My last blog was about the characteristics of a successful client. You may have read that post and decided you are ready to be a successful client, and now you are looking for the right guide to support you in your journey to weight loss for the last time. If so, this blog is written for you!
When it comes to your health, particularly weight loss, it's essential you find someone with the skills, experience, and passion to help you succeed.
Read this article to be well-informed and feel confident when choosing your guide to help you love how you look and feel in your body.
What type of guides could you turn to in your journey to lose weight for the last time?
When deciding between different guides to work with, you might need a clearer idea of which kind of professional to choose.
Below, I've outlined the differences between three types of professionals worth considering to see which might be the best fit for you.
Type One: Dietician
Can prescribe meal plans and supplements.
Can "prescribe" a nutrition plan in response to an illness.
Can help someone lose weight quickly before a surgery.
Type Two: Certified Nutrition Coach
Focus is on long-term habits and sustainability.
Acts as a partner and support rather than the dictator of what to do.
Program is flexible and tailored to the individual rather than a pre-set plan.
Type Three: Personal Trainer
Can prescribe workouts.
Often no formal training in nutrition but still might have good knowledge.
Good option if you want to combine 1:1 workouts with nutrition advice.
How should you decide between the various kinds of guides?
Understanding your specific needs will help; as your needs change, the right guide for you can evolve. For example, if you struggle with diabetes, you may want to start with a dietician. Once you have a good handle on what you can and can't eat, you could turn to a Nutrition Coach to help you build easy habits to manage your specific situation successfully.
I recommend you look for someone who has overcome the same obstacles you are facing and has been trained by a credible source.
If you need clarification on whether someone has the proper training and experience with your issue, look at their website or social media, then make sure you ask!
What are you willing to invest (in time and money)?
The time investment in working with a Nutrition Coach can range between 1-6 months. The industry standard cost for a coach is between $200 and $500 a month, depending on the level of interaction.
Healing takes time. Even the best Nutrition Coach can't help you overcome weight loss obstacles in one or two sessions. If there were a quick fix, you would have already found it.
Understanding what is required of you in terms of time and money is vital information to have upfront so that you do not waste either.
So, where do I fit?
I'm not the right guide for everyone, but I do have an offering that is particularly good for peri- and post-menopausal women who have reached a new level of struggle with their weight. My typical client knows a lot about what to eat and how to move their bodies, but in recent years, their usual tactics haven't worked like they used to. They need help tweaking their habits and are looking for a long-term solution that fits their lifestyle.
If you decide to work with me, we will uncover why you are struggling to lose weight on your own and get you unstuck. We will start by discussing the answers to the questions below.
What are your goals?
What have you tried before that didn't work or didn't stick?
What good habits are you already doing?
What strategies are you not currently using that might be easy for you and make a difference?
Then, we test and tweak strategies until we achieve the desired results and you are confident that you can easily maintain them.
Next steps…
Now, it's time for you to find the right guide, and I've drafted some questions for you to ask anyone you consider working with.
What was your experience with my problem, and how did you overcome it?
What training do you have to guide me?
What are the non-flexible rules of your program – what must I do no matter how difficult it is for me to be successful with you?
If I successfully lose weight with your guidance, why should I feel confident I will maintain the weight loss?
Hopefully, you now have confidence in choosing the best guide for you.
Whether you choose me, a dietician, a personal trainer, or another Nutrition Coach, I want you to feel good about your decision and have all your questions answered before you commit.
Julie
P.S. To learn more about my offerings, see this webpage or email me at julie@zoyoga.com to schedule a call.
