I have officially been on the Nutrisystem plan for three and a half weeks. And since starting the plan, I've noticed some significant changes.
I'm not hungry.
I'm not compelled to eat sweets and carbs constantly.
I feel slightly better (although currently have a cold and am generally exhausted).
I feel like I have "flipped the (magical) switch", where eating healthy is concerned.
All great things! Right?
While my actual weigh in day isn't until Monday, as of today I'm down 7.5 pounds. Which isn't terrible, considering last week I was only home for two and a half days and it was generally a really hard week filled with travel. (It's a loss of a .5 pounds.) Add to that the fact that most of my travel involved eating all meals out, I am happy to have ended up staying basically the same.
I know I need to work on boosting my exercise but I've had a broken toe, which has stopped me from moving around as much as I would like. Hopefully I'll be playing Dance Central on the hard level in no time, which will have to help. Plus, I discovered the Blueberry Lemon Bars and Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes and am constantly full. In fact, one day at lunch, I wasn't able to finish eating the Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes because the serving was too large and I was full before I finished eating them. That is a new experience for me! Plus, I have been monitoring my measurements and much to my surprise, I am down a combined 4.5 inches!
My hardest challenge lately has been dealing with diet saboteurs. They seem to lurk everywhere, these well-intentioned people wanting to soothe my unusually high stress levels with offers of delicious cookies or lavish dinners. Or everyone wanting to plan outings around food. Why is it we can only make plans that surround meals? I've dodged a few bullets by not ordering in when friends come over for dinner and instead made an amazing Nutrisystem Fajita Salad. But so many feelings are tied up with food, it's hard not to step on toes or sound like a brat when you decline food that well intentioned people are offering. It would be easier for me to never leave the house or adopt vegan eating habits around everyone than to deal with diet saboteurs directly.
I bet you know some diet saboteurs, those people who say, "one cookie won't kill you" or "sometimes, you just need to relax and live". I'm sure they don't mean to try to thwart dieting efforts. At least I hope they don't. I don't think people understand how hard it is for some people (read: me) to make healthy eating choices. I can't just eat one cookie. And once I've started not eating cookies, eating one opens up the path to eating all of them. For me right now, there is no middle ground. Maybe I have a real problem with binge eating. I've never talked about it before, with anyone, so I have no idea. I just know that once I flip the switch, for better or for worse, it's on.
Diabetes runs in my family. I am sure I am pre-diabetic and really need to get my habits and body in check before it's too late. I can handle things on my own, but need some help when it comes to going out with others. Since it's not realistic for me to never interact with friends and family, I needed some help on how to deal with the diet saboteurs in life. I asked Anthony Fabricatore, the Senior Director of Research and Development at Nutrisystem what advice he could give me. (A side note: I've done a lot of diet plans and I don't think I've ever gotten the support I've been getting from NS. No kidding.) Here is what he said:
Some suggestions for responding to “here, if you only eat one, it’s not going to kill you”
- I know one won’t kill me, but when have you ever known me to eat just one?
- I wish I had the control to stop at one! I’m better off staying away.
Some suggestions for responding to “just this one day of not being good isn’t going to hurt anything”
- I’m testing myself. I really want to see if I can get through this. Can you help?
- I used to think that. But I’ve noticed I really have a hard time bouncing back after an off day. I do better if I stick to my plan.
But maybe the most important thing the Nutrisystem counselors conveyed to me was this:
Remember that other people cannot MAKE you do anything. They can certainly make it easier or more difficult for you to eat according to your plan, but ultimately, you are the one who is responsible for your eating behavior. You may feel like you’re doomed to a eat a whole sleeve of cookies or crackers if you give in to someone else’s temptation, but it doesn’t HAVE to go that way. Remain an active participant in your health. You’re in the driver’s seat.
How do you deal with these issues? Any advice? Please tell me! I'm especially getting nervous thinking about how to handle Easter and Passover. I'm all ears. Share!
Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting here.
I am part of the Nutrisystem Blogger Nation and Nutrisystem is providing their plan and food in exchange for my reviews. As always, opinions are my own. Photo by me.
Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.
How is the food? I'm thinking of doing this myself, but have read mixed reviews. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am doing the vegetarian plan, which currently consists of all shelf stable food. If you aren't vegetarian, they offer frozen food as well. I am really enjoying the food, although the portions are smaller than I was accustomed to (but I'm over that now). There are very few things I didn't care for and many things I can't wait to eat again. I really like how it has gotten me to eat so many more fruits and veggies and has gotten me away from all of the over-processed stuff I was eating.
ReplyDeleteWORK IT KELLY! You can do it!!!!! I totes believe in you and no you can JUST SAY NO. Even small changes help!!!!!
ReplyDeleteyeah !!!!!
I feel your pain! in the last 2 years have lost 60+ lbs on another plan. have travelled, vacationed and gone through each major holiday. It does get easier, and friends that i thought would be supportive, just were not. one told me i could not go through life not eating pizza, when she was upset that i would not order it and ate fish instead. my response, "if we were in Italy i would be ordering pizza, i can give it up until i get there." How i got through holiday parties, 1) brought a diet mixer to the party so i could mix what i wanted to drink. and 2) this sounds horrible, but i would eat before i went to the party so i was not hungry and then just nibble on what i thought was OK. Ever read Gone With the Wind? that is what Mammy did to get her girls ready for a party so the men would think that they ate like a bird. she would stuff them full of food first. Same principle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for understanding, Suzanne! It's so hard. This weekend, I ate before going to a small get together and then still ended up eating my weight in potato chips (something I NEVER have around the house). Once I start, I can't stop. I did do really well at a party on Saturday night, so I was proud of that success! Congrats on your weight loss, by the way! That is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteLong time lurker here but first-time poster! Congrats on the start of your weight loss! I have been there and it is hard when friends are not supportive. I find that it has MUCH more to do with them and their insecurities than with what I am/not eating, so do try and either shrug it off or say 'This is so important to 'me- I could really use YOUR help ( giving a specific reason - ie ability to eat just one of something or their fashion sense to help you as you downsize). Also with regards to parties, try and sit/ stand away from nibbles otherwise the automatic dipping arm starts and you munch without thinking. Wear a gorgeous shiny lip that you don't want to mess up to help you avoid munching! Filling up on veggies or soup before going is good as well. Good luck!