These days...
Weight loss is a touchy topic.
Many healthcare practitioners avoid accepting weight loss patients. I respect their boundaries and reasoning.
Conversely, some showcase before/after photos highlighting their clients’ success. I’m glad their clients find relief through weight loss.
For the record, I don’t see weight loss as such a black-and-white issue, and as such, don’t fall into either belief camp.
Should reaching a certain weight be part of your goals?
Well, it depends. Hint: body mass index (BMI) doesn’t tell us the answer.
It's almost always about more than just weight.
Clients who come to me with the explicit purpose of wanting weight loss end up realizing many, many other dreams beyond the weight they carry.
I see this process like an iceberg—there’s so much more beneath the surface than just the visible change.
The thing is, your body weight may or may not be part of the solution, but weight loss alone is certainly not the entire solution.
We know this to be true because there are plenty of people at their dream weights who still:
- Do not feel they have a right to exist as they are
- Still feel society’s unrealistic beauty standards
- Have an increased risk of disease
- Still deal with weight stigma
- Rely on dieting to stay at that weight
- Are not physically fit
- Don’t feel confident
- Feel chronic pain
- Don’t sleep well
- Binge and restrict
- Don’t include self-care in their routine
- Have abnormal lab values
- Live with symptoms of disordered eating
- Have a hard time with family feeding
- Do not enjoy what they eat
- Do not have more energy
- Do not have peace with food
- Do not feel worthy
And the list goes on. You see my point—this isn’t so black-and-white.
Getting to a certain weight does not automatically improve your health. It’s why BMI never tells the whole story and why we cannot use this measurement alone to determine what individuals truly need to improve their health.
For many people, including weight as a directional goalpost might be helpful, but it does not have to be included at all to hit your health goals.
And for those recovering from disordered eating or ED, it is likely not a goalpost we want to include, period.
Even still, getting to whatever weight feels right for you doesn’t necessarily solve what’s underneath the iceberg.
Being alone on the iceberg
The other metaphor is not lost on me—all alone in the vastness of the sea.
Many people seeking weight loss feel isolated.
This sense of isolation can arise from various sources:
- A lack of understanding and support from the medical community
- Pervasive weight stigma
- Minimal support from friends and family
- An overwhelming flood of conflicting information available online
What’s more, finding a safe healthcare provider who comprehends these complexities can be challenging, especially amidst the proliferation of “health coaches” or “nutritionists” who lack the comprehensive training of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). This difference is significant.
Yep, confusing but there is a humongous difference.
These non-RDN professionals often lack a deep understanding of weight complexities, how to screen for disordered eating, and how to interpret metrics beyond the scale.
Many RDNs, on the other hand, are trained to help individuals achieve a deep sense of well-being, understand dietary patterns of eating versus a provincial-minded focus on “toxic foods,” and consider both physical and mental health.
I personally guide my clients through the nuances of their weight journeys - should this be a goal - where I prioritize health and happiness and recognize that the “end goal” is beyond just a number.
Bottom line: if you have weight goals...
I will never tell you to find someone else.
Neither will I dismiss your deepest desire, nor tell you not to pursue it.
But I will be honest with you.
And I will always welcome you in.
Because I damn well know how to help you unpack what’s beneath the iceberg.
What sets me apart:
- I respect and honor your current belief system and worldviews.
- I prioritize building genuine relationships with my clients, where you’re not pressured to conform to someone else’s philosophies.
- I practice ethically, safely, and always base my approach on evidence.
- I support clients in processing and grieving if weight loss is not possible or safe.
- I don’t view weight goals as inherently problematic or equate them with success or failure.
- I teach you how to maintain neutrality regardless of changes in your weight because our focus extends far beyond numbers on a scale.
- With me, you’ll no longer feel isolated on the iceberg ❤️
Back to that question at the top 🔝
Should reaching a certain weight be a part of your goals?
If you are still unclear, I highly recommend my 20-minute eating behavior assessment call.
In this free call, I will be able to thoroughly understand your personal belief system and how it impacts your everyday health and eating decisions.
In 20-minutes, we will also be able to talk through your roadmap and the types of goals I recommend.
What else!?
This newsletter probably raised a few ❓❓—I hope it did.
I am here to help answer anything on your mind!
Reply back, Reader, and please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you!
Have a great week ahead.
Warmly,
P.S. Summer is coming! Vacations are, too. Don’t wait to get started, June and July are almost booked 👇
REVV Health is in-network with Premera Blue Cross and Regence. For other insurances, we provide superbills.
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Ways to Work Together:
- Personalized Nutrition Therapy: I specialize in tailored nutrition counseling, steering away from fad diets and focusing on sustainable lifestyle changes that align with your values.
- Family & Pediatric Nutrition: I help empower kids and families to build positive eating habits and overcome disordered eating patterns.
- Corporate Wellness: I elevate your team’s health and productivity through engaging talks and programs fostering a healthier relationship with food and wellness.
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Marissa Beck, MS, RDN
Founder of REVV Health, is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) with over 14 years of experience in corporate health & wellness. She offers private and family nutrition therapy & workplace solutions to help people REVVamp their eating habits. Marissa’s expertise includes building nutrition programs for tech companies and counseling people with diverse medical conditions. Currently Marissa is the president elect of the Washington State Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (WSAND) and is pursuing a board certification as an eating disorder specialist. A native New Yorker, she graduated with a Master of Science from Columbia University and enjoys an active lifestyle in Greater Seattle with her husband and two girls.
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