The Benefits of Working With a Registered Dietitian
Jan 15, 2013
Midtown member Monica Bays shares her experience working with our Nutritionist, Sarah Guilbert, to get in better shape and decrease her finish time in an Ironman competition.
Every January, many resolve to change their negative habits, to take better care of themselves, eat more healthfully, and work out more. In 2012, I made a similar commitment, which I will share with you.
In early 2012, I met Sarah Guilbert at one of Midtown's popular fitness classes. We chatted about our athletic and educational backgrounds, and I learned that Sarah was wrapping up her program to be a Registered Dietitian. I told her that I compete in triathlons and would be participating in my second Ironman in the fall. I wanted to get in better shape and improve my finish time.
I was pretty confident in my workout habits and had a trainer and a coach, but I have always struggled with cooking and preparing healthy snacks and meals that would fuel my endurance events and workouts, as well as help me to shed the weight I needed to in order to become more fit. In fact, when training for my first Ironman in 2010, I actually gained weight!
I wanted to be as fit as possible the second time around. She graciously offered to help me reach my goals by meeting with me to discuss nutrition.
At our first consultation, we talked in-depth about what I typically eat, how much, and how I feel before and after eating. After listening to my background, we established two food goals to work toward. She sent me home with some homework: a food journal. I had to write down everything I ate over a three-day period, which would help her to assess my typical eating habits. This assignment held me accountable and also gave Sarah clear data, which would help her assess my food plan. I handed in the information and was ready to hear what she thought.
At our next meeting, we went over my food journal. Sarah analyzed everything I ate and showed me how much protein, fat, calories, etc. were in the food I ate on an average day. It was very thorough and I have to admit that I was a bit surprised by some of the report, some of which was good, and some of which was not-so-good!
Next, she gave me simple substitutions to cut down on calories and bad fat. She also educated me more precisely on what a good balanced meal should consist of (such as what percentages should come from fruits and veggies, lean protein, and carbs). We discussed my food preferences (I tend to be a picky eater) and we collectively created better breakfast and lunch options. She put together two new breakfast plans and two new lunch plans for me to try out.
Between sessions, I experimented with the Sarah's suggestions. I tried some of the new foods she recommended and I discovered I actually like Greek yogurt, oatmeal, squash, and zucchini! When we met again, we talked about how these new meals made me feel and whether they gave me the type of energy I needed. At this point I had lost a few pounds as well. We were making progress!
Another important piece of solving the "food puzzle” for me was what to eat before, during, and after my workouts. I work out twice a day, Monday through Friday, and then have one long training session on Saturdays. For me, it was important to never get too hungry or too full, but to stay pretty even throughout the day. Sarah gave me good snack options for in between meals to help with this and to keep up my energy levels.
We met twice more before my big race. By November, I weighed fourteen pounds less than I did at the same race in 2010. Weight is just a number, but I felt better, stronger, and more in shape than I had in four years.
Sarah is extremely professional, very easy to talk to, knows her stuff, never made me feel negatively about my progress (or lack thereof), and was very sensitive to my needs and body image concerns.
When you set a goal, it helps to have other people support you and help you reach it. Sarah was an important part of my goal of improving my Ironman time. The advice she gave me and the things we worked on helped me make improvements in my diet and get me in better shape. We are lucky to have her working at Midtown to help other members reach their goals of being fitter, healthier people! If you're interested in working with Nutritionist Sarah Guilbert, you can contact her at sarah.guilbert@midtown.com or 585-461-2300, ext. 295.