What RDs Do: Lindsey House RD, LD

LINDSEY HOUSE

INSIDE OUT BEAUTY, ACCOUNTABILITY COACH

for something nutrishus

Lindsey and I seem to have a lot of similar interests and passions. Having worked in surgical weight loss and getting a personal training certificate along the way, she has now carved out a niche in her strength area, and in an area where her caring and motivating personality are a great fit. 

Why did you become a RD? 

I was heavily active in sports growing up and had a built in love of health and fitness. When I went to Miami University for college orientation, I learned about dietetics and thought that this could not be more perfect (good thing I did not fully grasp the concept of all the chemistry classes and tears ahead of me! Ha.)

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

I spent the last 10 years of my career in surgical weight loss. I fell in love with outpatient counseling and the idea of getting to follow my patients through their journey to health. Due to family needs and the need for flexibility, I left the hospital to start working from home. I now provide skype accountability sessions and lead fitness challenges at an amazing company called “Inside Out Beauty”. I work 100% virtually and continue to love the world of counseling.

How would you explain what you do? 

My accountability sessions are lead like health coaching sessions. My clients come to me with their own needs (most in the category of “I know what to do, I just need to do it”). We do anything from meal planning, fitness calendars, behavior goals…clients walk away with a game plan for the next week or two and then we come back together to review previous goals and adjust accordingly.

My fitness challenges are virtual as well. Clients choose a 7 day jump start accountability group or a 30 day group that will cover fitness, nutrition and behavior goal setting as well. Clients are placed in a virtual group where they get constant support and accountability. They set their own goals and are lead through their days with instructional and motivational videos.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

My schedule is currently light because I am in the process of building my brand and filling my coaching schedule. My daily commitment is to my “like” page on facebook and this is considered my business page.

What has been your career path? 

I started as an acute care RD in a hospital and I covered all floors, so I was able to get a taste of everything (bone marrow unit, ICU, cardiac, ortho). I was working PRN ('pro re nata' - as needed) and decided to interview at an athletic club as a consulting RD. The hours were sporadic throughout the day and they encouraged me to get my personal training license to fill the in-between hours.

I ended up loving personal training and it was a fantastic mix of counseling and being out on the floor. I then happened upon an opportunity to cover a maternity leave in a surgical weight loss center and I almost didn’t take it due to time restraints, but I knew that I loved counseling and this could be an amazing outpatient opportunity. I fell in love with this position and worked the next 10 years in our surgical weight loss center.

When Kindergarten was starting for my oldest I was struggling with logistics of my commute to and from work with kid coverage before and after school (I thought daycare was so much easier to work around!). I decided to take, what I’m calling, a sabbatical and build a virtual clientele to work from home. I worked with a branding coach, have built my niche and brand as an Accountability Coach (functioning more as a health coach vs. doing specific dietary counseling). I officially am loving utilizing skype and other virtual options to provide my clients with easy scheduling, removing barriers for cancellations and time restraints.

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

I would consider my personal training certificate as special training as well as 10 year knowledge base in surgical weight loss.

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now? 

Oh boy, you just opened up my soap box!! In 5 years from now, I hope we are that much further away from “diet mentality”. I hope we have fully jumped into rewriting the rules of what success looks like… individuals are giving themselves credit for all of their amazing efforts that may have nothing to do with the scale.

I hope this generation can start to deemphasize the scale, reaching a specific weight and put emphasize on feeling good and working toward being the best “me” we can be. I don’t truly believe that we can fully change this generation, however the next generation is watching. If our young children are not jumping on & off scales, valuing their self-worth by what they weigh, not trying every new diet fad, look at food and fitness as a way to feel their best, fuel up for sports, etc.…then we are on the right track!

My favorite tags are: #progressoverperfection #rewritetherulestosuccess #smallchanges

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up? 

I could be goofy and say a common misconception is that we all are amazing cooks! Ha. However, my serious response is that we are rigid and expect perfection. I cannot tell you how many clients of mine are floored that I’m not immediately taking away their diet cokes, alcohol or bread :). I let people set their own goals and choose their own battles… sometimes we are ready to increase movement and drink more water… but asked to omit soda could send you to the dark side.

What would you like people to know about RDs? 

Dietitian’s want you to succeed!!! Most go into the profession because of the love of people, health and fitness. We are not the fad diet, the fast track to immediate weight loss… however, we are the loving arms that will help you build life long habits that will let you live with energy, sleep better and minimize disease. Dietitians assess their clients from all angles, are thorough and take the time necessary to provide their client/patient with the best care possible.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD? 

Because I have existed in the weight management arena for most of my career, my biggest challenge is fighting the power of the scale! I can get clients to a positive place where they are finally giving themselves credit for the small changes (i.e. hit a step goal, slept 8 hours a night, decreased soda by 2 per day) and if the scale does not provide the expected number, I have to start back at square one. (I honestly struggle that MD’s put so much emphasis on the scale… their patient’s hang on their every word).

What do people think that you do for a living? 

Since I exist on social media and provide coaching… I do not get a lot of confusion. The confusion I stand up against is the person that looks at me and says, “people pay you to keep them accountable? Don’t people know how to workout more? How to eat healthier?”.

There is a population that understands the importance of accountability, they succeed with it, struggle without it. I’m fine with people not truly understanding why someone would hire me, because I get to see first hand the success of individuals who invite me on their journey!!

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

I’m a broken record, but I’m extremely passionate about helping people settle into the mentality of “progress over perfection” when it comes to nutrition and fitness. We can aim for perfection in other facets of life, but it does not work in the health and fitness world.

What makes RDs unique/different from other nutrition/wellness professionals? 

I strongly believe that we are all in it because we care and when helping is coming from a good place, it’s hard to criticize or say that we all cannot make a difference. The only difference I would like to point out is an RD’s background. There is a reason for the schooling, the internship and it is because there is monumental learning and understanding being built!!! The ability to assess a question, a client’s history with great attention to detail and thoroughness. I’m sure there is an answer written better than my wording in a pamphlet somewhere :)

What is your favourite meal? 

I LOVE a full fondue meal, I think it’s not only the taste, but I like when eating takes a long time and it’s more about the social component vs the act of eating.

What tip(s) would you give to our readers? 

I would encourage everyone to find someone that inspires you! I have a client who calls her accountability team her “dream team”. She has built a relationship with a personal trainer, dietitian, physical therapist and at any given point in her life she pulls in a member or all members from her team!!

Do I think we all need a therapist, trainer, dietitian, chef, etc.? Do I think we all have the money for this extensive team? NO!! It can be as simple as following someone on social media that inspires you, listening to podcasts, grabbing a trainer during crazy seasons of life!! It’s truly about understanding your own needs and what has worked for you in successful moments of life!!

More about Lindsey:

Facebook: Lindsey House, Accountability Coach
Website: Inside Out Beauty
Facebook: Inside Out Beauty
Email: houselifestyles@gmail.com

W

Thanks Lindsey! Find out more about What RDsDo.

If you're a dietitian that would like to be featured, email me for the details!

Time for what?

Time has been on my mind a lot the last month. I am still trying to sort out my role as a working/stay-at-home mom (17 months in, as of today). The past 17 months have gone by as fast as everyone said they would. I am fortunate that I have been around for many/most of our little one's cherished moments. I am fortunate, because I am self-employed and my husband and I have prioritized spending as much time with our daughter as we can. Everyone has different goals, priorities, challenges, etc. in how they live and of course in how they act in the roles of parenthood.

Recently, in my attempts to minimize clutter in our house I came across an old goal setting exercise that we had done (or that I had made us do!). The recurring theme for me was time. A few of my goals for things I 'wanted' were:

• time for me
• time with my husband
• time with my kids
• time to read, watch movies, and workout
• freedom with my time
• to set my own hours (which obviously relates to time)
• to retire early (also relates to time)

*One of the goals for things I 'didn't want' was: to be overwhelmed with my time.

Our time is limited and we don't know when it will end. This of course brings me to mindfulness and I constantly try to live in and enjoy my present situation. I get ahead of myself too often or I think of others things I 'should' be doing. I have also tried to minimize things so that I can free up my time for other things.

Perhaps time is also on my mind because I'm approaching a birthday. I have no problem getting older, it's part of life after all, and I think I improve with age (or I at least try to be better every day). I just found (or made) time to jot down this post. I've mainly been sharing my #WhatRDsDo series which I'm really excited about, and life has been keeping me busy. I am however not going to apologize for my absence from personal posts. Life does and should happen. I am a rare millennial that is trying to unplug, to be present offline. I enjoy social media and I also work in that space, but I don't want to miss out on my life.

 

I have plans to get you to reflect on how you're spending (or if you're wasting) your time, how you maximize your time, how you'd like to spend your time, what you've learned that has improved you with time, etc.

My blogging time for today is over, so I hope you had a good time reading and I hope you come back to share.

Cheers,
Have a good time! ("we're here for a good time, not a long time!" - Trooper)

Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

Learning More About Being Me

I've been reading Gretchen Rubin's Better Than Before as I try to find time for non-work reading in the evenings. She even talks about 'quitting time' which I am going to try to do, since I work from home and am an 'upholder' I can easily be drawn to my office to do work and accomplish something (because that's what I like to do!).

I often talk about being our best self or the best version of ourselves. It's not about perfection, it's about progress, which the title of the book reminds us - be better!

Gretchen talks about all the unique traits we have and I like to learn as much about myself as I can, so I enjoyed reading that. I also try to be self aware - so I may not always respond or act the way I intended or should have, but on reflection I can easily see what I should have done/said. Maybe it's years as a dietitian and the self reflection we're taught that has stuck with me.

As I learn more about myself, I also continue to learn more. I know I like to cook, but I like to follow recipes, I struggle to just make something from scratch, which many dietitians are great at. I like to follow directions, perhaps with a few alterations, but I like to know where I'm going and what the outcome may be, even though, that does mean that I try all kinds of recipes - some that we'll make again, and others that are soon forgotten.

I also know that I like quotes for inspiration and I like alliteration. As an adult I've recently decided that I am at my best when I remain curious (not judgemental), am content (grateful and not wanting for more or comparing myself to others), and present (or mindful - conscious fits with my 'c' theme, but I don't like it as much). I keep mindfulness, minimalism, and moderation in mind as I strive for health, happiness, and habits.

I've got a lot to continue to work on, but I think I'm better than I was before. I do often have to remind myself of how far I've come and that happiness isn't a destination - ie. it's not, I'll be happy when ________.

This is just my check in, as it was on my mind and I had a few moments to spare to jot it down.

Be well, be you!

Cheers,

Steph Langdon, RD

www.nutrishus.com

Offline - On Purpose & By Accident

We went away for a quick family holiday mid-November. Since we left the country, I turned my phone roaming off and didn't use it for about 5 days. I was disappointed with myself that it felt 'weird' to not be checking my emails, texts, facebook, instagram, etc. Shouldn't it feel normal to not check your phone and be online?!

I have mentioned a few times that I feel it's good to unplug, to live the life in front of us. I make a conscious effort to be present and with my daughter while she's awake. I do admit though, sometimes I fall down the rabbit hole and am checking statuses, likes, updates, etc. Sometimes it's work related, sometimes it's personal, sometimes it's just out of habit.

Being away for a mere 5 days brought forth this revelation and realization as to how much time I must actually spend (waste) on-line/plugged-in. I was reminded of an image I saw recently:

This also made me think about habits. Often we're trying to start new habits or break old ones; often it's a choice. I felt like this was a habit change that was forced on me, for a positive reason. Once we returned home and I had my phone again, I tried to be on it less. I blogged less, I checked emails less, I posted on instagram less. Then I accidentally killed my phone (water damage beyond repair), so I was without a phone for another few days (while I tried to revive it). So here again, the world was showing me how much time I spend on my phone.

I now have a new, fully functioning phone, but I still want to live my real life, not my on-line one. I may not become internet famous, I may not have the most followers, but that's okay, I don't think I'd be a good celebrity anyway. I've also read accounts from people that became obsessed with social media, people that spend hours staging a photo to look like they just snapped it in a few seconds, and I know many successful/happy people that don't even attempt to keep up with the social media trends. This falls into my love of mindfulness (consciously using my phone less, consciously being present), minimalism (less use) and moderation (less use).

I still have a long way to go to be the best version of myself, but I do believe that unplugging more often is part of it. I am competitive, I expect a lot from myself, and I am a perfectionist, so I struggle to not compare myself to others online, even though it's just an image of their life, left open to my interpretation. Take this as you will, but the life I live beyond this screen is a pretty great one, whether you think that or not :)

I hope you find time to be with family and friends as the year draws to a close.
Cheers,
Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

Day 4: Best Version

I aim to inspire others to be the best version of themselves. I work daily to be the best me. I love goal setting. I love personal development. I am still figuring out who I am.

Even as a 30-something, I am still figuring life out. Although, perhaps it isn't meant to be figured out. Sort of like 'life has no meaning' - we as humans add the meaning.

I think part of my 'best version' philosophy comes from a desire to think about me, to not compare, to not try to be like others. I've always tried to be true to myself and be authentic. I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and pretty much 'what you see is what you get'. I actually didn't realize how much of an open book I was until former co-workers would comment on my personality and I would think, 'ya, they really know me'.

Having a daughter now also make me aware of the example I am setting for her. I want to be comfortable in my own skin and to me, that means knowing who I am. To be the best version of myself I 'need' a few things:

• quiet time/space (mindfulness) 
• organization (hence minimalism) 
• a sense of accomplishment 
• goals 

The people closest to me are likely very familiar with these parts of me. I'm the one that can't relax on the weekend until a few things on my to-do list get crossed off. Of course, motherhood has changed things, as I have less time for myself and rarely finish things.

I am grateful for: Me time

I may not always get it, but I have the privilege of having it. Whether it's time to sit in the tub, go for a walk/run or workout, or curl up with a cup of tea and a book. I know some people either don't have the luxury of this kind of leisure time, or haven't made it a priority, but I need it to be the best me.

I'm still not really sure what the best me means, but I work on it, so it fits the idea of 'progress, not perfection'. I know it means being active, eating well but with balance (moderation), reading, learning, relaxing, de-stressing, helping others, cooking, traveling, and sharing to inspire others (like this). I know I'm not there yet, but that kind of feels like the point?!

Do you have a best version of yourself? What does it mean to you?

Here's to you!
Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

Top 5 from the last five

Today I celebrate officially starting my business, Something Nutrishus Counselling & Coaching, 5 years ago on July 7, 2010. A lot has changed in that time, but I'm still here, I'm still self-employed, and I'm still able to pay my bills.

I have gradually been redefining my business as I figure out my passion, niche, motherhood, and areas I want to work in. After five years at this, I am able to be a bit pickier, but I still struggle to say no at times (I think it's the entrepreneurial concern of where the next pay cheque is coming from).

I can't say these are my top 5 memories or learnings, or the best of the last five years, but these are the notable things that came to me when writing this post and reflecting on how I got to today.

1) I am fortunate to have the support of my loving husband.
I could not do this without him. He helps in so many ways and I often feel like he's my business partner as I bounce ideas off of him, seek his advice, and seek his embrace when I get overwhelmed. He's my biggest fan and has always believed that I could work for myself and be successful (even when he has to help me define my success).

2) I do what I do for the freedom and flexibility.
I am not rolling in cash, but I am able to contribute to our household. Instead, I am able to enjoy the moments when I get to take my dog for a walk mid-afternoon, join a friend for coffee, spend time with my daughter, spend time in the kitchen, and be my own boss.

3) Self-employment is hard work.
My husband (refer to #1) often reminds me that many people have ideas, but few act upon them. I figured out in university that I was likely going to end up in private practice. I spent time emailing other dietitians, networking with other entrepreneurs, and going back and forth between loving what I was doing and wondering if I was crazy for choosing to do it. I now have a 7 month old daughter, and being self-employed means no formal maternity leave, but for me it also hopefully means more time with her each year, not just her first.

4) Having an off button is important.
Most people go to work, come home, and leave their work at work. For various reasons there are some people who are not able to do that (myself included). Perhaps they have clients contacting them at all hours and expecting responses, they love their work and surround themselves with it intentionally (ie. reading about the subject in their spare time for continued understanding and improvement). For me, I am always thinking about social media posts, helping/inspiring others and trying to stay up on the field (although I keep being reminded that I'll never 'catch up' and that my to-do lists will never be complete).

5) I love that I can evolve and change what I do.
I often have too many ideas of what I could do, so I have to have perspective and bring myself into focus. However, it's great to look back on what I've done, who I've worked with, and how I have found focus in my chosen career. I don't know what the future holds (as I have so many ideas), but I look forward to figuring it out as I learn more about myself and what I want to do when I grow up!

I googled top 5 lists and thought these two sites were interesting if you like lists and have time to spare (or waste):
- the top 5 of anything
- top 5 lists (daily lists from well-known personalities)

Thanks for the support and for reading over the years,

Steph Langdon, RD
something nutrishus
www.nutrishus.com

What's Guiding You?

As stated previously, maternity leave and the transition to spending more time as a mom means that I have lots of blog post ideas, yet don't get around to writing often. I can't complain though, I am really enjoying my time away from technology and screens to watch my little one grow! I do spend time on social media for work (and pleasure) so it's a bit of an internal struggle for me and I continue to work on not comparing myself to the assumptions I have of others based on their social media presence. I am in my 30s and still trying to figure out my priorities and how to live my best life.

I love quotes and find solace and inspiration in them. A few that have hit home for me recently are below:

(*see more on my Pinterest board)

With hiah chat I hope to provide insight to encourage you along your wellness journey. I find that it's great to know how others can succeed and the challenges they face. In the Craving Change program that I facilitate there are lots of examples called "you are not alone" and it's a great way to gain some perspective. I am a busy-body and have a hard time relaxing, yet I look at others online at times and feel that I'm not doing enough - I'm not working out enough or eating healthily enough, etc. but I have a great husband that helps to ground me and remind me of what is important - thus my continued journey to find balance so that I can enjoy lazy evenings with him and cuddles with my daughter without guilt (this may be a lifelong struggle for me!).

I plan to write my guiding principles or personal manifesto as I figure it out as well as writing about the pieces that make up health. I also hope to start some discussion around eating principles as sometimes we have developed rules that may be sabotaging our efforts and other times they may help keep us on track. I'm not one for diets, as the term diet to me just means a way of eating. I don't feel the need to associate with a specific way of eating (be that vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) and am fortunate enough to not have allergies, intolerances, or medical reasons that I have to - the world of food is open and available to me and I explore it fully. I hope my blog continue to evolve as I do, and as I learn from others and from science.

Do you have 'rules' that you follow on your path to health and wellness?

Feel free to comment below...
Happy Sunday and have a great week!

Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com