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Frequently Asked Questions

Nutrition doesn't have to be complicated, but that doesn't mean the answers are always obvious. Questions asked by clients and answers based on scientific knowledge are posted here. Please send an email to shannon@burkenutrition.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What is Burke Nutrition?

Burke Nutrition provides personalized nutrition counseling and weight loss coaching designed to help individuals improve their health, develop sustainable habits, and achieve lasting results without restrictive dieting.

What is your experience in helping others to lose weight and keep it off?

Shannon has over thirty years of weight loss coaching experience, both personally and professionally. She has helped many people lose weight and keep it off long-term.

I feel like my hormones are off and my cortisol might be high. I've been eating better and trying to do everything right, but the scale won't budge. Why isn't it working?

You're not imagining it — and it's not a willpower problem.

When hormones like cortisol, insulin, or thyroid are dysregulated, your body can actively resist fat loss no matter how clean your diet is. Chronically elevated cortisol signals your body to store fat, break down muscle, and keep blood sugar elevated — essentially locking you into a fat-storing mode. If thyroid conversion is sluggish, or if insulin resistance is quietly working in the background, the standard "eat less, move more" approach simply won't be enough.

This is exactly why I take a root-cause approach to weight management. Rather than guessing, I advocate for comprehensive metabolic lab testing through your medical provider — including thyroid panels, fasting insulin, cortisol, sex hormones, and inflammatory markers — so we can see exactly what your body is doing and why. Most people have never had these labs run together, and the results are often the missing piece of the puzzle.

From there, your nutrition and lifestyle plan is built around your biology — not a generic template. That might mean structuring meals to stabilize blood sugar and lower insulin, using targeted nutrients to support adrenal and thyroid function, adjusting meal timing to work with your cortisol rhythm, or incorporating specific stress management strategies as a non-negotiable part of your plan.

If you've been doing "all the right things" and still not seeing results, your body may be trying to tell you something. Let's listen to it together.

Do I have to follow a strict meal plan?

No. We believe nutrition should fit your lifestyle. Rather than providing rigid meal plans, we focus on education, practical strategies, and personalized guidance that help you make confident food choices.

I had bariatric surgery. Are there special considerations I should know about that aren’t obvious?

Something to consider as a byproduct of bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, is that a patient’s absorptive process has been reduced. Because of this, alcohol consumption should be minimized to avoid the unwanted residual effects of alcohol.

Does Burke Nutrition work with women in menopause?

Yes, as with other health concerns, Burke Nutrition looks at the whole patient: their lifestyle, their health history, and current issues, as well as their goals. Shannon's approach to the power of good nutrition is complementary to traditional medicine.

Is there a particular diet that Burke Nutrition recommends?

Any specific diet is an individual choice. As long as you are meeting your nutritional needs, getting plenty of water, protein, fiber, vitamin D, prebiotics and probiotics, that’s fine. A word of caution: Nobody should cut out an entire food group because it promotes the diet mentality, which is not a long-lasting solution toward long-term behavior change. There are no bad foods.

Burke Nutrition Client Testimonials

As an accomplished behavior change specialist, registered dietitian nutritionist, and master in health and wellness promotion, Shannon's goal of helping others shows in the praise she has received from her clients, as shared below.

"Shannon worked with me and never let me give up on myself. I was an addict for several years and couldn’t continue to live like that. I owe her many thanks for helping me appreciate the benefits of making better choices about food and exercise."

Name withheld | Registered dietitian nutritionist

Shannon was an invaluable part of my journey to lose weight and to build habits to become a healthier person. She helped me to change my life and my relationship with food and exercise. Shannon always made me feel capable and cheered me on even during setbacks. She is knowledgeable in all aspects of what it takes to lead a happy healthy life and she truly leads by example and from a place of caring.

Alisa B. | Weight loss program registered dietitian nutritionist

"Shannon helped me fight off childhood obesity. I was 12 years old and close to 200 lbs. Shannon inspired myself and other youths to lead a healthier lifestyle and showed us it doesn’t have to feel like your withholding things from yourself. She is wonderful, beautiful and positive. She changes lives and I am forever grateful."

Katelyn M. | Registered dietitian nutritionist weight loss program

"I was lucky enough to have Shannon Burke as a leader at Weight Watchers where everyone adored her. I was able to attain lifetime status at WW because of Shannon. Shannon was such an inspirational speaker and was driven to help each of us attain our goal. Anyone would be very fortunate to have Shannon as his or her leader. "

Kit C. | Nutritionist registered dietitian nutritionist weight loss program

Contact Burke Nutrition

If you have any questions about how Burke Nutrition can help you achieve your health and wellness goals, please reach out here. It would be a privilege to help you reach your potential!

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Weight Loss Program

Contact Burke Nutrition

Questions or Comments

Send Shannon a message or ask a question using this form. She will respond to you as soon as possible. Thank you!

Burke Nutrition, LLC

Braintree, Massachusetts, United States

shannon@burkenutrition.com 781-974-3073

Hours

By appointment only.

If you have a question about any of the plans or services, or another question about what Burke Nutrition offers, please send an email from the form on this contact page. Thank you!

Welcome

Reset Your Metabolism. Lose Weight for Good — Without Dieting Ever Again.

It's not a willpower problem.

Diets Don't Work!

Frequently Asked Questions

Burke Nutrition Client Testimonials

Contact Burke Nutrition

Burke Nutrition Client Testimonials

I think of myself as a behavior change specialist.

Contact Burke Nutrition

Reach out to Burke Nutrition to take your first step toward achieving your health and fitness goals!

Questions or Comments

Burke Nutrition, LLC

Hours