Nutrisystem — Page 2

Nutrisystem Week 2: Challenges & Successes

“It’s not that some people have willpower and some don’t. It’s that some people are ready to change and others are not.” – James Gordon

I told you guys about my big news the other day – I am officially a member of the Nutrisystem Nation! I could not be more excited about this – I know that this is the solution that I’ve been needing for quite awhile now. I shared the basics of the program with you last time, and now I’ll catch you up on my progress so far, since I’ve gotten just a bit behind on posting the past 2 weeks.

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” – Maya Angelou

I have never had much trouble with my weight. Yes, it’s crept over the years after turning 21, but was still in a healthy range. Then it happened – I found out I was having a baby! I had dealt with 3 previous miscarriages over the previous 3 years, so I was – as you can imagine – very nervous. I wanted to make sure I was making choices to be as healthy as I possibly could! I started a prenatal yoga program, and was eating the healthiest foods I’d ever eaten. I even – GASP!! – stopped drinking coffee, cold turkey, the day I found out. But even with all of my new changes to my life – at about 6 months I had a checkup, and learned that I had already gained over FIFTY pounds. Ohmyheck. They had me tested for gestational diabetes and a few other lovely things, but all was negative. I was just going to be a big ol’ momma!! My own mom gained over 60 pounds during all 4 pregnancies, and she’s a tiny little thing. So I guess it’s just in our genes. But now – that baby weight is still filling out my JEANS!! Abby is 19 months old, and I still have 40 pounds of baby weight to lose. Yikes.

“Little by little does the trick.” – Aesop

During my first week of Nutrisystem, I’ll admit – I was pretty hungry. Mostly it was because it was a big change for me to eat smaller meals much more often – and it took awhile for me to really find a pattern of when to eat those meals, so that I’d feel full. You get a great little book to help you track everything that you eat – so I also marked down each day which times I was feeling super hungry. By week 2, I was into a good rhythm, and finding it much easier to stick to the plan. These are the pieces of the program that are easiest for me:

Drinking enough water. I don’t drink soda, and am used to chugging down tons of water. Nutrisystem provides you with a big 32 oz. water bottle, and you’re encouraged to drink at least two of those a day. I drink 4 :)
Eating the mini-meals. I have IBS, so I often suffer from tummy troubles. Switching to the smaller meals, spaced throughout the day, has done wonders to help me manage this. I feel SO much better.
Dessert is included. Without this, I’d probably end up cheating! But, with a perfectly portioned dessert choice each night, I don’t feel deprived. Love it!

There are also a few areas of the plan that challenge me a bit. I can tell that it’s going to get easier to follow the longer I stick with it, and build better habits. But these are my current trouble spots:

Portion Control. I had NO idea that I was eating such oversize portions! No wonder I have taken off more weight. It’s been kind of tough to get used to the smaller portion sizes, but I love that it’s teaching me what a realistic meal should look like.
Dinner time. I do fine on the plan all day – But dinner does get a little tough. I live in a big household filled with people – And when my brother is cooking a big taco night dinner, or my Mister is grilling up his amazing steaks, it is SO tough to not have a bite!

I admit it, I did fall off track, just a little bit, a couple nights. But – I was honest with myself, wrote it down in my tracking notebook, and tried to make up with it the next day by having one less snack. I know next week will be even better!

“Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better.” – Emilie Coue

Here’s that moment of truth I talked about…. Yep, I got brave enough to post my starting weight on the internet. Wow. {No mean comments!!} But, I feel like sharing this super embarrassing weight will help keep me motivated to stay on track! Our scale isn’t exactly the most accurate, so I’m going to buy a new one this weekend – {suggestions welcome in the comments!.} But I did take full measurements, and am tracking those in the totally amazing online support system from Nutrisystem, so I’ll be able to see if there are big changes. Wait – Not “If”, “WHEN” I see big changes!! I can do this.

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visitingNutrisystem.com!

The BEST Weight Loss System for Busy Moms – #NSNation

Ok – You’ve heard me talking about it on social media for a few weeks now – I have joined the Nutrisystem Nation! I am incredibly excited to finally have an amazing system and support to get this baby weight off. {Baby weight? That was so 6 months ago. This is TODDLER weight now. Ugh.} I set up my account a few weeks ago, logged my weight and measurements, and then watched as my shipments of new, healthy meals showed up, delivered conveniently to my doorstep. I can’t even tell you how excited I am about this program!

“A strong positive attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.” – Patricia Neal

The first shipment from Nutrisystem comes with all the written materials and tracking guides that you need to get you started on the right track – and help you along the way. There is a guide book with loads of great information and tips – and my favorite part, the Daily Planner, which is where you log your meals each day. Just the process of writing down everything that you eat makes you SO much more aware of your habits.

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.” – William James

As you can see – You get a huge amount of amazing foods as part of the system! This is my frozen foods shipment for the month – it includes the awesome new Chef’s Table Entree’s for dinner, great breakfast and lunch options – and even dessert! Yep, when you’re on the Nutrisystem program you get to enjoy a great dessert every single night – things like a fudge brownie or ice cream cups. {I have a sweet tooth, so this addition means it’s easy for me to stay on track. Love it!}

“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” – Dennis P. Kimbro

Also included in the plan is a huge assortment of shelf stable foods – things like soups, snack bars, and yummy breakfast choices like chocolate chip scones. Each morning you add a protein shake to your breakfast choice, to keep you filling full all morning. I’d tried weight loss shakes years ago – but I hated that grittiness, the way they never really blended smoothly. Well, Nutrisystem fixes that with their totally cool shaker gadget – that little ball is just like a whisk. You add it in with water, the shake mix powder, and some ice cubes – and it seriously blends it so smooth. Tastes just like a really thick an creamy chocolate milk, I swear. My nephews tried it, and they say it’s no fair that I get to drink them all. It’s that good.

“One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.” – John Wanamaker

Nutrisystem supplies almost everything you need for success – The foods, the guide and tracking planner, and an uh-MAY-zing online support system. But there are a few pieces of the plan that you have to add in:

Fresh Foods: Things like fruit and vegetables, low or non-fat dairy products, and smart carbs like whole grain. You can also add healthy beverages like tea, and of course loads of water!
Activity: You can take an assessment in your account profile on Nutrisystem, and give yourself a goal of at least 10 minutes of moderate activity, 3 times per day. This is easier than you think – vacuum the house quickly for 10 minutes in the morning. Take an afternoon walk around the neighborhood. And then play a couple of games of soccer in the yard with the kids again in the evening. Easy peasy.
A Great Attitude: Yep, this will make all the difference – and it’s totally in your control. “Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.” Doug Firebaugh.

Every week I will be sharing my progress with you – to give you information on how the process works, to share my struggles and successes, and answer any questions you have. Since I didn’t get a chance to introduce you guys to the program last week like planned – {remember that nasty computer crash I had?} – This week I’ll have two posts. Tomorrow is the Moment of Truth….

What is the Moment of Truth??

Tomorrow I will let you guys know more about my weight loss goals… And share a picture of me on the scale, so you can see my starting weight. GAAAAHHH!! My weight? On the internet?? But I think that it’s the BEST way to keep me honest, motivated, and accountable. So – be nice in your comments tomorrow when I post it :) Stay tuned….