Rarely have I been as condescended to as I was by Mark McKenna.
I am obviously aware of the need to lose weight. That is why I initiated the appointment with Shape. I thought nutrition counseling and medication could join my kickboxing training for a well-rounded weight-loss solution.
Apparently, Mark is under the impression that being overweight also makes one a liar and an idiot. The five minute rote appointment with him involved him telling me that ""we're all busy"" and I just need to get it together. This before he knew anything at all about me. Had he asked he may have learned that I have been working out regularly. He may have learned that as a PhD student I am likely to know what BMI is so saying it slowly as if to a deaf-mute child probably wasn't necessary.
Neither was it particularly subtle of him to begin questioning me about my kickboxing routine as if trying to determine if I was telling the truth.
The piece de resistance, however, was him pausing in his scripted counseling spiel at the point where he tells me I am at risk for cancer to take a phone call from his girlfriend. Because, as he told me, not answering her would only result in her continuing to call he began texting her while randomly muttering, ""so, yeah, cancer and, uh, cancer, uh...wait...""
I don't doubt that Mark meets his fair share of those desperate for a quick weight loss solution. Perhaps he's grown jaded to such people. That seems, to me, within the realm of possibility.
I also know, however, that part of what I am paying for in a relationship with a professional is, at the very least, the pretense of giving a damn. If one is too jaded to accomplish that they might want to reconsider their line of work.
I would like to thank the lovely nutritionist for being professional and polite. Sadly, she was an anomaly during my visit.
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