UPDATEDin OP:Has anyone been to a dietitian or nutritionist?

[abcdefu]

UPDATE: So I took everyone's advice and swapped most of my fruits with veggies. I stopped eating granola and yogurt for breakfast and made egg white muffins with spinach, mushrooms, and low fat cheddar cheese. Those things are so small, but so filling. It's so easy to throw one in the microwave and eat it before I leave for work. I have been eating peanut butter on my bananas and apples. I swapped frozen yogurt for 100 calorie greek yogurt cups that are dessert flavors and I only eat these when I am craving something sweet. I also like to put regular yogurt, almond milk, a scoop of peanut butter and a banana. SOOO delish! I have baked a bunch of chicken and seasoned each piece differently and I eat that with vegetables and an assortment of brown rice. No more cereal!

Now the best part: I weighed myself this morning and I lost 4lbs! I know my body may just be in shock, but I'll use it as motivation to do the same next week!

Thank you everyone for your advice! 


After gaining 40lbs since my back surgery and then losing some and gaining it back after my car accident, I think I need to see a dietitian or nutritionist.

I guess the first question would be what is the different between the two and how do I decide which I should see?

I am 4'11 and 3/4 and weigh 163 lbs. Before my surgery I was 125 lbs I have been using my fit bit and was logging calories and food. I was walking every morning, but I was still around 155 lbs. Now, I have a a torn ligament in my dominant hand, as well as a severely sprained ankle, so continuing to walk is out and I can't wheel myself because of the torn ligament. This leaves me very little froom for error in my eating.

According to my height and weight, I should only be eating 1200-1500 calories a day. I am starving! I have tried to add granola, nuts, more fruit, but I'm not seeing the scale moving in the right direction.

In high school and college, due to my SB and having a neurogenic bladder and bowel, I had severe stomach issues, which had caused me to become bulimic and anorexic. I weighed 95 lbs at that time. I absolutely do not want to go back to that.

Has anyone been to a nutritionist or dietitian? Did he/she help you with meal plans? Was  it successful? I am really worried about my weight due to having a heart murmur, as well as family history of heart disease on both sides of my family. TIA!

[Deleted]

Sept 1, 2015 21:50:33 GMT -5 abcdefu said:

After gaining 40lbs since my back surgery and then losing some and gaining it back after my car accident, I think I need to see a dietitian or nutritionist.

I guess the first question would be what is the different between the two and how do I decide which I should see?

I am 4'11 and 3/4 and weigh 163 lbs. Before my surgery I was 125 lbs I have been using my fit bit and was logging calories and food. I was walking every morning, but I was still around 155 lbs. Now, I have a a torn ligament in my dominant hand, as well as a severely sprained ankle, so continuing to walk is out and I can't wheel myself because of the torn ligament. This leaves me very little froom for error in my eating.

According to my height and weight, I should only be eating 1200-1500 calories a day. I am starving! I have tried to add granola, nuts, more fruit, but I'm not seeing the scale moving in the right direction.

In high school and college, due to my SB and having a neurogenic bladder and bowel, I had severe stomach issues, which had caused me to become bulimic and anorexic. I weighed 95 lbs at that time. I absolutely do not want to go back to that.

Has anyone been to a nutritionist or dietitian? Did he/she help you with meal plans? Was  it successful? I am really worried about my weight due to having a heart murmur, as well as family history of heart disease on both sides of my family. TIA!

If you are starving, try adding protein and healthy fat and not carbs/sugar. Nuts have some protein, but granola and fruit are sugar and carbs and aren't good for keeping you full long term. Some good protein options are cheese, chicken, shrimp, peanut butter, hummus, plain greek yogurt, etc. Healthy fats are things like olive oil, avocado, the fats in fish, etc. In addition, fiber from things like leafy greens are more satiating than sugar. 

I try to base all my meals and snacks on a protein, vegetable and healthy fat. I throw in fruits throughout the day for some sweetness. 

I went to a registered dietician many years ago and she just helped me to tweak my current eating habits a little bit. 

I don't know if you ever post on health and fitness, but we often discuss people's meal plans and you could get some constructive information if you post your typical daily meals until you're able to see a dietician. 

[abcdefu]

Sept 1, 2015 22:36:43 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Sept 1, 2015 21:50:33 GMT -5 abcdefu said:

After gaining 40lbs since my back surgery and then losing some and gaining it back after my car accident, I think I need to see a dietitian or nutritionist.

I guess the first question would be what is the different between the two and how do I decide which I should see?

I am 4'11 and 3/4 and weigh 163 lbs. Before my surgery I was 125 lbs I have been using my fit bit and was logging calories and food. I was walking every morning, but I was still around 155 lbs. Now, I have a a torn ligament in my dominant hand, as well as a severely sprained ankle, so continuing to walk is out and I can't wheel myself because of the torn ligament. This leaves me very little froom for error in my eating.

According to my height and weight, I should only be eating 1200-1500 calories a day. I am starving! I have tried to add granola, nuts, more fruit, but I'm not seeing the scale moving in the right direction.

In high school and college, due to my SB and having a neurogenic bladder and bowel, I had severe stomach issues, which had caused me to become bulimic and anorexic. I weighed 95 lbs at that time. I absolutely do not want to go back to that.

Has anyone been to a nutritionist or dietitian? Did he/she help you with meal plans? Was  it successful? I am really worried about my weight due to having a heart murmur, as well as family history of heart disease on both sides of my family. TIA!

If you are starving, try adding protein and healthy fat and not carbs/sugar. Nuts have some protein, but granola and fruit are sugar and carbs and aren't good for keeping you full long term. Some good protein options are cheese, chicken, shrimp, peanut butter, hummus, plain greek yogurt, etc. Healthy fats are things like olive oil, avocado, the fats in fish, etc. In addition, fiber from things like leafy greens are more satiating than sugar. 

I try to base all my meals and snacks on a protein, vegetable and healthy fat. I throw in fruits throughout the day for some sweetness. 

I went to a registered dietician many years ago and she just helped me to tweak my current eating habits a little bit. 

I don't know if you ever post on health and fitness, but we often discuss people's meal plans and you could get some constructive information if you post your typical daily meals until you're able to see a dietician. 

Yes!  I posted on there about STARVING throughout the day and it was suggested to add in more protein, such as granola to my greek yogurt.

I think patience is a really hard thing for me because due to my activity restrictions, the weight is going to come off soooooo sloooooow. I know I didn't gain/can't lose overnight, but I wanna see some results dammit!

[winecat]

Sept 1, 2015 22:46:27 GMT -5 abcdefu said:

Sept 1, 2015 22:36:43 GMT -5 @wandering said:

If you are starving, try adding protein and healthy fat and not carbs/sugar. Nuts have some protein, but granola and fruit are sugar and carbs and aren't good for keeping you full long term. Some good protein options are cheese, chicken, shrimp, peanut butter, hummus, plain greek yogurt, etc. Healthy fats are things like olive oil, avocado, the fats in fish, etc. In addition, fiber from things like leafy greens are more satiating than sugar. 

I try to base all my meals and snacks on a protein, vegetable and healthy fat. I throw in fruits throughout the day for some sweetness. 

I went to a registered dietician many years ago and she just helped me to tweak my current eating habits a little bit. 

I don't know if you ever post on health and fitness, but we often discuss people's meal plans and you could get some constructive information if you post your typical daily meals until you're able to see a dietician. 

Yes!  I posted on there about STARVING throughout the day and it was suggested to add in more protein, such as granola to my greek yogurt.

I think patience is a really hard thing for me because due to my activity restrictions, the weight is going to come off soooooo sloooooow. I know I didn't gain/can't lose overnight, but I wanna see some results dammit!

I didn't think that granola has much protein??  What about hard boiled eggs?  Costco has 100 cal packs of guac that I love.  The healthy fat really helps me stay fuller longer.  What about something like Whole30? 

[Deleted]

I've worked with one to help overcome and ED. I liked her and it helped. I believe you should look for a registered dietician versus a nutritionist.

[Deleted]

Also granola is not at all something I typically see suggested for weight loss. It's super high in carbs/sugar and is pretty calorie dense. Do you want to link to your post on HF or post a sample daily menu here? I'm actually pretty good at healthy menu planning.

[abcdefu]

Thanks ladies!

I think a major part of my problem is that I am clueless about nutrition so I think a dietitian could really help teach me.

A normal day is like this:

Breakfast - greek yogurt with granola
Snack 1 - grapes/banana/watermelon/or some other fruit
Lunch - Natural PB with natural jelly on 15 grain low cal bread with string cheese and veggie chips
Snack 2 - more fruit or unsalted mix nuts
Dinner - bowel of special K with unsweetened almond milk (Physically, I cannot cook right now)

Snack - low fat frozen yogurt (I try to keep this in moderation)


I am open to suggestions!

[Deleted]

abcdefu I'm seeing a real lack of protein and fat , but with a lot of sugar/carb. A few suggestions:

-For snacks swap all the fruit with veggies. And add protein component with it hummus, nut butter, Cheese or a hard boiled egg
-Get more protein in at breakfast. Maybe try a green smoothie
-For lunch nix the veggie chips. Those are just junk food in disguise. Try a salad with chicken, or turkey and cheese roll ups, or hummus and a whole wheat pita with a side of veggies. Also maybe try a hearty soup. I know you can't cook, but another alternative might be some healthier frozen meals like Amys. I also like whole wheat pitas with turkey and hummus and lots of veggies
-For dinner can you do something super low impact like put a piece of chicken or fish in the oven? That with a side salad or veggies is my go-to. Alternately maybe one of the Amy's frozen meals. Or hard boiled eggs or avocado toast would be a good option. Also a prepared soup with side of a protein
-I would subout the frozen yogurt with some really yummy full fat yogurt. It will satiate you more and provide nutrients.

[abcdefu]

Sept 2, 2015 18:50:22 GMT -5 @pdx18 said:

abcdefu I'm seeing a real lack of protein and fat , but with a lot of sugar/carb. A few suggestions:

-For snacks swap all the fruit with veggies. And add protein component with it hummus, nut butter, Cheese or a hard boiled egg
-Get more protein in at breakfast. Maybe try a green smoothie
-For lunch nix the veggie chips. Those are just junk food in disguise. Try a salad with chicken, or turkey and cheese roll ups, or hummus and a whole wheat pita with a side of veggies. Also maybe try a hearty soup. I know you can't cook, but another alternative might be some healthier frozen meals like Amys. I also like whole wheat pitas with turkey and hummus and lots of veggies
-For dinner can you do something super low impact like put a piece of chicken or fish in the oven? That with a side salad or veggies is my go-to. Alternately maybe one of the Amy's frozen meals. Or hard boiled eggs or avocado toast would be a good option. Also a prepared soup with side of a protein
-I would subout the frozen yogurt with some really yummy full fat yogurt. It will satiate you more and provide nutrients.

Thank you so much! This is very helpful! Would you suggest baking a bunch of chicken/fish for the week and then just reheating them for dinner?

Honestly, the last thing I need is another doctor and an appointment. I am going to take your suggestions and see what happens after 4-6 weeks. Thank you!  I just really need to get this weight off because I think it is contributing to my back pain.

[Deleted]

I'm glad it was helpful abcdefu! I would definitely recommend pre cooking chicken for the week. Fish can be iffy, but I do it and will keep it for two days. But I like some fish cold like salmon. I don't think I would want to reheat it.

Also pre cooking things like ground beef or turkey is yummy.

Do you have a crock pot? I will through a pot roast in there with some carrots and onions (or any other veggies really) then you come home and it's done. I will then portion it out for the week. You can do the same with a bunch of chicken breasts, a can of salsa and some beans. I feel like a crock pot could actually be really helpful to you becuase you can just dump stuff in.

[winecat]

Sept 3, 2015 8:13:49 GMT -5 @pdx18 said:

I'm glad it was helpful abcdefu! I would definitely recommend pre cooking chicken for the week. Fish can be iffy, but I do it and will keep it for two days. But I like some fish cold like salmon. I don't think I would want to reheat it.

Also pre cooking things like ground beef or turkey is yummy.

Do you have a crock pot? I will through a pot roast in there with some carrots and onions (or any other veggies really) then you come home and it's done. I will then portion it out for the week. You can do the same with a bunch of chicken breasts, a can of salsa and some beans. I feel like a crock pot could actually be really helpful to you becuase you can just dump stuff in.

There are lots of clean eating crock pot recipes out there on Pinterest, etc..  

You can also bake hard "boiled" eggs so you don't have to worry about handling heavy pots of boiling water.  Or, I'm pretty sure there's a way you can start the eggs off in cold water, bring to a boil, and then leave to cook in the hot water and remove when the water isn't super hot. 

I'm pretty sure Costco has some frozen IQF fish that you can cook from frozen or put in the fridge in the morning and it will be thawed by the time you get home.  Do you have a toaster oven?  It's awesome.  I'll roast veggies and cook meat in mine.  

[stephreloaded]

Sept 2, 2015 19:09:26 GMT -5 abcdefu said:

Sept 2, 2015 18:50:22 GMT -5 @pdx18 said:

abcdefu I'm seeing a real lack of protein and fat , but with a lot of sugar/carb. A few suggestions:

-For snacks swap all the fruit with veggies. And add protein component with it hummus, nut butter, Cheese or a hard boiled egg
-Get more protein in at breakfast. Maybe try a green smoothie
-For lunch nix the veggie chips. Those are just junk food in disguise. Try a salad with chicken, or turkey and cheese roll ups, or hummus and a whole wheat pita with a side of veggies. Also maybe try a hearty soup. I know you can't cook, but another alternative might be some healthier frozen meals like Amys. I also like whole wheat pitas with turkey and hummus and lots of veggies
-For dinner can you do something super low impact like put a piece of chicken or fish in the oven? That with a side salad or veggies is my go-to. Alternately maybe one of the Amy's frozen meals. Or hard boiled eggs or avocado toast would be a good option. Also a prepared soup with side of a protein
-I would subout the frozen yogurt with some really yummy full fat yogurt. It will satiate you more and provide nutrients.

Thank you so much! This is very helpful! Would you suggest baking a bunch of chicken/fish for the week and then just reheating them for dinner?

Honestly, the last thing I need is another doctor and an appointment. I am going to take your suggestions and see what happens after 4-6 weeks. Thank you!  I just really need to get this weight off because I think it is contributing to my back pain.

I did go to a nutritionist or dietitian (don't remember the distinction in the US) but she specialized in Diabetes. Her diets were very restricting but the results were amazing. She would request some blood work and also prescribed some supplements to help out.  I would have to go at least once a month and she would tweak things here are there depending on the results.

My issue is consistency and I stopped with the diet after 3 months and put on the weight plus some.

I am currently taking my meds consistently and started batch cooking on Sundays. I will have for lunch the exact same thing but at this point I don't care as it keeps me from straying. I am also better at grocery shopping and my savings for not eating out have been significant. I have a big food stash at work so if I feel hungry, I just reach down to my drawer and have something healthy. I'm not sure how much I have lost after a month since I don't want to weigh myself but I took progress pictures and was blown away by the changes. I fit into my own clothes but still have ways to go. 

[abcdefu]

Sept 4, 2015 9:30:21 GMT -5 stephreloaded said:

Sept 2, 2015 19:09:26 GMT -5 abcdefu said:

Thank you so much! This is very helpful! Would you suggest baking a bunch of chicken/fish for the week and then just reheating them for dinner?

Honestly, the last thing I need is another doctor and an appointment. I am going to take your suggestions and see what happens after 4-6 weeks. Thank you!  I just really need to get this weight off because I think it is contributing to my back pain.

I did go to a nutritionist or dietitian (don't remember the distinction in the US) but she specialized in Diabetes. Her diets were very restricting but the results were amazing. She would request some blood work and also prescribed some supplements to help out.  I would have to go at least once a month and she would tweak things here are there depending on the results.

My issue is consistency and I stopped with the diet after 3 months and put on the weight plus some.

I am currently taking my meds consistently and started batch cooking on Sundays. I will have for lunch the exact same thing but at this point I don't care as it keeps me from straying. I am also better at grocery shopping and my savings for not eating out have been significant. I have a big food stash at work so if I feel hungry, I just reach down to my drawer and have something healthy. I'm not sure how much I have lost after a month since I don't want to weigh myself but I took progress pictures and was blown away by the changes. I fit into my own clothes but still have ways to go. 

Congratulations on your weight loss! I also think it's awesome that you don't always weigh yourself. One day I hope to go by how my clothes fit instead of going by a number on the scale. I really want to start batch cooking on Sundays. I feel that convenience will really help me stick to healthy eating.

[Deleted]

Can't comment on nutritionist etc, but there are tons of resources online for free. I agree with @pdx18 about a crockpot.  I make shredded chicken, lentil soup, beef stew etc in the crockpot. It's easy and a time saver.  They even sell liners if you don't want to deal with cleaning it afterwards. 

[dirtyred]

Sept 2, 2015 6:44:29 GMT -5 @pdx18 said:

I've worked with one to help overcome and ED. I liked her and it helped. I believe you should look for a registered dietician versus a nutritionist.

Ditto on the dietician. "Nutritionist" isn't a protected term, so anyone can pay $50 and get a certificate online that says they are a nutritionist. Dieticians have to pass a credentialing exam and be licensed to practice.

[frontbutt]

Sept 1, 2015 21:50:33 GMT -5 abcdefu said:

I guess the first question would be what is the different between the two and how do I decide which I should see?

I saw a great nutritionist - if you're anywhere near Atlanta, her name is Paige Love. She helped me come up with my meal plan - she worked with the foods that I liked to create a balanced diet. I lost a few pounds this way, but nothing substantial. I only saw her once every three weeks and there wasn't much accountability.

After I was diagnosed with PCOS, I started a weight loss program called HMR. It was medically supervised and helped me get back on track with eating fruits and vegetables and protein. I lost sixty pounds this way and going to weekly accountability meetings helped me learn how to eat healthy again. My nutritionist didn't really help me so much as the support I got in the weekly meeting with HMR just because I had to retrain my brain about food. Now that I've finished HMR, I use MyFitnessPal to help me hit my macros and calorie goals. I also made a ton of friends in the HMR program. I really needed the social aspect, I think. I just couldn't do it solo.

[abcdefu]

I do have a crock pot! I am going to look up some recipes and do some grocery shopping to prepare myself to begin my new healthy lifestyle. I feel like shit mentally and physically. I can change the mental part, which will help me lose weight and make me feel a little better physically.

Thank you ladies for all your help! I'm trying to remember my login info for MFP. PM me if you want to be fitness friends!

[abcdefu]

Thank you! All of you ladies will be my accountability! No pressure or anything! lol! I can't control the physical limitations, but I can help what I put in my mouth. I'm ready to do this!

[abcdefu]

updated in OP