So you’re considering making some changes with your eating habits. But every time you start a new plan, something gets in the way or life gets busy. Maybe you tried a new diet, or advice from a friend, or picked up a new book and thought “this is finally the thing for me.” But a few weeks or months later, it feels like that new thing is just not working.
Sound familiar?
Hopefully, these experiences are what led you to seek out some help! You are not alone if it feels like making lasting change is impossible. I’m here to share that you are not alone, and making change is not impossible.
Why see a dietitian?
Many people have health conditions that would benefit from making changes to how they eat. Perhaps your doctor has suggested looking at your diet as part of your treatment plan. Or perhaps you are realizing that the way you currently approach meals isn’t bringing you the joy that you believe it could. Maybe you are tired of dieting, or overwhelmed by the numerous opinions online about how you should eat.
If any of these sound like you, you are in the right place! So here’s a little bit of insight into what we can do when you work with a dietitian.
What to expect from your first visit
Your first appointment is where we will start getting to know each other. I’ll want to know what brought you in to see me, and what challenges you currently face. This is the place to tell me your story. I’m here to listen! Sometimes, it can be difficult to share with someone at first, and that’s okay. I don’t want you to ever feel pressured to disclose anything you don’t want to. Sometimes, people think I just need to hear about what they are eating so I can give them a plan. But there is so much more to uncover about your eating patterns. In order to truly support you in making changes, it helps me to understand what brings you joy, and what leads to discomfort. I’ll want to know what has worked for you in the past, and what hasn’t. Over time we may discover experiences in your life that have impacted your eating patterns today.
At the end of our first visit, I aim to provide all of my clients with a road map forward. This road map is not set in stone, but it will give a sense of where we are going and how we’re going to get there.
Second and ongoing visits
Making change can be hard! This is true for all areas of our life, including nutrition. In our second visit, we’ll address any questions or thoughts that came up after our initial meeting. Then we’ll start to work on the roadmap that I introduced at the end of our first appointment.
Depending on what your goals are, we may start with one or two small changes. I’ll support you in making a plan, and talk through any possible hurdles you might encounter.
Typically, I see clients every 2-3 weeks for the first few sessions. This gives you a chance to implement our plan, and then circle back with me for troubleshooting or to make adjustments. Once you are comfortably working on changes, we sometimes see each other a little less frequently – all depending on where you are in your nutrition journey.
Sometimes, it takes a few visits before we start making active changes. Not everyone is ready to change right away, and sometimes we will talk about why it’s hard for you. I will help you to discover what is holding you back, and we may explore those things together. Sometimes, I’ll suggest other resources or supports that I think would be helpful for you.
How many visits do I need?
Making changes to how we think about food and our bodies takes time. And if you have symptoms that we are trying to resolve (such as constipation or acid reflux), it can take time to see results. In most cases, a minimum of 3-4 sessions is needed to make meaningful and sustainable changes. For those recovering from an eating disorder, it can take months or years of work with your team. Everyone is different and there is no standard amount of support that a person needs.
Ready to book?
If you would like to hear more or are ready to jump in, book a discovery call today – I look forward to working with you.
