“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”
Hipocrates
“Diet gurus who encourage large swathes of people to give up perfectly healthy foods such as bread or potatoes, who try to make people feel guilty for eating 'non- clean foods' (which is a bullshit term) or state massively incorrect facts as being true and generally work on a non-evidence based model of nutrition, can go suck on a massive bag of dicks”
Rich McKeating
I f*cking love food, especially what some might perceive as unhealthy food, I spend most weekends drinking fancy overly priced craft beer, I like watching films whilst nibbling away at fancy chocolates, and as a family we regularly enjoy Mcdonalds, Fish and chips, Indian or Chinese take aways, full English fry ups and fanciful cakes, biscuits etc.
I see no need to chastise myself for enjoying food, there are no preachers I have to run and confess to, no self-flagellation required to absolve my self of gluttony, because food has no moral value and 80 to 90% of my diet consist of fruit, veg, legumes, meat, fish and mostly unprocessed wholesome foods.
Most importantly, I’m aware of portion sizes and moderation.
I’m able to get a six pack whilst still enjoying beer and chocolate because those things are just a small part of my diet, and my activity levels and exercise time gives me plenty of room for discrepancy.
Now when it comes to finding a good nutritional approach that works for a client there are lots of things I need to consider.
For example are they someone who would find it easy to skip breakfast? Or is this a meal that they really need to get going.
Are they in a position to count calories and track macros? Or would it be more appropriate to work on a more lifestyle habit-based plan that makes things more simple.
Are they vegetarian? Vegan? Do they hate vegetables? Or hate fish? Do they hate combining foods and can’t stand certain textures? Are they good with self-discipline or would they be best in the short term at least following a more rigid structure?
This is why the old cliché of there is no one sized diet that fits all is so true, as is the old cliche, never trust a fat nutritionist.
Whilst most of the nutrition work I do is goal specific (e.g. fat loss/ muscle gain/ improved energy etc) I am able to specifically help with the following.
Sports Nutrition
I can help athletes fuel up and recover for their particular sporting needs, I can work out the calorie requirements for their activities and give a macronutrient breakdown they should adhere to in addition to any evidence based ergogenic aids (supplements) that might help improve an aspect of their training, performance or recovery.
All sporting nutrition requirements are dependant up on the sport, for example a Rugby player has different needs to a endurance athlete, who has different needs to a sprinter, who has different needs to a boxer who needs to be a certain weight.
In the past I worked a full season at Hull KR, at that time I was the only full-time nutritionist in the Super League. I’ve also worked with Boxers, Tennis players and Footballers regarding nutritional requirements.
As well as sports nutrition, I also work with various health conditions.
Health conditions
I.B.S
I can help clients work out if any foods might be causing gut irritation and help them find a way to live life on more normative terms without having to restrict large groups of food. I can also provide immediate advice on what to avoid or include to help with specific gut complaints such as IBS D/ IBS C.
Diabetes
6% of the UK population have diabetes, most commonly I help people with type 2 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels and avoid high peaks which can damage capillary blood vessels. I aim to do this through an approach which isn’t overly restrictive or limited and allows for a wide range of food choices whilst allowing the client to feel as though they can still enjoy life. In type 1 diabetes I can help give nutritional guidance on foods which could help them keep blood sugar stable on a regular basis without having to adjust insulin medications whilst still allowing them to work towards a specific health goal. This is all done in conjunction with the client undergoing regular GP visits.
Pregnancy
I can offer evidence based advise on which foods to eat or avoid during pregnancy (as outlined as best practice by NICE) and give a more individualised plan to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and helping to safely lose that weight post pregnancy.
I can also offer nutritional information that best helps with the development of a baby and gives the best chances of a healthy birth.
PCOS
PCOS has some very unique characteristics which can often make weight loss extremely difficult, there are some evidence based proven strategies to help manage this condition but unfortunately like most things this is often not easy to find on the internet as there is much pseudo information giving not just incorrect but in some cases harmful advice.
I can help give some guidance on this issue, it’s often a process of trial and error and can take some time to find the ideal approach that works for an individual. For pricing on any of this please contact me here
Heart Health
In the UK there are 7.4 million people with Heart disease, if somebody is at risk or has recently had a scare, I can offer nutritional support to help lower blood pressure, improve circulation and better manage cholesterol. This is often done in support of regular check ins with their GP.
Obesity
For many people the thought of exercising is scary, and they would just like some help on navigating the complex minefield that is nutrition. I keep it super simple in most cases, no foods are bad foods or “sins” and no food is good either. Food has no emotional value, it’s just food! We simply need to manage the amount of it that we eat and come up with strategies to help us eat a little less to lose some weight without making it feel like life sucks.
In cases where people feel highly motivated and prepared to do what it takes to lose a large amount of weight quickly, I can help provide
Elderly
There are many additional needs for those considered elderly including weaker bones, muscles and reduced digestion ability. There are simple strategies to help with this and improve health without reducing quality of life through a rigid dietary approach.
There are many ways I could help you. For pricing and programs just give me your details here.