The Nutrisystem Experiment: Week 7 to 8

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Week 7 to 8

Wow, what a hard week. It isn't so much the going back to school, but it really is difficult to get back to the computer at the end of the day. I feel a compulsion to log my food on the Nutrisystem website, but I'm afraid this will turn into a weekend update. It is just impossible for me to sit down after a ten to thirteen hour day and talk about the program. Sorry.

This week has literally taken me up and down on the scale of emotions. I reached my all time low then bounced up two pounds, then lost two pounds and yesterday when I got on the scale I was at 152.2. Since I was really hoping to get a bear this month, I am more than disappointed. I can feel the diet now that I'm living an active life. I come home exhausted, and I'm starving. I've got to try and bring my snack to school. It just isn't working to eat it after I get home. The system wants you to eat it around 4:00, I'm still at school at that time. Maybe I'll enlist the aide of my cooler?

The inches lost are starting to slow, but I figure that is something to expect. I've lost the easy weight by now and the stuff I'm working off now are the pounds that have been one for literally decades. I've been 150 or above since 2000. It will feel so good to be under that mark.

I did receive an email from Nutrisystem this week regarding my next order. This is the first email of it's kind and I'm nervous that my order will not come as ordered but will be substitutions. I'm not quite sure. Maybe because I was constantly updating my order form last month it did not send me this... who knows???

This is the last month of my free food. I have to say I'm a little grateful. I really do not want any more soy snacks or chicken breast patties etc. I"m assuming that the adds to my order will be EXACTLY the same as the last order. (Sigh)

All in all the diet is going well. The slow down is frustrating, but I'll get through it. What I'm seeing is worth staying on the program. I have begun to think about getting another pair of jeans the next size down! That's pretty terrific!!!

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EMAIL MENTIONED ABOVE: (Edited for personal information)

Your next Auto-Delivery order is scheduled to process in 4 days. You can make changes to this order until 6pm on the day before. _____to make changes to your order online, or you can call one of our counselors at 1-888-459-THIN^® for help or suggestions.

Now that you've tried the NutriSystem^® Advanced^™ meals and desserts, you probably have a good idea of what your favorite items are. While all of our convenient foods will help you eat great, feel full, AND lose weight, you have the freedom to choose a combination that caters to your exact moods and tastes!

For instance, when it comes to dessert are you a choco-holic that enjoys the decadence of our Chocolate Crunch Bar or do you lean more towards the tangy sweetness of our Strawberry Shortcake Bar? Either way, NutriSystem^® Advanced^™ has you covered!

We encourage you to take a moment to pick your favorite foods. Customizing your order is the best way to continue enjoying your NutriSystem^® Advanced^™ program, because you get to choose exactly what you like.

NutriSystem^® Advanced^™It's Easier. Healthier. Our best ever! Now with more crave-busting power to tackle that hunger. You'll eat great, feel full, AND lose weight!

Due to high demand, food orders are subject to change based on availability of individual food items at time of order processing. NutriSystem reserves the right to substitute individual food items which may have become out-of-stock or discontinued, with those of comparable value. Note: Substituted food items may contain different ingredients and allergens than those in items originally ordered. Please be sure to carefully check all individual product packages for the most updated information regarding ingredients and nutritional content for any/all NutriSystem food products, including new and improved items.

Although NutriSystem has taken every reasonable measure to have sufficient inventory to fill your order, availability of product(s) may change without notice. NutriSystem is not responsible for unavailability of product due to popular demand, whether discontinued or still in production. In the completion of orders, NutriSystem reserves the right to substitute a similar product. When making substitutions, NutriSystem takes great care to meet the requirements of your particular NutriSystem food program.

To see our Auto-Delivery cancellation and return policy,

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The Investigation:

THE INVESTIGATION:

According to other websites and blogs that I have visited Nutrisystem seems to have both fans and severe enemies. I have read everything from the food being uneatable, to those people who say it is wonderful if you get the right things. Since I'm taking a scientific approach to this weight loss system, I need to look at the criticisms and respond to them.

Popular Criticism #1: The food

According to critics: the food is unpalatable. They criticize the color, texture, smell and taste of the food and several say they couldn't make it past the first or second day. Several more say after two weeks they couldn't stand it anymore. I have heard the words cardboard and paste used several times in conjunction with this product.

According to fans: this is simply a situation of people ordering the wrong meals. Fans say that if you get the right items from the menu the foods taste wonderful. They do agree that the portion size is small, but maintain that it is the actual portion size that a person should be eating. They warn that you will be hungry the first week, but after that you will see results.

Investigation: I've spent a good week looking through websites picking out "the best selections" according to fans. (I wanted to give the program the best possible chance of positive review.) From my choices I should have selected the best of the best according to several websites- I did branch a bit into the four stars out of curiosity, but all the rest of the selections are five stars. Thus I will rate the food on a higher standard than "well it's diet food." On a food critic style review I will look at visual appeal, smell, taste, texture, and rank them on a scale of one to ten. One being cardboard and ten the food being comparable to something I would buy if I wasn't on a diet. (I should mention here- I'm a foodie thus I like taste as a big aspect to what I'm eating.)

Just as a reference-
Chef Boyardee Overstuffed Beef Ravioli Microwavable meal- Overall Score: 26/ 40 ++1/2
Visual Appeal: 7- not something I would expect to get in a restaurant, but for a lunch meal pack it looks pretty good. Most of the ravioli are intact and the sauce, while lacking any form of herbs looks pretty appealing.
Smell: 9- Perhaps it is my childhood reaching back to me, but the pasta does make me hungry to smell it. It smells like spiceless tomato sauce.
Taste: 6- I like a little more seasoning than I did when I was a kid. The tomato sauce is strong and tangy, the ravioli seem almost a side dish to the sauce. I really can't taste the beef and the pasta is a bit pasty. The good news is that the sauce is pretty tasty so it gets above the half way mark on edibility.
Texture:- 4 I hate to say it but I hate the texture of the ravioli. It is overcooked and a bit like raw dough in my mouth. It reminds me of church house spaghetti. Over boiled in a pot, so there is no aldente to the pasta.

Criticism #2: Well Being

According to Critics: I have read everything from you have no energy and you always feel hungry to it giving you incredible gas and bloating.

According to Fans: After the first week you have more energy and feel better about yourself while on the diet.

Investigation Results: As far as I am concerned both the Fans and the critics are correct. The first few weeks on Nutrisystem are miserable. Gas, bloating, needing to use the restroom constantly are all part of the intro to the system. DO NOT plan anything important during the first two weeks of this diet. Job Interviews, Vacations, and Weddings are a definite no-no. However, after two weeks I had more energy, enthusiasm, and really enjoyed being on the program. I guess that's why I'm back.

Criticism #3: Results

According to Critics: On blogs I have read everything from you will lose weight but you'll gain it all back and then some, to of course you lose weight because you are reducing calorie intake and increasing exercise- thus being on the program is moot.

According to Fans: The Nutrisystem program teaches you how to eat better portions. Thus if you actually learn from the system, you will stay slim afterward.

Investigation: My control will be the last six months. At the beginning of January I began eating a 1100 calorie personal diet. I exercised Monday through Saturday for at least 30 minutes- most of the time it was closer to 45. (I have it charted and I will match my daily exercise from the beginning of the year.) In September I will determine the results of the experiment in regard to actual weight lost using the prepackaged food. From October until December I will see how well I keep the weight off or if it returns. I will be reporting on my weight and measurements lost on a weekly basis.

2009 Results: I did not lose as much weight as I would have liked on Nutrisystem, but I've decided that a lot of that was muscle being built, because I definitely lost inches rather than pounds. I went from 160 to 145 during my first experiment and after my weight stayed reasonably at 146.

Food Rankings (Out of 4 Stars)

(Not Reviewed) Apple Pecan Bites
(Not Reviewed) Banana Nut Muffin
(Not Reviewed) Bean Bolognese
(Not Reviewed) Beans and Ham Soup
(Not Reviewed) Black Beans and Rice
(Not Reviewed) Blueberry Lemon Bar
(Not Reviewed) Blueberry Muffin
(Not Reviewed) Carmel Apple Muffin
(Not Reviewed) Cheese Torellini
(Not Reviewed) Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar
(Not Reviewed) Chicken Alfredo
(Not Reviewed) Chicken in BBQ Baked Beans
(Not Reviewed) Chicken Noodle Soup
(Not Reviewed) Chicken Pasta Parmesan
(Not Reviewed) Chicken Pot Pie
(Not Reviewed) Chili with Beans
(Not Reviewed) Chocolate Biscotti Bites
(Not Reviewed) Chocolate Carmel Bar
(Not Reviewed) Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Not Reviewed) Chocolate PB Bar
(Not Reviewed) Chocolate Sandwich Cookie
(Not Reviewed) Chocolatey Pretzel Bar
(Not Reviewed) Cinnamon Raisin Bar
(Not Reviewed) Cinnamon Streusel Muffin
(Not Reviewed) Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Nut Bar
(Not Reviewed) Double Chocolate Muffin
(Not Reviewed) Fiesta Macaroni and Cheese
(Not Reviewed) Fudge Graham Bar
(Not Reviewed) Harvest Nut Bar
(Not Reviewed) Hearty Beef Stew
(Not Reviewed) Honey Mustard Pretzels Bits
(Not Reviewed) Honey Wheat Bagel
(Not Reviewed) Italian Herb Flatbread Pizza
(Not Reviewed) Loaded Baked Potato
(Not Reviewed) Mac and Cheese with Turkey Sausage
(Not Reviewed) Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
(Not Reviewed) Mexican Style Tortilla Soup
(Not Reviewed) Milk Chocolate Flavored Pretzels
(Not Reviewed) Nutricrush Chocolate Covered Cherry Bar
(Not Reviewed) Nutricrush Peanutbutter Bar- Chocolate
(Not Reviewed) Oatmeal Cranberry Bites
(Not Reviewed) Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
(Not Reviewed) Pasta Fagioli
(Not Reviewed) Peanut Butter Cookie
(Not Reviewed) Penne Bolognese
(Not Reviewed) Red Beans and Rice
(Not Reviewed) Rotini w/ Meatballs and Tomato Sauce
(Not Reviewed) Sante Fe Style Chili
(Not Reviewed) Sesame Ginger Chicken
(Not Reviewed) Snickerdoodle Cookie
(Not Reviewed) Sweet and Salty Snack Mix
(Not Reviewed) Thick Crust Pizza
(Not Reviewed) Thin Mint Crisp Bar
(Not Reviewed) Three Cheese Chicken
(Not Reviewed) Toffee Crunch Cookies
(Not Reviewed) Trail Mix Bar
(Not Reviewed) Turbo Shake- Chocolate
(Not Reviewed) Turbo Shake- Vanilla
(Not Reviewed) Tuscan Inspired Pasta
(Not Reviewed) Vanilla Shortbread Sticks
(Not Reviewed) Vegetarian Chili
(Not Reviewed) Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie
(Not Reviewed) White Cheddar Popcorn
(Not Reviewed) White Chocolate Chunk Cookie

2009 Experiment Log:

This in the information from my first experiment in 2009:
2009 Nutrisystem Standings Final Report
Food Overall Score:
* Breakfast: Average 35/40 +++1/2
* Lunch: Average 33/40 +++
* Dinner: Average 29/40 +++
* Snacks: Average 36/40 +++1/2

Ordering Score:
* Speed: 9/10--Food received 2 days from order.
* Accuracy: 6/10--1 mess up in the ordering amount. (5) Flat Bread Pizza Orders substituted with Sourdough Pizza.
* Quality: 8/ 10-- The food was in good condition. The melting was minimal.

Well Being Score:
* Energy: 8/10-- Energy is going down now that I am teaching again. I can really feel this diet at the end of the day.
* Comfort: 9/10-- Thank goodness the gas does diminish after two months. Otherwise, I'm feeling great. No cramps or muscle aches.
* Esteem: 10/10-- Wow I haven't updated this part of my blog for a while. I'm now down to 146/147 depending on the day. Mostly 146 right now. I'm feeling good. People are starting to notice my weight loss and I'm finding my clothes quite loose. I was so excited the other day. I was able to see a bottom rib! How exciting! 2/7/10

Results Score:

Started: 7/14/2009

Current Weight: 146.4 was 160
Waist: 26.'' was 32.5''
Stomach Pooch: 31'' was 36''
High Hip: 33.75'' was 38''
Around the Butt: 37.5'' was 41''
Bust: 32.75'' was 36''
Bicep: 11.25'' was 12.5''
Thigh: 19.5'' was 25''

Total inches lost so far: 29.25 - 2/7/10 // 27.75 - 9/7 // 24.5'' - 8/28 // 21.50'' - 8/18// 20.25''- 9/11 // 17.25'' - 8/4 // 17'' - 7/28 //12.5''- 7/21 // 9.25''- 7/16 // 8''- 7/14

The Nutrisystem Experiment

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Week 7 to 8

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Nutrisystem Standings:

My Reorder List: (Ranked 1= Order up to 5, 2= Order 2-3, 3= Order only one

The Investigation:

Blog Archive

Food Rankings (Out of 4 Stars)

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About Me

2009 Experiment Log: