NutriSystem is a portion-controlled weight loss program. They started out with "bricks and mortar" weight loss centers, but some years ago changed strategy and became on-line only. While being similar to Jenny Craig - NutriSystem has one major advantage - it is far more affordable.

How Does Nutri System Work?

The Nutri System Nourish program provides an on-line analysis to calculate your calorie requirements. From this, your meal plans can be calculated and they will begin to ship all your meals to your door. This kind of weight loss program has distinct advantages:

• Sustainable weight loss of around 2 pounds per week.
• Based on the Glycemic Index
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert) are provided and delivered to you (free shipping on 4 week food orders). Note that you may want to add some fresh fruit and vegetables to your meals.
• On-line support available with membership in the program (including chat and one-to-one counseling sessions).
• Yes - a weight loss counselor will actually phone you once you've subscribed.
• Portion controlled - low fat, controlled carbohydrate, and protein. For most women calorie amounts will be 1200 per day (although this may vary up to 1500 per day for very active women, and men).
• Free membership to all aspects of the program (you only pay for the food).
• Programs for Men, Women, Vegetarians, and Diabetics.
• Free exercise program and meal planner.

Who Is It Good For?

The idea behind the NutriSystem diet is to provide a healthy portion controlled diet, for a short time frame, to get you back on track.

Whether the food is better or worse than Jenny Craig is a matter of personal taste and opinion - but certainly the cost makes it a favorable choice.

If you want a comprehensive weight loss program where you don't have to worry about cooking, shopping, counting points or calories, or figuring out meal plans - then NutriSystem is recommended.

NutriSystem Flex

The Flex program was added to the Nutrisystem range in 2009. Flex include 5 days worth of Nutrisystem food per week. The remaining two days are left for the customer to purchase their own foods (Nutrisystem provide a suggested meal plan).

The benefits of Flex mean a balance between processed food and whole foods, and a variation in calorie intake that will help to prevent the body from adapting to the traditional calorie-controlled pre-packaged diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Safe For Diabetics / High Blood Pressure / Heart Disease?

Nutrisystem claim they have a lot of diabetics on the program who do very well and experience better health on the program. The program meets the American Dietetic Association's guidelines for sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat.

What Food Is In The Program?

There are hundreds of meals to choose from. To see what exactly there is, go to NutriSystem and click on the Men's Program or Women's Program. You can choose any foods you like, or pick a pre-made "favorite-foods" selection.

Shelf-life for the baked goods is 6 months. For the other foods it is up to 18 months (due to the airtight containers).

What is Nutrisystem Silver?

Nutrisystem Silver is a program aimed at men and women over 60 years of age - which comes with a supply of multi-vitamins.

What Are The Downsides?

They can sometimes temporarily substitute food items based on availability. This generally only happens during times of great demand, and NutriSystem will inform you by email of any substitutions - this only occurs to prevent delaying of shipment.

Do They Honor The 30-day Money Back Guarantee?

Yes they do. We have spoken with customers who have been unhappy - and have received a refund on unused food. However, during times of high demand (such as the new year), their customer service department can sometimes be overloaded, and it may take time before your refund is actioned.

Comparisons

Nutri-system is often compared with Jenny Craig: