I think it's fair, if you can honestly show a "before and after" pic. We've got some big trainers at my gym, and they're still respected. A big part of that is that they've been on the same journey, and are still working towards awesomeness.

And I really think it's a good time to get into it. I see interest in this woe becoming more and more common in coming years.
One of my favorites, Brian Williamson (Ketovangelist) has only been podcasting for like a year or something. He's interviewed several of the big names in low carb already.

While I think people will want and appreciate your help, especially if they see your progress, I agree with sunny_bunny that having credentials is a good idea. You can always help friends and family while studying to be a nutritionist. A friend of mine is a trainer and she got certified as a sports nutritionist online.

auntstephie321 wrote: »

I agree with the others. Great idea but you want to have your ducks in a row. Helping friends is a great way to start. I started schooling towards being an RD a few years ago unfortunately I had ti change my focus but may go back again some day. I can tell you getting a degree as a nutritionist will not teach you anything about keto. You can get certificate programs online like mentioned before, like a trainer might. Probably most important is you'll want to look at incorporating and general liability insurance to protect yourself. Hiring an attorney would be wise in creating any type of contract as well. I think @Sunny_Bunny_ had a good idea to start with podcasts and what not. That way you'll be able to build some credibility for the future.

This!!

Everything written above is very important, so i'll just add a different point of view.

IMHO all of this depends on where you live and what you are doing now. It also depends on what your degree area or area of study currently is, you could already have many people coming to you and asking you questions and you have kind of been giving people advice 'one on one' for the last months or a couple years.
One example of this is that my university degrees are a BA & MA, the Master's degree is in technology but it's from many years ago. Still i know more than just the average person my age about tech stuff (not to be compared with younger ppl ), so just about everyone who gets near me wants one on one tech support and i always help them. I'm not held liable but what i'm doing is "not pretending not to know".
So, in a similar fashion, i suspect you are showing good results and you are being asked many questions on "how" you are achieving your goals.
Another thing to consider is if you are a member of a Church group...many religious communities offer wellness classes, my girlfriend leads a group called "losing for God"..she has a long way to go but at least the people in the group are becoming more food aware. That wouldn't be for me, but that is an option if it interests you.
You might also consider becoming a fitness instructor in an area of interest to you..yoga, tai-chi, aerobics, pilates..almost every Fitness instructor is asked about food and food choices, you'd have insurance and the coursework is very easy to get for your credentials & license.
All of this just to say, take care of your approach , but you don't necessarily have to wait until "everything" is in order.
Please don't give up, it seems as though you'd be excellent and help many ppl in your community.

LINIA wrote: »

Everything written above is very important, so i'll just add a different point of view.

IMHO all of this depends on where you live and what you are doing now. It also depends on what your degree area or area of study currently is, you could already have many people coming to you and asking you questions and you have kind of been giving people advice 'one on one' for the last months or a couple years.
One example of this is that my university degrees are a BA & MA, the Master's degree is in technology but it's from many years ago. Still i know more than just the average person my age about tech stuff (not to be compared with younger ppl ), so just about everyone who gets near me wants one on one tech support and i always help them. I'm not held liable but what i'm doing is "not pretending not to know".
So, in a similar fashion, i suspect you are showing good results and you are being asked many questions on "how" you are achieving your goals.
Another thing to consider is if you are a member of a Church group...many religious communities offer wellness classes, my girlfriend leads a group called "losing for God"..she has a long way to go but at least the people in the group are becoming more food aware. That wouldn't be for me, but that is an option if it interests you.
You might also consider becoming a fitness instructor in an area of interest to you..yoga, tai-chi, aerobics, pilates..almost every Fitness instructor is asked about food and food choices, you'd have insurance and the coursework is very easy to get for your credentials & license.
All of this just to say, take care of your approach , but you don't necessarily have to wait until "everything" is in order.
Please don't give up, it seems as though you'd be excellent and help many ppl in your community.

I do agree with what you're saying and I think OP should follow her passion for sure. I feel, to a degree, the same way she does. That's probably one of the reasons I love this group so much! I'm learning from others who want to help me, and they have and continue to do so every day. I am very appreciative of all of you guys and your great info and I'd never want anyone to shy away from sharing what they know and believe. I also get to do the same and I love this woe and am so convinced of its value that I'm more than happy to help everyone with questions as much as I am able to. I enjoy that part very much.
That's why I also suggested getting some kind of credentials because even though we realize they don't really mean much, it will immerse you in a subject matter where you can dig for more info and where you will no doubt have an opportunity to learn how to protect yourself from liability in the case of a grumpy client or if you did happen to meet that rare person that actually does get sick on low carb and fail to recognize it. I also don't necessarily think you need to complete training before getting started either. I don't think there's anything wrong with even a layman giving advice they can supply evidence to support, but to offer up a "service" changes the rules. It's not just friendly advice anymore. That's where things get sticky.
But there's more than one way to help other people. There's more than one way it can actually grow to be a lucrative career. You don't even have to go the route of earning any credentials at all. Jimmy Moore didn't. Dave Asprey didn't. Lots of the well known people didn't. But they didn't sell a service either. They just sell their ideas. Their support. But they're making money selling themselves with ad space and endorsements... And their own books. Some of the "smaller guys" developed a plan for exercise and meals based solely off their own experience and what they've learned along the way from others, just like the "big guys", but sell it for little or maybe nothing at all to gain popularity and make their money off their website traffic. But, I'm sure they still take measures to protect themselves from liability. I just don't know if a contract is enough. I guess a lawyer would need to be consulted about that, but even then it's not ironclad.
Anyway, I'm saying that it's my opinion that a blog is a safe way to start right now.

You'll find many small businesses have no required certification or licensing except for a state business license. Set yourself up as a LLC to protect you personally from litigation. The thing with keto is that's it a fairly new concept and not widely accepted. There are no certifications or a large amount of publications (except for web) on it. This gives you a bit more freedom as legally being able to prove what's right and wrong on the topic is very difficult. I'm not a lawyer or advisor, just someone who's had a small business for many years. CYA and run with it. Good luck!

I have had so many people, especially at work, ask me what I am doing to lose weight. I tell people briefly what I am doing, but save a more in depth discussion for the very few who display authentic interest. I have no credentials, but people see how my body and level of fitness are changing right before their eyes. I have a good understanding of how to obtain information after years of searching for natural ways to improve my health, and I have come to learn what works for my body.

I have a loyal group of supporters and some who think I should become a coach of some sort. I do love sharing this knowledge, and it would be so fulfilling to actually motivate people, but probably unlikely to happen in a formal way. I may assist at wellness seminars on a casual basis however.

In the meantime, what I have done is to put together a one page tip sheet about LCHF, and I give it to co-workers and friends who display interest in keto. I list links to much of the same info we refer people to on this site, and in fact, I also recommend that they join our LCD group on MFP as a way to gain more info and support in order to help make this woe sustainable especially in the beginning when one has a bit more anxiety about starting something unfamiliar. I also include some of my own personal tips for success.

Providing people with information that has the potential to positively change their lives and health for the better feels so good, doesn't it ? I would be wary about the concerns listed above, but since I am not giving advice on a professional level, I am not concerned. I just like helping people.

Here is a "keto coach" question.... for you or anyone.. I am using testing strips to test for Ketosis....... one day it is very dark and I am thrilled, the next, it barely shows trace amounts. Is this normal and does this mean that I am not actually in Ketosis?

Thank you Lillith.

awesome information, thank you so much.

At the VERY LEAST, become a certified health coach. Don't just go and hang out your shingle without some schooling or certification behind you to stand on. Most health coach certifications aren't always 100% believable (legitimate?) and often hold no real value; HOWEVER, they are less expensive to get and don't require as much of your time (perhaps 1 year as opposed to 2-4 years for a registered dietitian degree or a nutritionist degree). Having / getting one might also allow you to build a client base before you do actually go back to school and get the appropriate degrees. Otherwise, you are just setting yourself up for and inviting all sorts of legal trouble.