1. Why do I need a Registered Dietitian (R.D.)?

The last time you turned on the television or opened a magazine did you feel inundated with "diet" information? What are the stars doing? What is the latest quick fix? What is good, what is bad? Feeling like you don't know where to start, or who is feeding you accurate info? These are the reasons you need a Registered Dietitian. R.D.'s will sort through the confusion and put you on a path of healthy food choices to achieve your goals.

2. What is the difference between a Nutritionist and a Registered Dietitian?

Although laws vary from state to state as to what a nutritionist is the simple explanation is this; with a Registered Dietitian you are getting a nationally licensed professional with experience in how diet and food choices affect health. These professionals are trained to help consumers reach their goals, whether it is weight loss, heart disease prevention, diabetes control or any number of reasons, through diet and lifestyle changes. With a R.D. you can feel confident that you are getting the most up to date and sound advice.

3. Why does it seem harder to lose weight each time I try?

The term for this is "yo-yo" dieting because just like a yo-yo your weight falls, but when you go off whatever "fad" diet you've chosen, you regain the weight you were able to lose and then some. The next time you try to lose that weight it's harder because your metabolism has changed, and not for the better. On crash diets you lose muscle and when you regain, you regain fat. The bottom line is that muscle works for you and fat works against you so if each time you yo-yo you lose the "good" and gain the "bad", it's harder to lose the next time around.

4. Why can't I seem to stick to a "diet"?

There are many reasons people don't stick to "diets". Among the largest reasons is the IDEA of being on a diet and how we feel we must sacrifice. The primary reason is that the idea of being on a diet makes us feel we need to sacrifice our favorite foods. General healthy eating and lifestyle change are proven to work in the long run. The bottom line? Ask yourself, "Can I be doing this diet when I am 80?"  If the answer is "no", then move on.

5. What is the idea behind "Net Carbs"?

Be careful with this one. The idea is that things that don't affect blood sugar as drastically as "sugar" does are subtracted from the total number of carbohydrates in a food, as if they aren't even there. Examples include fiber and sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and manitol. The problem? While we don't get calories from fiber, we do get them from sugar alcohols, just in lesser amounts as compared to sugar. The term "Net Carbs" is not regulated or approved by the FDA as of yet, so right now it is a free for all in the world of labeling. This can be dangerous! Because there are no "rules" for food companies to follow at this time, you may not be getting what you think you are!

6. Buying healthier foods seems to cost more money!

It can be more of an investment at the grocery store when you start to buy healthier foods. The benefit is that with a healthier lifestyle you will save money in other areas of life, offsetting the more expensive food bill. For example: fewer medications and medical visits means fewer insurance copay's. The difference is that with healthy eating the investment is upfront where as with unhealthy eating the payment is later on in the form of missed work, frequent medical visits, surgeries, etc.

7. Why can't I just get diet advice from my doctor?

Some physicians are knowledgeable in the area of nutrition. If you feel as though you would benefit from visits with a Registered Dietitian then be a proactive patient and ask your primary physician for a referral. In some cases insurance companies will cover the cost of the visit if the referral is made by a physician.

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