So I have this new doctor, and after 3 1/2 years in town with no doctors and not having one, I was thankful to get her.
I am recently diagnosed hypothyroid, and now it looks like I have slightly high blood pressure.
So she tells me I need to lose weight, duh. My thyroid level is still wacked so we upped the Synthroid. Then!.........
I tell her I have really changed my eating habits, to eating nothing but real food, fruits, veggies, lean proteins, etc. And I am exercising, and have lost a few pounds already.
Good she says...but try THIS diet, its from the heart association. She pulls out this photocopied typed thing. I look over it in disbelief, and seriously look at her and ask her if shes serious.
The 3 day diet!! Eat these certain foods precisely as written for 3 days, then eat whatever you want the other 4! Including vanilla ice cream, and....HOT DOGS!!!
I was on my way home to type this diet out (I may still after my shower) but decided to do a search... its a bogus, phony diet that someone labelled as a heart association diet, and this DOCTOR bought it and recommended it to me! I am so grossed out.
Here is the link, its ON the Heart Association website.
http://www.americanheart.org/present...identifier=507

i'd say no doctor is better than that doctor!

Diddo!

Wow, how sad that you got a doctor who doesn't know a proper diet from a bogus unhealthful one! FWIW you eating plan above is very similar to mine but even better since I do eat a very few processed foods (just not many). Just yesterday I asked my doctor if there were things I could do to improve my weight loss plan...eating and exercise, etc... and she said "NO! What you are doing is perfect! Keep it up!"

Sounds like you know more than your doctor... I certainly would not even consider switching to "her" plan! Doesn't sound as if you plan on doing that though.

It must be difficult when you live in a place where there are not a lot of doctors to choose from!

How frightening! Are you going to print out that page and give it to your doctor?

I also live in an area where few doctors are available. My personal physician certainly isn't the best. He recommended that I try the American Diabetic Association Diet. My specialist had already told me that with PCOS and Insulin Resistance that I would lose weight best doing a low-carb plan such as Atkins or South Beach. Even after I had lost 35 lbs. he tried to get me to switch and I didn't listen to him. He then accused me of using diet pills, which was absolutely untrue. I saw him last week for my injured ankle and his only reply was "you've sure lost too much weight". I again ignored him. If he'd bother to even look at the BMI chart he'd see I am in the normal weight range. It's not like I lost it over night, it took me over a year. Sometimes doctors can be mistaken and we know best what works for our own bodies when it comes to weight loss. Most of us have tried it all and are absolutely thrilled when we find what works for us.

Geeze, and these are the people taking care of us and who are suppose to be experts in their field?

I'm lucky, I have a doctor who is a very good listener, doesn't prescribe drugs for every little thing and accepts holistic and natural medicine. A few years back when I told her I joined Weight Watchers she said that was great and that she thought it was one of the best weight loss programs out there. She also encouraged me when I said I was taking a yoga class to help with stress.

It's really sad that things like this happen, but I am not surprised. Years ago when I first went to see a registered dietitian she told me that it was a good thing I came in to see her because most doctors don't know diddly beans about nutrition. I took her comment with a grain of salt, but as time has gone by I can see that she is correct. My current doctor actually tried to tell me I could spot reduce!!! Ummmmm She is a good dcotor with everthing else, but I think I'll leave the nutrition stuff to someone else.

Absolutely, and I will be attacking it with a hilighter first!

That was going to be my suggestion. I would definitely point it out to her.

Wow. That boggles. Good health care is hard to find, and I see you're in the Yukon... perhaps makes it harder?

I would certainly let the doc know, as tactfully as possible!

Wow!

I am glad you are going to let the doctor know. Just mind boggling that someone would advise this.

I am so fortunate to have a wonderful, caring doctor who listens and encourages!!

We have a shortage of medical professionals where I live too. I chose my current doctor not because I have any particular faith in her medical skills, but because she was the only one on my insurance plan accepting new patients, and she is fatter than me so she doesn't always lecture me about my weight.

From what I've heard, most medical schools don't teach even a day on nutrition. That's why there are specialists (dieticians and nutritionists). Doctors are just people too and can't be expected to know everything about everything. I think that sometimes people expect too much...Doctors aren't God. You'll always get better advice if you see someone who's really specially trained in the field in which you're seeking advice. Medicine is a huge field and growing every day.

Why do people expect doctors to be all-knowing?

I do not expect a Dr. to be all-knowing; however, common sense, good judgment, and basic medical knowledge should keep them from giving someone something like the 3 day diet. Why is it so hard for a Dr. to simply admit they do not know everything and to make a referral to an appropriate resource to help someone? I have see this happen way too often. My own husband's Dr. gave him a diagnosis of diabetes, prescribed medication and did not give him one bit of advice or a referral for dietician services. I was in in shock. At least I knew the basic diet recommendations from my experiences and got him enrolled in a diabetic education class (free at the hospital). There is no excuse for Dr.'s to not know the appropriate resources in their community to refer their patients to for further assistance with their health problems. My husband has since switched Dr.'s and his current Dr. is much more knowledgeable and provides him with helpful information; he is re-evaluating the medications prescribed and changing meds as dh loses weight and his blood sugar and blood pressure are under better control. I would suggest finding another Dr. if you ever feel that your Dr. is not willing to work with you on finding the best method to help your medical condition.