Who do you ask?

We are not born knowing what to do.  We learn from those around us, and let's face it that isn't always a good thing.  In general people learn to eat from their parents, habits and patterns that were established while growing up.  Where did their parents learn to eat? Well, from their parents....and on and on and on.  This may not have been such an issue 70 years ago, however with the changing of family dynamics and the advent of convenience foods, things have changed.  And not for the better. 

So where does that leave you? Who do you ask? This question is sometimes easier to answer if we first answer: "Who NOT to ask?"  Number one on my list would be your doctor. Medical doctors (especially GP's) spend anywhere from as little as 2 hours to maybe 2 days on nutrition in medical school.  Most of their education is geared towards dealing with people that have a disease- disease management. Not prevention, not health, not health promotion.  Pharmacology, pathology not nutrition.  Are doctors amazing at what they do? Sure. But nutrition is NOT their area of expertise.  Are there exceptions? Of course there always are, but what does your doctor look like? Overweight, out of shape? And they are going to tell YOU how to lose weight and be healthy??!! To me that is like getting your hair cut from a stylist with REALLY BAD hair!  (only  a thousand times more dangerous since we are talking about your health and not your hair!!!) Yes, I am married to a doctor.  Thankfully he is more the exception than the rule. He is just as passionate about nutrition as I am, following a nutrition plan that brings the exact results he is looking for and following a training plan that does the same.

Speaking of training, the next person you may not want to ask is your personal trainer.  There, I said it.  Yes, I AM a personal trainer.  With a Master's degree in Health Promotion and Education (focus physical activity and nutrition), CISSN, 13 years personal training experience, 15 years of physique competitions (amateur and professional level) and 8 years as a GNC sponsored athlete under my belt I am actually quite knowledgeable in the areas of nutrition and supplementation.  I am also quite familiar with the training and educating of personal trainers.  Most trainers know little about nutrition as they are far more educated in their area of expertise:training- and the acute variables that go along with that...not nutrition.  Again, just like my husband, there are always exceptions check for education, certifications, and experience.


So who else might you find on my list of people not to ask? Registered dietitians.  Yep, thought I heard a few gasps out there..again, there are ALWAYS exceptions.  It has been my experience that most RD's (unless specifically sports trained) have tremendous knowledge regarding clinical settings, acute illness and disease management.  These settings are quite different from sports performance as well as physique improvement.  In addition,  RD's (and doctors too) tend to also advocate things that I would not even consider food. (We will get into that later, I promise)  


No doubt this post is going to ruffle some feathers, but it needed to be said.  Not all doctors, personal trainers or RD's are clueless.  Just be sure yours isn't before you blindly follow their advice.


I get it, you want the answers..but asking someone that doesn't have them is just plain silly.  Remember the analogy of the task at work??? Same thing!!! Taking steps just to take them is a sure way to end up frustrated.


Well, you are still here so I'm assuming you are interested in what advice I have for you regarding your food log and your goals. So let's get to it...next up, what your breakfast is doing for you (or better yet, what it is doing TO you) and what you SHOULD be eating.


For now- asking the RIGHT person = Applause!!!!