I met with Ruth and I regret it. I had the highest hopes in the world because of the expertise she…read moreclaimed to have and the websites she's written for, but now, I do not want anyone to feel like I did.
Honestly, after I left her office I sat in my car for 10 minutes reviewing what had just occurred as well as reviewing the documentation she shared and feeling as though I had learned a $140 lesson. I left there with a pile of papers and no real plan and no follow-ups in sight.
I decided to schedule my appointment with her because of her years of experience and her supposed field of knowledge. I appreciated her food pyramid knowledge, but ultimately felt let down, yet again, by the nutrition industry. Yes, I pretty much knew everything she told me, and the candor was something new from a Nutritionist but I feel that she was done with me 1/2 way through the meeting. I did have more questions but was quite flabbergasted at what had just transpired.
My biggest concern was with the meal plan. My experience in other programs is an EXACT meal layout for the week. For example, breakfast eat 2 eggs and spinach, lunch is a tuna sandwich with lettuce and dinner is a greek salad. Specifics. As opposed to the blank 1,800 calorie "meal plan" (just count calories) she gave me. I had mentioned that meal planning was my problem and it wasn't solved. I'm no further along than I was before I walked in because I still have to make a meal plan, which to me is as I said 2 eggs and spinach, as opposed to "you can eat 1 1/2 cups of fruit all day".
Yes, I am fully aware that I am not losing weight in my current course of action and as easy as it is to just follow her outline or just stop eating, as proposed, it is not. Perhaps I have emotional eating issues, body dis-morphia issues, food allergies, none of which we talked about. And as much as I think it was my responsibility to let her know these things, I would also hope that she'd seen these issues in past clients since she reminded me, she has been doing this for over 20 years and would ask. What about food issues I have? I didn't think it appropriate to mention, as after talking with her, felt she would have dismissed them. I am not opposed to a tough-love-type mentality, but I feel as though I was completely ignored. My being unsatisfied with not being able to work out as I had previously done prior to my current health issues should have given her some indication of my dedication to wellness. i.e. I'm not lazy and not trying. I push through pain (yes, again fully aware of the consequences) which is what helps me get through the day as I expect a lot from myself.
I also found it condescending that she shared how she had only gained 10 lbs over 40+ years of having moved to California. As if to say, look at me, it can be done. I have no idea what type of person she is or has been and what issues if any, she's had to face, so needless to say it may have been extremely hard for her, but I didn't get that impression. Hence making me feel even more terrible about myself.
In the 10 minutes I sat in my car, I felt so much regret of trying to reach out for help. I have tried to reach out, I want help. I hate this feeling. I wish more people in health and fitness had more empathy.
And don't even get me started on the "handouts" from 1970 and that I could get a discount if I bought her upcoming book directly from her.