Appointment with a nutritionist

geetabean
geetabean Posts: 76
in Health and Weight Loss
I finally decided to call and make an appointment with a certified nutritionist/dietician! I have to wait a week and a half, but I am SO excited. This site has been very helpful to me, but there are too many opinions, too many people arguing about what the "right" way is to lose weight. I just want a plan that I can follow that is right for ME. They are going to be doing metabolic testing and counseling. Anyone have good or bad experiences with seeing a nutritionist/dietician? Anything specific I should discuss with them?
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Replies

  • downhomechik
    downhomechik Posts: 47
    I finally decided to call and make an appointment with a certified nutritionist/dietician! I have to wait a week and a half, but I am SO excited. This site has been very helpful to me, but there are too many opinions, too many people arguing about what the "right" way is to lose weight. I just want a plan that I can follow that is right for ME. They are going to be doing metabolic testing and counseling. Anyone have good or bad experiences with seeing a nutritionist/dietician? Anything specific I should discuss with them?

    I met with a nutritionist/dietician and she was fabulous. I did not know how much of what I needed to eat eat day to get the proper nutrients and this was a big help to me. Once I had a plan I was better able to outline how I needed to eat so I was eating healthy not just low cal.
  • geetabean
    geetabean Posts: 76
    I finally decided to call and make an appointment with a certified nutritionist/dietician! I have to wait a week and a half, but I am SO excited. This site has been very helpful to me, but there are too many opinions, too many people arguing about what the "right" way is to lose weight. I just want a plan that I can follow that is right for ME. They are going to be doing metabolic testing and counseling. Anyone have good or bad experiences with seeing a nutritionist/dietician? Anything specific I should discuss with them?

    I met with a nutritionist/dietician and she was fabulous. I did not know how much of what I needed to eat eat day to get the proper nutrients and this was a big help to me. Once I had a plan I was better able to outline how I needed to eat so I was eating healthy not just low cal.

    Did your nutritionist do metabolic testing? If so, how was that experience? Was the BMR they came up with the same or close to the one you were working off of? I'm really nervous that they are going to tell me that my calorie goals, or BMR are all wonky and I've been hindering myself all this time by not eating the amount I should/should not have.
  • zebramama84
    zebramama84 Posts: 64 Member
    i see my dietcian/nutritionist once a month ! she is wonderful ... and the best part is that she agrees with my doctor as to the best way for me to eat/loose some weight !
  • CRSE1214
    CRSE1214 Posts: 196 Member
    Are these services covered by your health insurance or is this an out-of-pocket expense?
  • geetabean
    geetabean Posts: 76
    This particular office is covered by my health insurance.....not all of them are though. I have to pay my co-pay and that's it. They do have a fee schedule set up if your insurance is not one that they accept. It's pricey though. I just went to my insurance website and did a search for "specialist" nutrition.....I had 3 choices. Hope this one was the best choice! HA.
  • HealthyNFit4Life
    HealthyNFit4Life Posts: 185 Member
    I just started going to a nutritionist/dietician a month ago. I love it!! I always had an idea how to lose weight, but I needed a confirmation on what to eat. And she is very supportive!! I am disappointed that she never did metabolic rate testing on me. I never asked about it.
  • HealthyNFit4Life
    HealthyNFit4Life Posts: 185 Member
    You need to call your insurance company to see if they cover it.
  • BobbieLee1959
    BobbieLee1959 Posts: 605 Member
    I finally decided to call and make an appointment with a certified nutritionist/dietician! I have to wait a week and a half, but I am SO excited. This site has been very helpful to me, but there are too many opinions, too many people arguing about what the "right" way is to lose weight. I just want a plan that I can follow that is right for ME. They are going to be doing metabolic testing and counseling. Anyone have good or bad experiences with seeing a nutritionist/dietician? Anything specific I should discuss with them?

    I did this, too and hope to be seeing the dietician next week (she is on vacation this week)~also ordered my FITBIT and expecting to see it on or about next Tuesday! :)
  • geetabean
    geetabean Posts: 76
    I finally decided to call and make an appointment with a certified nutritionist/dietician! I have to wait a week and a half, but I am SO excited. This site has been very helpful to me, but there are too many opinions, too many people arguing about what the "right" way is to lose weight. I just want a plan that I can follow that is right for ME. They are going to be doing metabolic testing and counseling. Anyone have good or bad experiences with seeing a nutritionist/dietician? Anything specific I should discuss with them?

    I did this, too and hope to be seeing the dietician next week (she is on vacation this week)~also ordered my FITBIT and expecting to see it on or about next Tuesday! :)

    Whats a FITBIT?
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    Print out your diary so they can see how you have been eating.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    I finally decided to call and make an appointment with a certified nutritionist/dietician! I have to wait a week and a half, but I am SO excited. This site has been very helpful to me, but there are too many opinions, too many people arguing about what the "right" way is to lose weight. I just want a plan that I can follow that is right for ME. They are going to be doing metabolic testing and counseling. Anyone have good or bad experiences with seeing a nutritionist/dietician? Anything specific I should discuss with them?

    They will collaborate with your PCP, and if necessary, specialists down the road (depending on the test results)....

    The network of health care professionals I see as a patient are very nice, very knowledgeable but for me, they have no clue about my current medical conditions (they cant seem to diagnose the type of metabolic disorder I have)

    The health system I WORK for are AMAZING PEOPLE... I hear many wonderful things from my patients about the level of care/caring they receive...
  • leela79au
    leela79au Posts: 7
    I have a personal trainer who I see once a week and asked her about nutrition, but she was not too helpful.
    Does anyone know the types of foods I should/should not be eating before and after exercise?
    I cant afford a dietitian unfortunately. Thanks.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Keep in mind if your nutritionist is skinny fat or fat...dont follow their suggestions.
  • grassette
    grassette Posts: 976 Member
    MFP is great in that you can print out reports of what you have been eating to hand them over to the nutritionist. Your diary is a great way to keep track of your food intake so that she/he can give you direct freedback. After you meet with her, you can tweak your readings according to her recommendations so that the two can work hand in hand.
  • marticapitt
    marticapitt Posts: 27 Member
    I love having to check in with someone - keeps me on track. While waiting for the appt. you might keep a food log (don't cheat - be honest in it) so they can see where you are at, what you like, etc. Will help them give you a plan that will work for YOU. Good job!!!
  • mhncaldwell
    mhncaldwell Posts: 17 Member
    Be sure he/she is a Registered Dietitian-- that way you can be sure of his/her qualifications.
  • marticapitt
    marticapitt Posts: 27 Member
    LOL @helloitsdan that's a good point. I prefer to follow the example not the do as I say, not as I do theory!
  • shellrocker12
    shellrocker12 Posts: 47 Member
    I am seriously considering seeing a nurritionist myself. I need to call my insurance to make sure that is covered. Best of luck to you!!!
  • NancyL1221
    NancyL1221 Posts: 5 Member
    You should also see if the nutritionist can test your metabolism too. I am an avid exerciser and I wasn't losing weight. This spin-off wellness center from a major hospital where I live had the equipment for it. The cost was $55.00 for the test but I found out I wasn't eating enough to support my exercising so my metabolism had slowed down and went into starvation mode. Well worth the investment.
  • mrswinstead
    mrswinstead Posts: 71
    Keep in mind if your nutritionist is skinny fat or fat...dont follow their suggestions.


    I agree 100%
  • illecl
    illecl Posts: 30 Member
    I've been seeing a nutritionist for 15 minutes a week for about 8 months. It's about the same price as a popular commercial diet plan, and I get one-on-one counseling. I've learned so much from her about balancing my diet. (no, she doesn't advocate eating back your exercise calories). She says if you're absolutely starving, eat a few ounces more protein. I'm older, so my one-pound-a-week losses are a success. I thought I knew everything about weight loss after dieting most of my adult life, but it's worth every cent.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    I am seriously considering seeing a nurritionist myself. I need to call my insurance to make sure that is covered. Best of luck to you!!!

    When you call the insurance, ask "does a Nutritionist fall under a PCP copay, or a Specialist copay?"
    " Do nutrition visits apply towards my deductible?"
    "If my plan is an HMO, does my PCP need to still do a referral even if the nutritionist is in the same office?" - TRUST ME, I have run into this error that insurance companies pull..... if its in the same office, you DONT need a referral for HMO (or ANY plans).

    And - most importantly.... get the name of the rep you talk with, and ask for a call reference number (if they have them).. otherwise note the name, date and time you called.. Share that information with your office....
  • geetabean
    geetabean Posts: 76
    Keep in mind if your nutritionist is skinny fat or fat...dont follow their suggestions.

    These are the nutritionists/dieticians that work at the office I will be going to. None of them appear fat.....skinny fat is a little harder to detect from internet pictures, but I'll be on the look out. HA.

    http://www.healthydietsinc.com/about-healthy-diets-inc.html
  • geetabean
    geetabean Posts: 76
    I have a personal trainer who I see once a week and asked her about nutrition, but she was not too helpful.
    Does anyone know the types of foods I should/should not be eating before and after exercise?
    I cant afford a dietitian unfortunately. Thanks.

    I have a personal trainer at the gym too. He is very knowledgeable when it comes to exercise, but knows very little when it comes to nutrition and diet. I don't really ask him advice on diet anyway though.....its not his specialty. I would be afraid to follow any diet he told me to.
  • geetabean
    geetabean Posts: 76
    I love having to check in with someone - keeps me on track. While waiting for the appt. you might keep a food log (don't cheat - be honest in it) so they can see where you are at, what you like, etc. Will help them give you a plan that will work for YOU. Good job!!!

    I've been logging daily here at MFP and I plan to bring at least a weeks worth of diaries with me to my appointment. And I don't ever cheat with what I log....what's the point? I'm just cheating myself! :o)
  • geetabean
    geetabean Posts: 76
    Be sure he/she is a Registered Dietitian-- that way you can be sure of his/her qualifications.

    All of the ladies that work in the office I will be going to are registered dietitians.

    http://www.healthydietsinc.com/about-healthy-diets-inc.html
  • TKHappy
    TKHappy Posts: 659 Member
    I've always found nutrition interesting since a very young age...wanted to become a nutritionist/personal trainer and open my own office where I could do meal plans and a gym right there for one on one time with clients....unfortunatly my life got in the way and I'm doing bookeeping :)

    My husband has diabetes and is always asking me what he should do, of course when I tell him he doesn't listen....sooo we set up a appointment for him with a certified nutrionist and I laughed when my husband finally told the guy "my wife has been telling me the same things this whole time!"

    I definitely think everyone should have a nutrition consult!! :)
  • HealthyNFit4Life
    HealthyNFit4Life Posts: 185 Member
    I think it is important to go to a registered dietician (different than a nutritionist), especially if you have medical issues, such as diabetes. I'm not minimizing nutritionists by any means, I'm sure there are very knowledgable ones. However, nutritionists don't have as much education and qualifications as registered dieticians. Also, nutritionists usually help with people who want to manage their weight, while dieticians do that, but also help people with certain medication conditions (they can do much more on a macro level, but this is with one to one counseling).
  • Lula16
    Lula16 Posts: 628 Member
    after reading this thread, i made an appointment for myself to see a registered dietician. I have read so many articles and books and MFP, but it gets alittle overwhelming at times
  • downhomechik
    downhomechik Posts: 47
    Are these services covered by your health insurance or is this an out-of-pocket expense?

    Mine was covered under health insurance

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