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NutriSystem
Lose weight with meals conveniently delivered to your home.
BACKGROUND
NutriSystem is one of the most recognizable names in diets. And for good reason. Started in 1972, NutriSystem has helped millions of people lose weight on its portion and calorie-controlled pre-packaged meals.
NutriSystem is one of the first diets that earned its marks by offering a convenient way to diet with its meal-delivery service. This mega diet program takes the grocery shopping, chopping and measuring out of your hands and instead delivers you meals and snacks that are calorie-controlled. All you have to do is heat them up and enjoy them, supplementing with some fresh grocery store items.
Most health experts agree that the NutriSystem diet is a healthy one. Meals and snacks are low in saturated and trans fats and sodium and portion-controlled.
Today, there are both women's and men's programs. Plans include a Basic, Silver, Diabetic and Vegetarian menu option and all feature the NutriSystem Advanced system of low-glycemic foods, omega-3 fatty acids to promote heart health and fiber to promote satiety.
You'll also receive a Mindset Makeover behavioral guide, which is a 13-week guide that teaches more about your relationship to food and steps for taking control of your eating habits. Members also have online access to health information, community support, weekly newsletters and tracking tools.
Plans and meals are selected and ordered from NutriSystem's website. You'll receive 28 days worth of food that come in shelf-stable containers that you heat up before eating. You also supplement your diet with fresh fruit and vegetables purchased at the grocery store.
NutriSystem offers the following plans:
NutriSystem Advanced: A low-glycemic plan that also includes omega-3 fatty acids and natural fiber to promote heart health and satiety. Launched in 2008, all NutriSystem plans adhere to the Advanced nutrient guidelines of "good carbs," low fat, healthy protein, and high-fiber pre-packaged meals.
NutriSystem Select: A program that features 3 weeks of shelf-stable foods that you either custom-select or choose from a Favorites package and one week of new frozen entrees and desserts like pizza and ice cream bars.
NutriSystem Flex: The Flex plans offers a more economical and practical menu with just five days worth of NutriSystem meals per week rather than seven. The Flex plan offers you the same convenience of the NutriSystem program, but also with the freedom to prepare your own meals or dine out.
NutriSystem Nourish: A weight loss book that features a 28-day program that you can follow using the NutriSystem principles. You can either follow the meal plan outlined in the book, order the NutriSystem meals online or combine both approaches.
NutriSystem D: Created especially for the unique dietary needs of diabetics, NutriSystem launched this line of foods in 2009. In trials, users lost 16 times more weight with NutriSystem D than without, lowered their blood sugar level five times more, and lowered their A1c (glycated hemoglobin) by 0.9.
NutriSystem Vegetarian: Expect the same quality and adherence to nutrition as you would from other NutriSystem programs, but with a stronger reliance on a plant-based diet. All meals and snacks contain no meat, but plenty of good carbs and satiating protein.
NutriSystem for Men: Follow the weight loss footsteps of guy's guys like Dan Marino and Larry the Cable Guy, with healthy, balanced meals created to satisfy a man's appetite.
Nu-Kitchen Fresh for NutriSystem: A joint venture between Nu-Kitchen and NutriSystem that features chef-inspired, fresh and natural meals delivered to your door.
PRO
- Convenience makes it clear and easy what you need to do to lose weight
- Many people have found weight loss success through NutriSystem
- Features a variety of convenient and healthy meals
- Offers a number of programs that meet the dietary needs of anyone who wants to lose weight
- Healthy meals provide balanced nutrition
- Promotes exercise
- Offers tremendous convenience
- Supplements with fresh produce from grocery store
CON
- Pre-packaged foods can be high in sodium
- Does not deliver fresh food
- Lends itself to yo-yo dieting, since people have a hard time adapting to a healthy eating style after no longer ordering the food
- Does not teach how to prepare your own healthy meals
DIET and NUTRITION
Macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, chicken parmesan, tacos and tasty treats like almond biscotti and blueberry lemon bars are just a sampling of the more than 120 delicious meals you'll find on the NutriSystem menu. Each meal is pre-packaged and prepared to the appropriate portion size.
All of the NutriSystem meals are low-gyclemic foods that contain a balanced proportion of quality carbohydrates (55%), good fat (25%) and protein (20%). Meals are also low in sodium and trans fat, thanks to the new NutriSystem Advanced program featuring heart-healthy omega fatty acids and soluble fiber.
The women’s programs contain about 1,200 calories and men’s contain about 1,500 calories per day. Each day, you’ll eat three meals and two snacks. You can either custom select your own meals or choose an automated meal and snack menu. Each meal comes in a shelf-stable package that needs to be reheated in the microwave. You are also encouraged to consume six servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, which can be purchased at the grocery store.
EXERCISE
As part of the Advanced program, NutriSystem has created three exercise DVDs. With the help of fitness expert Leslie Sansone, Women’s Walk and Silver Walk exercise DVDs were developed. Additionally, there is a third DVD geared for men, created by former NFL pro Vaughn Hebron, called Functional Movement Workout. Each Advanced 28-Day program will come with the DVD that best complements the weight loss program ordered.
CONCLUSION
NutriSystem is a well-recognized and successful weight loss program that has helped millions of people lose weight and improve their health. Its convenient and portion-controlled meals are delivered to your door every month making it easy to eat healthy as you lose weight. As successful as this program is, it does not teach you how to eat and prepare your own healthy meals. Often, individuals end up gaining weight back once they stop using the program.
See how NutriSystem compares to its competitors in our Meal Delivery Diet Comparison.
Common Misspellings
Nutri System, Nutrasystem, Nutra system, Nutresystem, Nutrisystem.com, Nutrisytem, Nutrisytem
Learn More About NutriSystem
Related Diets: Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Medifast , Nu-Kitchen Fresh for NutriSystem, NutriSystem Advanced, NutriSystem Advanced Silver , NutriSystem D, NutriSystem Flex, NutriSystem for Men, NutriSystem Select, Glycemic Index
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I ordered Nutrisystem and am hoping to get it tomorrow. I'm confused at how people are saying it is SO expensive?? The deal they have now is first month (28 days) is $250 and you get 7 days free. That is 35 days of food for $250, second month you pay $300 and get the 7 days free. (no tax, no shipping charges) That is $550 for 70 days of food. Less than $8/day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and then either snack or dessert. Who can eat that many meals for less than $8/day?!? I can not comment on the taste yet, but just wanted to put the cost into perspective. Other programs are about double what this costs. I'm not expecting amazing food, just something easy that takes the guess work out and eliminates the potential to "cheat" even on accident trying to add up calories, carbs, points... whatever all the other diets make you keep track of, can get quite overwhelming. I'm hoping this will help jump start me into eating healthier on my own once I lose some weight and get motivated again...
I lost weight but the food was not very good. I could not continue eating this kind of pre-packaged food for more than a month. It did not seem like a very healthy diet to maintain for months, or long term.
So I've only done it for 2 days but I find the food okay. Question though, does anyone feel like it's too much food?? Everyone's complaining about the portion size but after adding a small salad and a fruit and eating every 2 to 3 hours, it's a ridiculous (ridiculous in terms of HUGE) amount of food for me...
I have been on the nutrisystem for one week and here is my take. I usually count calories when trying to lose weight and it does work, but I needed to do something different to get me started and thought I would try the NS. If you are a picky eater, you probably won't like the plan. None of the foods are terrific, but when you are hungry, everything tastes good. Some are better and some you need to doctor up a bit; use your creative side :) I can honestly say that I haven't been hungry this week and usually hungry when I count calories. Going to weigh myself tomorrow which is the real proof. If I didn't lose anything, off to the bakery......... :D
I am waiting for my 1st order of food. I need to loose about 50-60 pounds. I hope that this is the diet for me. Hopefully, I can tolerate the food that they give you...what happens after you loose the weight that you want? Do you still continue on the program, or do your own? Has anyone done that? Thanks
My wife tried this and was queasy almost every meal. She even threw everything up on two seperate meals. God knows what they put into these meals. Stick with a "real food" diet like Body for Life or Weight Watchers!
I was going to try NurtiSystem and when I was looking at the lunch choices they all have fish oil, fish gelatin, and dried fish in them. How gross. Who want's dried fish in their mashed potatoes or bars
AmyC
I haven't tried this program but I have seen it first hand and when I saw powder fluff up into a burger by adding water I knew this was not the type of food anyone should be consuming. I suggest you steer clear!!
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I would think you could do this same type of diet concept by just going to the grocery store and buy the pre packaged lean Frozen Dinners. Then you do not have to pay for food you don't like and you can buy it each week with less up front cost. You can then formulate your diet to your food prefrences You can also buy fruit and vegie snacks or maybe some granola bars for inbetween meals. Just a thought that will save you some money.
I've been on it about 1 week, have not been hungry ( I suppliment meals with veggies and exercise 2hrs 4 times a week) and have lost 9 pounds. Work the program, it works.
Some of the food is pretty good, some is pretty bad. the tomato based meals are very good. The powdered meals (just add water) are gross. ie: fettucini alfredo, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs.... blech! If you just want to lose 10 pounds (like me) I'd recommend it, but I couldn't do more than 5 weeks. The tacos and the burger are surprisingly good. And the granola for breakfast, YUM.
I think nutrisystem is great for people who have a hard time preparing healthy meals. It stops you from eating unhealthy food when you are in a rush. It is tough to stay on long term but great to get you to shed the pounds!
Many of the foods are very unpalatable, especially the "free week" foods they send; you might as well throw them away. Most importantly, once you sign up you have to be very careful about unsubscribing or they will continue to send food and charge your credit card without confirmation from you. I cancelled my account and over a month later was still receiving shipments and charges to my account. Avoid this company at all costs. Try Weight Watchers instead. you buy you need the food at your local market and it tastes twice as good.
Nutyisystem is working for me ....most people that complain about it ......are just use to eating anything and everything.......been there, done that. I've lost 75lbs in 5 months........i eat what i get from nutrisystem only. most of the time.....I spend very little at the food market. I love it!
This is a huge rip off! Very little food for the money and very poor quaility, packaging hard to open, huge amounts of sodium. Go with Healthy Choice meals when they are on sale at your local grocer. Same principle and your savings will be huge with more quality food, lower sodium, and mUCH less money!
The food was alright however three months after cancelling my account they started charging my credit card again. Now after several calls they tell me it can take up to three weeks to stop the charges and refund my money. Poor buisness practices.
Don't have to freeze or refrigerate the food I got. It's all sealed in a canning process. There is a program on Nutrisystem, however that is refrigerated/frozen. I'm thinking of trying it next time. The only thing I HATE is having to buy all the extra food. I thought this was a self-sufficient diet program. That is what I was looking for.
I can not figure out if you put the food in freezer. It does not say. It seems it has not been frozen. I would be afraid to eat it to not freeze it. Let me know.
Its so good and you lose weight instantly.
This isn't the first time I've followed the NS program. So, yes, I agree w/the others, the weight will come back if you aren't careful. I fully intend to stay on this program until I've lost all of my weight (40+lbs). I've learned that you MUST stay mindful of portion size and how often you should eat. I think the food has improved alot over the years.
