NutriSystem

What’s so good about NutriSystem ?
So why? Why are so many people embarking on this diet?

The NutriSystem Advanced program is all about convenience. They sell pre-packaged (heat and eat) meals from their website and ship them to your door. They have an ongoing deal that will supply one weeks free food with every 4 week order (see the free deal here). This amounts to $280 for 5 weeks food. In an age where foods are chosen according taste, price, and convenience - it should come as no surprise that NutriSystem is so popular.

Jenny Craig vs NutriSystem
Both of these diets are about pre-packaged foods and portion-controlled weight loss. Jenny Craig charges a membership fee (which requires signing a contract). NutriSystem has no such contract and membership is free. Take a look at my video post, Jenny Craig vs. Nutrisystem, where an independent reporter investigates and compares both diets.

What’s not so good?
According to one survey, the average customer stays for 9.5 weeks. This shows that NutriSystem is useful for getting back on track, but it is not a permanent answer. After finishing your stint with NutriSystem you must go back to preparing your own meals - and this is a critical time (and an issue with every on-and-off diet).

Those Ads
NutriSystem is well known for it’s advertising - particular the TV commercials. One in particular featured a customer - seen catching a bouquet at a mock wedding — wearing nothing but a bikini and high heels. Cheesy for sure - but at least the woman (37 year old Sheila Duren) was a genuine customer (via Businessweek).

Diet and Nutritional Aspects
The NutriSystem diet is based around the glycemic index. They have options for men, women, diabetics, and vegetarians. Typical daily calorie amounts will vary from 1200 to 1500, and each days food consists of 3 meals and 2 snacks. The macro-nutrient ratios are approximately 55% carbohydrates, 25% protein and 20% fats. The have 2 additional programs for women and men over 60 - the only difference here is the addition of one months supply of a multivitamin-mineral.

So… will you lose weight?
Strictly follow a 1200-1500 calorie diet - such as NutriSystem , and most people will lose weight. It’s a simple formula of reducing energy intake. How long the weight loss will continue is something that cannot be easily answered. This is the same with virtually every diet - you reach a plateau and something will need to change (changing exercise patterns, lifting weights, changing nutrient ratios, etc.). However an appraisal of most opinion sites on the web show that people definitely lose weight with NutriSystem.