make sure it is a registered dietitian to ensure that are truly qualified to give advice.

Just my unexpeirenced opinion but i would read Nancy Clarck's book and what ever other nutritional books you can get your hands on.

Go sit at Borders this weekend with a cup of coffe and a notebook and make notes.

Just a question for you that seek a nutritionist. Are you competing competatively, i.e., for $ or podium finishes, are you pros? Why are you seeking nutritionists? What about just reading and learning? Just curious.

I have thought about hiring a nutritionist but then discovered an e-book that really helped me distill down the nuts and bolts of what I needed as an endurance athlete. It's called "Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle," by Tom Venuto, who is a natural bodybuilder. It's been worth every penny of the $39 I spent.

Getting a handle on my day-to-day and race-day nutrition is my #1 goal this year. More specifically, I am trying to make my diet as 'clean' as possible and safely reduce my body fat to 16-18%.

I have been eating clean for a month and I've never felt better. I've lost 6 pounds and 1.5% body fat so far. The key is that I'm retaining my lean muscle, which is what I want.

Once I really sat down and decided what I wanted out of my food, I realized I didn't need a nutritionist. I instinctively knew what to eat (lean protein, frut, veggies, and complex carbs). The key was1) how to pair those together for optimum absorption and nutrition (which the e-book helped me understand); and 2) most importantly, making up my mind that I was worth more than the crap I was putting into my body.

I'd suggest you asking yourself what you really want? What does your ideal body (yours...not someone elses) look and feel like? What are your goals? (Write them down!) How will you look, feel, act when you achieve success? How do you define success?

Those are some of the questions I worked through to realize I could do this, simply by making up my mind to do so. I have struggled with food my whole life but I finally realize I truly am what I eat, and the results I get on race day are an outcome of that.

Good luck!!

Thanks guys. Once again, so very good information for me :)

--Josh

wheat grass is the only thing you need ... , just kidding, but it is a great drink.

Sldotter- First of all, you need to chill. I think your bike pump is stuck up your...
There is a big difference between a nutritionist and RD. An RD is a bachelors level degree. It is great that these people are recognized by the state, but that does not mean that they specialize in helping individuals who have compromised systems. An RD is taught by the guidelines set by the ADA, which if you know help to develop the food guide pyramid. The food pyramid and dietary guidelines are developed to meet the needs of a HEALTHY individual. News flash- no one is healthy in America- not even a traithlete. Someone who has their MS, CCN and/or CNS is specialized in developing diets and recommendations for those who need more nutritional support. Dietitians are weak in knowing how to treat someone with IBS, Crohns, etc. based on the food pyramid. Dietitians are smart, don't get me wrong but they may not always be the best choice. Especially for an athlete who has any number of issues. (ex. lupus, MS, lymphoma, crohns) Just because an athlete may have a physiologic issue does not mean they can not compete.
Oh, and by the way- I am anyone but the type of person out to make money! I take pride in giving sound advise and helping my clients with any of their dietary goals. I am sorry that you have that impression, but maybe if you did some more research you would see the difference.
Hopefully, you can understand my position, and if not- keep seeing a dietitian- (ask them if they know how to reduce homocysteine levels, or better yet- a protocol for inflammation)...
Challenge this one...

Outexan,
I want you to ask your friend some simple questions...
what are some natural serotonin enhancers?
who should not eat ginger?
better yet- why would a dietitian recommend sugar free foods to a diabetic when saccharin, splenda, and nutrasweet all have a glycemic effect?

that will show u the difference- do n't tell me i am on a high horse. i just know how to do my job.

Uh, thanks for the news flash. I hadn't heard.

Could you expand on that? :confused:

Hitman- Thanks for the research! Good thing to know. Wouldnt it just suck to go through all that only to find out your certification is bogus?

Oh no, not at all...just good information is all :)

alcohol, carbohydrates

people who are pregnant with morning sickness. otherwise ginger is on the GRAS list or generally accepted as safe.

the glycemic index is based on a single food eaten compared to a control food or a standard. The glycemic index is a measurement of how quickly sugar is broken down and released into the blood stream. Foods that release a high amount of sugar into the blood stream are the ones that trigger the huge insulin response. These are the foods we want to stay away from or limit in our diet because insulin triggers your body to store fat. Foods that are considered low or moderately low on the glycemic index allow for the release of glucagon, which helps stabilize your blood sugar, promotes healthy weight loss and helps control fatigue, craving, irritability, concentration and mood.

stablized blood sugar in my opinion for a diabetic would be a good thing!

Wow seems like everyone wants to take hits at me. But funny- no one ever asked what education I have. You all just assumed I was just getting this certification to compliment my work experience.
Well, let me help you all out. No I do not have an RD. I received a BS and realized afterwards what I wanted to do. So I went for my Masters in Nutrition (not online either) with clinical experience and 40 credit hours.
Sldotter- I am dissapointed in you because all three of my questions were answered wrong, and this is where I take a different path than an RD. I have nothing against them as I am close friends with some. However, I could not work in a hospital because hospitals are not as attuned to holistic health as they should be. (I know this as I work closely with the local one here). I have a strong holistic basis, and work closely not only with MDs, but ND, DC, acupunturists, sensory therapists, etc.

So to answer those questions correctly-
Natural serotonin enhancers would include SAME, 5HTP, and GABA.
Ginger should not be given to individuals with gallstones.
AND
Recommending false, artificial sweeteners to diabetic patients is the easy way out to educating that individual about the right way to balance blood glucose with good carbohydrates and good proteins. I do not advocate chlorine, I mean Splenda, when there are safer alternatives such as Xylitol and Stevia. When was the last time you recommended replacing couscous with quinoa?? or "whole wheat" bread with sprouted grain bread....

That is where my views differ from yours. I teach nutrition, but I teach it in a natural, healthy approach. Why put fruits and vegetables sprayed with pesticides in your mouth when there is organic??

My strong responses have stemmed from an original statement. I do believe in working as a team, but just RDs should not feel insulted to be called a nutritionist. As long as they know what they are doing, and enjoy it too. There should be no harm done.

Look it up yourself

natural serotonin : http://www.nattc.org/asme/details.asp?ID=0006a

ginger: go to edit in the top menu on the page and find on page type in Ginger. http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_adar1002b_ENU_HTML.htm

nonnutritive sweetners: take a look for yourself. Be careful with all those sugar alcohols might end up on the craper instead of being able to go out and train.
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_adap0598_ENU_HTML.htm

Not that your answers are not right as well ... but the ones that I provided are not wrong!
Often in diabetes education you have to reach a common ground that is achievable by your client. Most, not all, people aren't willing to sacrifice things in their life which are important to them. For some people Food is their thing. Some aren't willing to quit drinking soda for example. So getting people to change from regular soda to a diet soda is a better choice. In some cases you have to learn to choose between things where you might not agree in both choices.

Most people don't have a clue about natrual food products offered and in most cities natural and organic products are not available anyway. Also many people who are affected by "nutrtional diseases" can't afford these products. I get the feeling that you are so intangled with this natural philosophy that you may be loosing sight of what people really need, a successful LIFESTYLE change. Things that they can follow forever. If you tell a person with diabetes who drinks regular soda at every meal to never have one again they will never be compliant.

By the way jelly beans with sugar alcohols make you have to go to the bathroom in a hurry so be careful!

I think the issue was your initial response which in all fairness came across as a bit arrogant and degrading to a "nutritionist". As if this approach was wrong. This of course was probably due to the fact that posting in no way mimics actual conversation. If you had been speaking rather than writing, I am sure this would not have been the case (at least in my opinion...not that it matters)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a hollistic approach. I prefer it myself. Everyone wants to think that thier knowledge, opinions and ways of doing things is valid. As long as everyone recognizes this and validates eachothers opinions that's fine.
Its like the whole Physical Therapist vs Chiropracter viewpoint :)