WIBU to ignore the nutritionalist's advice?

[Helini]

I've always struggled with my weight. I'm currently 3 stone over weight which is pretty low for me usually but I've been going to Slimming world (3rd time lucky) for a few months now and I'm enjoying it.

Back in the summer I asked my GP for some help as I was getting desperate and couldn't stick to a diet. Over the years I've tried Cambridge, keto, Dukan, cabbage soup, you name it, I've tried it... Just healthy eating I can't do alone. It's like I need a consultant to train me and the support. I'm like a crack addict.

I finally had my appointment with the NHS nititionalost and she wants me to go on Keto. Sugar and carbs are the enemy and she had been following keto for years and has never been healthier.

I've seen 'The magic pill' on Netflix so am aware of how great the diet is but I've done it before. Stuck with it for 2 months and lost about a stone and a half. Great. Problem is, I had horrendous dihorrea the whole time and found it too restrictive. I was miserable making my husband and my toddler all this lovely food like potateos and cous cous to go along with the family meals I couldn't have any.

I wasn't expecting the nutritionalist to want to cut out major food groups. It feels like a faddy diet to me not a lifestyle change. She also said my nearly 2 year old, who was with me, could follow keto too and dosn't need carbs and snacks. This feels a bit worrying to me.

I really want to get into a healthy BMI. I need surgery after experiencing horrific birth injuries but they are reluctant to give me because of my age. They have said losing weight will help. It hasn't helped and my injuries are worse so would love to go back and say: 'well I've lost weight and it's worse so give me the surgery!' losing weight isn't just about looking good. I want this surgery and I want to be a healthy role model for DS before he clocks in that I'm overweight. (Wouldn't mind looking fabulous for my brother's upcoming wedding too)

I'm so conflicted. Suddenly butter and oil are the good guys? I love potato so much. WIBU to think the nutritionalist was just part of some kind of cult? I'm only joking. But I would love to know what you think.

Sorry for the long, rambling post. Don't want to drip feed later.

If Slimming World is working for you and you’re losing weight on it then why don’t you stick with that?

Yanbu. Embarking on a regime you know you can’t stick to long term is pointless. The best way is through calorie counting imo. You can eat what you like as long as you stay within your calorie allowance, and the weight will come off.

Were they a nutritionist or a dietician? I'm not being pedantic - the two are quite different in their qualification requirements and I'd be considering that to some extent when deciding how much to trust their advice. That said, you can't lose weight without making changes. If you don't want make the changes that's absolutely up to you, but you might not lose the weight 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes that nutritionist’s advice is bizarre and honestly a bit unethical.

And I’m a fan of keto and the blood sugar diet, it works for me x

If slimming world is working for you and you feel like you are making changes then keep going with it. Personally I wouldn't do Keto if you paid me. I'll probably get jumped on here but personally feel it's a crock of shit but then I follow the JSA principles of calorie deficit and move more.

@LiveFatsDieYoGnu a registered nutritionist is worth listening to, a proper clinical nutritionist with a science degree not someone who’s just got a diploma off the Internet. I’d expect an NHH nutritionist to be this sort

Keto is pretty impossible long term, and SW is a nightmare if your issue is portion control. I would do my fitness Pal, calorie count but buddy up with someone so you have the accountability

I wouldn’t follow such a restrictive diet, just stick with slimming world if it’s working for you. Are you also exercising to lose weight?

I think Slimming World is a cult, and you said 3rd time lucky so it hasn't really worked for you. Sugar is the enemy not fat but the fat industry didn't have as much influence. You don't have to go completely Keto, just cut out bread, potatoes, pasta, be careful with high sugar fruit and you can eat loads.

I think what she means is. Toddlers don’t need sugar. No one needs sugar or carbs. Unlesss you are a type 1 diabetic. Then of course you do. Is your toddler overweight?

It does work. The keto diet. We have way to many carbs and sugars in our diet

I suggest cutting out potatoes and rice. Any cous cous or grain type things. Don’t go fill 20grams only. But try a lower carb count. So 100grams? You need to add lots of water though. A lot of water. Keto flu is a real thing. Friend of mine has lost 7 stone using it.

If you really can’t bare the thought of cutting it out. Then really strictly calorie count. 1000-1100 calories a day

What exercise do you do daily?

Keto isn’t at all impossible long term. I’ve been doing it for 5 years very easily.

You’ve been to the GP and seen a nutritionist and don’t like what advice you’ve been given (I wouldn’t follow a fad diet like keto either) but they can’t make you lose the weight so I don’t know what you want them to do really, only you can make yourself lose the weight! don’t have crappy foods in the house, track absolutely every calorie on my fitness pal and you’ll see where you’re racking up calories, it’s not about cutting out food groups just cut down portions and eat less than 1800 a day every day and exercise when you can, if you want 4 Kit Kat’s have them just track them and be more restrictive and healthy for the rest of the day!

My dad cut out neatly all carbs and it has been great for him - reversed his type 2 diabetes. So I can see why it was recommended. But if you know you couldn't stick to it and it would make you miserable, then there's no point in doing it.
I think it's best to stick to what you know you can do, long term.

Women are meant to live on a keto type diet- high in good fats, non-starchy vegetables, and Good quality proteins. I have been following this for years and it has totally transformed my life (I have pcos and so have to restrict my processed carbs and sugar). If Slimming world worked for you then you would have lost and maintained that weight loss the first time you did it.

@Herringbone31 what? Type one diabetics don’t need sugar/carbs more or less than anyone else, they just can’t naturally break them down - which is what insulin is for. T1s should generally eat a normal balanced diet, even on the lower carb side. But carbs are an important for all balanced diets, especially when you’re considering fibre. Carbs aren’t the same as ‘sugary treats’

Check out TeamRH or Rebelfit on Facebook. Slimming World is a profit making business, who make money through their clients.

OP my DM has been an NHS dietician for over 25 years and there are many things different dieticians promote that others don't necessarily agree with. This was just one nutritionists opinion, you absolutely can disregard her advice and get a second opinion, and I would strongly recommend that you.

In my books anyone telling you to cut out carbs is following the advice people were given 10-20 years ago

Carbs are your brain's preferred energy source (it breaks it down more quickly than it does fat) so I strongly advise speaking to other health professionals before following a restrictive diet.

As a side note, we call overweight people 'fat', we don't call them 'carb', so I don't understand where this idea that carbs make you fat has come from! Most of these diets are marketing ploys and as PP have said, if you know for a fact that you won't be able to sustain a keto diet then IMO it's not the right diet for you!

Please get another opinion

For the record, I just asked my DM and she said she disagrees with the advice you've been given, for what it's worth.

Keto does work but it is restrictive and some people struggle to make it compatible with family life whereas SW is more user friendly for the standard family. I’ve found both work well but if SW is working for you currently I’d stick with that.

I've done a low carb diet, to try to combat the slight menopause weight gain round my middle and keep it in check!

It certainly worked but is not sustainable for me at all. Eating pork crackling/high fatty things/cream all the time made me sick. I'm not sure if that is good for your pancreas to be honest.

I now take aspects of it and aim to be healthy, the only carbs I allow myself are healthy ones such as lentils/cous cous/pulses/beans etc A veggie chili with a dollop of greek yogurt and very small portion of rice, for example, is very healthy and delicious IMO.

I don't eat much fruit anyway, eat masses of veg daily and hardly eat bread or meat naturally. Although lean meat is supposed to be good (I just don't like meat!) Eggs/nuts etc. So not much sugar, loads of healthy veg and healthy carbs. I don't buy 'diet' or 'low fat' anything, that does contain more sugar and is bad for you.

I agree with PP, less calories in works best.

Obviously no sugary, processed crap goes without saying.

Try doing this maybe? A sort of low carb light.

Oh, but I fall down at alcohol Good luck OP

Hi, I've only read the first few comments but she's definitely a Nutritionist (didn't realise nutritionalist isn't actually a word!) That I was referred to by my GP. I've attached a pic of the booklet she gave me where is has her title, I've covered her name with my thumb.

I don't think the picture attache'd but it says:

'Name - Nutritionist and Educator'

She also said my nearly 2 year old, who was with me, could follow keto too and dosn't need carbs and snacks. This feels a bit worrying to me

She doesn’t sound like an actual dietician and I’d be very worried at this advice too.

Keep a food diary and see if there’s anywhere you can cut back or any time you eat just for the sake of it, etc. Use the information from that to devise a strategy that suits you. Use MyFitnessPal or similar. Eat a balanced diet and fill up on veg and salad. Look at your portion sizes too.