Nutrisystem Review - 19 Things You Need to Know

Nutrisystem is one of the most popular weight loss plans being sold today. They claim that, with the use of whole food recipes, frequent meal times, and premade meal replacements, weight-loss is possible for everyone. To learn more about the program, our research team delved into Nutrisystem’s “food philosophy,” unique weight loss plans, success stories, and more. In the end, we gathered customer testimonials and compared them to research on timed meal planning and meal replacements to see if this one can really help you experience “safe, effective weight loss.” And, you know what, we were impressed.

Nutrisystem can be purchased through their Official Site.

Nutrisystem Video Review

What is Nutrisystem?

Nutrisystem is a weight loss plan that takes the guesswork out of figuring what you can eat and when. It eliminates calorie counting, keeping track of carbs, and even searching for point values to stay under an allotted amount. It also gets rid of having to figure out what the proper proportions for your plate are at each meal and at snack time. Like many other diet plans, you are still restricted to a certain diet and are not supposed to eat whatever you desire.

When you embark on the Nutrisystem diet, there are several plans to choose from. You can pick the one that is right for you. You eliminate the guesswork because you purchase your meals directly from the company from a customizable menu. Each meal is nutritionally balanced, a proper portion size, and pre-calculated for calories and other factors.

Each day, you are provided with Nutrisystem prepared or easy-to-assemble breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts. For variety, you can also add fresh produce.

Before delving deeper into this system, let’s see what some of the research has to say about Nutrisystem:

• Post Graduate Medicine: “… data suggest that obese patients with type 2 diabetes will experience significant improvements in weight, glycemic control, and cardiovascular… risk factors after the use of a commercially available weight management program.” The weight loss program was Nutrisystem D.
• Frontiers in Nutrition: Nutrisystem was found to be more effective than a self-administered diet over a 16-week period.
• Annals of Internal Medicine: Research following Nutrisystem users up to 12 months showed the program is associated with “promising weight loss results.”

Nutrisystem Competitors

Nutrisystem Company Profile

Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Founder: Harold Katz

Founded: 1972

CEO: Dawn M Zier

Subsidiary companies: NutriSystem Fresh Inc, Nutri/System IPHC, Inc, MORE

History:

• Nutrisystem began by offering advice on weight loss and products in brick and mortar centers.
• In 1999, the company changed its business model to direct-to-consumer, selling online and through call centers instead.
• Nutrisystem launched a mobile platform in 2010.
• In 2015, Nutrisystem bought the South Beach Diet brand.

Scroll below for one of the best products we’ve seen over the last year.

Nutrisystem Quick Facts

• Average weight loss per week: According to the Nutrisystem website, users can expect to lose up to 5 pounds the first week and between one and two pounds each week thereafter.
• Nutrisystem puts emphasis on the importance of exercise. The company encourages “moderately intense physical activity each week.”
• Over 160 food items to choose from.
• Multiple plans and several levels within each plan for optimal personalization.
• Vegetarian option available.
• Plans range from $8 to $13 a day.
• Temperature-controlled home delivery on frozen items.
• Money back, guaranteed.

Nutrisystem Ingredients

Each plan comes with food chosen to supply the right combinations of nutrients and keep you healthy while you lose weight and fuel your body. Each item will have different ingredients to accomplish this. Some highlights of what the meals focus on are:

Healthy, lean protein

According to Genetics Home Reference, protein is a vital element in every cell you have in your body. Your hair and nails are made of proteins and proteins play an essential role in building bones, muscles, and cartilage. Your body uses protein to repair tissues, make digestive enzymes and hormones among other chemicals. Protein is a macro-nutrient, and your body needs a bunch of it to function properly since it is something that you use up and not store.

In weight loss, protein is important for giving your body the ability to put on lean muscle using the amino acids found in it. More lean muscle means more calories burned, even when you are not trying. You also burn more calories digesting them because it takes more for your body to metabolize and use them. Because it takes longer for them to work through your system, you will feel fuller for longer, meaning a less voracious appetite.

High-fiber

According to Nutrition Reviews, including high fiber in a diet to lose weight will keep you fuller longer. Adding more fiber to your eating habits is heart-healthy and helps you maintain a healthy body weight. Fiber is a carbohydrate in foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Unlike traditional carbohydrates, fiber is difficult for your body to digest. It also satiates your appetite making you feel fuller longer without adding lots of calories to your intake.

Low-glycemic carbs

Most of us have heard the terms, “good carbs” and “bad carbs” but still likely have a hard time telling them apart.

Nutrisystem eliminates the need for you to determine which is good or bad. They use low glycemic carbs like whole grains and specific veggies (the good kind) in their meals. The more complex the carb, the longer it takes to break down in your system, as they are digested slowly. Low glycemic carbs are more complex and thus release into your blood slowly and steadily, which is better for losing weight since it keeps you full longer.

Nutrisystem NuMi

A few years ago, in 2014, Nutrisystem started new programs, one of which was NuMi®, an app that is oriented towards techie dieters with wearable health and fitness devices and platforms. NuMi:

• Tracks Nutrisystem meals and food outside of the program.
• Sends out meal, water, and exercise reminders.
• Provides articles, tips and recipes on a daily basis.
• Offers exclusive special offers, contests, and prizes.

What Does Nutrisystem Do?

Nutrisystem provides multiple diet plans that cater to specific needs and can be customized to your particular taste. It offers healthy well-balanced meals that include high fiber, low calorie, and lean proteins to help relieve cravings and keep you fuller longer to control your appetite and eating habits.

With over 160 menu items to choose from, the program is sure to please anyone. The ultimate goal of individuals on the Nutrisystem plan is to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. You’ll eat six times a day. Many options are low sodium and they remove unnecessary artificial flavors and colors, as well as potentially harmful preservatives. It’s an easy plan to follow with no guesswork as to what you can or cannot eat.

The Nutrisystem program can also be aligned with DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet recommendations. According to Obesity Reviews, “DASH Diet is a good choice for weight management, particularly for weight reduction in overweight and obese participants.”

How Easy is Nutrisystem to Follow?

Convenience: Six meals per day with pre-counted portions, saving you time and effort.

Recipes: Dozens of high-protein, high-fiber, zero-trans fat recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

Eating Out: Extensive PDF guide on how to not derail your diet when out in a restaurant.

Alcohol: The Nutrisystem program recommends abstinence from, or limiting, alcohol consumption because “alcoholic beverages […] tend to be high in calories and often contain extensive fat, cholesterol and sodium.” In the later stages of weight loss, a glass of wine is perfectly fine.

Fullness: Besides the high-fiber, low-glycemic carb ingredients of the Nutrisystem program, the company offers a guide to help people feel full faster.

App: The free NuMi app makes following Nutrisystem easier than ever. You can track every meal with a few finger taps and know every detail of the foods you eat in an instant.

What You’ll Eat on Nutrisystem

• Pantry items: oatmeal, cereal, pasta dishes, chili, mashed potatoes, tuna salad, mac and cheese, pizza, breakfast muffins, and cookies
• Frozen foods: omelets, breakfast sandwiches, pizza melts, waffles, hamburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, quesadillas, cinnamon rolls, and ice-cream sandwiches

Does Nutrisystem Work?

When you control your calorie intake and your portions, you are on a good path to losing weight. Add the fact that your meals will likely be healthier than what you eat regularly and you implement an exercise regimen to burn even more calories, and the result should be that you attain your weight loss goals. If you can stick to the plan accordingly and only eat what is suggested through your prepared meals and allowed produce, research that has been done to support the success of the plan suggests that you will lose weight.

Another plus to the Nutrisystem plan is that you will be eating smaller meals more often, which is considered a healthier way to eat based on research. It has been found to promote greater weight loss and maintenance and the prevention of other health issues.

One challenge that you may face is maintaining the diet without all the help you got through the program. However, if you can transition back into eating “normal” food while keeping in mind what you have learned through healthy eating during the program, you should have no problem. The program progresses and helps teach the user how to cook healthy with Flex meals. Once you reach your body weight goal, you will likely be more apt to maintain healthy habits to keep your healthier appearance and feeling.

According to research in Annals of Internal Medicine, a study titled “Efficacy of commercial weight-loss programs: an updated systematic review” looked into Nutrisystem’s capabilities. It reported that “Nutrisystem participants achieved at least 3.8% greater weight loss at 3 months than control/education or counseling.”

Nutrisystem Benefits

One significant benefit to Nutrisystem is that it is easy to follow. Many people have a hard time sticking to other diets because there are calories to count, carbs to count, and points to track. Then there is often guesswork with the values of certain foods or portions. Nutrisystem takes that guesswork out. It is all prepared and counted for you. Portions are controlled, and all you need to do is follow the program.

Another benefit to the Nutrisystem program is that there are avenues of support for its members. There is an online community of others using the plan that can become a significant support group and means of encouragement as you adjust to the diet or experience any stumbling blocks or setbacks. There’s also the NuMi app packed with helpful information on Nutrisystem, weight loss, and more. The app is free.

The Ease or Difficulty of Following Nutrisystem

Once you choose and customize your plan, you order a month’s worth of food. Ordering is easy and convenient since you can pick and choose what you like and order it from the comfort of your own home. The food available is chosen by your plan choice and comes prepared for you. No need for counting calories and carbs and there are no points to keep track of.

Nutrisystem offers a wide variety of meal choices and snack options to choose from. Its most extensive plan offers over 160. You can get the allowed add-on options on your own from the supermarket, giving you even more variety.

Nutrisystem Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large meal variety
• Convenience without the need for calorie-counting
• Emphasis on physical exercise
• Support through the counseling program and app
• Home delivery
• High-protein products mean simultaneous weight loss and muscle gain
• Vegetarian alternative plans
• Affordable
• Money-back guarantee

Cons

• Individual meals that are not fit for entire families
• Products are not organic, gluten-free, or non-GMO
• Products have allergens like egg, wheat, soy, wheat, and tree nuts

What is the Nutrisystem Cost?

There are some cost variables within the Nutrisystem plan depending on which plan you choose. Specialized plans cost more. The regular plans come in tiers that increase in price as you go up. Generally, you can expect to spend between $8 and $13 a day, plus the cost of fresh produce.

Basic

The Basic Nutrisystem plan is the cheapest plan offered by the company. The plan comes with a four-week special menu and an affordable price.

With this plan, you get to choose from 100+ options and 5 Nutrisystem breakfast, lunches, dinners, and snacks a week.

The plan costs $8.57 a day. This comes out to $239.99 for four weeks.

Uniquely Yours

The Uniquely Yours Nutrisystem plan includes everything in the Basic plans and more. This plan offers 160+ menu options and frozen food selections 5 days a week.

The price is $10.36 a day or $289.99 for four weeks.

You can also choose to tailor your choices to your metabolism.

Uniquely Yours Ultimate

The Uniquely Yours Ultimate Plan includes everything in the Uniquely Yours plan plus more. With this plan, you get 7 Nutrisystem breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. This plan is geared for those looking for less meal prep and more structure.

The price is $12.50 a day or $349.99 for four weeks.

Other Nutrisystem Plans

Those the three above named plans are the most popular, they aren’t the only ones available from Nutrisystem. You can also choose from:

• Partner
• Vegetarian
• Basic – Diabetes
• Uniquely Yours – Diabetes
• Uniquely Yours Ultimate – Diabetes
• Men’s

Where to Buy Nutrisystem

• Nutrisystem website
• Amazon
• CostCo
• Walmart
• eBay
• Groupon
• Nutrisystem locations

Nutrisystem Directions

Directions to follow the Nutrisystem plan are easy and straightforward. You choose a meal plan that is right for you. Consume only the prepared meals, snacks, and add-on allotment. Your meals will be smaller but will increase in frequency, which has been proven to be a healthier way to lose weight.

Add 30 minutes of daily exercise, and that about encompasses the routine except for some restrictions including eating out at restaurants if at all possible and eliminating alcohol consumption.

Nutrisystem Results

People who have tried Nutrisystem have found fantastic results. Remember, the diet is to get you to a healthy weight and teach you to eat better. Once off the plan, you have to do some work to maintain your results. Rest assured, research shows, “the Nutrisystem program results in sustained significant weight loss over a 12-week period,” according to the Center for Applied Health Sciences.

Nutrisystem Weight Loss

Nutrisystem is a great weight loss option for those who need guidance and do not like all of the guesswork associated with other types of diets. Components in their meals make your body work to process food, and makes you feel fuller longer to satiate any cravings and control your appetite. Less calorie intake while burning more calories gives this plan the requirements for an amazing success rate.

What Users Are Saying

“Awesome product, lost 5LBS in the 5 days. Food was good, I did order Nutrisystem snacks for the program as they did not supply full 5 day of snacks and easier to just stay on the system. I have done Nutrisystem for 2 months and was awesome, wanted a fresh start after a long vacation to help get back on track. No thought needed, just eat and log it with simple app.”

“I really like the frozen meat item. Expected them to taste like cardboard but was pleasantly surprised.”

“I love the food I have tried several dif plans in my life and this is so convenient and the food is really good.”

The Bottom Line on Nutrisystem

If you are looking for a diet that is the ultimate in convenience, Nutrisystem is that. You do not have to worry about portion sizes, planning, shopping, cooking or counting carbs, calories, and points. There are more than 160 food products to choose from, including ready-to-eat and frozen options. All food is shipped with dry ice in a sturdy container to prevent any damage during shipping. In all, there’s not much negative to be said about the Nutrisystem plan – it just works.

If you’d like to jump-start your weight-loss, we suggest including a weight-loss program that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

If you’d like to jump-start your weight-loss, we suggest including a weight-loss program that won’t cost you an arm and a leg – one like Nutrisystem. This weight-loss system provides you with breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks so you don’t have to count calories, control fat intake, or calculate points anymore. There are more than 160 food items to choose from, including frozen foods delivered in a temperature-controlled, recyclable container. Plus, it’s all available on the easy-to-use NuMi app, so you can access your goals from anywhere.