Meal plan coach

johnbader87

Does anyone have a meal plan coach or a nutritionist they use?

Cahgetsfit

yep. couldnt have done it without her. Well - could have, but with much difficulty. When first tried MFP with just eating x cals and fitting whatever in I lost weight sure, but was hungry, lethargic and put it all back and then some. Then I got a trainer who gave me meals + workouts and I have lost sustainably, built a tonne of muscle (because I wanted to) and will be competing in a figure comp early next year! And the best bit - I am not hungry!!!

Cahgetsfit

worth every cent.

kshama2001

Nope, but then I have a plethora of cooking experience to draw on. And I've learned what macros satisfy me. Not to mention flavor profiles and textures.

But if you think this will be useful for you, go for it!

LER67

I'm interested in this as well. I purchased a meal plan but it's pretty generic, I have some special dietary considerations. Can anyone recommend someone who creates a plan (or recommends one) based on an actual assessment?

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

I couldn't eat set meals like that. When I get home I like to cook what ever I fancy. Or make a home made ready meal from the freezer type thing.

ashleyminnich1

I have used the meal plan on Sparkpeople off and on. It's pretty low bare minimum in calories, and I don't do not natural low fat foods. I now just use it as a guide line to make sure I'm getting in a well rounded meal.

acorsaut89

I have used one for about 2 years now and I can't say enough amazing things about her!

She's a registered dietitian who specializes in two areas: sports nutrition and those who are obese (moderately to severely) looking to get down to a normal weight.

She doesn't give me meal plans per se, but she has taught me how to eat. I chose her because I was (and still technically am) obese but I also work out all the time and am very active, so I needed sports nutrition but also enough to help me lose weight too. So it wasn't just about how much I was eating to lose weight, but it was also (for me) about the quality of nutrition I am putting into my body.

She has never said to me eat this for breakfast, this for lunch, this for dinner. She has taught me how to structure my meals so that I get the most of my nutrition. For example, eating six times a day instead of three has really helped me. I can't eat right away when I get up in the morning so my structure is snack, breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. She has also got me to make sure the components of my meals are right: breakfast is a third each of protein, carbs and fats. So I make my own protein oatmeal with some nuts and seeds for fat and have a side of fruit. My snacks are equal parts of carbs and protein and then lunch/dinner is half veggies and then 1/4 protein 1/4 carbs. What I put into that is totally my choice - and there are some carbs which are of higher nutritional value than others which she has taught me but it isn't a structured meal plan necessarily she is just teaching me how to eat and how to choose my own foods to fit into the nutritional plan I want. It's not about telling me to only eat these foods, it's teaching me the nutritional make up of individual foods and how to make the best choices for me. Also, how to choose foods based on the athletic performance I want. Like I run and I lift heavy . . . so I need complex carbs for fuel and protein to repair my muscles. She has helped me to make informed decisions rather than just telling me what to eat on a structured meal plan.

I have benefits through my employment that help offset the cost of her services, but for her as an RD I would pay out of pocket to have her on my side hands down. Best money I've ever spent and I'm so glad I have an employer with a wide range of benefits like that.

It's incredibly beneficial - now I don't look at rice and potatoes as just carbs I see potatoes as a level 2 carb and brown rice as a level 3 carb and say what do I want to get out of my run tomorrow? And choose accordingly. It's all about knowledge and information - not just about dictating what you should and shouldn't eat. She even encourages eating things that aren't nutritionally sound sometimes . . . just because, but not as a cheat and not all the time. Just once in a while.

Best of luck to you. Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions about this.

kommodevaran

I "built" my own meal plan from what I learnt here on MFP, in the forums, using the food diary and playing with macros and meals, combined with what I already knew, and adjusted to new information I've come across.