Redefining Life: Britt Richardson’s Approach to Inclusive Exercise and Nutrition – The Montpelier Bridge

When Britt Richardson started leading fitness classes in 2000, she had no idea that 24 years later she would be a registered nutritionist, nutrition coach, and local leader. in the body liberation movement. As an experienced instructor who teaches everything from Zumba to CrossFit, the Montpelier resident foresaw that her clients wanted more than just a workout. They wanted answers – about food, health, and the fictional relationship between weight and health. But when a nursing mother asked for nutrition advice, she realized she needed more training. As a result, he embarked on a journey to become a registered dietitian and champion of “body freedom,” both of which are coming together this fall in a six-part course for gym owners, trainers personal and fitness instructors. The training covers weight “and what we know about the science of weight,” Richardson said in an interview with The Bridge. “It addresses weight bias, and the evidence we have about weight loss is inconsistent in most people.”

He added that fitness professionals need to know what the evidence supports when setting goals for clients. Science-based training also focuses on GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, low energy and eating disorders, and gut health, among other topics.

Full Bite

In 2010 Richardson began taking classes in nutrition, diet, and food science from the University of Vermont, one class at a time, while having minors in the Montpelier school system. . Once on the show, he encountered a vision that would change his career: a routine that involved weight. Unlike old models, which emphasize weight loss as a sign of health, adding weight looks more like a measure. “Health and weight are not necessarily related,” he said. “There are physical and behavioral factors that influence our well-being – many of which are beyond our control.” now a registered dietitian, she runs “A Full Bite,” a nutrition practice that “incorporates a weight-inclusive perspective on health,” according to her website. The Richardson Method is based on rational eating – trusting internal signs of hunger and satiety, rather than following food or external guidelines to eat what is inside us. He said that, the problem starts when we start to ignore our body’s feelings to follow strict rules.

Physical Freedom, One Trip at a Time

Perhaps nowhere can Richardson’s philosophy be seen more fully than in the Body Liberation Hiking Club, a chapter of the Body Liberation Outdoor Club, founded by Alexa Rosales in New York’s Hudson Valley. The group, which has grown to more than 22 chapters in the U.S. and Canada, provides a space for plus-sized people who want to be active and outdoors without the ever-present toxic food culture. . On a recent group trip, participants met at the Capitol Grounds before heading out for a walk up to Hubbard Park. As the four riders and Richardson huddled around a corner table, Richardson laid down the group’s rules: no talk of food, and the group moves at the pace of the slowest person. “There’s no food talk, no steps to count, and I’ve got to burn this thing,” Richardson told me. We go at a pace that allows us to talk, take pictures and just be there.” With about 65 members on its mailing list and growing, the group does more This fall they have planned a spa day, book discussion, and community events – places where participants can meet without fear of judgment.

Endless Influence

Whether she’s leading workshops on weight inclusion or organizing top-notch tours that celebrate body freedom, Richardson is changing the conversation around health and fitness. As we wrapped up our interview, I asked her what was the most surprising thing she learned on her path from fitness instructor to registered integrative nutritionist. Without further ado, he replied: “We can start relaxing with food. The stricter we become about our diet…the stricter our food choices can become. ” Translation of this author: if we relax, ask our bodies to tell us what we are hungry for, if we are hungry or full, and let go of those rules that do not help us, we can have comfort what happened to the bodies we have left.

Richardson’s training is held at Green Mountain Community Fitness in Berlin. It started on Oct. 20 and continues until Nov. 17. For more information, go to afullbite.com/nutrition-courses-for-personal-trainers.