If you have any experience with the world of dieting, you are probably no stranger to the Nutrisystem name. Developed over 40 years ago, the diet is backed by customer claims of success, but what does the diet entail? Does it really work? Read on to find out more.

What is the Nutrisystem Diet?

The Nutrisystem Diet consists of prepackaged meals that are delivered to dieter’s homes. Those that follow the diet can look forward to the convenience of not having to think about what they are going to eat since meals are pre-prepared for them. The heat and eat feature is another reason why the diet is easy to follow.

The diet promises a variety of food choices that provide the necessary nutrients for safe and healthy weight loss. They also promise a variety of foods that will keep you satisfied.

What Will My Meal Routine Be Like on the Nutrisystem Diet?

The Nutrisystem Diet emphasizes the importance of smaller, balanced meals that are eaten several times during the day. Meals are eaten every two to three hours for a total of six times a day. These meals include breakfasts, lunch, dinner and snacks. Dieters are advised to mix in their own fresh grocery foods, like fruits and vegetables, for balance and variety.

The first week dieters start Nutrisystem, it is recommended that they follow the Turbo Takeoff Plan. This plan offers a restrictive diet that is meant to prepare the body for weight loss, as your metabolism adjusts to allow for higher fat burn.

By week two, dieters can begin following the regular program, eating six times a day to continue losing weight.

As they continue on with the diet, eating choices will become more flexible as the program offers healthy options for eating out and preparing meals at home.

Nutrisystem Plans

When you start on the Nutrisystem Diet, you will be offered a choice of plans. To explain it simply, these plans are priced differently based on the variety of food they offer. The plans include:

• Basic: The Basic is the most inexpensive of all the plans. It provides an easy to follow meal routine and the free Fed Ex shipping that comes with every plan. The Basic plan is $10.18 a day.
• Core: The Core Plan allows you to choose from over 100 types of food and also comes with unlimited support from counselors and dieticians as well as tools and trackers made to map your progress and keep you on track. The plan starts at $11.07 a day.
• Uniquely Yours: This is Nutrisystem’s top rated plan. It includes over 150 menu items, unlimited meals and snacks and the total freedom to choose the meals you love. Unlimited support is also included at $12.50 a day.
• Uniquely Yours Plus: In addition to the staple features of Uniquely Yours, this recently created plan offers the ultimate in variety as well as 28 shakes a month that are packed with protein and probiotics to help you lose belly fat.

Specialized Nutrisystem diets are also available for men and diabetics. These diets are a bit more expensive. This is due to the fact that men require a higher calorie intake, i.e., more food which adds to cost. In the case of diabetics, extra cost is factored in due to the more expensive ingredients in the required foods.

Cost of the Nutrisystem Diet

Although everyone has different food budgets, the Nutrisystem Diet is an overall affordable choice when thinking about what most people spend on food on a daily basis. The plan also offers 40% discounts on the diet which reduces costs and remains in effect the entire time you are on the diet.

Nutrition on the Nutrisystem Diet

Those that follow the Nutrisystem Diet will find it is a nutritious choice. The menu meets all the recommended allowances of most vitamins and minerals. The foods are high in fiber and protein, giving you energy and helping you to feel fuller longer. They also contain zero trans fat and no MSG. Here are some of the ingredients you will find in the food:

• Carrageenan: This is a thickener extracted from seaweed that helps thicken and bind food giving it a better consistency.
• Xanthum Gum: This also works as a thickener and binder giving foods a better consistency.
• Beta Carotene: This is a form of Vitamin A that works as an organic pigment and is found in fruits and vegetables. It can benefit health working as an antioxidant, improving skin health, maintain eyesight and reducing inflammation.
• Niacinamide: This is a B vitamin that is found in food like milks, grains, eggs, vegetables and more. It supports digestive health and can help maintain cholesterol levels. It also protects against toxins and dangerous pollutants.
• Ferric Phosphate: This is a source of iron that supports blood health and energy. It can also protect against iron deficiencies.
• Flaxseed: This high fiber food is rich in amino acids. It is a vegetable based food that is rich in amino acids and can be used to support digestion. It is rich in protein and fiber and also contains some amount of minerals and vitamins including vitamin B1, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, vitamin B6 and more.

Exercise on the Nutrisystem Diet

Although there is no set exercise plan on the Nutrisystem Diet, regular physical activity is highly recommended.

Pros of the Nutrisystem Diet

While every diet has mixed reviews, Nutrisystem’s feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Here are some benefits the diet will offer:

• Convenience: One thing most users will agree on, is that this diet is convenient. Its prepackaged meals save you the trouble of meal preparation and worrying about what to eat. The home delivery is an added bonus.
• Effective Weight Loss: While not everyone is successful on the Nutrisystem diet, most will find it provides the results dieters are looking for relatively quickly.
• Healthy: This diet provides you with essential vitamins and nutrients that meet the requirements of the necessary daily allowance.
• Affordable: When compared to costs of people dining out or buying meals to prepare at home, the Nutrisystem diet is a pretty affordable option.

Cons of the Nutrisystem Diet

And while a lot of people have positive things to say about the diet, there are some negatives as well. Here are some downsides noted by some dieters:

• Diet is Restrictive: While the diet offers a variety of meal options, those who are used to eating foods which may be considered unhealthy or high calorie may miss the freedom of eating the foods they love.
• Upfront Payment and Cancellation: While food is affordable, those on the diet must make an upfront, once a month payment for their food which may affect their cash flow. Also, while there is a 14 day cancellation period, those who cancel after this amount of time will either be obligated to stick with the diet for 2 months or pay a $125 cancellation fee.

Reviews of the Nutrisystem Diet

Those who have tried the Nutrisystem Diet have given accounts of their experiences. Here’s what some of them are saying:

“It is a very good portion control diet with a large selection of food. Like with any diet, if you stick with it, it will work. The customer service, on the other hand, is not that great. It takes at least 30 mins to get someone on the phone to resolve an issue.”

“I lost 20 lbs. and more to go. It’s an easy program to follow if you have the food.”

“I’ve been on it a month. Lost ten pounds so far. I love the ease and convenience of it. I recommend going for the highest level option and getting the frozen foods. The shelf stable dinners are mostly inedible. The program is costly enough, so go the extra and get the frozen stuff.”

Conclusion

The Nutrisystem Diet is not for everyone, but those who are willing to stick with their program will find it convenient and effective. If you are looking to lose weight, give this one a try.