Every year I get an energy boost and decide to start a new healthy eating or workout routine. Post college until now, my routines have been hit or miss. l’ll get excited about them for a few weeks or maybe a few months and then I’ll silently quit. I’ve worked with very knowledgeable and friendly trainers and I’ve bailed on them. It wasn’t them; it was me.

In my attempts to eat healthier, I’ve purchased meal plans, set up delivery for healthy meals to be dropped off at my job, and tried removing certain items from what I cook at home (like cheese) or switch out ingredients to a healthier version (like using wheat pasta). I still never had any change in my weight or body fat. I won’t blame the foods here either; it was still all me. But what was I doing wrong?

Why Do I Struggle To Eat Healthy?

For me it’s always come down to two things: taste and cost. When I tried ready-made meal delivery from local businesses, I paid $10-$15 USD per meal. When I tried online meal delivery companies, it was over $150 per week. In both instances, the meals did taste good but on my educator salary I couldn’t consistently place my orders. So I tried making healthy meals at home. Once, my trainer and I went to the grocery store together. He walked me through how to read food packages, why it’s important to shop the perimeter of the store, and each time I selected my usual items he gave me all the reasons they didn’t align with eating healthy. I went home with bags of healthy ingredients ready to cook.

It was a disaster.

I do well with things like pastas, smothered chicken, enchilladas and pot roast. But with so many restrictions on what I should purchase to make my meals, the food tasted so bland I just ended up ordering fast food. Then I would get mad at myself for never sticking to healthy eating. It was a vicious cycle.

Why Is It So Hard To Work Out Every Day?

Working out was never hard to do in high school or college because it was part of my day. Exercise was embedded into practice for all my extra-curricular activities. I’d like to think if I never stopped that daily routine once I became a working adult, I’d be in a better place today. But I had to realize I worked out in high school as a means to an end; to get to do the things I wanted to do like cheer, run track, and swim. As an adult the truth is I don’t actually enjoy working out. Or maybe I have never found a routine I like. Or maybe a bit of both. I did really enjoy Orange Theory but once again, the price tag didn’t align with my monthly budget.

I was also so exhausted after work. When you like going to the gym, you look forward to the end of the day so you can lift weights. But when you don’t and you’re already low energy after chasing kids all day, all you want to do is go home and sleep. That’s exactly what I did most days.

trying to lose weight, dream life abroad, I want to lose weight — Verónica and Fernanda Molina, Owners of Molina Nutricion in Merida, Mexico

Do Nutritionist Really Help?

When I first met with Fernanda, co-owner of Molinas Nutricion with her sister Veronica, I told her everything I just shared with you. I let her know this was my first visit with a nutritionist, but it was something I’d been wanting to do for a long time. We talked about my family health history and I shared how almost all the people (at least that I know of) in my family have died from cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. Fernanda listened attentively and then asked about my goals. I said I don’t expect to be 110 lbs again like I was in grade school, but I would like my weight and body fat to match my height. I want to feel good in my clothes again, and the next time I go to the beach, I don’t want to have to choose the one piece- I want to bring out the two piece!

After that conversation, Fernanda had me step on a machine to assess my weight, fat mass, and fat percentage. She also wrote down my upper waist, lower waist and hip circumferences. Here were my results:

Upper Waist Circumference: 82 cm/ 32.3 in
Lower Waist Circumference: 90.1 cm/ 35.5 in
Hip Circumference: 109.2 cm/ 43 in
Weight: 70.9 kg/ 156 lbs
Fat Mass: 32.1 kg/ 71 lbs
Fat Percentage: 45.3%

Fernanda typed rapidly on her laptop while I talked about all the things I like to eat. She checked in with me about what I was willing to try and what she should absolutely avoid when she drafted my meal plan. Although this was good information to have, the best part for me was receiving multiple resources for companies in Merida, Mexico that provide healthy meals. I was able to connect with one company that was owned by a chef and dietician. Together they provide healthy, delicious meals.

Fernanda made me feel comfortable because she deeply listened to my needs. Even when talking about food, I never felt like she was trying to restrict me from enjoying things I liked. Instead she was showing me ways to enjoy them differently than I had in the past. I walked away from our conversation feeling empowered.

How Much Does It Cost To Talk To A Nutritionist?

Costs will vary based on location and whether your insurance covers the visit or you have to pay out of pocket. According to Noom, expect to pay between $70-100 USD. I now live in Merida, Mexico where my cost of living is different than if I were still in the states. The cost for my visit was $400 MX ($20 USD). Molinas Nutricion offers online consultations that include:

Online consultation via video call
General recommendations and tips to learn to eat healthy throughout life
A personalized eating plan adapted to your needs and goals
Practical recommendations for eating healthy away from home
Assistance via WhatsApp (with established hours) and/or via email

What Are Next Steps After The Appointment?

I told Fernanda I wanted to reach my ideal weight of 135 lbs by my next birthday which is 11 months from now. She gave me the goal of losing 6 lbs by the time we meet again. I’ve already signed up for workout classes including: boxing HITT class, African Beats, and yoga. I also plan on checking out the stadium track near my home.

I will keep you all posted on my progress!

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