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You made an appointment, now what...

Admin
May 20, 2017
5 min read

This post is a short educational post regarding what it looks like to have an appointment with a consulting dietitian, such as myself. This question I found, runs through many clients heads prior to booking with me. Other questions I know run through their head include, “what can you do for me that diet xyz cannot? My family is super difficult, what makes you think you can help me? Or I tried red, blue, and green diets with little success, I gained all my weight back, so what can you do differently for me?” All of these are great questions. Unfortunately for me and my colleagues, ones which arise due to the mass amounts of people and junk out there promising quick fixes and creating “one-size-fits-all” dietary approach. The individuals, magazines, books, and websites portraying nutritional gurus have muddle up the field, leaving the dietitians to pick up the pieces and regain your trust. In fact, a lot of what I do is plead with you to trust me, and undo what you have been taught! There have been numerous clients who did not believe what I had designed for them, and instead, decide to keep following the unfruitful path they were currently taking, which could range anywhere from hunger pains and plenty of repetition, to eating out and loss of control. So even though there are plenty of questions to be answered, I want to answer what does it look like to have an appointment with me which accidentally answers the question what does it look like to work with a dietitian.

First of all, I like to find out just what service has peaked your interest. After discussing whether you want education, continuing support and accountability along with meal plans, or just meal plans with none of the other stuff, I begin to assess you. One of my main goals is to assess you without you knowing I am assessing you. I do this by getting to know you and listening to what you do not say. Busy mom? I can see it when you walk in the door and sigh deeply, barely making your appointment, in between all the other activities and items you have on your agenda. Skeptical Sally? I can tell by how you cross your arms and the questions you ask. The list goes on to the different aspects I plug into your assessment without actually even starting the written questions. Then we get to the basics. Name, contact information, and all the other boring stuff you regurgitate every time you are in the presence of any medical clinic or professional. I also ask questions which to you seem odd and pointless. “What time do you wake up? What does your work schedule look like? How much time do you have for lunch? Do you commute? How many children do you have? What ages and are they picky eaters? How much do you cook or how much do you NOT want to cook? Do you currently meal plan, if so what are you doing?” The last one really clues me into what you currently believe about food and healthy nutrition planning. Again, all of these questions may seem more than pointless to you, but I am piecing together your lifestyle. Food is something we cannot live without, so in order for me to do my job effectively, I NEED to know everything. This folks, is why a dietitian is more than just someone tooting the "one-size-fits-all" diet fix. We take everything into account, said and unsaid. By doing this, we know how to create a meal plan that is not only doable, but helps to reach your goals reasonably and efficiently. No, you will not lose 40 pounds in two months on the plan I create, BUT you will develop a lifestyle which you thought was out of your grasp and much more difficult. AND your goals, one at a time will be checked off your list. Burnout is less likely and rebelling against your diet a lot less likely to happen. Because in the process of improving your nutrition you realize how much better you feel, how much money you save, and how attainable healthy eating can be for you, one step at a time.

So, after I have gathered all the information I can about you, I either "edu-tain" you (educate and entertain, because I hate boring) about what to do with your condition and where you currently are in life, or I send you on your way so I can busy myself with creating a meal plan for your family/self. The first appointment with me can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the client and what you are seeking. Education takes more time than assessments and meal plans, because I want to make sure you get it. Nothing is more frustrating than having a condition or chornic illness such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or celiac disease and being told to manage it with diet. “What the heck does that mean? What is going on with my body? Who has time for that?!” As for my continuing clients, each session we discuss hurdles, meal plan wins and fails and measure their progress. If our appointment is a follow-up, well… I won't bother you with that, you know what I do if that’s the case!

Dietitians are a wealth of knowledge in regards to food. I joke and say we are licensed to talk about food. But we are trained in so much more. Most of us try to practice what we preach and have our own healthy lifestyle goals. I am uncertain about other dietitians, but as for me, I am realistic. I want to meet you where you are and move you to the next step. No one has enough willpower to change everything about themselves overnight, and not completely backslide at some point. Instead, one step at a time, constant progress, never standing still is my desire for you. I know you are busy. I know you have a lot going on in your life which takes you away. I know kids are picky. I know you are tired at the end of the day. I know finances are stretched. But, do not compare my degree and profession to what you read in a magazine, heard from a friend, or got from Dr. Google, or Dr. Oz for that matter.

Let me gain your trust, for I will do everything I can to help you succeed.

Facts not fear. Facts not fads.

Much Love,