Will I be working with a registered dietitian?
Whether trying to lose weight or merely develop a healthier lifestyle, working with a registered dietitian in Gilbert, Arizona often helps people push through whatever level at which they feel "stuck." The reason so many people end up keeping a pair of "fat" jeans stashed away is that they don't know how to eat healthy and so they end up cycling through phases of fad dieting peppered with periods of uncontrolled eating—neither of which is healthy. In order to lose weight, keep it off, and maintain a healthy lifestyle, it's important to get on a nutrition program that fits your needs.
Registered dietitans are licensed professionals who have done more than merely complete a program or take a test: registered dietitians have completed years of education, received a bachelor degree from an accredited university, completed an accredited internship program, passed a national examination, and still continue to pass continuing education requirements—just like medical professionals. These dietitian professionals know the difference between fad dieting and healthy dieting and will offer their clients personalized diet advice designed to help them achieve and maintain their health goals.
Contrary to popular belief, registered dietitians are trained to work with people from a variety of backgrounds—they are not meant to help only with obesity or with people suffering from other health problems. According to the American Dietetic Association, anyone "nutritionally challenged" can benefit from working with a registered dietitian; this list can include anyone from diabetes patients to nursing mothers to people merely wanting to know how to read a nutrition label in the grocery store. In fact, in a survey done by the American Dietetic Association in 2008, 52% of respondents claimed they don't eat healthier because they "need more practical tips" and 41% claimed they don't eat healthier because they "don't know or understand the guidelines for diet and nutrition." With such high numbers of admittedly nutrition-ignorant people, it's no wonder the United States is seeing an ever-increasing number of overweight and obese citizens.
This is why it's so important for people concerned about their health to obtain the help of registered dietitians as well as exercise and fitness experts. While exercise may help clients increase cardiovascular strength, tone muscles, and possibly even maintain or lose weight, it's possible to look great, have a strong heart, and still live an unhealthy lifestyle. Remember, there's more to healthy living than looking great at the beach.
There's no need to hold on to that pair of "fat" jeans stuck in the corner of your closet nor is there any need to cycle through every fad diet that comes along. Registered dietitians in Mesa, AZ know what your body needs and will work with you to develop a plan that not only provides your nutritional needs but your lifestyle and "taste" needs as well.