I Got a Nutrition Coach To See If I Could Lose 20 Pounds. Here’s What Happened.

Dieting sucks. Ask any of the 45 million Americans who attempt to lose weight each year, and you’ll likely hear struggles of managing hunger or yo-yo dieting.

As a health reporter, I regularly interview dietitians about nutrition and weight loss, but that doesn’t mean dieting comes easy. I’ve attempted to lose the same 20 pounds for more than a year: dropping five pounds one month, only to regain it — sometimes with a few additional pounds.

I finally realized I couldn’t do it alone, so I decided to try Stronger U, a personalized program that matches you with your very own nutrition coach. As you document everything you eat in an Excel spreadsheet, your coach provides regular feedback to help you achieve your goal — be it weight loss, weight maintenance, or muscle building. Plans currently vary in price from $349 for 12 weeks of coaching to $1,149 for a year of coaching.