The state of the nation ...on diet

I am working towards my goal of bringing my body fat down to around 18%. Currently my BMI - Body mass index- is around 23%, which is normal for my height and weight, but not ideal. For that reason I want to get it lower than that. This week I had a regular check-up with my doctor. I am diligent about my appointments and has been seeing the same doctor for the last 12 years. This time I decided to ask her for a referral to a nutritionist. She looked up from her screen somewhat puzzled (she was typing all the things about me non-stop) and asked "A nutritionist? What for?" I explained that I want to lose some more weight and would like to do so in the healthiest manner possible, hence wanted to consult an expert. She resumed typing while explaining that the only nutritionists or dietitians she knew were dealing with diabetes, and they would not take my insurance unless I had it.

Well, I have to tell you that my doctor is not some ancient quack. She is quite progressive, holistic in her approach and even uses acupuncture as one of the methods of treating her patients. So if she does not have anyone to recommend, that makes me scratch my head and puzzle "What's wrong with this picture?"

The modern medicine is focused on treating diseases, and pays just a basic token to prevention. The huge gap in understanding of how to lose and maintain a healthy weight is filled with various pseudo-experts peddling fad deprivation diets, "magic" lose-weight-quick pills, useless at their best, harmful at heir worst, questionable colon cleansing and other shady practices. It seems that you can get medical attention for your nutrition only when you are morbidly obese and in need of stomach stapling, or when your endocrine system gives out, or something drastic like that.

Until 2007 I was one of the confused masses trying to follow this or that advice and growing progressively frustrated. I knew that I needed to eat fresh fruit, lean protein and whole grain, exercise and drink water; I followed that advice, but the pounds piled regardless. Not until I started Beachbody programs did I understand how important it is not just what you eat, but how much and when. The change happened gradually and took a lot of research and trial and error on my part.But I was not at sea anymore, I had some tools to bring me ashore. Now that I am ready to take my nutrition to the next level, it looks like I will have to search for an expert on my own and pay out of my own pocket. I don't mind the latter part, I was just hoping that at least my physician whom I trusted all these years would be able to help me find the right specialist, but apparently that is not to be. Trial and error is the way to go in the area of diet. What else is new?

I don't want to appear entirely cranky and a complainer. I am really grateful for this "problem" - having to improve on my healthy diet because I want to - not because I must - is not a bad lot, after all. But it would be so much better for the country if we truly made the knowledge of how to eat healthy..well...common! This should be really something that a doctor handed to you before you developed weight related issues, such as blood pressure, diabetes, hear disease and even cancer. I think this is going to happen, and I hope it will happen soon enough. The change is urgently needed, in this dieter's opinion.
Bring it!