What the legal boundaries of a new credential have reminded me of
to you
After two master's degrees and a PhD, I thought I was done with taking exams. I was wrong.
I'm currently preparing for an exam – and completing supervised practice hours – to earn the Certified Nutritionist Specialist (CNS) credential.
Doing so has given me an unexpected reminder of the major importance of specificity – and in a way that may help you better understand the need for specificity in your own lifestyle choices.
The CNS credential is similar to the Registered Dietitian credential in that it serves as a pathway to state licensure for practicing medical nutrition therapy.
While under supervision for the CNS credential, I can provide direct guidance on using nutrition and lifestyle to prevent and/or manage medical conditions.
But this is intended to complement the medical care that a physician provides, not replace it. In that regard, I have the responsibility (and legal requirement) to be careful with my language.
For example, although my training and supervision provide justification for using and interpreting lab testing to guide nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, I must avoid any diagnostic or prescriptive language that could be perceived as practicing medicine.
It's not as easy as it might sound, particularly for states with stricter laws.
For example, consider the following two sentences in the context of explaining the nutritional relevance of a lab result for homocysteine. (Don't worry, you don't need to know what homocysteine is to understand this main point.)
"A low intake of folate and vitamin B12 can facilitate elevations in homocysteine."
"A low intake of folate and vitamin B12 may contribute to elevations in homocysteine."
Both seem like innocent statements, and for the most part, they are. But one leans more towards being diagnostic than the other.
Because "can facilitate" is slightly more direct than "may contribute to," it gives a stronger indication of cause and effect, and in the legal context of discussing a client's homocysteine result, could be perceived as diagnostic.
Yeah, it's like splitting hairs … and if I had hair on my head, it would make me want to pull it out!
This doesn't mean you have to split hairs to figure out the best lifestyle choices for your goals and needs. But it does mean that meaningful progress often requires more specificity than simply "eating less junk" or "being more active."
Nothing has changed – mastering the foundational nutrition, exercise, and general lifestyle principles most likely to enhance health, wellness, and overall quality of life will always be the top priority of the coaching that Coach Kayla and I provide.
Medical Nutrition Therapy is a logical progression from this foundation. It's a way for me to customize nutrition and lifestyle recommendations with more direct support for any medical concerns you may have.
Book a free call with Coach Kayla to learn more!
Specificity is what enables you to get the best results with the least effort.
This doesn't mean specificity makes things easy. What it does is increase your odds of success while minimizing wasted effort.
For example, if you're trying to lose weight and your intent stops at simply eating fewer calories, you might find your cravings too difficult to overcome.
But if you were to make your intent more specific by prioritizing foods and eating patterns that are more satiating, you'd be more likely to see lasting progress – and with much less frustration.
Similarly, if you intend to support your physical and overall health with exercise, basing your workouts only on what's fun – or what your friends are doing – may not produce the benefits you need most.
Walking, for example, is an excellent activity that most people should make a point to do more of. But it won't provide nearly as good a stimulus for optimizing cardiovascular health or offsetting age-associated declines in power, strength, and bone density.
There's a common principle that the best exercise and rehabilitation professionals live by. It's called the SAID principle, which stands for Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands.
That means the benefits you get from exercise are specific to the demands it puts on your body.
Noticing a theme yet with the word "specific"? Yes, it really is that important!
Doing something is almost always better than doing nothing, but that's just the beginning. Taking action only creates results when your actions are specifically aligned with the goal you're aiming for.
To specific actions for profound results,
Dr. Vin
🆘 Want help figuring out what being specific should mean for you? This is where we shine most. We're relentlessly focused on helping you prioritize the specific habits and choices that matter most for your desired outcome. Schedule a free call with Coach Kayla to learn more about how we can help.