process of fighting for ourselves to get the surgery, and all the work before and after?

I’ve also noticed a big difference between a nutritionist and a fully fledged dietitian with licensure. Dietitians also can meet nation accreditations in specific areas like bariatrics. Look before you listen!

I’m glad you fired her. That “one-size-fits-all” approach is definitely dangerous. If she’s not taking into account your very physical activity what else is she brushing off in others?