I get a lot of questions about what it is that I do for a living. Well I am finally ready to talk about it because I think it is such an important topic. For the past couple years I’ve been doing nutritional counseling/ health coaching. Can I first say how excited I am to be able to work in a field I love?? I am not an RD, but I contracted with one to custom design nutrition plans for my clients, then I would work with them on a weekly basis to help them implement the healthy changes necessary to get them to lead a healthier lifestyle, lose weight, fuel their intense workouts, etc.
However, I kept noticing one fact that bothered me. The calorie level for my clients were figured using formulas… Harris Benedict, Katch-McArdle, etc. We would base their entire plan on the results of these formulas. Sometimes things would work out just fine, and other times my clients wouldn’t get results… even the ones that I knew were truly following the plan. I sent them to have their BMR/RMR (basal metabolic rate/resting metabolic rate) tested, and would be surprised how far off their true caloric burn was from the predicted caloric burn. Sometimes there was a difference of hundreds of calories, which makes a HUGE difference in how you should be eating to lose weight, train for an event, etc. Eat too little on a consistent basis and you starve your body, lowering your metabolism, decreasing your energy and decreasing your ability to succeed in your athletic goals. Eat too much on a consistent basis and you will gain weight.
Turns out that every single person’s metabolism in unique. Even people of the same height, weight and sex can have drastically different metabolisms.
I am such a firm believer that this is a critical number to know, that I spent a couple months reconfiguring my company and now am focused on spreading the importance of metabolic testing and providing the testing for people to find out their BMR!
But not only to I provide people with their BMR, I also am able to factor in your exercise schedule, how much sleep you get, your occupation, your body composition, etc to be able to tell you the total amount of calories to eat on a daily basis to gain, lose or maintain your weight. Then this number is broken down into a healthy balance of nutrients and you will know how many grams of fat, protein and carbohydrates you need (if you like to keep track of those details).
*for more details go to www.mymetabolicmeasurement.com*
N.E.W. Lifestyles partnered with Microlife to use their testing equipment, the Body Gem. It is an accurate device that is the same technology used on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, and I am SO excited about it.
I tested my metabolism the other day and do you have any guesses as to what it was?
Here are my stats:
- 5’1”
- 112.5 lbs
- female
- 27 years old
Guess what you think my BMR is, and I’ll tell you on Monday! 🙂
What are your thoughts on metabolic testing?
christina says
love this post! i am so jealous – i want my metabolism tested so bad!!
melissa says
Your BMR is about 1,325. 😉 In my own experience I just went with what the online claculator stated according to 411 fit and I lost 40 pounds, so I am not sure that it is necessary to spend money getting an accuracy test. As far as working with clients, one can’t be with them 24 hours a day so there is no true way to know if they are following the plan as given. I; however, would like to know for me just how off the online info is and to maintain weightloss. Just curious, about how much does metabollic testing cost?
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
Hmmm….I am trying to compare what mine was a year or so ago when I had this testing done to what yours might be…I’ll go with 1,750 based on your exercise level…but I’m probably totally wrong. 🙂
I had no idea you weren’t an RD…for some reason I thought you were. I kind of appreciate that, as before I went back to teaching I considered going into nutrition consulting, but the scary schooling intimidated me.
Also, I’m not sure that my “patients” would trust me after they see how much bacon I consume. 😉
Maria @ Oh Healthy Day says
So interesting! I would love to have this test because most online calculators feel so off to me – telling me that I can only eat 1300 calories a day if I don’t exercise. Yikes!
So glad that you are working in a field you love and helping others get healthy – that’s what it’s all about!
Oh, I’d say your BMR would be around 1650. Total wild guess from someone who has no idea what they are talking about 🙂
Christina @ Food.Fun.Fabulous. says
I wonder, how does the BodyGem compare to the BodPod? Do you think the results would be different? I’m pretty sure BodPod is what a lot of hospitals use. I understand your frustration with the RMR formulas. In my nutrition classes we are now using Mifflin instead of Harris-Benedict because it’s supposedly to be slightly more accurate but who knows!
Christina @ Food.Fun.Fabulous. says
Also I just generated the winner of my giveaway and you’re it!
John J. says
Who wouldn’t want that information – as long as it is at a reasonable price. I’m sure you will have a lot of clients.
Corey @ the Runner's Cookie says
That’s so cool! I want to know! I eat so much…seriously, it’s not normal. I get comments when I go to restaurants about how much I eat given how small I am.
Sara @ Nourish and Flourish says
I am really interested in learning more about your job/business because it sounds *exactly* like what I’d like to do! ! I’m going to e-mail you soon. 🙂
RMR’s have always nterested me…I had mine tested not long ago, but I still don’t know how to calculate what I’m burning on top of that. I guess I need to buy one of those arm bands? I’m sure your clients really appreciate your expertise and guidance!