Nutrition Coaching

What is a nutrition coach? Since nutrition coach isn't a regulated title in Michigan or in most of the United States, pretty much anyone can call themselves a nutrition coach. The good and ethical ones will have some form of training and certification, though training and certification programs vary greatly in quality as well. 

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I (Lynda Gronlund) am certified through Precision Nutrition (Level 1) and working toward certification through the Nutrition Coaching Institute. 

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A nutrition coach is not a Registered Dietician, and as such cannot prescribe certain foods or meal plans to treat diseases. What a coach CAN do is help people with accountability; teach skills (such as cooking or meal prep); help an individual choose the right path for their unique life, tastes, and goals; troubleshoot issues; cultivate a healthy and balanced relationship with food; assist with unwanted emotional eating; and facilitate forming everyday habits that will serve the individual better than any strict meal plan that becomes obsolete the moment it comes into conflict with the person's actual daily life. 

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Hate cooking? Let's find some ways to minimize needing to. Don't want to track food intake? Let's find the least irritating and easiest way that works for you to make and track changes without it becoming a huge burden. Always reach for the chocolates when stressed out? Let's find some other ways to cope with stress and to not let it build up to the point where your mind shuts off and you feel out of control. 

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I believe in balance when it comes to nutrition, which means not forbidding any food (unless you're allergic to it or it otherwise makes you feel unwell), and using the 80 / 20 rule where 80% of the foods and meals you choose are conducive toward your goals and the other 20% are more about enjoyment, while maintaining moderation. This minimizes the restrict / binge cycle that so many of us get caught up in and that is so harmful to our health. I believe in small, sustainable changes which have been proven to work better than the all-or-nothing extreme diets many people think is their only option. I know that every person is different. While someone may be incredibly excited about keto and the low-carb lifestyle and have no problem doing it long term, another person may find it miserable and even that it tanks their energy and ability to perform their daily tasks, let alone exercise. While a single person might do great with a particular set of habits, a busy working parent may have completely different considerations. A woman reaching perimenopause may find that what has worked for her entire adult life no longer serves her, and might need help figuring out her best "new normal." Whatever the situation, my goal is to help you figure out what works best for you, and to help you implement it in a way you're happiest with. That doesn't mean that nutritional change is easy or doesn't take sustained effort. Like anything worth doing, of course it does. But we can often find ways that are less taxing and more suited to your situation, resulting in less frustration and more positive change.  

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Want to see how nutrition coaching can help you? Schedule a free half-hour nutrition conulstation with me here (or email or call to schedule).