Nutrition Coaching
olivebeanhealthy
Posts: 127 Member
Does anyone here have experience with a nutrition coach?
I've been going to a crossfit style gym, which I really enjoy, and decided to sign up for nutrition coaching with one of the leaders. Pricey at $80/month, but I have trouble sticking to a diet and hoped that having another live person to be accountable to would help to increase my own self-accountability, and if so it would be a good short-term investment. My understanding was that she would figure out my ideal macros provide me with a customized meal plan every 2 weeks, and weekly check-ins. I told her I wasn't ok with a foods, such as shellfish, peanuts and whey. Looking back, perhaps I should have asked for a more thorough description of services.
She asked for my measurements and a brief description of goals via email and then sent me a meal plan, which turned out to be one days worth of food (with 2 options for dinner) that I eat every day for 2 weeks - with the understanding that the next meal plan would be adjusted based on how I was doing.
The meal plan she gave me did not include the macro calculations, and it included whey - she said I could just sub another protein powder. This was a red flag for me, as obviously she didn't really personalize it if she didn't take the time to incorporate an alternative to whey (not all protein powders have the same macros) and that she didn't and wouldn't share the macro calculations. It felt more like I was being emailed a generic low-carb meal plan. She hasn't followed up with me, and then sent me a second meal plan early (also containing food I have trouble digesting) without checking in with me about how the first one was going. I've asked for a refund, as this really hasn't been helpful at all - and now feel an uncomfortable tension when I go to the gym. I trusted her, and feel pretty let down.
This is a bit of venting
Has anyone had a positive experience with nutrition coaches? How do you find a good one?
I've been going to a crossfit style gym, which I really enjoy, and decided to sign up for nutrition coaching with one of the leaders. Pricey at $80/month, but I have trouble sticking to a diet and hoped that having another live person to be accountable to would help to increase my own self-accountability, and if so it would be a good short-term investment. My understanding was that she would figure out my ideal macros provide me with a customized meal plan every 2 weeks, and weekly check-ins. I told her I wasn't ok with a foods, such as shellfish, peanuts and whey. Looking back, perhaps I should have asked for a more thorough description of services.
She asked for my measurements and a brief description of goals via email and then sent me a meal plan, which turned out to be one days worth of food (with 2 options for dinner) that I eat every day for 2 weeks - with the understanding that the next meal plan would be adjusted based on how I was doing.
The meal plan she gave me did not include the macro calculations, and it included whey - she said I could just sub another protein powder. This was a red flag for me, as obviously she didn't really personalize it if she didn't take the time to incorporate an alternative to whey (not all protein powders have the same macros) and that she didn't and wouldn't share the macro calculations. It felt more like I was being emailed a generic low-carb meal plan. She hasn't followed up with me, and then sent me a second meal plan early (also containing food I have trouble digesting) without checking in with me about how the first one was going. I've asked for a refund, as this really hasn't been helpful at all - and now feel an uncomfortable tension when I go to the gym. I trusted her, and feel pretty let down.
This is a bit of venting
Has anyone had a positive experience with nutrition coaches? How do you find a good one? 0
Replies
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My experience has been with my daughters diabetes educators and nutritionist at her endocrinologists office. They were terrible experiences. We were actually told that my daughter would get diabetic Keto acidosis if she tried to eat low carb and that she needed carbs for energy as if there are no other energy sources.0
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Oh that's super lame. I've never enjoyed or had success with a nutrition coach, but then I'm not keen on being told what to do lol. I enjoy planning my meals and I like the flexibility of being in control of making my food choices. That being said, I do love having a personal trainer (at least I did when I was fit enough for a real workout) because I'm not good about making the best exercise choices, give me flexibility and I choose the lazy route. And my trainer provided me with that overall accountability check-in.
Sounds like you need a good real life LCHF group to offer you more of an accountability check. Try meetup.com and see if there's a group you can join in your area, they have every type of group imaginable.
I'd recommend preparing some interview questions for your next nutritionist based on this experience. You deserve to ask some in depth questions before investing in someone who may or may not be invested in your success.0 -
Did this person have a degree? If so she is likely still in schooling towards her degree with little experience. Doesn't sound like it was worth the money I'm glad you asked for a refund. Like sunny said even the actual nutritionist for her daughter wasn't very knowledgeable.
I personally wouldn't ever pay a coach for anything, sadly anyone can get a nutrition certificate online for a few hundred dollars and develop their own program to market to the public.0 -
I think she did the coaching cert through Precision Nutrition0
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Gym trainers are good at exercise training. Nutrition, not so much.... Personally, a personal trainer would be one of the last people I'd turn to for nutrition advice, as from what I've seen they tend to use a cookie cutter approach.0
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I too have struggled to maintain a diet over the long term. In recent memory I would estimate six months at being the longest. Anyway, one technic that has helped me is asking my Doctor to have me come in every three months for an official "weigh-in". He agreed and that helped me stay on track as I wanted him to see me progress. Maybe that could be an option for you, too. Good luck.0
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I agree. I would also be even more learyleary of crossfit coaches. I'm a crossfitter, so this isn't the normal crossfit hate. The biggest issue I see is that they already prescribe a nutrition regimen. It's usually paleo and/or zone. I would imagine that experts would know that there are multiple ways to have a successful diet and that they would need to assess your needs to determine which path is best FOR YOU. If I'm paying for professional service, I expect it to be personal.Christine_72 wrote: »Gym trainers are good at exercise training. Nutrition, not so much.... Personally, a personal trainer would be one of the last people I'd turn to for nutrition advice, as from what I've seen they tend to use a cookie cutter approach.
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--- that's a great idea!daylitemag wrote: »...that has helped me is asking my Doctor to have me come in every three months for an official "weigh-in". He agreed and that helped me stay on track as I wanted him to see me progress. Maybe that could be an option for you, too. Good luck.
Thank you for the good feedback everyone.
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For science,
Could you plug the meal plan she gave you into MFP and see what it is in macros and calories?0 -
My medical doctor specialised as a nutritionist and also is a degree qualified pharmacist. Unique guy. He gives me a framework then tweaks it according to how my symptoms change and how I feel. I think he is brilliant, but I do not ask for a specific meal plan as my independent streak would rebel. Good luck.0
