Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness

by Dawn Clifford, Laura Curtis

Making and maintaining lasting changes in nutrition and fitness is not easy for anyone. Yet the communication style of a health professional can make a huge difference. This book presents the proven counseling approach known as motivational interviewing (MI) and shows exactly how to use it in day-to-day interactions with clients. MI offers simple yet powerful tools for helping clients work through ambivalence, break free of diets and quick-fix solutions, and overcome barriers to change. Extensive sample dialogues illustrate specific ways to enhance conversations about meal planning and preparation, exercise, body image, disordered eating, and more. Reproducible forms and handouts can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. Instructors requesting a desk copy from Guilford will be emailed a link to supplemental PowerPoint slides and exam questions.

This book is in the Applications of Motivational Interviewing series, edited by Stephen Rollnick, William R. Miller, and Theresa B. Moyers.

Genres: Nutrition, Nonfiction, Health, Fitness, Science, Mental Health, Psychology

276 pages, Hardcover

First published December 22, 2015

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh - you should see how many page markers I have in this book! It's a keeper. I'll likely be revisiting it on a regular basis.

If you counsel/coach people in nutrition and/or fitness, I highly recommend reading this book.

[Marco Ferreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for all personal trainers, dieticians, and health coaches. I'm already successfully implementing a lot of the outlined principles with my clients and I'll be referring back to this book on a regular basis.

[Emily Orvos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dense, but great information. Lots of useful dialogue examples dietitians can use with clients.

[Georgie Ellison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great information and examples that help for people who are new to motivational interviewing. I do MI as part of my job and there are so many examples I have saved and taken inspiration from.

Only reason I haven’t rated higher is that it was quite dry to read. I know it’s an educational book but it wasn’t the most fun to read 😂

[Daniel Facchini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primeiramente, gostaria de falar da própria Entrevista Motivacional (MI). Mais do que uma técnica, é definida como um estilo de comunicação colaborativa, orientada aos objetivos da pessoa, com uma particular atenção à linguagem da mudança. Ela serve principalmente para aumentar a motivação pessoal e o compromisso para com algum objetivo específico explorando e elicitando as razões pessoais que o indivíduo tem para mudar. Ela parte de uma posição de aceitação e compaixão por parte do profissional.
Eu tive meu primeiro contato com MI em 2016, quando comecei a estudar a obra Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change. O conteúdo imediatamente soou familiar, correto e ético: é um guia de como uma pessoa orientada pelo espírito colaborativo deve atuar, em uma atmosfera de aceitação e não de julgamento.
Existem 4 habilidades fundamentais na prática da MI (perguntas abertas, afirmações, escuta reflexiva e sumarização) e quatro processos, não necessariamente lineares ao longo do tempo (engajamento, foco, evocação e planejamento). Não é exagero falar que tive resultados fantásticos ao longo dos anos empregando essas abordagens (tanto com pacientes, como com amigos ou conhecidos). A percepção de que "a mudança comportamental é tipicamente resultado da motivação, e não da educação" muda drasticamente a forma de se comunicar com as pessoas.

Sobre Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness especificamente, o livro é uma excelente aplicação do método nas áreas de nutrição e aconselhamento para atividades físicas. Ele é dividido em 5 partes: noções básicas; os 4 processos; as 4 habilidades; tópicos avançados; e aplicações específicas às área de nutrição e atividade física. Cada capítulo é enriquecido com exemplos de conversas comuns que ocorrem no ambiente clínico/hospitalar/de aconselhamento, demonstrando como um profissional pode utilizar MI em situações reais para facilitar a mudança comportamental.
São tantas recomendações interessantes que minhas anotações sobre o livro ocuparam 10 páginas (com fonte Times New Roman 12).
Recomendo fortemente esse livro para aqueles que têm interesse em "ajudar as pessoas a se ajudar", ou até mesmo para aqueles que buscam entender melhor como funciona o comportamento e a motivação humanas durante as interações 1x1.

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand

"After all, when you seek advice from someone it is not because you want them to give it. You just want them to be there while you talk to yourself"

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is essential reading for any dietitian or fitness professional! The written example dialogues are really valuable since most of us did NOT learn the principles of motivational interviewing in school, and were trained in a more 'expert-driven' counseling style where we dump information onto a client. I know this book will help MI become more of a default for me, and I am so glad I have my highlighted passages to read again and again. I'm not sure I feel comfortable 'reflecting' as much as the book recommends since it can feel like regurgitating information over and over, but I definitely see the value in reflecting and will do it when it feels appropriate. Highly recommend!!

[Bree Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been on my TBR list for probably 5 years. Seriously. I would check it out of library, decide I didn't have time to get to it month after month, and then finally return it (unread) when the library wouldn't let me renew it anymore.

As I started to learn more about MI through Precision Nutrition's Master Health Coach program, I decided to give this book another shot and PURCHASED IT. Instead of needing to take lots and lots of notes, I was able to highlight AND take notes. And it was worth every penny and every second spent reading it. So many nuggets of wisdom and a practical approach to helping clients find their way to THEIR goals, rather than forcing them into my goals for them.

A must read for every fitness or health professional.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm no authority on the subject, but to a somewhat inexperienced eye, this book felt incredibly informative. If I use nothing from this book, I will at the very least have learned to see others with as a more compassionate and patient human.

In addition to providing USEFUL handouts, the book directly addresses the scenarios practitioners are almost guaranteed to encounter (many of which we've already encountered through friends and family). This was perhaps the most exciting aspect of this book. It really feels like it's giving you something to work with, delivering context, tools, and strategies for beginners and (again this is just my perception) seasoned professionals alike.

[Kelli Dunagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for any nutrition/fitness professional who wants to up their skillset in counseling. The text is laid out in easily consumable and understood chapters and the flow from one to the next is very smooth. Additionally, each lesson is accompanied by an example of what a counseling session may sound like with the counseling topics highlighted within the interaction. I've noticed myself practicing engaging, evoking, focusing, and planning in my day-to-day interactions with not only my residents but also my interactions with friends and family. 10/10 makes me want a new career focus.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough explanations of how MI helps clients create their own successful health journey, with detailed examples of possible questions in a variety of scenarios and for clients in different stages of change. This was a thought provoking book that led to lively discussions in our coaching book club. At the end of meeting together, we each could identify changes we had made that enriched our clients' experiences and value the growth in our coaching styles. Great desktop companion for a health coach.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my class for the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program. There were times when the sample conversations felt too unnatural. I can't ever see myself repeating back to a client what they've just said over and over. I might use it once, but not through an entire conversation. Regardless of that, I think there is a lot of information here that will be useful in helping clients and it is worth the read.

[Codie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for Nutrition and Health Coaches! It took me a little bit to get into it, but eventually I really enjoyed it. I have so many tabs and highlighted parts containing messages I have been using/am looking forward to using in my coaching moving forward. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to improve any and all areas of their coaching!

[Hillary Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful and informative book on the art of nutrition counseling. Multiple kinds of scenarios to give the reader many perspectives, ideas and questions to ask. I appreciate the approach of putting the client in the “drivers seat” and the counselor listens and reflects, and then asks permission prior to giving any advice.

[Joanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dense reference chock full of example scripts to navigate any coach through MI details. Don't be fooled by the Nutrition and Fitness within the title: These concepts and helpful templates easily transcend into other areas of wellness and overall behavioral aspects needed for any change management effort.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book so helpful and interesting, I especially loved learning how you can support people through different stages of wanting to change. But I found some parts of it a little condescending towards the client? sometimes I felt like I would be annoyed if someone spoke to me like a child lol

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not recommend this book more to fellow RDs and other professionals helping in nutrition and fitness fields. The authors provide a ton of helpful questions, sample conversations and some handouts too. This has been a vital resource for my continual learning of M.I. and practice of it.

[Prajwal H.N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good material on how to deal with clients and what’s the physcholgy behind change a good read especially for fitness coaches and other health expert who deal with people wanting to get fit and eat healthy

[Ashley Heggi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably between 3-3.5 ⭐. This was a good review of applied MI principles in the context of nutrition and fitness, but I found some of the sociopolitical gloss unnecessary and not strictly evidence-based.

[Steve Papanastasiou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful book if you are a Coach.

If you do deliberate practise of the skills mentioned in this book you will improve a lot as a coach!

[Heather | LunchingOnLit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concepts are good, examples are cheesy.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a perfect book for coaches, especially ones that don’t have a background in psychology. I’m sure I will reference it often. Also, if you buy the book you can download handouts.

[Anne K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A version of MI just for nutrition and fitness, written in easy to read format.

[Alfred Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Applicable well beyond Nutrition and Fitness. Great introduction to Motivational Interviewing with accessible examples of the techniques in use. Available as Audiobook.

[Chris Henigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful!

[Flora the explorer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every health, fitness and nutrition professional should read this book. It was incredibly well done

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful and applicable. I listened to the audible version and the person did a great job of reading to the audience.

[Kerry Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an audio and hard copy. I reread it every year to refresh and hone my skills. I will always need this book to help me be a better coach and human being.

[Madelyn Thein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all the dialogue examples!

[Emily Loefstedt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Gives a lot of good information around having conversions in the health and wellness space. Would recommend

[Holly Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great nutrition coaching resource! Wish I could do 4.5, but am rounding up.