I’m SO excited to see so many new faces in Best Body!
If you’re still on the fence, I will answer the common Q&As here.
If your question isn’t listed or you don’t want to search for it, please email me at rachel@nutritionbyrachel.com, and my team will get back to you shortly!
Best Body Q&A
PRICING
What are the details of the price increase?
Now is the LAST TIME to join Best Body for $40/month. The price will increase on Wednesday, January 8th.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. You can cancel your membership yourself at any time, no questions asked. Whatever option you purchase, you’ll have access to Best Body until the end of that period. So, if you purchased the monthly plan and canceled, you’ll have access until the end of the month.
What is the refund policy?
Best Body is an information product and, therefore, can’t be returned. However, we are extremely confident that if you follow the simple steps in the program, YOU will be successful in changing your life.
Do you add to Best Body? Or is it stagnant?
Yes! I add new content and features to Best Body nearly daily.
Best Body is worth hundreds of dollars monthly, so any price below that is a steal. 🙂
If I want to switch to the lifetime price, should I do so before January 8th?
Yes! I recommend doing so now before the price increases.
Do you accept payments with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?
Yes, we are HSA/FSA eligible. Contact your provider to ensure Best Body meets their specific requirements. Upon checkout, you can use your HSA or FSA card like a regular debit or credit card.
BEST BODY BASICS
What is Best Body? What’s included?
Best Body is the complete online program created by me, Dr. Rachel Paul, PhD, RD, to help women lose weight for good and finally feel in control around food. I know you’re busy, so the membership site is available on desktop, tablet, and mobile!
1. Personalized Weight-Loss Plan. We’ll create a science-based program that works for YOU and your lifestyle.
2. Dietitian-Created Recipes. Choose from over 2000 of my recipes that help with:
- losing body fat
- maintaining muscle mass
- managing your blood sugar
- and more!
3. Easy Meal Planning. My interactive meal planning tool offers simple meal, snack, and dessert options.
4. Weight Loss Coaching. Join 2-4 weekly group calls, during which my amazing team of coaches and I will help you achieve your goals.
5. Learn Peace Around Food. Over 70 quick, on-demand trainings on everything from:
- managing cravings
- developing consistency
- eating enough protein
- and so much more!
Who is Best Body for?
Best Body is for women over 18 years old who want to lose weight for the last time.
- Diet preferences & allergies: The Best Body meal plans can be adjusted for any dietary preference or restriction, e.g., vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, etc. However, Best Body is not suitable for strict vegans (those who do not eat any animal products).
- Medical issue: Many women who have medical concerns join Best Body. If you have a chronic disease (such as PCOS, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or cancer) or are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with your doctor before joining the program.
- Outside the US? I only use whole, real foods in the meals, so even if you’re outside the US, you should be able to find everything you need!
- More than 50 pounds to lose? That’s absolutely great — you’re not alone!
- Are you in your 40s-60s? We have a group of women working on pre- and post-menopausal weight loss. You are in good company!
- As always, please seek approval from your primary care physician before starting any nutrition program.
- This program is NOT appropriate for: high school students, professional athletes, individuals with an active eating disorder, or those in recent recovery from an eating disorder.
Will I get direct access to you, Rachel?
I will answer 100% of your questions.
- We have group coaching calls at least 2-4 times per week, during which you can raise your hand to get coached directly by me or the Best Body coaches.
- You can submit a written question within the membership site, where all questions are answered weekly.
- You can ask questions in the Facebook group 24/7, and either I, my coaches, or one of our veteran Best Body members will get back to you typically within minutes!
What principles does the program use?
You create your own Protocol, choosing whether you want to track calories, listen to your hunger and fullness cues, follow my meal formula, and more. It’s imperative that you create your own plan (I walk you through how to do so); otherwise, we get into a rebellious “you can’t tell me what to do” mentality.
We then focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based techniques to change your mindset around food so that these changes become part of your new lifestyle instead of another “failed diet attempt.” It’s awesome!
Is there a specific time commitment to be in the program?
There’s no specific time commitment! You can stay as long as you like and cancel anytime with just a few clicks on the membership site.
What daily time commitment does the program require?
The program requires as much or as little time as you want! It offers a variety of tools and resources — all designed for your benefit. Whether you spend a few minutes shifting your mindset or exploring new recipes, the choice is yours.
Is Best Body available via email, or is there an app/membership site?
Best Body is a private membership site accessible on desktop, tablet, and mobile — you can even save it as an “App”!
- Open the Best Body home page (not this page!).
- On iPhone, in the bottom toolbar, tap the Share icon (up arrow in the square). On Android, tap the More icon (3 dots) on the right side of the address bar.
- Scroll until you can tap “Add to Home Screen.”
Are there subtitles to the videos?
Yes!
What results can you expect from Best Body?
Oh… SO many!! Weight loss, of course, but imagine feeling totally free and in control around food, too. Check out the testimonial page for just a few of the daily wins in the program.
MY FOOD & MEAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Do I have to track calories?
No! You don’t have to if you don’t want to. You can also “hide calories” if you don’t want to see them in the recipes and meal plans.
Can I do Best Body if I’m also cooking for others (my husband, my family)?
Yes!
The Meal Planner offers an option to increase portions up to 8 servings of any meal. Increasing portions automatically adjusts the grocery list and does not impact calories or macros (you do not have to track or even see calories/macros if you don’t want to).
Here’s what that looks like:
Many members eat their own meals for breakfast, lunch, and snacks, then increase the portions for dinner.
Is the program low carb/ keto?
No, but if you want to follow a keto lifestyle, the program can easily be tailored to those specifications.
You get to create whatever plan works for YOU.
I recommend focusing on non-starchy vegetables at meals (which can lower total carb count), but again, you create your own plan for any higher-carb foods (grains, starchy veggies, fruit, dessert, and alcohol) you want to eat.
Can I drink alcohol? Can I eat chocolate? Can I eat bread? Can I eat at my favorite restaurant?
Yes!
No food or drink is off-limits.
Do I have to give up my social life?
NO!
This is real life. Best Body is a lifestyle program. Want to get wine and pasta out with friends? Awesome, go for it! I’ll teach you how to make good decisions YOU are happy with, no matter the situation.
I’m trying to conceive (TTC). Will Best Body work for me?
Of course, you should have your doctor review the program before starting.
Many women in Best Body are trying to conceive (and do conceive!).
I absolutely recommend Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols as a complement to the program, which has food guidelines similar to those I recommend.
I’m breastfeeding – will Best Body work for me?
Of course, you should have your doctor review the program before starting and monitor your supply along the way.
Many women in Best Body are breastfeeding and see great success.
I also recommend Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols, which has specific nursing food recommendations (that complement what we already do in Best Body!).
Does Best Body work for pregnancy?
Of course, you should have your doctor review the program before starting.
Some women in Best Body are pregnant and use The Meal Planner for recipes and meal plans, and the coaching calls for lifestyle mindset shifts.
I absolutely recommend Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols as a complement to the program, which has food guidelines similar to those I recommend.
How much do members spend on groceries?
It’s incredibly important to me that the foods are accessible, wholesome, fueling, and available on any budget. The ingredients in my recipes are whole, real foods available at any store (not Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, etc. specific).
That said, the money you spend on groceries will depend on the number of people you’re cooking for and where in the world you’re located.
Do the meal plans come with grocery lists?
Yes! Grocery lists are automatically updated based on the meals you add or remove from your meal plan and the portions you cook for yourself and your family.
Do I have to eat the same thing every Monday-Wednesday, etc.?
No!
The meal plans I create weekly are set up to be the same meals: M-W, R-F, and Sa-Su, but The Meal Planner is interactive. You can edit my meal plans to be different meals daily (there are over 2000 meal options) or the same meals 7 days a week. 🙂
How is this different from Noom?
I’ve never personally downloaded Noom, but I’ve heard the “coaching” is generic advice, and the calorie amount they give women is way too low to be sustainable or lifestyle-promoting.
Check out the Best Body’s testimonial page. I think the testimonials will persuade you!
How do I know how many calories to eat?
I will walk you through determining that for YOUR body within the program.
I’m a picky eater. Will Best Body work for me?
Best Body offers over 2000 meal options, so I’m confident you can find meals and snacks you like.
But regardless, you can eat whatever meals and snacks you like — you don’t have to follow my meals or meal plans if you don’t want to.
Are macros listed?
Yes! Here’s what that looks like:
However, if you don’t want to see calories or macros, you can toggle the settings to “off.”
Do your recipes include common food alternatives (e.g., vegetarian, nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, allergy-friendly)?
Yes! I include common food alternatives for aversions or preferences in all the recipes. The meal filters help you easily exclude options like meat, nuts, dairy, gluten, and more.
How is this different from other diets?
I not only give you science-based nutrition recommendations, but we also work on changing your MINDSET from a “restrictive diet” to a “lifestyle.”
Can I follow this program if I’m on a college dining plan?
Yes!
You don’t have to follow my meal plans if you don’t want to or can’t. I list food guidelines that you can follow no matter what you eat.
Did you (Rachel) follow your own guidelines to lose weight (originally and postpartum)?
Yes, 100%!
Is Best Body for me if I want to maintain my weight or gain weight?
Maintaining your weight: Absolutely! You can set your calorie goal to “maintenance.”
Gaining weight: While you can still use the Best Body tools and mindset guidance, the program doesn’t include specific instructions for weight gain.
Can men join?
Yes!
Will this plan help me lose the last 5 pounds? What if I have over 100 pounds to lose?
Yes, and yes! Best Body is the right program for you.
Are your recipes BASIC?
YES! I’m the laziest cook you’ll ever meet. 🤣
Is Best Body focused on weight loss only or proper nutrition?
Best Body focuses on both weight loss and proper nutrition because proper nutrition is essential for overall health. However, we avoid labeling foods as “bad,” as this mindset isn’t helpful for long-term success.
Can I do intermittent fasting in Best Body?
Yes! You have the flexibility to create a plan that works for you. If intermittent fasting fits your lifestyle, that’s fantastic. If it doesn’t, there’s no need to force it — do what feels right for you.
I work the night shift. Can Best Body work for someone with a busy schedule?
Absolutely! Many of our members work alternative or full schedules. With Best Body, you can create a personalized protocol tailored to your time availability, food preferences, accessibility, and more.
Do you have to follow the program “to a T” to see results?
Not at all! This program is designed to be flexible, allowing you to create a plan that fits your taste preferences and lifestyle. The guidelines adapt to you, so there’s no need to follow anything “to a T” to see results. 🙂
COACHING, MINDSET & EMOTIONAL EATING
Are the coaching calls one-on-one?
The coaching calls are group-based. You still have the opportunity to raise your hand and ask your questions directly, one-on-one!
Do you work with binge eaters?
Many Best Body members have shared that they’ve struggled with binge eating in the past, though it is not my specific area of expertise. As always, consult with your doctor before starting any new program.
Do I have to attend the coaching calls live?
No, you don’t! Call recordings are available afterward in both video and podcast formats, so you can listen at your convenience and fit them into your schedule.
OTHER
Is there an exercise component?
Yes, there’s an exercise component, but it’s flexible and designed to fit your lifestyle. Regular movement is encouraged, but nutrition and mindset play the most significant roles in weight loss. You don’t need to spend hours at the gym — consistent, enjoyable activity is key!
Is there an app for the program?
You can save the member site as an “app” on your phone — the same thing!
I’m not tech-savvy. Is that a problem?
No! I walk you through exactly what to do, and it’s easy.
Still have questions?
We’re here to help! Email us at rachel@nutritionbyrachel.com, and we will reply ASAP!