5 Ways Online Nutrition Counseling Can Help You Lose Weight
Does your busy lifestyle get in the way of your weight loss goals? Whether you’re overwhelmed with where to start or you’re already making good choices, but not seeing results, learn how a virtual nutritionist may just be your secret weapon.
The days of fad dieting are quickly on their way out.
In today's world, nutrition has become centered around determining what works best for you and your lifestyle. Say “buh bye” to detox diets and food that tastes like cardboard. We’re all unique after all, so why do we subscribe to fad diets and expect the same results we see online?
Statistics show that up to 97% of people who follow diet culture fall off the wagon at some point and regain the weight they lost. Because if you’re struggling to find an approach that aligns with your day-to-day life or the right support system, even your best attempts at changing habits can seem like an uphill battle.
You know that a one-size-fits-all diet doesn’t work. So why would you expect one-size-fits-all nutrition support? I don’t. I believe in meeting you where you are, regardless of where you physically are. Moving from Chicago has pushed me to look at how clients’ needs can be best met virtually.
And while I value the relationship building that tends to come more naturally with in-person sessions, I’ve seen how online nutrition counseling can help with weight loss for my clients.
What is Online Nutrition Counseling?
Online nutrition counseling falls under the umbrella of virtual health care, which can also be known as telehealth. In today’s fast-paced, virtual world, online nutrition counseling is conducted via HIPAA-compliant software that ranges from video conferencing to smartphone video chats, apps and more.
It enables us to take the same technology that bombards us and use it to our advantage.
How Does Online Counseling Work?
Not all dietitians work the same way, but generally, online counseling includes weekly or monthly coaching and guidance from a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).
Get a custom meal plan that fits with your busy life.
My approach is grounded in supporting your health and weight loss goals. We start with an initial consultation, where we meet via video to assess your starting point and goals. Then we chat about your eating habits, food preferences, work/school schedule and relationship with food to help determine a meal plan that fits within your lifestyle.
Then we prioritize your goals together. We break that down short-term and long-term goals into tangible “micro-actions” that you can do without feeling overwhelmed. This enables you to hone in on what and how behind meal choices. Across the initial three-month program, I ask that you track your meals, snacks via Healthie, a photo food logging app. This enables you to get ongoing support between sessions while offering more insight (via feedback and tips from me) into how a meal, recipe or dinner out can be modified.
Note that this is a non-diet approach to weight loss. Many of my clients have worked with a nutritionist or have done a program in the past. They know what that “should and shouldn’t” be doing. My approach is centered around anything and everything can “fit” within your plan. To help you reach your goal, check-in support sessions are scheduled across the three-month period.
This blend of ongoing accountability, skill-building, and newfound knowledge enables you to develop and maintain habits while losing weight.
The Benefits of Online Nutrition Counseling
Working with an RDN in-person may sound ideal, but it's not always feasible. You may not have access to a qualified RDN in your area, or you may simply be seeking an alternative to in-office visits. Such is the nature of our busy lives.
This is where online nutritional counseling becomes the ultimate solution. Despite not being in the same room, online counseling still empowers you to lead the life you’ve always wanted. How?
1. Your Program is Tailored to You
This goes without saying, but every RDN should tailor your nutrition program to your specific body. In addition to the nutritional plan, working with an online nutritionist enables you to tailor the meeting time and how you connect with them to your specific lifestyle.
Whether you’re connecting from your couch, a hotel room in Kalamazoo or in between meetings, having a virtual partner helps you eliminate the big lifestyle blocks that tend to trip us up.
2. Online Counseling is Flexible
Thanks to our ever-evolving technology, your computer screen or smartphone can all be turned into a connection point between you and your virtual RDN.
Plus, if you’re like most of my clients, your availability can change from session to session. Through connecting virtually, you eliminate your commute and constraints that may to get in the way of traditional, in-person counseling.
You find the time each week to prioritize your health and your virtual RDN will work with you to ensure that they’re there to support.
3. You're Held Accountable When it Matters Most
Life gets busy and the balance between work and life can shift in an undesirable way. We’ve all been there and know how hard it feels to maintain a healthy lifestyle during these periods.
Get questions answered no matter where you are.
The beauty of virtual counseling is that it holds you accountable, even during your busiest, most stressful times. Like any other counselor, these are the moments when it’s important to lean on your virtual RDN. Remember, they’re in this with you!
4. You Have a Trusted Resource at Your Fingertips
Having doubts about your progress? Panicking about whether you've eaten something that could completely undo your progress? Not sure what to make for dinner? Whatever the case, your virtual RDN is trained to coach you through this. Even better? You have access to at a moment's notice.
They’re here to answer all your questions on food trends, the best non-animal protein sources, healthy ingredients to add to your pantry, etc. You’ve already made the decision to take control of your health so soak up their knowledge and lean on them as things come up.
5. You Share the Workload
Like any relationship, you get out what you put in. While your RDN won’t cook your meals for you, they will be there to share in the effort.
In other words, when you commit to taking control of your health, they commit to being your support system. Diets don’t work and yo-yoing is a real thing that stems from years of messaging from diet culture that surrounds us. However, with a virtual RDN by your side, you have all the support and knowledge you need.
Gain Control of Your Healthy Lifestyle
Bonus: Puppy therapy. This guy will likely make an appearance at some point during our session :)
Does an online nutrition counselor sound like the solution you’ve been looking for?
Whether it's eating from home, on-the-road during work travel or dining out with friends, I provide weight loss support that aligns with you and your lifestyle
If you’re ready to learn more and commit to your health journey through one-on-one virtual coaching, let’s connect!