Fitday Articles: What You Can Expect from FitDay Dietitian

Fitday Articles

What You Can Expect from FitDay Dietitian
Jan 7th 2013, 17:58
Yes, you read that correctly. FitDay Dietitian. FitDay is now offering a brand new service that connects you to your own personal Registered Dietitian!

I bet you have a bunch of questions running through your head right now: do I actually need to work with a dietitian? What is a dietitian? How could I benefit from this type of service? Is this service really worth it?

As a dietitian myself, I wanted to walk you through the process of working with one of us.

Tell Me Everything

The first question I always ask is "What do you want to get out of today's meeting?" Goals are always different and so are expectations. It's important for me to understand both of these. When clients talk to dietitian, it's very important that they are honest and upfront. Holding back information (for example, purposefully not mentioning foods you regularly eat) only hurts you in the end. Dietitians are not there to judge you. I can honestly say that I've never met a dietitian that hasn't truly cared about helping others to be healthier--that's why many of us went into this profession to begin with.

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Dietitians look at everything you do. Not just the food you eat, but your entire lifestyle. They'll ask you question after question, taking the time to really get to know you as a whole person to help you determine what the best plan is for you.

Calculating What's Right for You


It's common for me to pull out my calculator during appointments. I almost always laugh and tell clients that you'll never meet a dietitian without a calculator. This is because dietitians personalize every client's recommendation. There is no set calorie, carbohydrate, protein, fats, or fluids levels for every person. There are some general guidelines that one can follow, but dietitians will calculate based off of your height, weight, activity level, health, and goals to determine what your specific nutrient needs are.

The Client Sets the Goal

Having the client involved in the process of setting goals is essential. I could just tell you what to do, but when you're a part of setting your goal you know if it's the right fit for you. It's up to you to decide what to work on, what's realistic, and what's achievable. Your dietitian will then make sure your goals are taking you in the right direction and are challenging you.

The More, the Better

I've found that the more you're able to work with a dietitian, the better. When you follow up with your dietitian they're able to see what your progress looks like. They can understand the challenges you may be facing in meeting your goals. They can hear about the successes too. And then they can help you figure out where to go from here--do you need more education, new goals, strategies to deal with temptations? Your dietitian can fine tune your plan to ensure that you achieve long-term success.

Why Don't More People Consult a Dietitian?

With all the benefits of working with a private health coach, you may be wondering why more people don't see a dietitian? Quite simply: it's expensive. An initial consultation may cost upwards of $125, with each additional appointment costing $100. Plus, insurance often won't cover it.

Which brings us back to FitDay Dietitian.

FitDay created the service to make it affordable for everyone to work with a dietitian. Regardless of economic circumstance, everyone deserves the chance to lead healthy lives.

If you have any questions about the Dietitian service, I'm always available to answer your questions at dietitian@fitday.com.


Katherine Sarbu, MS, RD, NASM-CPT, WLS is FitDay's Nutrition Service Manager. Katherine has a B.S. in Foods & Nutrition from San Diego State University, as well as a M.S. in Exercise Science & Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania. Her ambition to have a comprehensive wellness background has led her to become both a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She has worked extensively with clients on meeting their weight and wellness goals in various settings. She has a particular interest in the fields of weight management, disordered eating, and preventative health and wellness.



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