Nutri System Experience
 

I am thinking of trying Nutri System. Has anybody tried it and if so what's your experience with it.
Thanks,
Dottie

I haven't done it - I did Jenny Craig many years ago and was great while I was on it. But with young children around I was fixing two meals at every meal. And no one at work was on it - so going out to lunch was also a problem. I know celebrities swear by it - but then I am fairly sure they are provided everything in exchange for their testimonies.

When all is said and done - the most successful diet out there is Weight Watchers. I have no connection with any program - but in California Workers' Compensation system when an injured party's weight increases the effects of the injury the carrier/employer has to pay for a weight reduction program. So I did research quite a few because they all wanted the most expensive and I can honestly say not one worked. No one wanted to do Weight Watchers because that took effort on their part and no special food.

I tried Nutrisystem about five years ago. I did lose some weight, but found that many of the meals were 'yucky' either texture-wise or taste-wise or both. The Nutrisystem forum for folks who purchased their meals consisted primarily of discussions on how to make a certain meal edible. It was rare to have a pre-made meal as it was, without going through some type of recipe to make it palatable. Please remember I tried this five years ago, so much may have changed since then, but I won't be trying it again.

I agree with renee, the food is so over processed and high in sodium that we couldn't stay with it. I've doneWW and you can do it on line or the meetings, also they have many frozen means. Best thing is 70% veggies and some chicken and fish, little or no beef or pork. Good luck

I haven't tried it because who could afford to eat that way the rest of their life?
But what I have experienced is in the late 80's I worked at a gourmet food store for awhile that had one of their stores next door. The employees would all come over on their breaks and eat the most fattening things we had in the shop and gossip about who their 'clients' were that day. They are just CLERKS, they aren't trained in health in anyway, unless corporate gives them some guidelines to work with.

If anything were easy we'd all do it. But there aren't any magic bullets.
I use my pedometer, clipping it on first thing, (currently a fitbit zip)
This sets my attitude...begin as I mean to go on.

I track my food intake each day (currently at MyFitnessPal), but there are lots of places.
I eat the food I always eat, but be honest about portion size.
If you don't know portions, learn! :)
Keep food you can't control yourself over out of the house. Family can eat it elsewhere, this is your life you are talking about here, not 30 seconds pleasure.

Come over to the monthly fitness thread and just talk to us and with us, support is the greatest gift in the world.

All the best wishes

I lost weight with them but it took 6 months to lose 15 lbs and I couldn't stand their food at the end - all I could get down was their two types of pizza and their cereal. Like others have said, their food is not tasty. You can tolerate it short-term if you're motivated to lose a little for a special occasion. And BTW, the "free" week in the ads is foods that they pick (you can't select your own) and it may be things you won't eat. And you WILL gain the weight back once you're off their program foods.

What they are doing for you is portion control. You can do this on your own with pre-packaged frozen meals (like Lean Cuisines or Weight Watchers) and weighing and measuring if you have the discipline. Get yourself a "weigh-buddy" to watch your tracked weights to keep you accountable.

I have also done Weight Watchers meetings. I recommend them over anything. They teach you not only what to eat but why you are eating and alternatives. The members are very supportive and encouraging and your weigh-ins are private. I have been Lifetime (meaning you met your goal weight within your allowed range for your height) for three years now, and still choose to follow the program and go to meetings. I have to go back to basics off and on, to stop the weight creep, but that's easy to do since I prepare my own food and making my own choices. Best of luck with your weight loss journey!

I did it about 3 years ago and lost 40 lbs. It's easy, compartmentalized, and no thinking involved, I didn't have to think about food constantly. I had to quit when we moved to a new house, just too many expenses. I absolutely loved it. Yes the food is yucky straight out of the packet but there are ways to add to it to make it better. If you are thinking about trying it, I noticed Walmart has a starter pack. It's enough for the first week and is a pretty good indicator of the foods. If you decide to get a months worth from them, you can modify your order online and delete any that you cannot stand before the next order arrives. The only warning I have is I know two other people on it, that have had to get their gall bladder out after being on it. I had to also. Can't say it was their diet, it was just an odd coincidence that we all had been on it at about the same time and had our surgeries within weeks of each other. I have gained back 20 lbs.

I have done them all one time or another...every diet is just a DIET! I gained back all my losses plus some. I have learned some good things from each one though and now I am learning to live on less food, but not less weight because I am much less active now.

I eat turkey and chicken, avacado, and as little breads as I can manage. I juice breakfast (1/2 veggies and 1/3 fruit/and protein. I eat salads when out mostly and try to cook a good dinner....this is my down fall...I don't enjoy cooking any more and I wish I would, so I end up with more frozen foods, or easy potatoes in the micro...stuff like that. My snacks are mostly almonds and once in a while pretzels. Boring ain't it! And I am not loosing, mostly maintaining my 50 pounds overage!

Some of us have a very slow metabolism even though the Drs. say just eat less. (I also use an app My Fitness - to track these foods and I eat between 1200-1400 cal a day.) This might be my best tip for everyone....track your eating.

PS...anything that needs advertised sp much isn't working or worth your time.

No said anything about WALKING !!! You have to MOVE to loose weight. About 30 years ago I did it on my own. I lost 150 # and have kept it off that long. I still walk daily, but back then I was walking 7 miles a day , now only 1mile.... I did not do WW, Nutri System, Jenny Craig , or any others just made up my mind and DID IT !!

I wouldn't try any of those'
There is a secret to losing weight. It is you have to eat less and move more. One thousand calories a day is good for me.