Considering major career change and need your input PLEASE

[charlotteyochem]

Ladies:

Do you think there is a place in this world for a fitness and nutrition advisor/coach?? I have seen both of these, of course, individually, but have not experienced an advisor or coach that coaches the big picture - both nutrition and fitness. I am gathering from all our posts asking questions about fitness AND nutrition that this would be an area of practice useful to many people?? (And we are the educated ones!!)

If any of you know of people who already are doing this, will you please let me know so I can check it out??

Currently, I am an estate planning attorney and investment advisor: 45 years old, fascinated by the fitness/nutrition/mind connection and looking for something more in my life - purpose. I see so much misinformation, total lack of information, lack of motivation, etc. etc. etc. that I feel like I really could make a difference in lives by offering this sort of coaching. Also, my part of the world - South Texas - is experiencing epidemic Type 2 diabetes due largely to our mostly Mexican-American population and their predisposition to that disease and diet fumbles. Wow - just think what could be done in this environment...

Please be honest about the odds of success. :*

 

[pixie9]

Charlotte, I think that's a great idea. I'm planning on doing this myself. I'm currently enrolled in a Master's for Exercise Science program and when that's done, I'm hoping to get a degree in nutrition. You may want to consider getting certified in personal training with a reputable organization like NSCA or ACSM and getting formally educated in nutrition. Different states have different laws concerning who can give nutrition advice (and those laws are slowly changing for the benefit of registered dietitians). Here's a website that speaks to that (although it may just be for NY but it gives an example):

http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/shp/phn/regulations.htm

I'm not sure how I feel about RD's alone being able to give nutrition advice, but I do believe that people giving nutrition advice need to be formally trained in that field.

Hope that helps!
Carolyn