It’s an email that broke my heart. One of my college besties — one of those people that you can go months or years without seeing or talking to and STILL feel like they’re part of your soul — emailed me with an SOS.
She had a (beautiful!) baby 8 months ago, who is happy, healthy and the light of her life.
And while she’s lost more than 30 pounds since giving birth (an amazing feat, huh?) she’s heavier than she’d like to be, and she’s not sure what to do first.
She’s been going to the gym as often as she can, 4-5 times a week, and worked with a trainer for 10 weeks of boot camp. She went to the gym before baby, so she’s not a newbie to weights or classes, but she has less time than she used to. She has been eating 1,200-1,4000 calories six days a week, with one “cheat” day.
Despite all of this, the weight is not coming off, her clothes fit differently, and she’s having a hard time dealing with her new body.
She just had a fitness evaluation at the gym. After taking her height, weight and body measurements and doing a series of fitness tests (including body fat), they told her that she does have a significant amount of weight to lose.
But she also struggles with poor eating habits, and knows that even if she goes to the gym and works out, her food may derail any success she could have. (Note: she doesn’t eat junk food, per se, but eats a lot of processed diet-y foods and probably doesn’t have a great balance of proteins/carbs/fats.)
SO, she has to choose between two options — it’s too expensive to do both (at least at the same time).
Possible options:
- Personal training including written workouts, actual sessions with a trainer, evaluations every six weeks and weigh-ins. (just her)
OR
- Working with a nutritionist to focus on whole grains, whole foods and the proper calories for their family. (her and her husband)
Challenges:
- limited time because of the baby
- she works full time
- budget
She is willing to put in the time and effort and SOME money.
So now, my loyal readers — help me help her. I have an opinion, but I’d love to get yours, too. What would you advise my friend to do first? Any words of wisdom or personal experience?
About Katy
I would go with the nutritionist first. I think it’s so so important to be educated on whole foods and what fuels your body right so you CAN work out and have energy to lose weight. And what science shows is eating healthier makes a big impact on weight loss – this way, she’ll be making a “lifestyle” change instead of just dieting and filling up on possible diet foods (i have no actual idea what she’s eating, this is just what i’ve seen in the past from people) that are filled with artificial sweeteners/ingredients. One thing that stands out to me is the amount of calories she’s consuming – she might be at a standstill because she’s not consuming enough – especially if she’s going to the gym and possibly still breast feeding.
::steps off soap box::
I hope she figures something out!
I think the problem is she isn’t eating enough calories. 1200-1400 calories is not enough for most people as a baseline not to mention adding in extra exercise. The metabolism will slow down when too little calories are consumed because the body saves all the energy it can to operate properly. I think if she increased her calories with whole foods (not processed foods) she would actually lose weight. I should mention that I am a Nutrition Specialist and work with nutrition clients all day long.
Kelly recently posted..brunettes have more fun
^ This!
I lost weight eating 1200-1400/per day plus exercise for well over a year. Eventually my body just rebelled and I stopped losing. After some discussion with nutritionists, I added in more strength training and increased my calories to 1600-1800. Now I’m down 10 lbs from October and I have so much more energy.
I 100% agree, and I also feel like if she’s not a newbie to the gym thing and can get to the classes without a trainer, then a nutritionist would be way more worth it!
Ari @ Ari’s Menu recently posted..Inspired
that number jumped out at me as well! i had the same experience as kelly did with restriction: i lost weight for a few months, then could not sustain it.
truly, whereas i used to revel in feeling hungry because i thought that meant that i was losing lbs right then, i learned that starvation mode was actually causing my body to hang onto everything i’d then eat, rather than metabolizing it. so i now eat often (to satisfaction rather than fullness) with the goal of never feeling hungry.
it wasn’t until i stopped banning bread and all kinds of stereotypically “off-limits” food items, telling myself ( i think this was half of it) that i COULD have them if i wanted, and eating pro-actively, that i found a sustainable (almost 3 years now), lower weight. i ‘d call it a metabolic and mental reset!
just my experience but as a person who was obsessed with food and weight for 13+ years, i am hoping i can help someone else get out of that mode!
my specific suggestion, though, since that was what you asked for, would be that running shoes are a heck of a lot cheaper and more time-efficient than a trainer!
hillary biscay recently posted..Wedding Recap, Part 4: Pre-Game Show!
I can’t wait to hear what you would advise…I think the food is most important, but only if she is able to do some fitness work on her own. Please send her hugs from me…I know whereof she speaks!
Lynna recently posted..2011 in blog posts…
I think she needs to relax and cut herself some slack. As my doctor said, your body grows and changes for nine months, you can’t expect it to go back to normal in three! As a rule of thumb, you should give yourself a whole year after birth before you actively try to do something about it. It’s the problem with all the people magazines that show you the stars’”body back after baby” and make you think that that’s normal and that you’re a slob. Of course I think eating well is important anytime, so she should probably work on that and leave the trainer stuff for later.
I’d spend the money on a good nutritionist. It sounds like she has a relatively solid grasp on exercise, but there’s no amount of exercise that can outweigh less than stellar food choices. I think if she’s able to keep up with working out on her own, the nutritionist will likely give her the results she’s seeking. Just my two cents though – it’s such a personal decision.
Amanda recently posted..Baked BBQ Chickpeas
Focus on the food. I stand by the old saying that weight loss is “80 percent food and 20 percent exercise”. When I really started taking a better look at what I was eating, that’s when the pounds melted off.
The workouts she can do on her own with some research, some good workout DVDs and good friends like you to motivate her.
Alicia from Poise in Parma recently posted..GIVEAWAY: Stock Your Pantry with Whole Foods Market Cedar Center
Agreed! Having the body you want is 80% nutrition and 20% workouts. Give up the diet-y packaged foods, stick to whole foods, lots of protein, good fats, and lower carbs. It’s more work than buying packages, but the rewards are worth it. It’s a good time to show her child what being healthy is all about.
J @ Ess and Jae V2.0 recently posted..Protein Power!
Since she is not a newbie to the gym, why not hire an online personal trainer? Much cheaper than in person. That would give her the workouts she needs and then she can spend the rest of her money on a nutritionist.
I do also believe she may not be eating enough.
Glenneth recently posted..Tons of Birthday Fun!
Non-Mother but fitness person speaking…. It sounds like she has workouts down pat.
1) She needs to consider that post-baby body is going to be different. Can she lose weight? From what you write about her, she has been told yes. However, her body shape may never be the exact same again post-baby. I think part of her journey means learning to love the new “you.” You meaning her of course.
2) From all accounts diet seems to play an even larger role than the fitness element. Diet is everything. So I think if she had to put her resources only in one place it would be with nutrition counseling or at least changes to her current diet.
(And on the fitness route, for time-wise I know a lot of moms invest in a home gym or workouts.)
Holly recently posted..Not Enough Hours in a Day
I’d go with the nutritionist, as from what I hear food is something like 80% of the equation. I do know that’s how I lost my excess weight and the exercise then helped tone things up. Also, if you start with the food you feel better working out and I find it easier to do it as well. I have more energy and inclination. I’ll be sending your friend positive thoughts!
Emily recently posted..The One Handed Mexican-ish Salad
The nutritionist might be a great step, especially since she’s done personal training. Reformer pilates is also excellent, and will help tighten up all those core muscles and organs that naturally get stretched during pregnancy. It’s great core work, and makes a huge impact on strength and how you look!
Karolina recently posted..Wellness Wednesday: {Stress Management Part 2- Eustress}
Nutrition!
You can’t out train a poor diet
Abs are made in the kitchen
80% food, 20% exercise
Even before reading the comments I thought: NUTRITION! (and now realize I’m not the only one)
Having a good nutrition knowledge will help her AND her family even as their dedication to fitness ebbs and flows as it often will. Fuel right first, then see how badass fuelling right makes you with your fitness goals.
Kristen (inspiredbydooce) recently posted..runner’s high
I’ve been working out with a personal trainer for years, and while my body fat percentage goes down and my muscle mass goes up, I don’t generally lose weight.
So, if she wants to lose weight…I’d go with the nutritionist since she’s already working out because as they say…eating is 80% of weight loss.
I know it’s my biggest problem.
Paula @ Eat: Watch: Run recently posted..Things I Do While Sitting on My Butt
I would say to go with the nutritionist first. She can always go online for workouts, but I think (personally) it’s better to get the food in check with guidance and support.
Nicole (Making Good Choices) recently posted..Social Media: Using Twitter, Facebook & Daily Mile to Help Get Healthy
Will you please give her my email? My baby is almost 8 months old and I feel her pain! I’d love to help support and encourage her. My advice? Focus on the food. That’s what finally seems to be working for me. I thought I was making good choices, but I think my view got a little warped from being pregnant and nursing for a while. It’s hard to readjust! And don’t get me started about “dealing with the new body”. I am SO there! Working full-time makes things even tougher. You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were asking for advice from your readers for ME!
Callie @ The Wannabe Athlete recently posted..What to Do When New Years Resolutions Get Old
I would say step one would be working with a nutritionist. You can’t out exercise a poor diet. I’m actually trying to figure out a good food/exercise combo for myself, and the one thing I’ve learned is that diet is really more then 50% of the equation. Good luck to your friend!!!
Sounds like she is working out plenty. Focus on the food.
But as someone who has given birth, her body may always have a slightly different shape. And that’s okay. I only gained 25 lbs, but it took 1 1/2 years for the last bit to come off. Since then, I’ve started working out and eating better, weight 10 lbs less than before pregnancy, and my “shape” is still curvier. It’s okay.
Encourage your friend to go easy on herself. She has a lot going on. The stress of balancing baby/work/health isn’t going to help her on her journey. Good luck to her.
Vinobaby recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Read My Shirt
Nutritionist, hands down! What you eat is a bigger part of the weight loss journey than exercise, much like several other people have commented. Also, since the nutritionist is something she can do with her husband, it’s extra support. It’s also something that will benefit the whole family, not just her.
mindy @ just a one girl revolution. recently posted..returning to consistent workouts.
Is she breastfeeding? Nutrition for sure. Why not have her do a one time training session at her gym to have a circuit put together then spend the money on nutrition. It will help her and her family.
Weight training will also help a lot. She should focus on fitness and how her clothes fit, not the scale.
Couple of things.
1. Nutritionist – will serve her long term. Her AND her family.
2. Continue to exercise – weight train
3. Eat more – place snacks (apples/nuts things like that) around workouts
4. Her body is different now. Her clothes will never fit the same. She has gone through the process of bringing life into this world.. only 8 months ago. Focus on what you can control. I”m not saying her body will be/is “worse”… it will just take time. She can do this. Have confidence in herself and the process.
5. I KNOW it is hard. continue to reach out to your friends as you have done here.
Laura recently posted..Don’t have to look far for INSPIRATION!
I’m in agreement with a lot of folks here – it takes time to get back in shape, possibly not eating enough to fuel her body and workouts, and that nutrition is KEY. I’m a personal trainer and still suggesting she seek out help with nutrition first because that will have the biggest impact. Although it’s also vital to switch things up with exercise to continue progress, so a trainer could be helpful there.
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..In Unexpected Ways
I’d go with the nutritionist. It sounds like she doesn’t have issues with fitness, but that where she needs the most help is with what she’s eating. The nutritionist can instill healthy habits in her and give her recipe ideas, etc. that she can use for her family for the rest of her life! Also, as annoying as it can be, dieting/weight loss is mostly about food, although exercise is of course important for overall health, so I would definitely go with the nutritionist here.
Liz recently posted..My Tuesday in Photos
It sounds as though your friend is slipping past that wonderful age when you can apparently eat whatever you want and your magnificently efficient body will turn even the crappiest fuel into fit, lean muscle.
I see this guy at the gym ever time I go who works really hard, but he doesn’t have a “I-go-to-the-gym-alot” kinda body. He confided in me that he’s a cookie addict, and his day simply isn’t complete without a half dozen cookies. He figured that 90 minutes in the gym was the price he had to pay in order to simply tread water and enjoy his cookies.
My point? Sounds like this is a nutrition problem. You can spend hours in the gym, but crappy eating will negate your efforts. And the real problem becomes when you get busy one week and can’t make it in to the gym; my experience is that the crappy eating will continue and that’s when the train really jumps the track.
Jack Sh*t recently posted..Zipfizzy-Doo-Dah
Nutrition is key!! You cannot out-exercise poor eating habits (even though I try!) so she needs to focus on eating a clean, veggie and lean protein filled diet.
Another tip, tell her to contact a dietician. Anyone can sign up and become a “nutritionist”. (even online certs) Have her look for a qualified Registered Dietician who can help her come up with a plan.
I would go with the nutrtionist who can work with her to incorporate more whole foods into her diet. I’ve always heard (and believe) that losing weight is 80% plate, 20% gym. I firmly belive that exercise is extremely important, but there are enough resources online that she can get moving without a trainer. I think in the long term, the lessons she learns about nutrition will serve her needs better.
I also agree with one of the previous posters who suggested she also needs to give herself time – her body has been through a lot with a pregnancy and all of the post-partum hormone changes.
Good luck to your friend, and congrats to her on her beautiful new baby girl! Good for her for taking the steps to get back into shape!
April recently posted..No Excuses
I’m no expert but I think the nutritionist offers a better long term solution. Learning about how to eat healthy and whole foods and how to treat your body well in that regard will be something that will stick with you for life. If she’s been to the gym before she knows how to work out. For me in my weight loss journey, I got to a certain point with weight loss but than plateaued until I started revamping my diet to be whole foods and lots of veg/lean proteins/unprocessed foods and combining THAT with exercise.
I think it sounds like she has more to learn and gain from the nutritionist approach.
Good luck!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen recently posted..Typical
I have a few questions:
1. Is she breastfeeding? If so, how often?
I found with me that my body initially lost weight quickly after having the baby, then stabilized and held onto maternal fat stores while breastfeeding. When I stopped nursing I quickly lost a good 10lbs without musch effort (#1 was at 13 mos, #2 was at 20 mos, and #3 at 14.5 mos is still nursing).
2. Has her cycles returned?
Again, this also impacted my weight post-partum – as soon as my cycles returned I dropped a quick 5 lbs, but had a harder time keeping it off because of hormonal food cravings. Although only supplementing with small amounts of food (my babies all preferred nursing over eating), my cycles returned at 8 mos.
If her cycles have NOT returned and she’s still nursing she should definitely be practicing a form of birth control – I know of quite a few people that found out the hard way that menstruation is the END of a cycle, not the beginning and were surprised to find out they got pregnant while nursing. There was no mention in your post if it was possible that she was pregnant again and whether she had taken a pregnancy test.
Breastfeeding and menstruation aside, I would seek the advice of a nutritionist, and consult with a Dr (thyroid problems perhaps?). Food, exercise and sleep journalling will help identify where the problems may lie.
Please congratulate your friend – being active while being a new mother is not an easy feat. Although the numbers on the scale may not be moving the direction she’d like, she is still getting plenty of benefits from working out such as improved strength, balance, coordination, cardiovascular endurance, and an improvement in mood which I’m sure lends itself to her being the best mom she can be which is fantastic. It will also allow her to be a great healthy role-model to her child. The next step in her journey is to embrace eating as fuel for her hard working body. Way to go!
Janice – Fitness Cheerleader recently posted..Your Healthiest Year Ever, Day 10: Drink More Water
Nutritionist first, definitely. As much as she has been exercising she should be able to know what to do without a trainer and there are always DVD’s, (which is what I use) for cheap. But nutritionists could provide her with valuable information that she may not have.
As someone who is also on the weight loss roller coaster, I have two opinions:
1. It looks to me like she’s exercising too much for the little she’s eating. Burning more calories than are going in is how you lose weight, but too big of a deficit sends the body into a not good place for weight loss.
2. Processed anything is bad, if you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it. Eat Real Food is my motto.
Alyse recently posted..Day 120
I’m saying the same as everyone else, but NUTRITIONIST. She already knows how to work out, but she needs to work on the diet. A healthy diet is what makes the most difference!
(I might suggest someone from Integrative Nutrition that focuses on what’s best for HER, and not just some FDA prescribed diet. Integrative Nutrition also focuses on the WHOLE person including relationships, exercise, stress, etc that may be derailing her efforts. They also might cost less!)
Unless I missed it, she doesn’t mention whether or not she’s nursing. That could make a huge difference in her kcal needs. Even though my love is in the group fitness arena, it seems she’s already doing lots of cardio AND strength training (she has to have both to burn the most kcals when she’s NOT working out), so I think the issue is her diet. I’d say for now, she should take the info she’s gotten from her trainer, ask for a “take-away) program and spend her money on sound nutrition advice until she gets back on track. Bottom line – she has exercise info, not nutrition info, so that’s her area of weakness.
AlexandraFunFit recently posted..Don’t Be Still My Beating (Omron) Heart (Rate Monitor)
Good question! I think most people generally know what’s good for them (in terms of food). The tricky part is making yourself eat it. I’d go with the trainer instead. Trainers are more helpful in making yourself stick to a plan. Make sense? Good luck to her!
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers recently posted..WIAW: Snacks, Snacks, + More Snacks
I would say definitely going to the Nutritionist first! They say when losing weight it is 20% exercise, 80% diet and some people even say 10% exercise, 90% diet. It could help when she starts eating a little better then she might feel like moving more, which will help with her calorie burning.
http://www.eatright.org/
Rachelle recently posted..Everything in Moderation Right?
I second everyone who said that nutrition is the key…and I’ll add in something that’s free and doesn’t take much time: practice self-awareness and self-acceptance. I know so many people say “How can I accept myself when I hate my body? If I accept it, I won’t change it.” Sure, you might be able to coerce a few pounds off, temporarily, but lasting weight loss and health come only through total acceptance of what is…when you love yourself, you’re much more inclined to do what is right for your body, consistently.
KCLAnderson (Karen) recently posted..Quotes To PRACTICE By
My advice, like most of your users, is that your friend should pay for a nutrionist’s help first. If she’s already experienced at working out, I’m sure there are a lot of activities she can do to meet her exercise requirements, but the nutrition side can be really confusing and an outside, impartial eye is incredibly helpful.
Best of luck to your friend.
Gillian recently posted..A New Site For Foodies: FoodPop
My advice, like most of your users, is that your friend should pay for a nutritionist’s help first. If she’s already experienced at working out, I’m sure there are a lot of activities she can do to meet her exercise requirements, but the nutrition side can be really confusing and an outside, impartial eye is incredibly helpful.
Best of luck to your friend.
Gillian recently posted..A New Site For Foodies: FoodPop
I want to start by saying that I have an 11 month old and work full time. Up until a month or so ago I was breastfeeding, which means that I actually couldn’t limit my calories or work out, but since then I have. It’s been going ok – so I totally get how hard it is with a baby! That said, I have a little advice from MY experience and nothing more than that:
Make small changes in your daily food. Start by keeping a journal of everything that you eat for at least a week and then see where you can change. Some changes that I made is to get routine snacks which prevented me from being hungry and eating wrong/too much food. Another thing is that I subbed out almost all of our white stuff with whole wheat and all of our “bad” meat with lean turkey or chicken. I’ve also cut out soda and alcohol (well, not ALL alcohol, but deff most of it). These changes alone have completely made a huge difference for me.
If she can’t do these changes on her own, I would recommend a nutritionist.
For working out, even when you don’t have time, stealing 5-10 minutes here and there helps and doesn’t feel overwhelming! I try to get 20-40 minutes int he morning before my baby is even up for her bottle. It’s hard to get used to the routine, but as a previous workout junkie (well, almost 2 years ago now), I know that it takes 10 days to form a habit. So if I last 10 days, I know I’ll stick to it. I don’t go to the gym (too expensive for me) so instead I walk and do either OnDemand video workouts or just a quick set of 30 crunches-10 pushups -20 squats 3 times. That takes less than 10 minutes and actually made a HUGE difference in my “shape”.
I hope this helps!
Kat @ living like the kings recently posted..And so it begins…
if time and money is an issue, I think I’d work with a nutritionist first. a lot of nutrition advice (for me, at least) was an “I HAD NO IDEA!” moment… and once I got the advice, I could run with it and implement it into my life for a long time.
as far as exercise goes, it’s easier to get it from a number of sources. credible nutrition advice, in my opinion, is a little harder to get. plus, that’s something that needs to be tailored to her. exercise advice isn’t necessarily.
good luck to your friend!
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss recently posted..Running is Hard
I have to be on the whole foods side. Whole foods fill you faster and keep you fuller longer. The processed stuff just zips right through and you’re hungry again an hour later. No bueno!
Amy @ A Little Nosh recently posted..Whole Wheat Pizza
I agree with going the nutritionist route first. Definitely.
I did want to add one other thing – has she had bloodwork done recently to rule out thyroid changes or mineral deficiencies that could impact her weight loss efforts – I was skeptical of the later, but my blood sugar and hunger is so much more stable and normal now that I have started taking supplements for my magnesium and vitamin D deficiencies, which I only found out about because my doctor insisted on screening for them as well as a lot of other things.
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats recently posted..Urban Women’s Yoga Retreat
I have lost and kept off over 100 pounds, and yet I still don’t feel like I have enough experience to give advice on weight loss. But my personal vote? A nutritionist. It wasn’t until I started tracking my food that I realized just how badly I was eating. I knew some of the foods weren’t the best for me, but it was so eye-opening to see that I was eating 2-3 times what I should have been. I didn’t eat often or much, and yet I still ate far too many calories. A nutritionist can help pinpoint problem areas.
Amber K recently posted..WLW: Exercise the Way YOU Want
Certainly an interesting dilemma. Though I’m sure the workouts would be good, I think that seeing a nutritionist would be the best first step. No matter how much you work out, if your diet is lacking you aren’t going to get the results you desire. Also, having a good diet (or at least the building blocks of one) will be helpful for, well, ever. Especially with a growing family, it seems like an investment that everyone will benefit from.
Emilia recently posted..Gimme! Coffee
As most other are saying, I agree that a nutritionist would be her best bet. Diet has more to do with weight loss than actual exercise. Exercise is VERY important, but if you don’t supplement it with the right nutrients, you won’t get anywhere! It is important to understand the foods that will truly give your body what it needs. It seems like she has it down with going to the gym and working out, so a great diet will definitely benefit her.
Jillian @ sprinkle massacre recently posted..A Happy Birthday in Atlantic City
Since it sounds like food is a bigger problem for her than exercise, I’d vote for the nutritionalist. It’ll also help her keep on track if her and her husband are on the same page eating-wise.
Jess recently posted..Tourists
First…Check with her insurance to see if they cover any appointments with an RD. That might help and allow her to do both.
If not go with the nutritionist. There are many ways to find workouts online with accountability and suggestions. Finding good quality nutrition for her and her lifestyle is hard. A Registered dietitian can help her with meals that get in the things she needs and spend time with her child. Then her hard work at the gym will pay off.
Cynthia (It All Changes) recently posted..Quick Quorn Stir-fry–Recipe & Review
Definitely nutrition is the more important thing here. However, if she did some research, she may be able to find both in one… My personal trainer actually has a degree in nutritional chemistry so he can help with both diet and exercise.
Hands down- nutrition. That’s at least 80 percent of results and it will help both her and her family in the long run. They might also find some issues going on with her body that a trainer could not- metabolism/thyroid, food sensitivities, etc.
The Hippie Health Nut recently posted..Gluten Free Part 2: Can I Eat That
I’m a personal trainer, and I’d advise she sort out nutrition first. It sounds as though she already has a grip on the exercise side of things, but that diet is a bit hit and miss.
I never recommend “free days” – it’s a recipe for overeating for many people (including me), and they can wipe out the entire calorie deficit they’ve built up over the rest of the week. I prefer a couple of smaller treats worked into a sane nutrition program – which doesn’t mean living on salads. Food needs to be tasty and varied and NOT feel like punishment.
A good nutritionist would be well worth the money.
Kek recently posted..Assistance for your fitness from modern technology
I’d go with the nutritionist as well. They say it’s 80% about the food and 20% about exercise when you’re trying to lose weight (I think the balance changes once you are trying to maintain, but there are others about who are far more expert than I on that front).
It also sounds like she’s got the exercise component under control, even if it needs some tweaking down the track.
I wish her the best. I lost 25kg last year but have another 20kg or so to go and for me, it’s all about what I put in my mouth! (And… obviously I mean food!!!)
Deb
Deborah (Schmiet) recently posted..Baby we were born to run… or not
Neither ~ when you get to a point when diet and exercise stop working then the problem runs deeper.
I recommend she spends her money on whatever helps her feel better about herself right here and now. It could be new clothes, a new hairstyle, a massage … or even a program that combines gentle weight release with self-love principles.
After fighting my body with diet and exercise for 5 years, I realised that for some of us the diet/exercise path is never going to be the answer. Holding on to weight is more emotional and spiritual than science would lead us to believe.
Loving herself will release her healing weight when the time is right.
KatieP recently posted..An Exercise Bulimic Goes to the Gym
Nutritionist (a RD). There are even some great RD with specific training such as sports, or female nutrition. I strongly believe in strength training properly as well, but from what I’ve read in the research and out there in magazines as well as with my own weight loss is diet is 75%.
I also agree with above, but sometimes an unbiased third person can give some diet solutions that may have never occurred on her own. In the meantime she can also focus on the “deeper” issues.
Maybe she could check out this guy…it’s $40 for his program. http://darksideoffatloss.com/
I vote nutritionist. I think weight loss is way more about what you eat than what you do. I think she should buy the 30-day shred and do that at home for weights + cardio plus maybe some walking around her neighbourhood and focus on getting her eating, and her families, on track. Then she can look more into personal training after she has the healthy eating down. Good luck to your friend!
Amber from Girl with the Red Hair recently posted..Our Invitations
I vote nutritionist. If weight loss is her ultimate goal, she should take a good look at her diet. I also think that, for some, diet reasonable diet changes may be easier to maintain than a strict exercise regime. Exercise is important, I don’t want to discredit it, but I think diet has more of an impact on weight loss. It’s one thing to be in good cardiovascular shape and another to be at a healthy weight.
lauren recently posted..Morning Frost
As a personal trainer I know most people would expect me to say “go with a personal trainer” but honestly if she KNOWS the diet choices are letting her down then go with the nutritionist. Exercise is important, diet and exercise go hand in hand but I tell this to all my clients: YOU CANNOT OUT-TRAIN A BAD DIET!
I think she needs to eat more, eat better, and train wiser, but only she can make the decision…
Di recently posted..Reaching your 2012 health & fitness goals
I think I would go with the nutritionist first. I think that if you know how to balance the food that you’re eating, it will be much easier for you to be disciplined when you finally get to have your trainer. I mean, nutritionist will not just help you balance the food you eat but will also help you take care of your health.
Angel Collins recently posted..5 Items for Every Safety Professional’s To-Do List in 2012: From OSHA to Sustainability