The Dieting Experience
Changing the conversation about weight loss and dieting
Dr. Laurie Patlin Suttenberg, DSW, LCSW-QS, DCSW
An Empowered Patient
Lily returns to her primary care physician for her follow up to her last appointment. She has been taking the medication that was prescribed, but she hopes this will only be short term. She doesn't want to need any medication at all, and she feels she can make the changes she needs to in her life to be healthier and happier. She expresses this to her doctor.
I see only a slight improvement in your lab results, Lily. You need to be on medication and I will need to send you for bloodwork again to see if we need to try a different medication.
I want to make sure you really heard me, doctor. I don't want to be on any medication.
Yes, I heard you. Did you get the instruction sheet from my receptionist? You know, changing your eating habits is the key in losing weight, being healthier and having good blood test results.
I did receive your instruction sheet, doctor, and I want to be very honest with you. I didn't find it helpful at all. I've been on lots of diets, so I know about sugar, and salt, and carbs, and processed foods, and portion sizes. I know all that.
So are you saying that your problem is your willpower?
I'm not saying that at all. In fact, I have plenty of willpower. I also have plenty of desire and motivation. I'm not the problem.
Way to go, Lily! You totally rock! Tell him what you need to say.
(Inwardly smiling as she hears IVy) Doctor, let me explain the problem. I have spent a large part of my life on diets. Every single one of them. I jumped on every bandwagon and I lost weight on all of them. My problem was that the minute I stopped dieting, I started gaining weight again. I wasn't eating poorly at all when I stopped each diet. I just stopped restricting. I gained weight eating what every other normal person eats.
It's all about calories, Lily. It's on the information sheet.
Doctor, I need an information sheet that is written just for me. One that is based on my bloodwork, my life, my body only. Is there such a thing?
Lily's doctor directs her to a functional nutritionist. Lily has great difficulty finding one. She then discovers that she has no insurance benefits to cover the cost of these sessions...