I am Nutrisystem nation blogger. I am provided with a Nutrisystem meal plan in return for regular updates.
We’ve had a few people say that they didn’t think Nutrisystem was right for them, even though Ryan has had success with it. I’ve noticed that the reasons they list seem to be fairly similar. And honestly, I don’t disagree! Clearly, we are fans of Nutrisystem here. Ryan has lost 60 pounds! It works if you stick with the plan. But, if you aren’t ready to make certain changes then you may not be ready for Nutrisystem yet.
I thought I would share some expectations that you should have if you decide to try Nutrisystem. Or phrased differently, what to be prepared for if you try Nutrisystem.
Small portion sizes. You will not have a full sized dinner plate covered in food at most meals. If you get creative with veggies (Most veggies are unlimited on Nutrisystem!) you can have a very large salad. But, the entrees provided by Nutrisystem are quite small. They can often fit in the palm of your hand. However, the entrees are high in protein and/or fiber so they are more filling than you would expect. You will have to adapt to eating small amounts, though. Our culture has normalized massive portion sizes so it takes some adjusting.
Not getting stuffed or completely full. With Ryan’s Nutrisystem plan he has 6 meal settings per day. That lets him eat as soon as he wakes up, and then once every 3 hours while he’s awake (he usually has 16 hour days). When you eat that frequently, you do not need to truly feel completely full at each meal time in order to not get hungry by the next meal or snack time. If you are used to eating 3 meals a day and not having snacks, this will be a big shift in thinking.
Give entrees a fresh try. A lot of Nutrisystem foods are higher in protein and fiber than what you would find at your grocery store, or what you’re used to making at home. This can shift the flavors slightly. When you are new to Nutrisystem, you should try to eat each food without preconceived ideas about what it will taste like. Ryan has found that some Nutrisystem entrees are better than the ‘at home’ version he was used to (this is true for the turkey chili, and chicken pot pie, for example), while others he thought he would definitely like but they were unique enough that eh didn’t really care for them. When you’re new, I recommend trying everything on the menu once. I bet you’ll find at least a couple of happy surprises!
Flavor sacrifice. I have said many times before, and I will again – that Nutrisystem food is not bad. Ryan is a picky eater and he enjoys most of the entrees. He does not regularly eat any entrees that he thinks taste bad, but many are more neutral or good, vs SO SO SO YUMMY. However, in order to lose weight and eat healthy food you do have to be willing to accept that not every meal you eat will be the tastiest thing you can think of. You won’t likely find that the Nutrisystem (or any healthy!) burger tastes like your favorite restaurant burger. You’ll give up candy, potato chips, and deep fried foods. I think sometimes people see Nutirsysem commercials showing their pizzas, or their chocolate muffins and think that Nutrisystem is a magical way to eat whatever you want and lose weight. Yes, those menu items exist on Nutrisystem, which is really nice. However, it is not true at all that you can eat whatever you want and lose weight. The reason you can lose weight with these items from Nutrisystem is because they are calorie and portion controlled, and they have protein and fiber to keep you feeling fuller longer. If you aren’t willing to sacrifice some of your favorite, high calorie, unhealthy meals then you probably aren’t really ready to commit to losing weight yet. That isn’t to say that you can never have a piece of candy in order to lose weight. Ryan has had a piece of candy here and there while trying to do Nutrisystem but it is not recommended because it is contradictory to the goal of losing weight and if you do it very often you will stop losing weight due to taking in too many calories. There is no way to avoid the fact that losing weight requires sacrifice. So you have to adjust your thinking to “I don’t have to eat anything I dislike, but I can’t have my top favorites all the time.”
Goodbye to high calorie drinks. Nutrisystem is in a nutshell, an easy way to count calories because their entrees all fall within roughly the same calorie limit. This allows you to grab, cook and eat without writing down the calories but if you stick to the plan, your day will always end with roughly the saem number of calories consumed. This is why you can’t drink high calorie drinks like soda, as thos ecalories will put you way over the calorie level for that day and will sabotage your weight loss. On any calorie-restricted meal plan, it doesn’t make sense to drink soda, juice or other high calorie drinks because you are taking away calories from how much you can eat, leaving you with less room for actual food within your calorie limit.
Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
This is the best sales pitch for Nurisystem I have ever read. You are overweight because of what you have eaten…. Here is what you can do to lose weight. You can’t have it all but you can have an adjusted amount of some dishes….. You said it so well.
This is the best sales pitch for Nurisystem I have ever read. You are overweight because of what you have eaten…. Here is what you can do to lose weight. You can’t have it all but you can have an adjusted amount of some dishes….. You said it so well.
Ryan looks so much different now. Love his haircut! I like vegetables, but due to dental issues I cant eat a whole lot of raw- there lies the crux. I do think I could do Nutrisystem though. I dont do pop (soda) but do have sugar in coffee not sure I could give up that one cup yet. We dont eat deep fat fried anyway.
Keep it up Ryan, looking good! He has sure thrived on this Emily, and I know you have lost too.
I recently started Nutrisystem and I actually lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks. I do find that I get hungry between meals, but I’m on the 3 meal 1 snack program. I try to fill the in between meals with salads and fruit.
I recently started Nutrisystem and I actually lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks. I do find that I get hungry between meals, but I’m on the 3 meal 1 snack program. I try to fill the in between meals with salads and fruit.
Peggy Nunn
ellen beck
Erica Vandegrift
I mostly drink water, never soda. If I were to give a bit of advice – herbs and spices add so much flavor without the calories to dishes.