Please don't say anything negative. I just bought 3 discount cards at Costco

[Maraya1969]

for $80 for $100 worth of food at Nutra-system. For a month it is over $300 and the woman on the phone said I can use 3 of them for the month. (I tried to call tonight but rang them too late and they are closed)

I say please don't say anything negative because I just want to concentrate on the positive as losing weight has most often been a hard thing for me to do.

I lost taking phentermine about a year ago but recently put back about 20 pounds and I really do not feel good. And with back problems is really sucks because I don't want to be active because it puts me in pain. But I've done it before - mostly I exercised by walking.

I got a script for the new drug Qysemia or whatever it is called. It is a combination of Phentermine and Topimax, both of which I have taken before. But it is not covered by me insurance and at $150/month I don't think so................

Any one here have luck with Nutri-System? I was talking to my cousin the other day and we both came to the conclusion that any system will work as long as you do it. I bought some over the counter Hydroxycut which mostly just uses caffeine but I think some of the herbs help. Actually I know they do because when I bought the stuff without the caffeine I lost weight, when I followed a diet.

[hollysmom]

1. Do what you have to do

Always good to get a discount.

For me, I do make up diets. Right now I am on "have a car stuck in the driveway for 4 weeks in the ice" diet - where I have been cleaning out the fridge and only eat what is in there. Unfortunately I can bake, but fortunately I boiled all the eggs so they are hard boiled ha ha. There are restaurants a block away, but the bad part is being out of dog food. So I spent the day cooking brown rice and the root vegetables I had left, carrots celery and potatoes to make dog food and mixed it with left over london broil that was a found food at the bottom of the freezer (only in there for 2 months, I have short memory). That is only good for 2 days, anyway, lost 7 pounds.Just don't want to eat what I have left. Hard boiled eggs and peanut butter and carrots and celery. tomorrow will be a spaghetti day. Then I have to get out and get dog food. If I have to call a cab.

But I did weight watchers, I just like to cook my own food, I don't even like eating out that much.

[Maraya1969]

2. I sometimes like those diets that you have to go on because there is nothing in the house

Of course with today's life all I have to do is drive down to the 7/11 and get something but most of the time I make do with what I have. Unless I am in binge mode which I have been in for several weeks now.

Good on you for taking care of your pup.

I make sure my dogs eat good meals. I would never give them the horrible diet I eat some times. I guess there is a message in that last sentence. Maybe it has to do with caring for yourself. Caring for yourself enough to take care of yourself like you take care of the dogs. It's something to think about anyway.

I can't wait to be able to order this stuff and get it here. I want to begin the process.

And when the Hell did it turn 5 O'clock in the morning! Last I knew it was last night!

[hollysmom]

3. takling care of your self, caring about your self

that is a beautiful message we all should listen to more. I know I would be in bad shape without the dog to take care of, she gets me up and moving every day. On my own, I would probably sleep until I die.

[noamnety]

4. My parents did nutrisystem for a while.

They gained weight back when they went off. I think there are some good things and bad things about it, and because of that I think it's a better short term solution than long term, but some good lessons for long term success.

What I liked about it (as someone looking in from the outside) is that it really teaches what an appropriate serving size is. That's something to hold onto even after you've done it for a month.

Where it could use some improvement is that a lot of the foods seem to try to be healthier versions of foods we shouldn't really be eating. (lots of dessert/starchy things)

Because of that, if you decide to go with it, I would consider it a two stage project. One is to relearn portion control if that's an issue for you. And the other is a followup stage where you start working to eliminate sugar addictions. Going back to my mom, she's overweight still but has been losing weight (and regaining some of it). But also she has diabetes now. She is off nutrisystem and is still in the habit of having ice cream every night after dinner - and says she just "needs" something sweet to end the day. If she could have transitioned off nutrisystem to real food and not been in the habit of trying to save calories for dessert, I think her long term success would have been better. All her dessert calories could have been used for protein and veggies, and she could have broken the sugar habit.

I'm saying that not to discourage you from trying this, but to encourage you to think through these issues so you have a better battle plan than she had for how to eat when you get back to regular meals.

Also, if your library has The Four Hour Body, that changed the way I think about food and diets. (Four hours refers to the amount of exercise in a month that the author recommends).

[liberal_at_heart]

5. You and your cousin are right. Any system can work. Different things work for different people.

If Nutri-System works for for you then great. I agree with one of the other posters. Make sure you find a way to transition out of the diet and back onto other healthy food when you are done with Nutri-System. I have struggled a long time with my weight. I think I have finally found what works for me. I have added a ton of vegetables to my diet. I add asparagus and bell peppers to my eggs. I eat a salad before lunch and dinner. I have a bowl of mixed fruits and vegetables for a snack. It helps to fill me up so that I don't eat as much bread, pasta, rice, and junk food. If I have a craving for something like candy or cookies, I allow myself to have some, but I watch my portion size and I eat it with my meal so I feel full and the protein, and vegetable in my meal help make sure that the candy or cookies don't make my blood sugar spike. I'm trying to change the way I feel about food. I try to look at the food I eat as a way to give my body the nutrients and energy it needs. I have a gene that puts me at risk of breast and ovarian cancer, so I view vegetables as a way to prevent cancer. Also, I try not to freak out if I give into a craving and eat something sweet. If I make sure the majority of food I eat is nutritious then a small sweet treat every once and a while is not going to hurt me. I have lost 30 lbs in 5 months. Whatever program you try, just remember why you are doing it. You are worth it. Love yourself. Commit to loving yourself enough to take care of yourself. And also love yourself enough not to beat yourself up if you slip and eat something you're not suppose to. No guilt. Just start fresh the next day. Good luck.

[newcriminal]

6. I'm on nutrisystem.

Last edited Wed Mar 5, 2014, 09:13 AM - Edit history (1)

I love it. I have lost 67lbs so far. Not hungry, and I feel so much better. I can answer just about any questions you have about it.
I have been on since August.

A few things you should know.

1. Costco will have the cards on sale this month for $59.99. Stock up. The usually go on sale twice a year.

2. Nutrisystem gives a discount for certain insurances. Call them. I know they don't ask for any specifics like your insurance numbers, just the carrier. I know that Blue Cross/Blue Shield will give a discount and United. Some people who do not have insurance gave them those carriers and got the discounts. Not telling you to lie just letting you know it can be done.

3. The website has a discussion board with a lot of help.

4. You can and should call a Nutrisystem counselor when you start.

5. Walmart carries a 5 day box if you want to try it before you commit, or ever run out of food. They also carry a few 4 packs of certain foods, like the blueberry muffins (which I love), the chocolate muffins(which are really good heated in the microwave for about 15 seconds), peppermint patties(wonderful), and fudge graham bars (my favorite lunch bar).

6. A lot of the lunch cups are better if you use a small crock pot.

7. The food taste better if you cook it in the oven or stove top versus the microwave.

If you have any questions or just need some encouragement, I am a good listener. Good luck!!

edited: I forgot about the daily dose. When you click on the daily dose there is another discount of 10 dollars off for every 50 clicks. You go to the daily dose and to the right is a 50 click for $10 off.

[The empressof all]

7. No Shame from Me....I have lost with both Nutrasystem and with Medifast

The Nutrasystem community boards was populated by rabid teabag types and the company does support conservatives. Nevertheless...I think it can teach you valuable skills in portion control. I was rarely hungry and some of the food was not awful.....I sometimes still crave the veggie lasagna and their burger was ok too. Find a group of folks you can interact with on the boards...They aren't all loonies.

Medifast was also successful for me but it was much harder as the food consisted of mostly shakes and soups.

My main concern with programs like this is the amount of chemicals and preservatives used in the processing. I suppose it's a toss up when you are carrying around so much weight it is creating other problems.

I am far from goal weight and may consider going back on nutrisystem again. I am having knee surgery at the end of the month and will need to psych myself up again to eat to reduce.