In a world where health and wellness have taken center stage, people often find themselves seeking guidance and support to achieve their weight loss goals. Dr. Judith Ryba, also known as Dr. J, is a certified life coach who focuses on nutrition and emotional eating and helps clients lose weight with healthier food options and a balanced lifestyle.

Ryba has a Ph.D. in business management and is a professor of economics at Baruch College in New York. She describes herself as an outgoing person who loves helping others. Her journey from a nutrition enthusiast to a respected life coach was inspired by her daughter, who upon returning from her gap year in Israel enlisted Ryba to help her lose some unwanted weight. “I created a nutritional plan for my daughter and within six months the weight was gone.” Soon after, others started requesting her help, and they too were able to lose weight under her guidance. It was then that she decided to turn a hobby into a second career.

What sets Ryba apart is her ability to blend her expertise in nutrition with the principles of life coaching. It’s not just about food, she said, and added that sustainable change begins with transforming one’s mindset and personal habits. People often turn to food for the wrong reasons, which ultimately produces negative results. Her method helps you lose weight, but more importantly, Ryba aims to set her clients up for long-term success.

Ryba makes it clear that her position isn’t intended to replace a medical doctor or a therapist. She is, however, adept in all things nutrition and has a broad understanding of the factors that could contribute to weight gain. For example, she often consults with women approaching menopause who experience weight gain due to hormonal imbalance. She also works with clients that struggle with medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes that are affected by diet and nutrition.

As a life coach Ryba tries to help her clients develop a growth-oriented mindset. There’s a direct connection between the mind and the body, she said, and you need to train your brain to recognize what’s good for you. According to Ryba, eating the right foods can do wonders for your overall health. Many of the people she meets suffer from extreme fatigue, bloating, mood swings and a host of other uncomfortable symptoms that are alleviated once they improve their nutritional intake.

Ryba believes accountability is a key component in both life coaching and nutrition. She has weekly one-on-one sessions with clients to discuss progress that she says significantly improves their dedication to the program. Each person’s situation is unique, said Ryba, who creates personalized plans that align with her clients’ specific needs, preferences and lifestyles. Her clients attest to her care and constant support and know that she is available for them throughout their personal journey to better health.

Ryba’s results-oriented approach and the tangible transformations of her clients speak for themselves. “Judith has been amazing at guiding me to develop good habits and lose weight, all the while feeling energized and happier. She is kind, thoughtful, extremely knowledgeable, and truly cares about making a difference in people’s lives. She devotes herself to personalizing and tailoring her advice and plans to suit each client,” said Jill from New Milford, New Jersey. “She is so generous with the time spent during our sessions and throughout the week. I highly recommend Judith if you are looking to improve your eating habits, lose weight and reach your goals for healthier living.”

Noa from Teaneck said, “From the moment I started working with Dr. Ryba, my perspective on nutrition shifted, I began to see incredible changes in my body and mindset. One aspect that I appreciated the most was the individualized attention I received. This personalized approach allowed her to create a plan tailored to my needs, making sure that I enjoyed the process while achieving the best results.”

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call (201) 973-1855 or email [email protected] or on Instagram @ Drj_nutritioncoach.

Andrea Nissel is a staff writer at The Jewish Link.