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Does Nutrisystem Diet Work? My Review – My Story

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LisaHi, my name is Lisa. I’m 47 years old and live in the beautiful state of North Carolina. I am married and have one daughter. I work full time as an office manager. I used to be overweight and have recently overcome it with the help of Nutrisystem. I’m so excited how well Nutrisystem works that I want to share it with everyone. This is my own personal experience how Nutrisystem worked for me. Does Nutrisystem work for everyone? We are all different and not everyone will have the same results. I hope that my story might help someone else suffering from weight issues.

How it all started

Growing up, I never had a weight problem. In fact I was always underweight. When I married at age 22, I was only 110 lbs. I wore a size zero!  That all changed once I reached my 30’s. It seemed like every month my weight increased. When my daughter left for college, worry and stress led to my binge eating. I love to eat. Bread is my weakness. In result, every time I would go shopping for new clothes, I found myself reaching for a larger size.

I felt terrible and unhealthy

My weight gain eventually started causing health problems. Though I’m never sick, this went  beyond that. I felt heavy, I didn’t feel like exercising, and was always tired. Eventually my knees started giving me problems. They hurt a lot therefore making it uncomfortable for me to enjoy an afternoon walk. I also started suffering from acid reflux. Sleeping at night was uncomfortable due to the discomfort and chest pains. I even noticed poor circulation in my arms and legs. My self-esteem became low and had a bad attitude that I would never be small again. I would often say “I’m just gonna be happy and fat and love myself the way I am”. That didn’t happen. I was miserable most of the time, except when I was eating of course.

I knew I needed to go on a diet. As diabetes runs in my family, I knew I was setting myself up for that path. As a matter of fact, I would start some kind of diet every Monday. I used to say “I’m gonna start my diet on Monday”. I tried several different diets on my own. I cut out carbs, sweets, and calorie intakes.

Nothing worked because I was always hungry

Other diets were boring and felt like a waste of time since I never felt any changes. When the weekends rolled around, I’d go right back to my bad eating habits. Again, “there is always Monday right?” My weight reached up to 168 lbs. and I was in a size 12. I would often kid around with my husband by telling him that he was actually only married to half of me.

Monday finally came. I finally decided to take control and do something about my weight.

I wanted to get back to the woman my husband fell in love with.

It was January 5, 2015. I mentioned to my husband that I was going to try Nutrisystem. I didn’t want to order online until I knew Nutrisystem was going to work for me. I was spectacle since no other diets seem to work. I headed to my local Walmart and purchased a Nutrisystem five day weight loss kit which included fifteen entrees and five desserts. I thought, “If I could just lose 10 lbs. I’d be happy”.

I was a bit embarrassed as I walked through the store carrying a box of Nutrisystem. I sure didn’t feel like Marie Osmond as I was hiding behind sweat pants and an oversized shirt. I felt like people were staring as I left the store. “Will Nutrisystem really work”, I thought, and tossed the box in the back seat of the car and headed home.

nutrisystem-walmart

I looked over at my husband and said “I’m gonna do this”. He believed me this time and even made a choice to diet with me. He wanted to be supportive. One way was by not having tempting foods in the house. This was a big plus. No temptations, no regrets (while gritting my teeth as we passed by the doughnut shop).

When I got home and opened my Nutrisystem box, there were a few guidelines to follow to achieve my goal. Wait, do I have a goal? I never really thought about setting a goal, I just wanted to lose weight. I’ll set a goal when I see how this goes. I couldn’t help but feel a little pessimistic.

Nutrisystem muffin juice

The first morning I grabbed my cup of coffee and sat down to a tiny little Nutrisystem muffin and a glass of fusion energy juice. I was hungry all day. I failed to follow the Instructions where it said I’m supposed to add healthy snacks between each meal along with four servings of vegetables. Nutrisystem labels snacks as either Power Fuels or Smart Carbs. The kit included a list of this type of foods and servings allowed for each. After reading the Nutrisystem diet  guidelines I really felt like I was going to eat too much. I mean, I didn’t eat this much when I was not on a diet. The truth is, I was eating the wrong things to achieve any positive results.

The second  day I woke up with a slight headache but it soon subsided after I had a glass of water and breakfast. I added healthy snacks between my meals such as fresh avocado, yogurt and mixed nuts. The days got easier. By the third day of sticking to the plan (which was a big accomplishment for me), I was already feeling more energy and less bloating.

How Quickly Does Nutrisystem Work? Does Nutrisystem Work Fast?

By the end of the first week I had lost a total of 6 lbs!

This motivated me to do another week. Weeks went on and I continued following the Nutrisystem diet. So, how long does Nutrisystem take to work? It works within the first few days.

Each day I made sure to drink at least 64 oz of water and light exercise, which usually included twenty minutes of hula hooping. With the help of my Fitbit, I made a goal to get in at least 9000 steps in per day. I used the MyfitnessPal app to keep a log of my daily food and calorie intake. Here I was able to make other friends from a Nutrisystem support group who were reaching for the same goals. We motivated each other as we shared our food diaries and commented each other on achievements and upsets. It’s a fun way to stay on track.

The weekends were challenging as we chose to go out to our favorite restaurants. I ordered off the Lite menu or A La Carte. The hardest part was avoiding the chips and dip at the Mexican restaurant. This usually resulted in me actually sitting on my hands. Yes the struggle was real here.

The second week was easier. I finally set a goal to lose 30 lbs. I really wanted to get into a new Easter outfit. I was still buying Nutrisystem by the week from Walmart. Does Nutrisystem from Walmart (or Costco) work? It sure did for me. I looked forward to my next meal. I got hungry between meals sometimes. This is when I would snack on foods such as almonds, kale chips or nonfat yogurts. I purchased some Nutrisystem shakes to use between meals also. They are delicious and will knock out the hungry feelings or cravings. I only lost 2 lbs the second week but it was still a loss.

My Health Improved

By the third week, I noticed my health was improving. I no longer suffered from heartburn and acid reflux. I felt good and best of all I was losing weight. This was the longest I’ve stayed with any diet. By now, I knew this was the diet for me and was ready to keep going. I decided to give in and purchase through Nutrisystem.com. While I was online ordering I chatted with a representative about my plan options and payment concerns. She was very informative as she helped me make my first purchase. Once I became a member, there were tools on the website that helped me achieve my goal. I entered my height and weight, how many pounds I wanted to lose and it set a calorie goal for me. I needed 1200 calories a day to achieve my desired weight loss goal of 30 lbs. 

The plan I chose was the Women’s Core plan.

I was able to choose 28-days worth of food from the menu. A couple days later a large box showed up at my door. I stocked my pantry and the journey continued.

After one month the whole diet thing was easier as I was no longer craving foods like before. The cravings were not completely gone but walking away from a piece of cake or pizza was no longer a challenge. I had my own Nutrisystem goodies such as chocolate, pizza, potatoes, muffins and more. I didn’t feel deprived of any of my favorite foods.

I stepped on the scales and smiled as I had lost a total of 11 lbs in one month.

This earned me a Nutribear. Nutrisystem will award a new bear for every 10 lbs. lost.

Emotional struggles were real.

New eating habits were not my only struggle. To accomplish success, this required me to give up food and wine outings with friends. I turned down invites as this would lead to binge eating and they would not understand.

One day while exercising and listening to music, I began to get emotional and felt alone. I felt like everyone had abandoned me. I was even snubbed by some of my overweight friends and family. It was not always positive comments I’d hear. Some of the people I work with picked on me. They would make comments that I was not eating enough as they would literally bring me biscuits and Cinnamon rolls while saying “you know you want this” or “come on, one will not hurt you”. I would just toss it in the trash and carry on with my day.

Then there were those family members and friends that would constantly try to convince me that I didn’t need to lose weight and was perfect the way I am. They can be judgmental as well. They will say things like “are you allowed to have this? Or that? Or there is always that one that will tell me I’m too skinny and need to lay off the diet. Calling someone too skinny can be just as painful as calling someone fat. I’ve been on both sides of the game.

However, my husband and daughter were my biggest fans on this journey. My husband continued complementing me on how good I look and how proud he is of me. He never complained that we did not go out to eat as much as we used to or that I no longer cooked meals. He pushed me to exercise and eat healthy. It was definitely an emotional rollercoaster at times.

Eight weeks passed. I was feeling great!

I had lost a total of 15 lbs now and lost 2 inches off my waist.

I went shopping for some new jeans.

My size twelves were getting too big. Though I was actually enjoying wearing them loose, I knew at this rate I would need some new clothes. Grabbing a few pairs of jeans in a size 10, and one in a size 8 just for fun, I dashed into the dressing room. I’m pretty sure I did a little squeal as I squeezed into the size eights! They were a little snug but I was still a comfortable ten. I didn’t buy any jeans that day, I knew I had a smaller pair of pants in my closet at home. You know, that pair you keep around “just in case”? However, I did buy a pair of yoga pants to walk in. Guess what?

I walked out with a medium instead of a large this time! Feeling good.

When I got home, I put on those jeans I had in my closet and took my first ever mirror selfie. I was half way to my goal and I now had the confidence that I would reach it.

Nutrisystem after 8 weeks

Nutrisystem after 8 weeks

By week ten, I was still enjoying all the food and health benefits of Nutrisystem. I still had 10lbs to lose to reach my goal but I started getting discouraged.

My weight loss had slowed down. I even gained a pound. I was warned this might happen along the way but I still couldn’t help but feel a little down.

Due to financial struggles, I was afraid I would have to cut back on my Nutrisystem food orders.

Then I realized, it wasn’t all that bad. I was averaging a 1 to 2 lbs weight loss and that was a healthy normal. I decided to measure instead of weigh.

I had lost another 2 inches in my waist.

So there were weeks I didn’t lose weight but still lost inches. Then there was still the money issue. That’s when I learned that my health insurance offers saving benefits with Nutrisystem. There were other saving options out there as well, like a Nutrisystem promo code for existing customers.

By the 3rd month, I had lost even more weight and people were starting to notice. I was getting a lot of compliments. I was looking through some old pictures to compare with my newest pictures so I could make my first “reveal” photo.” Just wow”!

I didn’t realize the difference a few pounds can make until I put the photos side by side. This put me in the mood to clean out my closet and toss out all the size 12’s and large clothes. My size 10’s were now too loose.

I was comfortably in a size 8. Whooohoo! 

After losing 21 pounds on Nutrisystem

This is me after losing 21 lbs on Nutrisystem

I bagged up the clothes and donated them to the local Good Will. I felt good about that as this was a way of me telling myself, “you’re not going back to that size”. The weight loss is real to me now.

How Does Nutrisystem Food Taste? Do Nutrisystem Meals Work?

The food is great!!

Every month I would log onto my Nutrisystem account. From the menu options, I would pick 28 foods of my choice for each of the four meals which included breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. The choices were easy as I loved almost everything they offer. The plan I chose, which is the Core plan, only includes the shelf foods instead of the frozen varieties.

I’ve loved every meal I tried with the exception of two. I’m not a fan of anything with sausage.

I never felt deprived of any of my favorite foods.

Nutrisystem chocolate frosted doughnut

Nutrisystem chocolate frosted doughnut

I got to have delicious foods such as doughnuts, pancakes, chocolate muffins, pizza, hamburger, chicken and even cake and brownies. With all the choices, it never gets boring.

Nutrisystem chicken noodle soup

Nutrisystem chicken noodle soup

The meats in the shelf items are conveniently packed in a vacuum sealed wrap but were tender and taste like they are right out of the deli. With so many varieties, I ate something different each day of the week.

Nutrisystem beef mushed potatoes

Nutrisystem beef with mushed potatoes

Honestly, it’s not even diet food.

It was just perfectly pre-portioned meals to keep me on a healthy track.

Why Does Nutrisystem Work so Well?

The taste is not the only thing great about Nutrisystem foods. Each meal is individually wrapped with cooking instructions which made it easy to toss in my purse and go to work. Some of the meals are easy enough to eat while in the car. One of my favorite things about Nutrisystem foods is not having to figure out what to eat each day and since the meals are all portion controlled, it takes the guess work out of having to measure or weigh what eat, because frankly, I’m too lazy to do that.

Having been on Nutrisystem has also made it easier for me to now walk away from unhealthy food choices.

When I hear people talk about that pound cake they made the other night or watching those Tasty videos on Facebook, I am not fazed. I stopped going to buffets and doughnut shops. I do not have the appetite for those places any longer. It’s easy to say no to fattening foods.

Did I Cheat?

People have asked me how do I stick to the diet during holidays or when family decides to go out to eat. “Do you ever cheat?” They will ask.  Well, that’s a struggle sometimes. But I can say I now have control. The first holiday I had to concur was Easter weekend as I had to face a  sunrise breakfast at church and a big family dinner. I allowed myself to enjoy all the foods that were offered. However, since being on Nutrisystem, I have a pretty good idea on the right foods to stay clear of, and how big of portions I should have. I even enjoyed some bacon, a piece of cheese cake and a peep. The day after that Easter, I was nervous about stepping on the scales. To my surprise, I hadn’t gained a pound, but instead, I actually lost a few ounces.

A few weeks later, I had a birthday and, well, you know how that goes. I ate cake but just a small piece. I also had to attend some family cookouts and a nephew’s wedding. It was somewhat of a struggle, but again, I have learned to eat small portions. The biggest struggle was everyone trying to get me to eat more. People think that since you lost a few pounds, you can go back to eating the way you used too. It doesn’t work that way. It’s a lifestyle change and you have to stay strong. Though I wished I could have had seconds, I didn’t and walked away feeling like Wonder Woman.

Then there was a trip to the beach. Now, when I’m sitting out on the beach, I love to snack. It’s usually chips or cookies but not this time. I snacked on lots of fruit and veggies. I felt good about myself.

Was I ready for that bikini? Almost.

The weight loss slowed down. Sixteen weeks had passed. It had been a fun journey.

I had lost 26 pounds so far.

My weight loss had slowed down to losing an average on one pound a week. It was better than a gain. I wished to lose more. I called and talked to a Nutrisystem counselor. They told me to just keep doing what I’was doing and make sure I got in all the foods required on the plan. I was eating every three hours. That’s six small meals a day along with the Nutrisystem meals and I was adding four servings of vegetables each day. It seems like a lot of food but the snacks are tiny. It’s like a tablespoon of nuts or a piece of cheese. Small amounts of healthy foods.

After losing 29 lb on Nutrisystem

After losing 29 lb on Nutrisystem

Then I hit the dreaded Nutrisystem plateau.

My weight loss stalled for a couple weeks. I was warned this could happen but I was still a little discouraged. I called a Nutrisystem counselor again. They are always so helpful. They suggested I change things up a bit. “Try swapping your dinners for lunch and lunches for dinners”. They said. The also advised me to eat more. “ Maybe add another 100 calories to your day” they suggested. I was also advised to make sure I drink enough water.  So I did. My weight loss took off again and the pounds started dropping again. Who knew that more is sometimes less?

The hardest thing for me to give up when I started Nutrisystem was bacon. Oh my gosh! I love bacon. I would eat five or six pieces without even thinking about it. I am actually allowed two slices of bacon a day as a power fuel on the Nutrisystem plan but I chose to stay completely away from it. For me to eat bacon would be like giving an alcoholic a sip of wine.

I also missed sitting down to a shared meal with my husband, but that has gotten better as he is fine with just a salad while I enjoy a healthy Nutrisystem pizza. Which is awesome by the way.

nutrisystem pizza

Nutrisystem pizza with added olives

I continued enjoying the Nutrisystem foods and never got tired of them. I found ways to apply my vegetables to my meals in creative ways such as adding spinach or olives to my Nutrisystem pizza or adding spaghetti squash to my Nutrisystem meatballs. The options are never ending.

After being on Nutrisystem for 6 months, I decided to change my plan to the “weekends on my own” plan, also known as “weekends off”. Does Nutrisystem weekends off work? Yes, it does work. With this plan, I picked 20 days of meals instead of 28 which left me to defend for myself two days a week. To transition off of Nutrisystem, I needed to learn to apply my own foods to my diet that are equivalent to Nutrisystem meals.

Does Nutrisystem Work Long Term?

Yes, which is why I reached my goal!

It took seven months for me to reach my goal. I am so excited. I still can’t believe I stuck to the plan like this.

Will Nutrisystem Work Without Exercise?

I didn’t do any excessive exercise or take any diet pills along the way. I feel proud. I am convinced that Nutrisystem is more than a cute commercial. It really does work!

Within 7 months I had lost 38lbs and  went from a size 12 to a size 6!

It took a lot of dedication, determination and discipline to get where I am. It helps when you have support. Again, my husband has been my biggest support. Between my Husband and Nutrisystem, it’s like having my own personal coach and chef. I feel so much healthier already and I’m ready to face what’s ahead with a new outlook. I have had a lot of positive effects from my weight loss so far.

Nutrisystem Health Benefits

  • My heartburn and acid reflux are gone.
  • Higher energy levels.
  • Higher self esteem.
  • Better sleep.
  • I breathe better.
  • Cravings for junk food are diminished and I crave healthier foods.
  • Looser skin (not a fan).
  • I now drink more water.
  • I can curl up in a chair and there is still room left over.
  • I sweat less.
  • I can easily avoid unhealthy foods.
  • I can buy my clothes from the Junior department.
  • My thighs do not rub together any more.
  • Joint pain is gone.
  • I have an overall better feeling inside and out.

During my yearly physical, the doctor didn’t fuss at me this time. Instead she was surprised at my over all health. She asked me how I lost the weight and said she will be suggesting the Nutrisystem diet to her overweight patients. My vitals were perfect and my blood work results came back perfect except I was low on vitamin D. “Of course I need more sunshine in my life”.

Is Nutrisystem Expensive?

One of the biggest concerns I hear from others about the Nutrisystem plan is the cost. Usually the first thing I hear them say is “Nutrisystem is so expensive”. Honestly, I said the same thing in the beginning, then I did the math. I tell them, “Have you ever added up what you spend on groceries each month?” I don’t know about you, but most of the groceries I bought each month either went to waste or waist. With Nutrisystem it goes to neither.

NutriSystem, Inc.

There are ways to save on the cost. Do not let that first price you see when you go online shock you. The customer service reps are always there to help and find the best plan that’s cost effective and right for you. They are very nice and very knowledgeable. I ended up paying an average of $150.00 a month on Nutrisystem. Here are some of the ways I saved.

  • With a health Insurance you can get a discount. By using Blue Cross Blue Shield I received an additional 12% off each month on my orders. Specifically, I used their Blue 365 program.
  • If you get Nutrisystem from Costco.com, often times they have a sale and you get  $100.00 worth Nutrisystem gift cards for $59.00. I used one of these each month to supplement my Nutrisystem order. That saved me $80.00.
  • Find someone who is using Nutrisystem and ask them for a "Buddy Bucks” coupon. This is a coupon code they will send to your email. Just ask! It’s easy to find these people through Nutrisystem’s Facebook or Twitter page. This way you save $30.00.  
  • Finally, you can chat with a counselor, they usually have a special promotion running all the time.

Having to pay for a diet is another way of motivation. If you are paying for it, you’re most likely to stay with it. Oh, and here is another benefit of losing weight…. Extra large clothes are more expensive, too!

Nutrisystem Works!

I’m finally at the weight I have always wished to be.

After being on Nutrisystem for over a year, I lost 50 pounds!

After 1 year on Nutrisystem

Nutrisystem before and after

How Has My Life Changed

I no longer hide behind big clothes. I wore that bikini on the beach and have fun buying new clothes in a size 4! I feel like I’m in my 20’s and feel sexy around my husband again.

Keeping the Weight off

I have been able to keep the weight off by using Nutrisystem’s maintenance program. I no longer get a month’s supply shipped to my door. I have learned to eat the right foods on my own as I still order some of the Nutrisystem foods from their A la Carte menu. This keeps me on track. Besides, like I said before “I love the foods”.  I continue to walk every day at least three miles and hula hoop when I have some extra energy to burn.

Nutrisystem Tips

The best advice I can give anyone is to never give up. Keep a positive attitude. If you think you can, you will. Something I learned is drink lots of water, keep those green vegetables in your diet, and not all carbs are bad.

I am a Nutristar!

Nutrisystem encourages everyone to take a “before and after” photo along with keeping a journal of their weight loss journey for a chance to be a “Nutristar” and participate in a Nutrisystem photo/commercial shoot. The people that are on the Nutrisystem ads and commercials are real. I know, because I was one of the lucky ones chosen this past year! 

Lisa Nutristar

So, if you are asking: “Did Nutrisystem work for you?” My answer is, yes it did. “Will Nutrisystem work for me”? I believe it will.

I plan to continue as a member of Nutrisystem and enjoy all the benefits they have to offer. This is no longer a diet to me. It’s a new way of life.

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