Telehealth Nutrition Coaching Saved Me From Menopausal Weight Gain—Here’s What Happened
Trying to lose weight isn’t new to me, but recently, my old tactics of eating less, exercising a few times a week and avoiding sugar weren’t working anymore. As life does, it had become more complex lately when I took on a caregiver role for an aging relative and had some minor injuries—all while on the cusp of the menopause years.
I gained about 30 pounds over the last four years, and I realized that weight loss was a lot more challenging than it used to be. Even though I was getting more disciplined—like moving away from sugary desserts and adding a stationary bike to my regular walks—my energy levels kept plummeting while my fat hung on for dear life.
I began to wonder if perimenopause was changing my body in ways that meant I needed a whole new way of managing my weight and feeling like myself again. That’s when I decided I didn’t just need general nutritional guidance or another supplement, but the right kind of guidance for my body. The trick was to find something effective that was free or had low out-of-pocket expenses that wouldn’t break the bank.
A leap into nutrition coaching was worth it—and at no cost to me
While I knew nutrition coaching may make it easier to drop the pounds, I was worried about the added expense and how I’d fit more appointments into my busy work/life schedule.
So when I discovered Nutrisense, it seemed like the perfect fit for my budget, schedule and weight-loss goals.
I wanted to learn more about weight loss from knowledgeable and qualified experts. I liked that Nutrisense providers are not general health coaches—they’re board-certified dietitians and nutritionists, so I knew I would get the most up-to-date nutritional advice.
The 1:1 at-home telehealth video call setup is super convenient for someone like me with a busy schedule. It’s more private, and the service includes free rescheduling with 24 hours’ notice.
It’s often covered by insurance. (For those worried about fitting nutrition coaching into their budget, their website mentions that 95% of people are covered by insurance—with $0 out-of-pocket expenses.)
Getting started was a breeze
Onboarding was fast and easy. It took all of 5-10 minutes to book a video call. I answered a few questions about my symptoms and goals, identified my insurance carrier, added a few personal details, and chose a day and time that worked for me.
Once scheduled, I was prompted to enter a few more details about my insurance. Nutrisense did all the work from there to instantly verify my insurance.
A follow-up email provided helpful tips on how to prepare for my upcoming appointment, including information on downloading and using the Nutrisense app.
That was all I needed to get started, so I was pretty pleased with how fast and organized the whole process was. So far, so good, and no hidden fees.
Progress was fast—My metabolism began to shift quickly
Before my appointment, reminders were sent out two days, one day, two hours and 10 minutes before the session, so even my middle-aged brain couldn’t forget that I was scheduled to meet with my dietitian, Nicole, on Zoom.
When the session began, I could tell that Nicole had read my questionnaire and cared about preparing the right eating, exercise and health solutions for my unique situation. It was clear that she knew what she was talking about. She referenced studies and knowledge that only a nutrition expert could know, and she made it very relatable to me.
We talked about changing hormonal levels and how they can really impact everything from energy levels to the amount of fat in the body.
For every change in my body Nicole mentioned, she gave simple actions I could take to counter it. This included not just the best nutrients to eat, but when to eat them. Protein was a big topic of discussion.
She helped me understand the best exercises to support my body and reduce the risk of injuries in addition to my usual walking and cycling.
When I began applying Nicole’s suggestions—like when to eat protein at each meal, a meal-planning approach for my vegetarian lifestyle and exercises that counter fat production—my energy levels stabilized within one week. It seems fast, but it’s true. I felt so much better, and it was such a relief to have my old stamina back. My cravings for more food went way down, too, so I was able to reduce my portion sizes to what they were before I began gaining weight. Even a few of my jackets and pants started to fit better (I usually lose weight in my stomach first). My metabolism was already shifting, and I felt like I was finally on track.
What I liked about the telehealth service
Personalized, actionable advice
My dietitian really got to know me and gave me actual weight-loss steps I could quickly put into place the same day, like how and when to eat different nutrients and the best exercises to add to my workout routine. As an educated nutrition professional, she truly understood the complexities of weight management—and what I needed to take into account during the perimenopause stage of life. She was thorough and kind, and she made it about me and where my body was right now.
Easy insurance approval
Insurance verification was all done by Nutrisense, so I didn’t have to go back and forth with my insurance company myself.
At-home convenience
The at-home coaching from a board-certified dietitian made the service super convenient for me—I loved having a private conversation from my home. And the coaching wasn’t cookie-cutter advice, but high-quality support from a trained dietitian targeted toward my needs and lifestyle.
Easy check-in with my dietitian after the call
After the session, it was easy to check in with Nicole for follow-up support using the app. She passed on resources to assist me with moving forward and quickly responded to all my post-session questions and comments.
Full-service app with personalized health data patterns
The company really went all-out with their app to bring everything together in one convenient place, including:
Free nutritional courses
A place to upload your lab tests
Syncing with your continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data (if you use one)
A barcode-friendly, easy-conversion food logging feature (you can even upload photos)
Health pattern tracking
Option for more calls
Nutrisense sent a message about how many video calls I was eligible for when I signed up for the service—most insurance companies cover additional calls. There’s also an option to upgrade to unlimited nutrition coaching per month.
Glucose monitoring experts
Nicole mentioned that their providers are all glucose-certified experts because it factors into general weight loss and other health markers like diabetes. She talked me through what glucose tracking with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) would look like — it’s kind of like having a “coach” by your side to find the right food ratios at each meal to balance blood sugar and nutrient intake. Glucose tracking with a CGM is another Nutrisense service anyone can opt into.
Final verdict
Overall, the added support I got from Nicole was a game-changer, and the value of the service couldn’t be beat. The conversation we had was much fuller than the quick tips I’d been given at my wellness visits, which were mostly one-size-fits-all. Nicole offered me solutions for my unique body chemistry and health concerns.
My key takeaways:
I discovered actionable daily habit adjustments to not only lose weight, but also boost my energy levels and maintain good nutrition. I’m excited to already see results from my single session.
It’s well-organized, which made everything from onboarding to applying what I learned smooth and easy.
Most major insurance companies fully cover the nutrition coaching service.
There are lots of value-added benefits, like free classes and follow-up support.
I truly hope everyone is aware of their access to an expert health service like this, especially when 95% of people pay $0 out-of-pocket. The investment of time for myself and the new tools I’ve learned have brought me added confidence, and I feel like my metabolism, energy levels and weight-loss goals are back on track thanks to my dietitian’s advice. We can all benefit from solid, expert personal nutrition strategies for a long, healthy life, and Nutrisense nutrition coaching offered me this and so much more.
