Nutrisystem? is it worth it?

I first did Nutri-System in the early 90’s when they still had their centers where you go in for your weekly weigh-ins and pick up your food. I stuck to the plan perfectly (I tend to get “OCD” like that some times). I did it in between semesters in college (during the summer). I lost a lot of weight….can’t remember the exact total, but it was enough to make people really compliment me when they saw me back in college in the fall. I also had my doctor sign a note to get me out of the meal plan in college (we were required to take one if you lived on campus) so I could still continue with Nutri System. Well, it worked some more….I still lost weight, until one day I just sort of “snapped”. Each week when I went into the Center to pick up my week of food and get my weigh in, I would start to order 6 or 7 boxes of macaroni and cheese and other foods that were my favorite. Then, I started binging on them!!! I would literally make 4 mac and cheeses at the same time, add hot sauce, and gorge myself. This is when I discovered that I had some sort of eating disorder, (Binge Eating Disorder w/ compulsive exercising as my form of purging). Well, you can guess it, I gained all the weight back very quickly, then some.The food was not that bad that I remember. Some was just “okay”, I remember having to add boiling water to a dried meat like product to make it a hamburger, LOL. That was kind of weird, but it didn’t taste THAT bad. Now, that brings us to the present. I have been through quite a few other diets since then….always yo-yoing up and down….(story of my life). I heard they changed the program where now you just get the food delivered to you in the mail and they don’t have centers anymore. I don’t even weigh myself, because my clothes tell me all I need to know. I find when I start focusing on a number on the scale, it can “make or break” my day.So, I did the math, and found that I was spending more money on fast food and pizza, and Chinese takeout than I would if I did Nutri System. I know it sounds kind of weird, but I am not even looking at this as a diet. I am just looking at it as more of a convenience/money saving thing for me. I was frankly getting sick of those KFC Mashed Potato Bowls and BK Double Cheeseburgers, etc. too. And then a lot of days, I would go most of the day without even eating because I was so busy at work. I needed to get some normality back in my life as far as food in concerned. Plus, this is a BIG one: I hate to shop, and I hate to cook. So, I am trying it again….to take off maybe 20 or so pounds….and to get back on a regular eating schedule. The food this time around is definitely much improved IMO.I know that I can’t eat this stuff forever, and will eventually have to learn how to cook since I’m getting married next year and want to have a family, but for now it seems to be working okay, and as I mentioned before, oddly enough, I am actually SAVING money by doing Nutri-System. It works out to be something like $10 or so bucks a day. I would spend that on lunch alone easily many days!!Good luck!P.S. Last night I had the chicken with basil sauce, it was surprisingly good…..and unlike another answerer, I didn’t find the eggs “nasty” at all. I also tried the “cup of soup” like thing with Thai sauce and peanuts and noodles. You just mix with boiling water and let it sit for 6 minutes and wa-la, it is done! It was pretty good too….maybe I’m in the minority on this, but for me it is helping me right now. And again, I am well aware that eventually I will have to eat “real” food, but this does help you get the portion control down right. It is amazing how little really can fill you up (although the portions aren’t THAT small at all. I just like it for the convenience most of all.Plus, I DO exercise regularily which is a MUST IMO. It makes my life more bearable, seriously!Good luck again!... Show More

I did the nutrisystem but it didn’t work for me. That is not to say that it won’t work for you. I was actually quite impressed with the food and it does teach a couple of good points. Portion Control, portion control, portion control. It also gets you eating as often as you should 4-6 times a day. By keeping the portions small you end up eating that often and it keeps the metabolism going. The food is actually well made. There were no artificial sweetners in anything and everything had a lot of fiber and protein in it, which is always good. If you are someone who wants it to be easy that the food is already made and you just pick what you want to eat then nutrisystem is the way to go. If you think you can make the food yourself then don’t do the nutrisystem. But I do think that it is worth the try.... Show More

Is Nutrisystem Worth It... Show More

My recommendation would be to join Take Off Pounds Sensibly or Weight Watchers and eat regular food. Each of these programs have accountability which is needed. If Nutrisystem just sends you the food and you eat it, there is not accounability to keep you on track. It is safe to lose only about 2 lbs per week. If you lose faster, it has a nasty habit of coming back on that fast also. At a rate of 1 lb per week with healthy eating habits and good nutritional choices, the weight comes off and stays off. I do not like programs where I can’t chose the food that I want at that meal. I have lost over 20 lbs with Take Off Pounds Sensibly. The first 15 came right off but the scale now has not budged for almost 3 months now. I have to change my eating habits or up the exercise to get it going downward again. The other question is how long are you willing to hang in there with the “Program”. It is not just a financial decision but a physical and emotional one also.... Show More

This Site Might Help You.RE:Nutrisystem? is it worth it?How well does it work? I want to try nutrisystem but i would like to know how fast you lose the weight cause i only need to lose like 15-20 lbs. i would also like to know which nutrisystem foods anyone whos tried it recommends. any other nutrisystem pros or cons would be nice to hear about too…... Show More

This is my 3rd week on Nutrisystem. The first week I lost 3 pounds and after that, none!!! I worked out along with the program and still didn’t lose anymore weight. I am very discouraged because I followed the plan very closely. So no, I would not recommend this diet.... Show More

I did Nutrisystem for a month about a year ago. I lost weight, but didn’t stick to it… :o( It’s not cheap and you have to buy fresh veggies and other stuff, which they tend to not tell you. I got a month program off of QVC. I think I lost 4.5lbs the first week and my mom lost 7. I think I lost 8 in the whole month. You aren’t ever hungry and some of the stuff is really good. (The pasta salad was nasty, but I don’t care much for pasta salad anyways) If I lived on my own and didn’t have to fix supper for my parents, I’d be on it again. It really works, and I didn’t even exercise while on it, but know I’d loose more if I had.... Show More

You’re probably better off to go somewhere that offers personalized help. Nutrisystem gives the same amount of food to everyone, regardless of how much they weigh and how much they want to lose. Someone that weighs quite a bit needs a lot more calories than someone who doesn’t need to lose a lot of weight.Speaking from experience, the Jenny Craig program has great tasting food. You get a program catered to your body’s needs based on your weight, your goal, and your activity level.... Show More

i personally have not tried nutrisystem but have several family members, close friends who have and they bought the food, did the diet plan and looked terrific! BUT….. once they got off the plan and started eating regularly they’re back to their old habits and are as big as they were before they did Nutrisystem..I say don’t waste your money. Eat right,exercise and make it a lifestyle…. i know it’s hard to lose weight and maintain, but if you focus on other things and not food you’d be surprised how fast you can lose it and maintain a healthy lifestyle… still enjoying food and not living to eat but eating to live!... Show More

My parents tried this in the 80’s. They didn’t like it I liked some of the food. So I Offered to eat some of them. As a Growing kid in the 80’s. I didn’t care for it but, I Just ate it so it won’t go to waste. I wouldn’t recommend any of the diet systems these days. The Good Old Fashioned eating fruits and veggies and whole grains and lean meats and drinking mostly water and exercise will have you lose 10-30 pounds by Christmas. Just think if it’s packaged and in a bottle and it has sugar and comes from a factory it’s processed.... Show More

It does work if you stick to it. Expect to lose 2-3 pounds per week (also depends on your weight). Food wasn’t bad. But after I tried it, I had to have my gallbladder removed from gallstones. My grandmother and Aunt both told them that they had head that Nutrisystem can cause gallstones. Don’t know if that part is true but worth researching.... Show More