Transformative Nutrition: How RDN Brittany Werner Guides Clients Toward Healthy Eating at Working Against Gravity

When Brittany Werner was growing up in Ripley, Ohio — a tiny farming town nestled on the Ohio River — she desperately wanted to look like her peers. Growing up in the 80s, she says she felt out of place as an overweight child.

“I remember thinking that if I could just ‘figure this out,’ everything would fall into place for me,” says Werner. “Of course, it wasn’t quite that simple.”

But sorting out the nutrition puzzle is exactly what she did: Today, Werner is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Director of Coaching at Working Against Gravity, a 1-1 nutrition coaching program that has worked with over 30,000 members. She has spent the last 17 years guiding thousands of clients toward their health and nutrition goals, using her own personal experience as a foundation for a balanced approach.

Through her coaching at Working Against Gravity, Brittany creates tailored meal plans, empowers clients to build sustainable relationships with food, and uses the company’s cutting-edge technology to connect with people around the country.

“My approach is ‘rooted in science, custom to you,’” says Werner. “We are all unique and what works for one person may not work for the next. However, as a medical professional, I have an obligation to approach your care from a scientifically backed approach that is also custom to your needs.”

Fostering a Mindset for Healthy Eating

In Werner’s home office in Pennsylvania, you’ll see a quote by Zig Ziglar hanging on the wall: “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.”

For someone who has worked with top athletes, including Olympians, and has a storied career as a registered dietitian nutritionist, Werner is remarkably adamant about staying humble and keeping an open mind — both when it comes to healthy eating and life in general.

“Take a moment to pause, check your ego at the door, and be willing to listen to other ideas,” says Werner. “Consider for a moment that your preconceived notions and ideas of what your body may need to reach your goal are not accurate. You may need to make some challenging changes in your life.”

Werner graduated with a B.S. in Dietetics and later an M.S. in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, but even she acknowledges that the nutrition space can be confusing. It’s difficult for many people to know what the “right” thing to do is in the midst of conflicting information on social media and beyond.

For instance, one common issue she’s noticed is that diet programs tend to be overly restrictive.

“While the intention behind these programs is often to promote positive health outcomes and fast progress, the strict limitations imposed on certain food groups or specific macronutrients can lead to clients feeling overwhelmed, deflated, and eventually giving up altogether,” she says.

Werner’s measured advice: Slow and steady really does win the race. It’s not a flashy approach, but sustainable changes that you can stick with and that fit into your lifestyle are the proven successful steps to long-term behavior change and healthier eating.

Go Ahead and Eat Your Favorite Foods

One day a few years back when Werner was watching Sesame Street with her daughters (now ages 12, 11, and 8), she had a lightbulb moment thanks to the Cookie Monster. He said: “A cookie is a sometimes food!” — the perfect way to explain balance.

Werner isn’t one to tell her clients to exclude their favorite treats. She believes that creating a plan that incorporates your favorite foods in moderation helps to encourage sustainable eating habits. On the other hand, striving for absolute perfection is a recipe for failure.

“We know that extreme or restrictive diets are often challenging to maintain in the long term,” says Werner. “A balanced approach allows for flexibility, making it more feasible for individuals to adopt and maintain healthy eating patterns over time.”

In other words, if you love cookies or any other special treats, go ahead and munch on them. Just remember they’re an occasional add-on to staples like fresh vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains.

The Impact on Clients

It’s difficult for Werner to think of just one favorite story from her time with Working Against Gravity. She recounts several clients who have left their mark on her.

“Each client comes in with a goal, and I pride myself on making their goal mine,” says Werner. “Whether it’s to lose five pounds or win an Olympic medal, that goal is the most important thing when we are working together.”

However, she does recount one client who came to Working Against Gravity with the goal of learning how to care for herself and fuel her body properly. She was eating all of her meals out or ordering in, so Werner started by teaching her how to make breakfast at home two to three days per week — and worked up from there. After months of working together, this client was eating most of her meals at home, a massive accomplishment for her.

“I’ve had clients go through knee replacements, win national medals in their sports, battle cancer, and sail across oceans,” says Werner. “But the most profound ones are those who walk away knowing that they can manage their nutrition and have learned what their bodies need. There’s nothing more special than that.”

To sign up for coaching with Werner at Working Against Gravity, visit www.workingagainstgravity.com/brittany.