Nutrisystem...

skylark94

I've done NS a few times, never with any long term success. The food was not tasty and very processed. Then there are the "nutri-toots" (google it).

My mother lives alone and has a book called "Healthy Cooking for Two (or Just You)" that she absolutely loves. Emeals.com also has menu plans for small portions. You may want to explore those options.

miznilknarf

Nutrisystem was the easiest diet in the world for me because I didn't have to think about anything beyond picking out what I wanted to eat and heating it up. If you don't have to cook for anyone else and you have the money, I say give it a shot. Just a couple things though: after awhile the food is disgusting. Plan on doing it for 2 months tops. Two, remember when you are budgeting that you do have to eat your own foods in addition to the other stuff. Three, have a plan for how you will transition once you get off of it. Good luck!

stubbysticks

Basically echoing other posts here: tried it, hated it, lost weight, gained it all back plus a ton more. It taught me nothing about nutrition whatsoever. If you're alone, wouldn't dedicating yourself to learning more about whole foods & how to cook nutritious meals fill your time? I've got so many things competing for my time I WISH I had more time to spend cooking. Seriously. My diet would be way cleaner.

You're paying for the convenience, but IMO you don't get what you pay for since the most critical concepts to maintaining weight loss long-term (i.e. how to make intelligent choices about what to eat & perfecting the balance between calorie intake & exercise activity) are neither taught nor enforced.

taralc1

I have never tried Nutrisysttem, but I dont know if I would like all those pre-packaged foods. I am a member of Weight Watchers and you eat your own food. They give you guidelines as how to make better choices and more filling foods. No foods are off limit, you should just stay within your daily points allowance. I have been with WW since Jan and have lost 45lbs, for me it works, but it's not for everyone. If you go to the meetings you will meet other people who are trying to lose weght as well and may make some new friends. Whichever you choose good luck!

vjsmiles

BEFORE YOU READ ON: Please don't tell me the "EAT HEALTHY AND EXERCISE" crap... you think I don't already know that? My problem is I'm alone. I'm no good doing this... alone. If you have any tips or tricks or are in the same boat, I'd love to hear about it. But don't be that person telling me something I already know. :noway:

I am REALLY thinking about trying Nutrisystem... What are everyone's opinions on the product? Basically, I think my problem with dieting is that I am completely ALONE in this. I just moved to Kansas and my husband got deployed... I have a hard time shopping alone, getting healthy foods, and sticking to it... I'm thinking that the simplicity of the plan might work for me since it's ultimately already prepared. The cost would be approximatley $250.... What do you guys think? Also, how exactly does it work? Does anyone have any first hand experience?

Thanks everyone!!!

I am doing Nutrisystem right now. I am a single mom, hate to cook, and love the simplicity of the meals. I pay $230 a month and that comes down to less than $2.00 a meal/snack. I couldn't find that at the grocery store if I tried. I admit that I crave "real" food about every 2 weeks or so, but I am understanding portion control better now. Also, I get the best thing to do it go to veggies for snacks or have a salad before your meal to help you feel fuller. I use MFP at the same time so I can keep a better eye on calories in and calories burned. Plus I love the support here. My dad is diabetic and is doing Nutrisystem as well and has lost over 30 pounds. He has started only ordering breakfasts and lunches and doing dinners on his own. So, I guess you could say he is weening off. I have emotional eating issues which I am working on, and I find a stricter diet like this, easier to follow. So, I guess what I am saying is, it is a personal choice and you have to find what works for you. I know this is not something I can or will do forever. But I have about 60 pounds to lose and haven't been able to "do it on my own" yet. But I know that I have to keep educating myself on portion control, good choices, etc. This is just a tool to help me get started. I hope that helps. I live in KS too!

princessage117

You should try Weight Watchers, it's cheaper, it teaches you portion control and about healthier choices, and if you go to meetings (which I highly recommend), you can meet some people, too. I have lost 25 pounds so far with them.

Lina4Lina

I tried it, the food is pretty disgusting and I don't consider myself picky.

halphord

I think the only positive about Nutrisystem is that it portions the food out for you already...I tried it years ago and I honestly hated the taste of the food and ended up wasting all that money spent because I couldn't bring myself to eat it.

I would suggest joining weight watchers...you can go to the meetings, meet other people in the same boat as you. I have never done weight watchers (not for any particular reason)., but my mom does it and has great success. I really need to take my own advice and do it too!

Good luck!

fluffeesquirrel

Sounds like it'd be cheaper and probably the same nutrition level to just buy lean cuisines or smart ones and eat them for every meal.

EDIT: I lived alone for two years, as a college student in my own apartment (never having really cooked anything ever) and I just started trying to make things and doing what was simple when I couldn't. Pre-planning is your friend. I would boil eggs to eat in the mornings when I didn't have time to make anything, for lunch a lot of days I'd eat greek yogurt, honey, and some fruit, then for dinner I'd try things off of skinnytaste.com and change the ingredients to one or two servings and have leftovers. Being alone does make it harder, but I wouldn't really say it's an excuse.

pkw58

I think Nutrisystem has it's place. If you need your whole diet plan given to you and you develop the habit of planning and balancing what you eat.

the only thing I ever did with prepackaged food was Jenny craig because i was working on the project from hell and didn't have anymore time than my weekly checkin and grocery shopping. At least it stopped the trend upward, I did lose some weight and gave me some focus.

jazee11

So, you would only like to hear from peeps that would promote this product?

I can not even begin to promote this product or any like it.

I will say that you have to start somewhere. You must fall down in order to get back up.

AZKristi

I've thought about it in the past but I never wanted to commit to buying food that might not end up tasting very good. Now I just cook fresh healthy meals that taste better than the junk I used to eat.

AngieM76

Personally, I wouldnt invest in it. When I lived alone I would make a normal size dinner and then freeze portions of it. Then you have your grab and go that makes it easy for you. Its not easy to shop or cook for one, especially for me who was used to feeding my family of 4. Being here will help you tremendously.

jazee11

PS WW online is cheaper and you can eat what you want. They also have a great board system similar to this that is also very supportive.

Losing weight is hard, being fat is hard, pick your hard.

2012Sonya

I agree Nutrisystem is pricey but I used it 4 years ago to lose 40lbs and I've kept it off ...

It really helped me to learn the proper portion size I should be eating. That has stuck with me.

The food wasn't too bad and I loved having a dessert every night to look forward to.

I wouldn't buy the food again but it was a good tool to get me started on a healthier lifestyle.

Jaxster92708

Bump, will reply back in a bit

nicoledallal

I've been on NutriSystem before, probably 20 years ago. Yeah, I lost the weight, but gained it right back and then some. The problem is you're eating THEIR food, so you have no idea how many calories are in something, how many ounces are in something, etc etc. You never learn HOW to eat. When I did NutriSystem, my favorite day was when you had to go in and get weighed- you know why? Because right after that I would head to McDonalds for a quarter pounder with cheese and fries! Because I had no idea what calories were in anything.
Think of how they stay in business. If they taught you how to eat right and control your portions, you'd lose weight and keep it off. That is NOT what they want. They want you to keep coming back over and over and over to pay their fees and buy their food, right? They want your money.
Try MFP. It really helps, I've tried every weight loss center in the US, and every time I gained it all back. I'm 46 years old, I've been on diets my whole life. Using this app I've lost 28 lbs since June (of course ya gotta exercise, too), but I have a much better understanding of how much and what I can eat. This has to be a lifelong thing, unfortunately. We'll never be able to eat the same amount as thin people and not gain weight. Sucks.

sydnisd183

I've never been on Nutrisystem, but I do see a lot of their foods at those clearance outlets, like Big Lots. I've seen the spaghetti ones, a hot dog one and a beef stew entree there. They're $1.00 each. Maybe you could try those to see if you like the taste. I would think $250 a month, PLUS you have to buy your own fruits/veggies would be a lot of $$ though.

Maybe you could try a My Fit Foods, or Perfect Fit Meals (these are freshly prepared meals stores here in Houston). They are kinda pricey but don't have preservatives and aren't made from processed foods. The meals last for about 4 days from date of purchase. Sometimes i'd go in to My Fit Foods before they closed and they would have a bunch of meals due to "expire" the next day or day after for 50% off.

I'm thinking about getting back on them as a matter of fact. I want a 3 or so month break of not having to fix anything LOL

good luck with whatever you do!!

edit: i just checked Perfect Fit Foods, their breakfasts/snacks are $2.99=$4.99 and lunches,dinners are $4.99-$7.99 each. I think the $7.99 ones are the huge ones for guys, i never spent more than $4.99 for a meal.

BR3ANDA

I did it for a couple months last year, you still have to buy other food on top of your meals, like veggies, greens, milk, bread, so it can get pretty pricey above the cost of the prepared foods. It can teach you some portion control however, I kept my containers so I had an idea of what a portion should be. My favorite food was the pizzas (cooked in the oven though, not the micro), I would add some peppers and turkey pepperoni or ham to them. The food can get boring pretty quick though, I think thats why I only lasted 2 months(I would have quit sooner but you had to order 2 months worth to get the Summer Special price), it all just started to taste the same, no matter what it was. If you have the funds to try it, go for it, it can be a great kick starter, but I didnt feel it would benefit me in the long run.

Jaxster92708

I had great success on Nutrisystem. Foods weren't that great, but I think there are more options available now. One thing I did was examine the food labels and find grocery store equivalents with similar macronutient content. Then, buy the grocery store items to transition over. I am not a big fan of cooking and I am "portion impaired" so this was a good option for me.

Everyone has different needs and preferences on this journey: You'll find the best option for you.

Best of luck!

Jackie

luvs2teachincali

My husband and I tried Nutrisystem about 5 years ago. We gave it a REALLY good try. My husband returned his after just a week. I kept trying for two more weeks then returned mine. The food was DISGUSTING. We're talking so bad. It wasn't even just the flavor, but the texture. You started to wonder, "Is this REALLY chicken?" And it just grossed me out so bad I puked a few times.

IMO, it's totally not worth the cost and hassle. Yuck!

You'd be much better off eating Smart Ones, Lean Cuisines, or Healthy Choice meals. We find a lot of stuff that's calorie friendly. Check your friend's food logs to get ideas. You can do it!! Good luck!!

TheChocolatePrincess

I think you FIRST need to deal with your feeling of being "ALONE".

Depression can cause you to overeat and to eat comfort foods because they are comforting. Our comfort foods are rarely carrot sticks and spinach...I prefer Chinese Food (break out the menu and go H.A.M.)...My mom likes potato chips...By boyfriend craves Oatmeal Pies when he is stressed...

Maybe you should consider Weight Watchers. If you attend the meetings you might meet people, have a sense of comraderie, and not feel so lonely.

If you do Nutrisystem for the convenience of not having to cook and think about meals (which I know a lot of people do), I suggest the 5 day plan (cause you bout to make some friends :-))...Check out meetup group for hiking or painting or anything else you are interested in that will get you moving and out socializing or consult your base for military wife groups who are into fitness or walking. Another good idea for staying fit and meeting people is volunteering, you may find a local animal shelter or marathon or any number of other organizations looking for people to get involved.

You don't have to be alone or lonely in anything!

Good luck with everything...BTW, I am doing Nutrisystem now only because my mom didn't stick to it and doesn't want to waste the food. I will tell you how it is after the end of the first week.

Wishing you the very best in whatever you decide to do!

kayyydee_cancel

I don't have experience with this at all, but I completely understand about trying to do it alone. It helps when you have others around you that encourage you and such. My husband started back working out with me and using MFP. This caused me to start again, and it's helped. But I can honestly tell you that my biggest motivation has become the app/site called Fitocracy. It's like a FB for working out. Everyone is there for one specific purpose. You get points for all the things you do and all your workouts, and you level up at certain points. And I love getting random props/likes for the stuff that I do. I've 'met' a lot of interesting people on there and it's been great. I use it along with MFP to track my food.

luvin_burnt_orange

I had a friend try Nutrisystem and she said the meals were awful, even desserts. What??? Who can ruin a dessert??? If wanting the convenience of pre-packaged diet meals, try brands sold in stores. More affordable and there are some tasty ones. (I buy Healthy Choice. Pop one in when I don't have a planned meal ready or need something quick when on the run.)

IMO you should spend your money on taking a group workout class like Boot Camp or Zumba. It gets you OUT of the house and meeting new people with the same goal in mind of getting fit. And, you're NOT alone. Give yourself the chance at making new friends that can offer you support when needed Think about it? Join a group for workouts. Make new supportive friends. You will find strength in numbers!

Take care and STAY STRONG. I understand how hard is to get motivated when you're home and alone. And, even more so for your situation.

(((HUGS)))

- Mrs. M.P.

1shauna1

I have done it....the food I found was very bland. I didn't like it. I didn't find it made me puke as mentioned above, but it wasn't very good. I can't remember if I really lost weight on it or not (obviously, didn't keep it off).
edited for spelling

sicilysclover

PS WW online is cheaper and you can eat what you want. They also have a great board system similar to this that is also very supportive.

Losing weight is hard, being fat is hard, pick your hard.

"Losing weight is hard, being fat is hard, pick your hard."

LOVE this!

sicilysclover

It's funny you say you're problem is that you are alone because I have the opposite problem! My husband does NOT eat healthy, I can't force him to, I cant convince him to. When I was single and living alone I did fantastic with eating healthy because everything I made, I made just for my preferences and didn't have to spend a lot of money. Now that i'm married I cook for him, I cook for me and our grocery bill has increased a little bit. Take advantage of being able to cater to yourself!

I know this reply isn't about Nutrisystem, i've never tried it - but had GREAT success on Weight Watchers. Since there is no WW center near me I hopped onto MFP and find it to be a great help. You aren't alone! Log on here every day - swap recipe ideas. Whatever you decide you will have support.

briwei

I have tried Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, South Beach, "Eat less and exercise", and now Nutrisystem. Each of them have benefits and difficulties. It really comes down to what your needs are. I did great on WW for a long while, though parts of it were a struggle. The biggest benefit was the support and accountability of the meetings. But if you don't have a center near you or its schedule changes it can be hard to adjust. The first time I did WW, my center closed and the lack of support was enough to sap my resolve. The second time I did it, they changed the program on me just after I got into a rhythm and the effort to adjust to the new points disheartened me.

I'm on Nutrisystem now and have been for the last two months. Thus far, I am loving it. I can see the point that others have about needing a transition plan, but I was aware of that going in and have been working on my own. Supplementing with MFP is also a huge help because I am able to see what kind of nutrient balance I am getting from the food. As to the taste, there are couple of things I haven't liked, but mostly I am enjoying it. I think it got better for me when I found out that people had recipes that incorporated vegetables into the prepared entrees. And when I don't have time to cook, I can just grab some food and eat. There are days when my food preperation consists of grabbing things from the cupboard, peeling a few carrots, and putting some salad mix in a tupperware before heading out the door. There are others when I cook all my meals and customize them. When I reach my goal, I plan to wean myself off using the same glycemic index concepts and using MFP to keep tabs on my calories to make sure I am staying where I need to.

After just two months on the program, I find myself less hungry in general. And when I am hungry, it takes less food to get me feeling full. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the glycemic index approach to eating. The meals and combinations they tell you to have seem to be geared toward this balance.

Some of the items are higher in sodium, but I have yet to be over the RDA for sodium on any day eating on plan. The main thing I am noticing is that I am getting less calcium than recommended.

The other thing that has made NS a success for me is the online community. It helps to have people challenge you or support you as the situation may arise. But it looks like you can get that here, as well. And you can get that at WW.

So, I guess it comes down to a choice between convenience and enforced structure or wider food choices but more effort.

Good luck in your journey!
Bri

SP00KSH0WBABY

Just an update!

Did some research and just went out of my way to buy my own groceries to use a makeshift version of Nutrisystem...

And I think that's is going to be the better choice here for those of you who are wondering the same thing!





--Have you worked out today? (:

fairykelly13

I have had fantastic success with Nutrisystem. The food is surprisingly good and the community is amazing. I lost a total of 82.8 pounds (66.3 of it on Nutrisystem). I just started transitioning to maintenance. Nutrisystem has really taught me portion control and how to eat properly during the day...

I would definitely recommend it to anyone.... Yeah, it's pre-packaged and processed, but if you don't have issues with that (which I don't) then it's great. Soooo simple.