There is an old and well-known proverb “We are what we eat”. It has a broader meaning that
we need to eat right as food nourishes, heals both mind and body. But knowing and doing are
two different things, especially in the age of social media. Our eating is not considered today
for our better version but gets considered to look better as compared to someone else.
Term Dietitian, Diet, Nutrition therapy, Meal Plan are limited to body weight. It could be
because of influencers’ social media account, health magazines which are loaded with body
images that are portrayed as idealistic/symbol of perfection in current society. And
unfortunately bigger picture of achieving Holistic Health or Health as per the definition of
the World Health Organization is ignored or missed out for the sake of small screen selfie
picture.
Here is my attempt to help you understand what one should expect from a qualified
Dietitian/ Nutrition Health coach, to benefit maximum from her/his knowledge and
experience. In books based on a positive mindset, it's mostly said: “expectations bring
disappointments”. But I feel wrong expectation brings unhappiness and not expectation itself.
‘How to expect rightly’ can not come in one single Quote line, right knowledge about a person
or object or project is very important.
I have tried putting this knowledge about Diet counselling and Planning into the following
points for easier understanding:
- After understanding your body composition analysis/body type/measurements, current
eating & lifestyle pattern/ routine, checking out medical reports if any; Dietitian understands
where is your current health status.
- In-depth counselling session includes discussion and planning about the right goal, required
lifestyle changes, nutrition principles that need to apply and customized meal plan.
- Mean plans are based on food that anyways gets prepared at your kitchen with the right
food portion, proportion, combination to be eaten at the right timing. Qualified Dietitian gives
plans based on goal and not on diet brand/trends.
- Daily monitoring, weekly review and constant support as per program duration are the USP.
What To Expect:
# 2 Months:
- For anyone, it's a stepping stone to start a fitness journey.
***Who gets disciplined with the suggested meal plan, lifestyle and habits corrections can
start observing improvement like...
- Overweight person can lose 2 to 5 kg extra body fat weight.
- Underweight person who also does weight training exercises can gain 2 to 5 kg muscle mass.
- Those who have a hormonal imbalance or digestion trouble can see relief in related signs and
symptoms e.g reduction in hyper-acidity, flatulence. In PCOS, a girl can get her long due
menstrual cycle, reduction in bloating and body swelling, and also can observe facial skin glow.
- A person having a chronic metabolic issues like IBS, gall stones, gout etc gets this period for
healing by eating therapeutically right and metabolically comfortable food.
- Conditions like osteoporosis, anaemia and life stages like pregnancy, lactation, childhood
developmental stage, etc. can get their increased requirements of nutrition.
** *Few find it difficult to start adopting to new/ corrected/ healthier meal plan, lifestyle and
habits, but for them: process of coaching helps to improve their outlook towards food, exercise
and healthier habits.
- They can start observing a reduction in food cravings, hunger pangs and laziness.
- They get awareness about healthier choices.
- Slowly they get comfortable with the process.
# 4 Months:
- Now it's easy to follow a healthy lifestyle and habits.
- Start noticing improvement at physiology e.g. improvement in hba1c, lipid profile, visceral
fat; menstrual cycles start getting on track, medication dosage can get reduced
- Learn more about principles of food, nutrition and exercise.
- Who is overweight or obese can lose 6 to 10kg extra body fat weight and inch loss becomes
noticeable.
- Who is underweight and does weight training exercise can gain 6 to 10 kg muscle mass (
vary with age & gender).
- Strength and stamina improve.
# 6-8 Months:
- If someone remains focused on this program, he or she starts embracing fitness as their
mission.
- At this stage, an overweight person reaches their ideal weight and an obese person can
reduce up to 15 to 20 kg extra body fat weight.
- Now underweight female should focus on improving strength and optimal nutrition while
male can start enjoying muscle hypertrophy and strength.
- Medications if any either their numbers get reduced or their dosages get reduced and there
are chances that your physician will appreciate your healthy lifestyle by looking at your
surprising improvement in medical reports.
- Few have also shared that they are experiencing mental strength as it truly said mind and
body are interlinked.
# 1 year:
- As per human cell study, it takes a total of 365 days to complete the cellular cycle of full
body, now it's time to start seeing healthy miracles in body and mind.
- That why people transform themselves into the extremely fit body after 1 year of continuing
this process.
**** But if they discontinue the disciplinary healthy lifestyle they get back to the stage from
where they had started. It is the same like we stop getting money when we stop working for it.
And go bankrupt if starts spending more money than having. Consistency in healthy habits is
essential in every area.
I am sure by now you must have acquired the right knowledge that counselling with
Dietitian/ Nutrition & Health coaching is a process/ journey of learning and acquiring
healthy habits for a lifetime, create transformation towards Holistic Health and not look at it
as just a weight loss-weigh gain or spot reduction slimming plan.
The bigger picture is that we can develop a mind and body that gives sound sleep at night,
that prevents both communicable as well as non-communicable diseases, that recovers
faster from diseases if occurs, ages gracefully and helps to do trekking/swimming/skiing
even at life’s second inning.
Disclaimer : This blog is informative, its application must be done under the guidance of a health professional.