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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 LIKE THE BEEF DINNER WITH POTATOES AFTER SOME JONNYS
I have been on Nutri System for 2 weeks now, and it works for me. The most important thing is to be prepared before you start. Read your meal planner first, and make a shopping list. Buy your veggies and dairy products, and don't forget to read the labels at the grocery store! Once you get into the habit of planning and portioning your meals the night before (like prepping your salad for lunch the next day and fruit selection) it becomes part of your regular routine. I must admit, the first 2 or 3 days were hard for me (I was a little hungry and felt like I was eating constantly), but I did not cheat and stuck with the plan. So far, I lost 5 pounds, and actually have the energy to start a walking routine after work. I have set small goals for myself. This is definitely not an overnight thing... but it does work! Plan ahead and be consistent!
Initially I lost weight on Nutri System. I loved the conveniece of prepackaged foods. But I was always hungry after eating. I called their toll free number and spoke to a Customer Service rep, who was ill-informed and uncaring. I realized then that it's a call center with workers reading from prepared scripts, and they have no more knowledge of the program than anyone else. She said "You're not supposed to be hungry." Well, I was. I did the program in the summer, and the chocolate desserts were melted within their sealed packets on delivery. Ugh. Plus it takes about 10 days to get your food package. I not only had to pay for the packaged food but had to buy extras. Too expensive to maintain especially since I was so hungry I ate extra and didn't lose weight. One of the dinner meals, Tuna Casserole, was so sickening that I nearly threw up. It looked like canned dog food, I kid you not. I called C/S and they agreed to credit me that amount. Soon after I canceled everything.
I have been on Nutrisystem for one week, and lost 5 pounds.. i actually think the food is pretty tasty! I got all of my food that i ordered, and didnt pay extra? i am loving it, but then again its only my 1st week
I dig this diet! Food is tasty and i'm losing the weight i want!
This sounds promising. Cut out the chore of cooking, meals sound deelish and get snacks during the day. All I see are positives- any negs I should know about?
All thumbs up here! I've been doing this for 8 months and lost almost 25 pounds. My goal was 35 so I'm almost there! Food is great- don't feel hungry and its tasty.
Don't forget to exercise! I gave this a shot and I was doing well. But once I gave up on the workout it all came rushing back.
The food is terrible. Chocolates are good and some entrees. Most is pretty bad. You lose weight by not being able to eat the food, I guess.
Deb - I actually (kinda) liked the food. Maybe I am weird but I thought it tasted pretty good.
Is Nutrisystem better than Medifast?
Some of the food is pretty bad and you are forced to eat vegetables so you don't starve but it is a good regime and if you stick with it you will lose weight. I have!
I think Nutrisystem is great...for a start. It basically sets limits on what you eat (if you follow it, of course) and decreases caloric intake. Low glycemic index is also important in keeping insulin levels down (high levels lead to fat storage). In combination with an exercise regiment and some willpower, you will lose the weight. The important part is changing your lifestyle by eating less, eating healthier, and exercising more.
I thought the food was really good. Some of the chicken was mystery meat though but most all the beef dishes were great. Even the freeze dried hamburger surprised me with how tasty it was. Nutrisystem is a great way to start a diet as it will quickly help you reset your typical portion size. Since the meals are full of protein you don't feel hungry. Someone mentioned that they were sick of salads and I would be too if I had them twice a day. Nowhere does it say you have to have salads - just fruits or veggies. So I would have asaragus, squash, carrots, fresh sliced tomatoes . . . whatever I was in the mood for. I was on the diet for 2 months, lost 22 lbs and kept it off for 1 and a half years. Then I went to medical school and fell back into my old pattern of stress eating and gained it back plus some in the last year. The nice thing about nutrisystem is that you can go back on it when you need to and it works again. This will be my third time on nutrisystem. The first time was in 1991 and I kept that weight off for about 10 years til my daughter came into my life. Big stressors equal weight gain to me. But no matter what comes, I know I can count on nutrisystem to get me back on track, to remind me how good I feel when I eat right.
I did this for one month before going on a cruise and thought it was a great solution. I don't think it could fit everyday lifestyle though. I missed healthy basics like chicken breast because you really don't have anything like that with the food plan. This option is great if you love to eat though, I was hardly hungry since I was eating so much fiber, and I love to snack so the snack and dessert options were perfect for me. I could easily satisfy cravings, one of the desserts is a full size chocolate bar! I haven't had one of them in years and to see it on a diet plan was great...it was really nice to be able to eat carbs and feel full after every meal
Did well while on it but after a while the smell of their food made me ill... Many of the entrees I couldn't get down so I filled up on veggies! I have a pantry filled with this stuff! Wasted lots of money....so I invested in a home gym and I am doing just as well if not better !
Food is not as good as what you would get at a restaurant dripped in butter and covered in salt because it is meant to help you lose weight! i think the food is ok but the more important thing is I am losing weight.. hence the diet plan is working and that is what is important to me.
I just started this diet 3 days ago and have been VERY impressed with the taste of the food. It is better than I imagined-for instance the idea of the instant eggs w/sausage was a bit scary, but then I made them and loved it! Even my 11 year old son was jealous and thought they smelled really good and he wanted some too! The Pasta Fagioli is great and the Split Pea soup tasted like it came from a nice restaurant. No complaints here!
I have been on Nutri System for 6 months and have lost 50 pounds. I don't like to cook so this is perfect for me.
Nutrisystem works well, I was on it for 3 months and lost the weight very quickly and before I knew it I was a size 2 from a size 8; however I lived very deprived and unhappy. I was hungry all the time and by the 3 rd month I was bored with the same food, even though it was delicious at first. When I began eating again my weight came back even faster plus 15 pounds extra. I regret having been on the Nutrisystem program.
