Why We Partner With Bamboo Nutrition To Help Clients In Columbia Mo

Most gyms in Columbia will try to sell you everything.

The protein shakes, smoothie bars, diet plans, "wellness coaching"...

For some, that's a good approach.

On the plus side:

• You don't have to go to multiple places to get what you want.
• They'll know everything you're incorporating into your routine.
• You might be eligible for bulk discounts.

Gyms like this can be great, and cheap even if you just need a place to go and can block out all the stuff that makes you feel uncomfortable.

These sorts of places aren't a vibe for the clients we work with.

We serve women (and some men and non-binary individuals) who want to feel strong and confident by focusing on strength training.

We primarily say women because ~95% of our clients identify as such.

We don't sell any supplements, have any mirrors, and we're certainly not going to cross any boundaries by giving you unsolicited body "compliments".

We're a gym that wants you to come in and exercise without having to worry about what you're wearing that day or if you remembered to put on makeup so we can post you in our Instagram stories (we always ask permission from the peeps who do).

We also don't try to dabble in an entire other field of expertise that requires extensive schooling, dietetics. We refer out to dietitians for that.

Mainly Bamboo Nutrition!

Bamboo Nutrition is the best dietitian in Columbia MO. They treat our clients with empathy, care, and validation while providing options to help you care for your health.

Founded by Isabelle Bouchard, Bamboo Nutrition continues to grow as more people find joy in working with them, recently adding therapy services. I reached out to Isabelle back in 2021 after asking an old Dietetics professor friend of mine if she knew of anyone in town to whom we could send clients. In the years since, I've attended staff meetings, shared clients, and seen how Isabelle and her team have truly helped people plant a strong foundation for personal growth.

Every dietitian and therapist on staff is intelligent, makes you feel heard, and has the utmost moral character. They won't bait and switch you with summer shreds or things that leave you feeling like you're any less than the awesome, skilled, motivated person deserving of compassion that you are.

People visit dietitians for help with planning and eating in a way that aligns with their current goals and values. You may be referred to visit with a Dietitian by your doctor if you have a specific health condition that needs Medical Nutrition Therapy.

Some of these conditions include:

• Hypertension
• Disorders of lipid metabolism (for ex. Gaucher disease and Tay-Sachs disease)
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Chronic kidney disease
• Gestational conditions
• Pediatric growth problems
• Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes (not obesity-related)

A registered dietitian is a nutrition expert. Like doctors, Dietitians train in many different areas and specialize in specific forms of treatment.

For example:

• Lactation counseling
• Health and wellness coaching
• Eating disorders
• Chronic disease management
• Physical activity, lifestyle, and health education

At Bamboo Nutrition, dietitians specialize in medical nutrition therapy for eating disorders, diabetes, kidney disease, GI disorders, healthful eating, and other chronic disease states.

In case you didn't know, there's a difference between dietitians and nutritionists. A registered dietitian has a larger scope of practice.

You'll see plenty of people in Columbia call themselves "nutritionists" but there are several things they're not allowed to do:

• They cannot call themselves a dietitian.
• They're not allowed to use the terms “dietitian,” “dietitian nutritionist,” “licensed dietitian” or “licensed dietitian nutritionist” to describe themselves.
• They cannot advertise that they asses the nutritional needs of individuals and groups.

Most commonly, I've seen practitioners try to skirt around things by calling themselves "Nutrition therapists". The vague title is problematic and confusing for consumers but you should know one thing;

"Nutrition therapists can’t diagnose diseases, prescribe medications or cures, claim to be able to prevent or cure any illness or issue, or even use any of those terms when working with clients." - Christa Terry, writer and editor

In fact, if you choose to work with a nutritionist, you might have to pay for all your visits out of pocket. Cleveland Clinic notes, "They typically aren’t covered by insurance because they’re not recognized as health professionals."

Yes, depending on your needs, you may see a Dietitian looking to lose weight. If your only goal is weight loss, it makes more sense to see a dietitian than a personal trainer. You don't burn as many calories in a workout as many people think.

Bamboo Nutrition will help you lose weight but not by fad dieting, restrictive meal plans, or using dietary supplements.

Read out more about their approach to weight loss here.

Like most other forms of therapy, how often you see your dietitian depends on where you're at with your goals. I've worked with a mental health counselor in the past. Initially, we started with more frequent meetings as I had some things I wanted to work through. Later in our relationship, we moved to moving less frequently, about once per month.

Bamboo Nutrition has a similar set of expectations for new patients.

How you go about choosing a good dietitian is similar to the process that you would follow in finding a good personal trainer;

• Make sure they hold a credible certification (RD, RDN).
• Read reviews, testimonials, and case studies.
• Talk to anyone you know who has worked with them.
• Try out a discovery call to make sure your personalities mesh.

Read their content to see if you vibe with what they're putting down. Bamboo Nutrition has a helpful article on how to know if you're the right fit for them.

If you think you might be interested in working with them, reach out and give Bamboo a call today!