Day 45:

Good Morning!

Today I have lost another pound and I'm now sitting at 152.6! This week has been incredible. At the beginning of the week I bounced back up to 155.4 and I've been descending by bits and pieces every day! I love being at 152! I realized today that it is the lightest I have weighed in quite some time.

As for the experiment, I stepped outside the Nutrisystem menu this week to see what I have learned. On Friday I went to Applebees. It was surprising to me that the blurbs beneath the menu selections have become more important. I'm now looking at what the side is that I'm ordering, and the sauces that are involved with the food. In the past I have simply looked at the entree and figured the rest would handle itself. There were a few items on the menu that were listed as Weight Watchers that I chose specifically to avoid because the carbs were too high. I did end up with the Cajun Tilapia with broccoli on the side. It was quite tasty, and I gained confidence that eating out is not impossible.

I also made my own dinner last night- mostly because I have been dying for real beef!!!! If anything is really missing in the Nutrisystem program it is the dinners and I have been missing my beef. Freeze dried hamburger patties do not make it for me-- I guess I could have opened up the beef and potatoes in the cupboard, but I wanted something that I knew would be good. Happily I was able to stick to the program. Is it a little weird that I now weigh literally everything? :)

My explorations outside the Nutrisystem menu have taught me one thing. I really do believe that if you do the program--- that includes reading the Daily Dose, the weekly email, and utilizing the chat boards, you will pick up the tools for eating healthier in the real world. It takes quite a while--- I wouldn't have tried eating out in my first month, but it does work.

The question is: Am I going to step away from the diet regularly. Answer-- No. For the sake of the experiment I allowed myself a bit of latitude to see if the "Training" Nutrisystem touts actually translates to the real world of food. However, to step away from the program all together would make the experiment moot. I will remain on the diet for another month and a half and stay faithful. Any steps outside of the box (little joke-- if you try Nutrisystem you'll get it) will be posted here. :)

Teaching begins in earnest this coming week. It will be a good test to see if the program is as convenient as Nutrisystem advertises.

Till Tuesday,

Katie

Day 37:

Ok... I'm in a substantially better mood today. I'm still freaking out mind you... I'm just handling it better. :)

Which brings me to one of Nutrisystem's best things that doesn't really get that much attention. The support groups. Upon entering Nutrisystem, I didn't really think I would be getting involved with the discussion groups. However, after a month of participating with them, I have to say that it is a marvelous part of the program. You can go onto these message groups, have an absolute melt down, and you get back really wonderful support and advice. Perhaps it is just my little July group but... last week I missed a day on the discussion board and I got several messages from people in my group that asked me if I was alright?

It's funny. We're spread out all over the United States, but somehow their camaraderie bolsters me up when I just can't take it anymore or feel like I'm going crazy. I think even without the food or the program- my discussion group has been the biggest advantage in this diet. They helped me through the three weeks of not losing weight- and I felt good about it. And... I have to say, every time someone from the group drops off or disappears-- I really worry about them too. :)

Meal Review:

I decided to try the Mushroom Risotto yesterday. It is a controversial item. Not everyone likes it. Many say that it tastes like licorice. After the debates I read on line I knew I had to try this one for myself.

Mushroom Risotto: 30/40 +++

Visual Appeal: 8/10-
Opening the package, the risotto reminds me of rice pilaf. It is a mix of multi grains of rice mixed in what looks like mushroom soup. There are large pieces of mushroom that look for the world like rubbery canned mushrooms. Not a restaurant quality risotto. (not that I was expecting real Italian rice- but I wished hard.) :)

Smell: 8/10-

The smell is very close to cream of mushroom soup. Now I should clarify- this smells like cream of mushroom soup that is fat free. There is a difference and this is definitely the non-fatty variety. There is a faint odor of anise. (Licorice smell) It hangs above the mushroom enticingly.

Taste: 6/10-

I'm surprised to say that the taste is relatively bland. The anise flavor seems to dissipate as soon as you take your first or second bite. The rice has hardly any flavor and the mushroom soup does just what the fat free variety does. It gives the faint taste of mushroom and then blends with whatever it is with-- unfortunately that is tasteless rice. Every time you eat one of the mushrooms however it picks up flavor again, but mostly mushroom soup. It's a shame. I was hoping the anise would make this a pleasure to eat- It wasn't bad or horrible, but it didn't have me scraping the sauce off the plate either.

Texture: 7/10-

Texture is always an issue with Nutrisystem. I'm happy to say that the rice wasn't mushy, but the mushrooms were rubbery. It was a meal that matched it's look. Beige. Beige flavor, Beige consistency, Beige Beige, Beige... (sigh) I'm disappointed.