Consulting A Nutritionist… Is It Worth It?

At one of my training session at the gym, my personal trainer asked me what I had eaten for breakfast. I shyly replied green tea and a crêpe. He gave me a crazy look and asked if crepes had protein. I knew I needed to change my diet. Even though I buy all organic ingredients, don’t drive through the fast food lane, and don’t have coffee, I didn’t see a change in my skin issue and weight. Paying for a personal trainer each month was not worth it if I wasn’t going to eat well. So what is eating well? I wanted to find out from a specialist. I found Joy, a nutritionist with 20+ year’s experience. She charged me 5 for the first appointment, which lasted exactly two hours, all from the comfort of my own home.

So what happens at the first appointment?

A week before my appointment she asked me to fill out a questionnaire she had emailed me; my answers to these questions would give her a better understanding of my current health and health goals. In addition to the questions, I had to keep a food log of what I ate each day. The food log would help perceive what I was eating right, as well as wrong, or why I might be feeling sleepy at two in the afternoon.

Joy gave me a shopping list. From this list, I had to cross out anything I wasn’t willing to eat, or foods I don’t like. The list is pretty long and it wasn’t too hard to create a meal plan; which she helped me with. You should have breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner everyday at the same time.

Also, she gave me a good understanding of portion control, shared facts about foods, and how to choose the right ingredients even if they are the “good foods”.

Joy also went through my pantry and refrigerator, she took out anything I shouldn’t be eating, and explained why.

In conclusion, is consulting a nutritionist worth it?

If you have no Internet, self-motivation, or just don’t know where to start, then yes. You should consult a nutritionist. A nutritionist is also a great option for people who have a current health issue (digestion, acne, weight, etc.), and are tired of diets.

All that said, if you don’t have the money for a nutritionist there are websites that give you good information on foods, weight loss, illnesses or any other health concerns you may have. One free site that I came across was www.livingstrong.com. It provides a great program that counts your calories, has simple recipes, and free workout videos.

A few key points from the nutritionist:

• What has become clearly apparent is that your diet has everything to do with your health and mood.
• Eight glasses a day of fluids is important.
• Read ALL labels before you purchase ingredients.
• Eat at the same time every day.
• When the sun goes down, stop eating.
• Stay positive!