NutriSystem: A Complete Review

I spoke with a councelor from NS and she said any diet drink without caffeine could count as water...that made me very happy...I hate water.

Ok I got my big box of food today! I am so psyched about this diet! I must admit those teeny tiny containers of soups and pastas...so small! And they did substitute some of my order, but I'll give it a try. The tuna and chicken packs are very weird. Looks like I will have to grin and bear it as I swallow! Let you all know how it goes!

First day on NS. Cool! Had the scrambled eggs in a cup for breakfast. I didn't follow the directions exactly. One of the first steps is very important. STIR the mixture and then microwave. I didnt stir first and got a rubbery mixture at the bottom of the cup. This was one of the items they choose for me. Its ok.

As most people have said, NS does give me diarrhea! No pain, though. I had to go about 4 hours after I ate the scrambled eggs. Let's see how the rest of the days food will hold in my stomach. Oh the tuna tastes good, but its too mushy.

Yesterday I had 2 lunches by accident. They tasted ok. Mushy tuna salad and the container of soup was good. It did give me gas, but I am used to that. Good thing it was not diarrhea. I lost 1lb, but I dont think it's fat loss, I think it's water weight. I did drink my liquids as prescribed. Onward!

I noticed a lot of people talking about nutrisystem on here. If anyone is thinking of doing it, I am here to tell you that you should go for it! I'm into the my 3rd week right now and have lost 18 pounds. I have pretty much stayed strictly on the diet, I have only eaten twice different from the nutrisystem diet (example, one dinner I was at a baseball game so I had half a hot dog and a beer and memorial day for lunch I had a small hamburger (with lettuce and tablespoon of ketchup)with a deviled egg and some pasta salad)

I'm not a picky eater, so other then the chicken noodle soup (too thick) and turkey hot dogs (DO NOT GET) the food has been delicious!

If anyone is thinking of starting and would like a little discount, I can send out referral coupons for $30 off your initial order - email me at wmich12@yahoo.com and I'll send out a coupon!

Good luck to everyone!

Matt

Ok, the breakfast items seem to the item that gives me the gas and 1-2 sittings of diarrhea. I will see though, bc todays meals havent all gone down yet! But all is going well! Im sticking to it!

I've been looking online about soy protein, which seems to be in almost all of the NS food items. All of the sites have pointed to soy protein = GAS! With this much consumption of soy protein, no wonder I'm getting lots of gas and diarrhea!

Soy protein causes gas? The gas from soy (like other bean) products comes from undigested sugar (oligosaccharides) that gets consumed by bacteria in the large intestine. Soy protein should be free of sugars (the carbs are removed).

You might have a soy allergy - but maybe others who use soy protein can comment.

Quito: this is from an article from this website

http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/soyflatulence.html

The chief culprit, as with all beans, is the oligosaccharides in the carbohydrate portion. The word oligosaccharides comes from oligo (few) and saccharides (sugars). The best known oligosaccharides in beans are raffinose and stachyose. They require the enzyme alpha-galactosidase to be digested properly. Unfortunately, humans and other mammals do not come so equipped.

The result is that the pair--whom we'll call Raf and Stach--pass through the small intestine unscathed to arrive in the large intestine, where they are attacked by armies of hungry bacteria. The digestive fermentation that takes place always results in gas and sometimes in odor. The precise amount and specific smell varies widely from person to person and also depends upon gender, age and the demographics of each individual's gut population.4 Several reports indicate that the increased availability of flatulent foods causes anaerobic bacteria to reproduce. Eating more such foods results in a "rapid rate of gas production," with the possibility of faster, more explosive results every time additional foods of this ilk appear in the intestine.5-7

Although a few people seem able to eat soy without gassing up, studies on soybean digestion often refer to "excessive volume" and "noxious odor." Malodorous methane (CH4) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gases are produced in greater amounts by infants fed soy formula.8 The highly volatile and toxic H2S has been linked to many intestinal disorders, particularly ulcerative colitis.9

Over the years scientists have done their darndest to find a way to either reduce the presence of Raf and Stach in soybean products or to cut out the entire carbohydrate load. Carbohydrates in soy generally constitute 30 percent of the bean and break down into soluble sugars of sucrose (5 percent), stachyose (4 percent), raffinose (1 percent) and insoluble fiber (20 percent). The insoluble fiber consists of cellulose and pectins, which are not digested by the enzymes of the GI tract, and which absorb water and swell considerably. Unlike other beans, soybean carbohydrate contains very little starch (which humans can digest)--less than 1 percent.10,11

Neither home cooking nor high-temperature industrial heating processes dispatch Raf and Stach. They are stubbornly heat stable. However, germination, which occurs during the fermentation process, will dramatically reduce the amount of these sugars, with a complete disappearance of the oligosaccharides on the third day. Incubation with microrganisms or enzymes derived from microorganisms also has this good effect.12 Thus, old-fashioned soy products such as miso, tempeh and natto rarely cause gas but modern, heat-processed products that still contain the carbohydrate portion of the bean (soy flour, for example) create copious amounts. Among the modern processed products, soy protein concentrate is said to produce the least gas because its carbohydrate portion has been extracted by alcohol. Soy protein isolate (SPI) is almost pure protein and thus considered practically free of "flatulence factors." 13-17

There's more to that article you anyone wants to read it. Very interesting and not too medical or technical.

Quito, all sorts of protein powder - soy, egg, whey - give me gas, and that goes for bars and products that include them. Tofu won't give me gas, with the carbs included, and the powder will. I can't explain, but it just happens.

PB, the article you posted says the same thing - soy protein should be pretty safe stuff. But, as Jan points out, there is a gap between theory and practice. Egg-based protein powder is clearly free of oligosaccharides and lactose...

Oh well. Happy fumigating!

Quito: Soy protein that comes in the natural form, such as tofu etc is the more safe product. But if you read this "...Thus, old-fashioned soy products such as miso, tempeh and natto rarely cause gas but modern, heat-processed products that still contain the carbohydrate portion of the bean (soy flour, for example) create copious amounts.". I think this is the stuff they put into these boxed foods. And this is what I am fumigating from!

I know bc I eat tofu and miso soup etc, and have no problems like with this processed form of soy. It's not so bad, just after a few hours, I have to fumigate again!

Are you on the NS diet too? If so how are you doing?

Hi PB,

No, I'm not on NS. I've had several friends use the similar Jenny Craig program and say great things about the it - by sending you the food, it makes it easler not to cheat.

I'm amazed that Matt (above) lost 18 lbs in 3 weeks. That's way too fast to be healthy, especially if he didn't up his exercise too. (BTW, do work on increasing your exercise too if you can; it'll speed up the weight loss and make you feel better).

Keep posting your progress! One of the best things about this blog are the success stories ^_^

Quito: Yes, I am actually wary of people who claim they lost more than 5 lbs a week, seeing that a true fat pound is worth 3500 calories. I can possibly see it if a person did alot of exercise and were pretty overweight to begin with. Not that I dont believe them, but I'm wondering if it is also water they are losing. I am watching my water, since I am having a little diarrhea a few hours I have breakfast. Funny I dont get diarrhea with any of the other foods (lunch, dinner or snack). I do get gas though! Something in those breakfast foods. Thanks for your support.

hey everyone. today is my first day on NS. had the choco chip granola bar for breakfast and the fetuccine alfredo for lunch. the food is not spectacular but it is not horrendous either. im quite excited but nervous about this whole program but i think its definitly the way to go. there really is nothing to complain about. no one ordered this food for fun..its for a purpose

Hey! Finally one whole day without a horrendous amount of gas and NO diarrhea!!! I wonder if my body just got used to it? I read someplace that it takes a few days for your body to get used to the fiber. Well, cool!

pb said:

I wonder if my body just got used to it?

You've been on this for over a week now, yes? Is it still easy to follow?

Quito: as of thursday, it will be one week. I couldn't do it fully over the weekend, bc I had to go out with my little one, but I was trying to eat carefully. Following the NS diet is a no brainer. Throw in the fruits, salad and liquids and you're done! It's kind of like having these meals laid out gives me exactly what I need to eat and there's no guessing or thinking involved. Hopefully I will get used to the size and what I should eat and will get that ingrained at the end of this.

Funny how I thought I had been eating fiber and all, before NS. Maybe this is a different type of fiber and soy, so my body needed to get used to it? But cross my fingers and hope it stays that way!

Just curious as to why you are posting on here if you never went on NS?

Also, I do exercise! Not a nut about it, about 5 days a week, cardio and weights. I have a little gym set up in my house now. I used to go to the Y, but I find it's easier this way.

Smile and train the brain.

PB,

I read all of Jim's (excellent) blog, and I love success stories....

I think besides counting calories or watching what you eat and excercising, the key component to all this to make it work is believing and knowing. If it's not in the mind to do it, it won't work for long. Esp when its time to come off of a diet and go it alone. Habits are called habits for a reason. Habits have to be understood and learn a new habit. Kind of like people who have addictions to alcohol or drugs or anything else. These are habits. Albeit, some are needed by the body, once used, but it's still a way of life that needs to be changed. So if a diet such as NS helps for someone to learn a new habit and understand the triggers and the old ways, then that's great! I know my trigger when it comes to eating....boredom!

Hi Everyone,

It was great to find this website and comments about Nutra System. Well Nutra System's commerials are quite appealing. I was hooked because I was looking for a convenient program to meet my busy summer schedule. I applied for the bill me later option with Nutra System and was declined. Also, I did not have enough on my credit card to order the foods either. Therefore, I had no choice but to search the web for alternative options and came across this website. Well I guess everything happens for a reason because many people are complaining about the taste of the foods or are tolerating the taste because of the money they paid.

The taste isnt super bad, esp if you can find the ones you like. For example, I love pasta, so all the pasta ones Ive eaten so far are very similar to the frozen variety in the supermarket. Oh, I weighed in this morning for one week and lost 2 lbs. I think these are real fat pounds too!

Martina: you can find some good deals on Ebay for Nutrisystem. Or Nutrisystem allows you to buy a la carte, so you pay for a few items at a time.

I've been on NS for a week now, and I've lost 10 pounds. Funny thing is that I lived on Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Tacos before I started the diet, and when I saw all three of those offered, I couldn't sign up fast enough. I tend to have the lunch stuff for breakfast and the breakfast stuff for lunch, but other than that, I stay pretty close to the book. I think it is a great system for me, but for others who live on regular food, it may be a bit of a challenge.

Doug: How did you manage to lose 10 lbs in only a week? Ive been on the NS diet for a week too and lost 2 lbs. I am sticking to it too. Not that Im not happy with the 2 lbs, but...If I lost 10 lbs in a week, I'd only have one more week to go! I find the lunches not so good. I especially hate the ones I have to mix with water. They arent anything like food. I like the dinners though. Im not a big breakfast person, so a granola bar is fine for me.

I tried Nutrisystems with a friend from work a year ago. My friend did not care for the taste and quit very quickly. I really didn't mind alot of the food, and in about 6 weeks, lost over 20 lbs. I was so excited, but then in a short time gained the weight back. I loved the cereals, pasta dishes, and other things as well. I didn't care for the tuna and chicken salads, but most of the food was tolerable, and my energy level was amazing. I felt very healthy on it, and even though I gained it back, I may try it again, and be more careful when I go off.

Barb: get back on NS if it worked for you. This time around, try to pay attention to the amounts of foods you're eating, so you can mimic it when you come off of NS. NS actually recommends that you do wean off of their products, so your body gets used to the change and also you will acclimate to yourself controlling what you're eating. Make any sense? I am paying attention!

Doug said:

I've been on NS for a week now, and I've lost 10 pounds.

10 lbs of fat is 35,000 calories. To lose this in a week requires a calorie deficit of 5,000 calories a day. I doubt you were eating 7,000 calories a day before, and taking your metabolism down that fast would be tough. On the other hand, losing 4 quarts of water and 2 lbs of fat is possible if you cut your calorie intake by 1,000 calories a day.

I'm saying this just to tell you that you are probably not going to sustain this rate of loss - which is really good. Losing 2-3 lbs a week, max, is more reasonable.

Good luck!

Thank you, Quito for explaining that so scientifically!

Update on the GI issues: it seems that my body is now a teeny bit on the constipated side, versus what I had a week ago..diarrhea. Any suggestions anyone? I am following the NS diet very closely. Should I have more or less fiber or water?

WOW for NutriSystem! This is my 9th day and I have lost 10 lbs. I follow the plan and have cheated everyday...but only between breakfast and lunch ( longtime to me....however, I cheated with something they recommend on the diet, and even with cheating (sometimes you just need something) I used portion control (ironic. Overall, I am pleased, but this following week I have been told is the week that I will perhaps start to see the results in my waistline. My mother told already after the 10th day that my waist looked smaller.

Also, I excerise everyday for 30 mins. which probably helps, and builds muscle. We all know that muscle weighs more than fat. I love this diet and have so much energy. The food is great for a prepackaged dioet. The people who are saying that it is horrible are sadly mistaken if they think they are going to get gourmet food shipped to them at only $270 a month. Also, The diet really is not that expensive. Think about how much you spend on groceries a month, plus going to fast food places, plus your morning latte, plus some Haggen-Daas(however you spell it)etc. You spend on average about 400 amonth on food alone and dont even notice it. It is the paying up front that throws people off. But, then again, I am single, working, living with my parents rent-free for the summer. Anyway, my plan is to lose 30lbs before I return to college, and at 10 lbs in 9 days, I think I may hit they goal pretty soon. My total goal is to lose 80 lbs.

Good Luck Everyone, and give NutriSystem a shot if you are on the fence trying to make a decision!!!

For Quito...

Please stop detering people's happiness with your scientific calculations. They are quite disturbing and annoying.

Just stick to the diet, say what you have to say about your weight loss and keep it movin'!

Thanks!

Hi Heather,

Disturbing and annoying? Scientific calculations?? I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade... And, calling them "scientific calculations" is like calling balancing your checkbook a "scientific calculation",

If someone loses 10 lbs in one week then they should suspect it's not fat... It's a good time to be ready for the slow down. If someone continues to drop 10 lbs a week, that's a great signal to go see your doctor.

Be well, Heather.