Adults
Let Me Be Your Guide.
Adult Nutrition
As a long-standing member of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a large part of my career has been spent providing in-depth nutrition counseling to adults of all ages for a variety of disease states.
These include Gastrointestinal Issues, Pre-Diabetes, Diabetes, Eating Disorders, Cardiovascular Disease, Obesity, PCOS and many more. The good news is that “Medical Nutrition Therapy” is covered by a variety of insurance companies and you can be assured that I will try my best to obtain reimbursement for you for my services. In your initial 90-minute Tele-Health session, you will receive the following:
- Review and interpretation of current blood work
- Comprehensive assessment of food intake; not just “calories” but important nutrients related to your medical condition.
- Helpful handouts and website links
- A personalized “Menu Option” Meal Plan honoring your preferences, limitations and featuring “brand name” foods
- A written “Summary Report” of points covered in your session which can be faxed to your physician
Weight Journeys
This is a constant concern for most Americans and even though obesity rates continue to increase, programs that promise instant results by eliminating one food group or another are still receiving your hard-earned money and time.
Science increasingly suggests that most diets are at best ineffective, and often, can be harmful, promoting a cycle of restriction and indulgence for a lifetime of struggle without lasting change.
Seeking help from a registered dietitian for a more individualized, scientific, evidence-based approach is certainly a step in the right direction. It is fortunate that insurance providers have recognized that obesity is a disease that contributes to many other disease states and that we live in an age where treatment methods such as bariatric surgery and weight loss medications offer hope and verified weight loss and maintenance. Also, health care professionals are recognizing the need to set more realistic goals and to focus more on positive health-oriented behaviors and body images.
My philosophy is to first and foremost, present the facts about various approaches that might suit you at this point in your life. I will be your guide for the continuation of your journey whatever way you choose. In advance of your initial session, you will complete both a weight and nutrition history form and a food log using an online application or form that I will provide. Your latest blood work will also be sent and reviewed at this time. Based on results from this data and with a careful analysis of your personal goals and expectations, possible paths will be suggested from the following approaches:
- “Calorie Awareness”: Food logging using MyFitnessPal with a focus on the nutritional aspects of your current eating and what your actual caloric intake is that is either helping you maintain, gain or lose weight.
- “Non-Diet/Mindful Eating”: Technique oriented approach with handouts from the “Discover Mindful Eating Workbook” by Magrette Fletcher, MSRD. Focus will be on giving up dieting and restriction and on how to listen to your body’s signals of hunger and fullness levels to decide whether to eat or not. Special Non-Diet Food Logs will be provided. Giving up use of your home scale is a possible requirement.
- Bariatric Surgery: Discover whether you might be a good candidate and receive education through websites and scientific studies about this approach which is the future of “obesity medicine” due to its proven track record of significant weight loss and maintenance.
- Medication-Assisted Weight Loss & Maintenance: Like bariatric procedures, anti-obesity medications are one component of a strategy which may include multiple interventions. Education will be given as to newer FDA-medications being prescribed by obesity medicine physicians and clinically based obesity programs. Unfortunately, most of these medications are not covered by insurance and can be costly. Also, studies have shown that results produce modest weight loss of 5-10%. However, when used in conjunction with a more holistic medical and lifestyle approach, weight loss and maintenance can be enhanced, especially following bariatric surgery or any larger weight loss experience.
