What is it like to work with a Functional Nutritionist?
The answers to all the questions you might be asking!
Picture this: you’ve just finished dinner and like most nights, you’re lounging on the couch about to turn on a streaming service when you realize the bloating is happening again. You finally are fed up enough you start searching for answers on the internet to why you are bloated all the time. Instead of answers, what you end up with is a deep spiral of despair and a $100 worth of supplements that some influencer convinced you would work (spoiler: they won’t).
Get your sanity back and get your life back because a functional nutritionist can help!
Nutritionists work with you one-on-one to create a customized plan that fits your body's unique needs and goals. You are not the same as an influencer and you do have different needs and preferences.
I spend most of our time researching nutrition, testing it out in real life, going through it myself (girl’s gotta eat), looking into the psychology behind food, and investigating practical behavior change, all so I can support YOU.
Have you ever worked with a coach before? Even a soccer coach when you were 5 and spent the entire practice picking daisies in the field?
If you nodded yes, then you know exactly how powerful and effective the coaching process can be!
And if you nodded no, then you’re in for a treat whenever you do have the ability and time to invest in coaching. Especially if you’re able to find a coach that understands where you are now and where you want to go, and can build you the bridge to get there efficiently.
Why do I refer to myself as a coach and a nutritionist? Coaching is a huge part of the nutrition process because it isn’t just knowing what to eat, it is making it work for your life and for your goals. I love to integrate this into everything I do.
What is a Functional Nutritionist?
First, let’s talk about the word ‘nutritionist’.
There are many different versions of this, but in Washington State, a Certified Nutritionist is a Master’s-level nutrition professional who meets stringent criteria to practice nutrition professionally. A Certified Nutrition Specialist has passed a board exam and has supervised clinical hours before getting certified. The importance of these distinctions is that when it comes to looking at nutrition professionals that can help you, it’s important to check backgrounds and education to see what fits your needs best. By the way I have both of those things, a CN and a CNS.
A dietitian specializes in medical nutrition therapy, but I think of a nutritionist as a holistic provider who takes into account your environment, wellbeing, and other determinants of health. The “functional” term means that I utilize different tools at my disposal including amazing labs like microbiome tests, complete hormone panels, and neurotransmitter labs, to help get to the root of what is driving your symptoms. All this being said, when choosing a provider it really comes down to who is a good fit for you. If a shaman living on a Himalayan mountainside is what will help you then by all means, go for it.
Who should work with a Functional Nutritionist?
Clients work with a nutritionist when they are stuck in one place too long, are frustrated with their symptoms like constant bloating, anxiety, fatigue, and intense PMS symptoms.
When you work with a Functional Nutritionist you will work together on creating an effective Health and Wellness Plan that works for your unique needs and lifestyle.
Together with your nutritionist, you will learn what habits and foods work best for your body and your unique physiology. We work together to integrate it into your life and build a foundation that serves you for the long term. This means less frustration and more confidence in your ability to feel good for years to come!
Here are some other signs that it might be time to hire a Functional Nutritionist…
You're dealing with symptoms that are interfering with your life
You've found yourself saying "It’ll get better eventually" but it’s not
You search for answers, try different diets, but you still don’t feel good
You're not confident in how to eat, because it feels like nothing helps no matter what you try
You know that nothing will change unless you have someone or something to be accountable to
Nearly everyone can benefit from a nutritionist if they’re looking to get answers on what foods work for them and will help them feel better.
What is it like to work with a Nutritionist?
The nuts and bolts of it: I accept different insurance plans in Washington State. I’m in network with Aetna, First Choice, Regence, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Coverage varies plan to plan, check out the FAQs for a list of questions to ask your insurance provider.
If you are out-of-state or are experiencing a lack of quality coverage, I have custom options based on your needs. My 3-month package comes complete with discounts and regular sessions to get to the heart of your nutrition wellness plan. If you have more detailed needs or like to go low and slow, the 6 month package is for you.
In my experience of working with 200+ clients over the years, I’ve found that 12 private sessions is the optimal amount in order to get maximum results from our time together. That being said, needs change as lives evolve so I have seen clients for years!
The cadence of visits can vary person to person but my clients choose to meet with me 1x/week or 2x/week to start as we build their plan and then we do monthly check in sessions.
During our time together, my clients are collaborators in their care. I don’t believe in handing down a set of things you have to do but instead we work together to identify what will make the biggest impact for your health.
My clients leave each session with a list of action items and a clearly defined set of next steps and everything from grocery lists and recipes to mindfulness exercises so that nothing is left to chance.
As a nutritionist, it is my responsibility to manage the progress of my clients. That could be everything from feeling better to seeing improvements on lab work to navigating the grocery store and meal times with ease.
Working with a Functional Nutritionist is going to accelerate the rate at which you achieve your health goals in a fun, straight-forward and productive way.
How does Functional Nutrition work?
Nutrition coaching begins with a comprehensive one hour intake where we will dig into exactly what’s been going on in your life up until this moment and how your history, lifestyle, and food preferences all align and then we visualize where you want to go.
Some of the topics addressed in your first call will include:
What’s been working, what hasn’t been working, what are your pain points, what is your relationship to food, are there things you’ve been thinking about or small things that we can start integrating?
From there, your nutritionist is responsible for clarifying the end result and then reverse-engineering the best path forward.
After your first session, you will be given some initial assignments, recipes, or ideas to get started on.
You’ll also begin tracking your success metrics right away and then each week, we will review the most effective strategies that have been implemented.
Clients should be able to message their nutritionist in between sessions for support, review, inspo, and encouragement.
How can you find the right Nutritionist for your health and wellness goals?
When you’re looking for a Nutritionist, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll be working very closely with this person for many months, perhaps even the better part of a year (up to multiple years), so it’s vital that you hire someone that you can trust and that you vibe with.
Most nutritionists and dietitians will offer a Free Discovery Call so that you can speak with them and see if there’s a good fit and a strong connection between you (or not!).
Some other things to keep in mind when looking for a Functional Nutritionist…
What types of Core Values do you hold when it comes to health and does your Nutritionist have similar values? Don’t be afraid to ask! If you believe in Health at Every Size but your coach does weekly weigh-ins you need to find someone else.
It’s ok to interview 2 or 3 nutritionists and dietitians before making a decision. Not all nutrition professionals have the same ‘coaching style’ which is why it’s important to meet with a few coaches before making a selection. For example, my coaching style blends humor with nutrition science in a fun, approachable way but I understand that’s not for everyone or some might not appreciate all of my food puns (trust me, there are a lot).
What is your budget? Some nutritionists are in-network and some don’t take insurance. You can always call your insurance to verify your coverage first!
Do you need to work with someone in a similar location to you: perhaps you’re looking for a Functional Nutritionist that understands the cost of living and groceries in Seattle, WA (aka a Functional Nutritionist in Seattle, Washington) or perhaps location doesn’t matter for you!
What else can a Functional Nutritionist do for you?
Nutrition is an ever-evolving landscape, and it’s important that you choose a Nutritionist who can teach you the science behind food and your unique needs so that you can apply it for years to come. Think of it as tools and techniques to learn for yourself so you get to know your body!
In addition, you want to ensure that your Functional Nutritionist has a variety of proven tools that they use and implement with their clients.
For example, is your Functional Nutritionist skilled in areas like…
Health at Every Size
Weight-inclusive and trauma-informed care
Functional labwork
Effective supplementation
Nutrient deficiencies
Mental health nutrition
Gut Health nutrition
Recipes, meal prep, tips and tricks to help make nutrition work for you!
Finally, a skilled nutritionist can give you the confidence to break out of your current rut and actually hit a new level in your health and wellness.
There is nothing that compares to having a personalized plan created specifically for success in your unique life, and having someone who can guide you through it every step of the way.
Have you been thinking about working with a Functional Nutritionist?
Are you feeling overwhelmed when it comes to food, wellness, and nutrition? Do you feel like you're not sure where to start or what to do next?
If so, working with a Functional Nutritionist may be the right solution for you.
Nutritionists can help you create a plan and give you guidance every step of the way. They can also help you stay on track and keep accountable to hitting the big goals that you’ve set for yourself this year.
If you want to explore how a Functional Nutritionist can help you to reach your goals, consider scheduling a Discovery Call with Lisa here >>
If you have health and wellness goals, you know that there's always more to learn when it comes to finding the foods that work for you and help you feel better.
That's where functional nutritionists can come in handy - they can help you learn what works and what doesn't, and guide you in the right direction. Stop searching online and stop guessing!
