Two years of searching
At 36, I was 165 pounds and 20 pounds overweight. After gaining 15 more pounds working remotely, I tried Keto, intermittent fasting, and calorie counting without success.
Why I decided to work with a dietitian covered by my insurance
I needed professional help and was tired of crash dieting. When one of my friends told me that she lost and kept off the weight by working with a dietitian, and that it was completed covered by her insurance, I started researching options. I chose to work with Top Nutrition Coaching and Nourish. I also learned the difference between a 'Nutritionist' and a 'Registered Dietitian,' the latter being a licensed medical professional.
What I looked for in a weight loss dietitian
Insurance Coverage: I was looking for a service that would be covered by most insurance plans and cost $0 out of pocket.
Results: I wanted something that worked and felt easy.
Accountability: I needed accountability and motivation when things got tough, or I knew I’d lose motivation when I got stuck.
Availability: I have a busy schedule, so I needed a plan with flexibility.
Personalized: I was tired of one-size-fits-all plans. I needed something that fit my lifestyle, my food preferences, my schedule, and my body type.
Professional expertise: I wanted someone who knew what they were doing and had the credentials to back it up.
My pick for best dietitian services covered by insurance
Here's the link I used to verify my insurance was accepted by Top Nutrition Coaching. It was hands down the best option for me. This was the only program that dug deeper and identified the cause of why I was not losing weight. My dietitian ordered blood work, and it turned out I actually have hypothyroidism, which makes it harder to lose weight.
My dietitian created a plan built around my diagnosis, her guidelines felt actionable, and worked well with my lifestyle. I didn’t just lose 20 pounds, but I’ve kept it off for 4 months and counting.
My results
Sessions with my dietitian
What I ate
Here are some low carb, high protein meals that I made with healthy recipes from Nicolette!
- Five spice tofu noodles
- White bean salad
- Red and green enchiladas
- Corn and tomato salad
- Peach and burrata Salad
What I loved
There are many things that I liked about working with Top Nutrition Coaching, but here are a few highlights:
- Results
With medication for my hypothyroidism and the constant support from my dietitian I can finally say I lost 20 pounds and I’m still well on my way to my ideal weight. - Cost
Top Nutrition Coaching accepted my insurance so the counseling cost $0 and my hormone test was $100. They offer support starting at $99 to people who don't have insurance. - Nutrition Expertise
My dietitian’s knowledge and experience in nutrition, literally changed my life. Identifying my Thyroid issue was a game changer, she knew exactly what needed to be done as a result. - Personalization
My dietitian took my weight loss struggle so seriously and put so much consideration into my nutrition plan. The ability to text with her 24/7 was so helpful. Anytime I had questions or was going out to eat, I could get answers and recommendations ahead of time. - Accountability
I really underestimated the difference it would make to have an accountability partner. Our sessions kept me motivated, and when life got in the way she reminded me of my goals and how I could still be making progress. I never felt without support.
Runner up: Nourish
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Overall rating - 4/5 stars
I tried Nourish for a couple months and overall my experience was pretty positive. The coaches there are mostly Registered Dietitians, and I felt like they were experienced and sincere in their desire to help me.
My dietitian took a holistic approach, looking at my overall health and well-being. However, the recommendations felt a little too basic at times and dependent on me changing my lifestyle. My dietitian recommended things like getting more sleep, less stress, and drinking more water, which I don’t disagree with, but I could get those recommendations off of google. I felt a little left in the dark when it came to my concerns about the possibility of an underlying issue.
I liked the convenience of virtual appointments, but there were times when I found myself with a quick question after a session, or on a random weekday night, and had to wait to get help in the next session.
What I liked
- Personalization
I appreciate that at Nourish my dietitian listened to my dietary preferences and I felt like what I said was taken into consideration in creating a custom nutrition plan. - Cost
One thing that was great about Nourish was that they were able to accept my insurance and my sessions were mostly covered. However, I know everyone’s insurance coverage is different.
What could have been better
- Medical expertise
My dietitian was definitely knowledgeable, but I felt like they could have dug deeper into possible underlying issues. - Accountability
I wished I had more contact with my dietitian between sessions as questions came up, it was hard to wait for the sessions to get answers and it was easy to lose momentum. - Results
I lost close to 10 pounds with Nourish, but it still felt like an uphill battle. I frankly needed more hand holding and consistency to make quick adjustments and stay consistent.
Third place: NOOM
Overall rating - 3.5/5 stars
When I began my search for a more personalized weight loss program, I quickly realized that many options were either still too generic or too expensive.
After some consideration, I initially decided to give NOOM a try. It was a more affordable and flexible option, which appealed to me with my busy schedule.
I liked the convenience of virtual appointments, but there were times when I found myself with a quick question after a session, or on a random weekday night, and had to wait to get help in the next session.
Honorary mention: Berry Street
Why I decided not to work with Berry Street
I first considered Berry Street, which sounded like what I was looking for in terms of virtual sessions with a dietitian, but they had very limited availability. I wanted something that was going to easily integrate into my life and not be a pain to schedule.
Why I chose Top Nutrition Coaching
I chose Top Nutrition Coaching as my top pick because of their exceptional level of expertise, thorough approach to uncovering the root causes of weight issues, and highly personalized nutrition plans. The program offered flexible communication options and strong accountability, which kept me motivated and supported throughout my journey. Personally, I was impressed by their commitment to treating my individual needs and for the first time, I feel fully able to manage my weight long term.