Keep Your Workouts Fresh
Jan 31, 2012
- What can I expect at my first appointment?
Your first appointment will involve a complete diet and lifestyle assessment. We will discuss what you would like to achieve and set some initial goals and a realistic plan of action. Depending on your goals, your weight, body fat percentage, and waist circumference may be taken and compared to standards for your gender, age, and height. It is very helpful if you bring a copy of your most recent laboratory tests and a list of medications, herbs, and/or dietary supplements you are taking. Please be sure to download and complete the new client forms before your first appointment. - Do you take insurance?
I am a provider for Medicare (see next bullet), CAM PPO, and American Specialty Health. For all other insurance, I may offer you a coded superbill that can be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement. You may call your insurance company ahead of time to find out how much they will reimburse. Additionally, if you have a flexible spending account or health savings account, most plans will allow you to derive tax-free benefits with nutritional services. - Will Medicare pay for my visit?
Medicare Part B, will cover Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for beneficiaries diagnosed with diabetes or renal disease (except for those receiving dialysis). Medicare will pay for 3 hours of MNT during your first year of diagnosis and 2 hours each subsequent year. Please let me know ahead of time if you are a Medicare recipient. - My goal is weight loss. How long will it take for me to lose weight?
A safe rate of weight loss is approximately 0.5 to 2 lbs per week. - How often should I follow-up with you?
Eating habits are developed over a lifetime and thus they require time and professional guidance to change. Depending on the level of change, clients generally need at least 3 to 10+ follow-up sessions (please ask about discounts on follow-up packages). Some clients feel they need frequent reinforcement and choose to follow-up continuously. A registered dietitian can be thought of in some cases as your "food therapist."