L.B. asks from Fort Worth, TX on April 19, 2007
Jenny Craig Vs. NutriSystem
Hello Everyone! So my daughter is almost 2 years old and I am ready to start getting serious about losing some of the weight I've gained since having her. A little late but I just haven't really cared until now I see myself in pics with her and look fat! And I am wanting to start trying for another baby in about a year so I want to get my body ready for that. I am horrible at diets like South Beach and the other low carb based diets. I am someone who needs to have the foods already prepared and ready to go. Which is why I am considering either Jenny Craig or NutriSystem. Has anyone had experiences with these and can tell me if, most importantly, the food is good? When I was younger my dad did NutriSystem and lost a bunch of weight but I remember the food STUNK! Literally, it had a weird smell to it. That was a good 15+ years ago so I assume with its success they have improved the food.
Anyway, if you have advice, experiences, etc, please share!!
More Answers
M.S. answers from Dallas on April 20, 2007
I did Nutrisystem a year ago and the food was awful not to mention expensive. They also don't tell you upfront that you still have to supplement their food with a lot of groceries thus your grocery does not go away just because you buy $300 worth of food from them. I personally wouldn't go with any prepackaged food plan. You need to learn how to eat correctly controlling portion sizes and what you are eating. Good luck with your decision.
H.S. answers from Dallas on April 20, 2007
My Dad recently tried NutriSystem and the food must not have gotten any better. He literally could not eat most of it and he is NOT a picky eater. I don't know about Jenny Craig but after seeing and smelling some of his food I would not recommend NutriSystem.
Good luck!
I did have someone yesterday tell me that they do pilates (once a week) and fast walk (3 times a week) for exercise and are in the best shape ever so maybe finding a good exercise routine and cut back portions would work too.
K. answers from Dallas on April 19, 2007
L., I have not tried either program. I just wanted to remind you to implement in exercise program with a focus on cardio 4 times a week along with your new diet. As a fitness professional, loads of my clients try these products but put the weight back on afterwards. When you diet without the exercise your body burns nearly equal amounts of fat & lean muscle. So when you have less muscle it becomes harder for your body to burn calories the rest of your life. Say you lose 10 pounds through diet alone this might actually be 6lbs of fat and 4lbs of lean muscle! I hope one of these programs helps, but don't forget to exercise too. Good luck!
J.F. answers from Dallas on April 21, 2007
I don't know about either of these, but I know for me, it was Weight Watchers. I have lost 40 pounds since September. I was very leary at first, didn't think I could do it, the points, keeping up with it all, but I did, and I LOVE IT. No lie. FORTY POUNDS. I am the same size now as I was when I got married. HOnestly, I weigh less now than I did then. And there is no food that you have to buy, which is a plus. But, like you said, if you do want the food, the smart ones frozen dinners are good. I have only found one or two that I don't like. It's just a great program all around. YOu can eat whatever you want, as long as you count your points. It's amazing. I couldn't be happier with the program. You can pay weekly or monthly, and they have a lot of online tools for you to use. I HIGHLY recommend it, if you are interested.
L.B. answers from Dallas on April 21, 2007
I'm trying to lose baby fat too, but I waited longer than you to get serious about losing the weight (my daughter is 3 years old). I finally made the decision to get going on it and I chose NutriSystem. I began the their food plan on 3-15-07 and also started walking a minimum of 30 minutes a day, most the time an average of 45 minutes. As of this morning, 4-21-07, I have lost 15 lbs!!!
NutriSystem and Jenny Craig have many similarities, but I chose NutriSystem because of the added convenience and some of their promotional pricing that made it even more of a value. I like that ALL of their food is delivered directly to my front door and that it is ALL high-end technological...shelf stable packaging. I don't have extra room in my freezer or refrigerator to store addt'l food/meal products.
I also believe that AFTER I reach my weight loss goal, I will have re-established some awesome, lifestyle habits that will allow me to keep the weight off long-term. I personally respond well, as most people do, to setting goals and keeping track of those accomplishments in order to stay motivated and see progress. It's not just seeing the pounds come off or the inches (of which I've seen both...yea!), but it is in knowing and seeing that I'm getting enough water each day to keep my body & skin hydrated (and it keeps your body from 'holding onto' the water in extra pounds...because when you don't get enough your body preserves what you have as a safety mechanism), consuming the proper amount of fruits and veggies and really reducing my carb intake.
I feel more energetic and look healthy already. I feel better inside too, knowing that I'm doing something good for myself and for those that I love and I'm seeing the results in a fairly short time.
In regard to the taste of the food, NutriSystem has plenty of choices to keep everyone happy. Sure there are some meals that I didn't like as much as others, but I have TONS of choices for each meal occasion as well as the dessert, that completely satisfy me. And, within a short time you learn how to add-in things (be it your veggie or fruit allocations or other FREE foods) that are part of a healthy diet to enhance each eating experience.
Lastly, IF you do want to consider NutriSystem more seriously, please let me know and I can send you a $30 coupon (via e-mail) and provide you with the way to receive 2 weeks of FREE food when you sign-up vs. just 1 week of FREE food. I can also share how you will get FREE shipping everytime and another 10-15% discount. All these opportunities make NutriSystem very affordable at approx. $10/day or less.
I hope all this info helps. I wanted to make sure you had an overview from a happy NutriSystem user that is seeing results RIGHT NOW. Take care. Many Blessings - L.
J.E. answers from Dallas on April 19, 2007
My mom is doing Nutrisystem, and I have to tell you that I think it still stinks. And she still has to buy a lot of food in addition to the $300 or something a month. I have done Weight Watchers online a few times over the past few years and it has been wonderful. It is, I think, the healthiest diet out there, and one of the most long term successful. Just my 2 cents. I don't know much about Jenny Craig.
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