But do you know what I like most about looking back at my posts? The reality of the situation I’m in ‘today’. In one of my posts, the one when I was on the last day of the NutriSystem diet program, I said “if somebody told me I would lose this weight 4 weeks ago, I’d say they were pulling my leg! But now, I’m just so glad I want on this diet program”.

Today, I am, seriously, at he best weight I have ever been. This is because I really made a commitment this time. And because my reason were really to lose weight because I didn’t like the way I looked and felt anymore, I was getting slowly depressed about my weight and I feel that I caught myself right on time.

Looking back I think the best thing that Nutrisystem did for me is that I saw results right away. Knowing myself, I could have easily been discouraged if I didn’t see anything positive soon. Even just a pound lost, or a very slight loosening of the clothes I was wearing, was really all I needed to keep going and this diet program really gave me the boost I needed. Seeing the pounds go the first week was amazing for me and helped me hold on.

Was it difficult? Yes. Anybody going from ‘super size me’ servings to ‘well-portioned’ servings would!
Was it worth it? YOU BET!

-Cindy-

But now, I just placed an order for one-week. No, I didn’t gain tremendous weight or went back to my old habits but every now and then, when I feel like I’m beginning to get ‘less strict’ with my eating habits and activity engagements, I turn to NutriSystem to put me straight back on the right track. It’s just so easy for me! I don’t feel like I’m going on a diet or making drastic changes. What I feel is that I’m getting guidance on what I should do so that I don’t lose track. I also just think of it as ‘weight maintenance’.

Anyway, I ordered my food items for 1-week and I’m looking forward to eating them! Actually, this time, I’ll be having a ‘NutriSystem buddy’ because a friend of mine wanted to go on the same diet I was after she saw the results Never thought I’d be a walking advertisement for NutriSystem! Maybe I should contact them and be a ’success story’. LOL!

I’m so keen on what will happen to Janie (my friend) with this diet. I hope she gets the same fantastic results as I had!

-Cindy-

I’ve heard people lose more but that’s ok, I’m not bothered because THIS is what my body wanted to lose in this time frame. I did my share by sticking to the diet, supplementing it with healthy food choices and being more active and that’s really the best I could have done in these past four weeks.

I’ve had my share of naysayers too. They said “Of course you lost weight. You were eating better and moving more, NutriSystem had nothing to do with it.” B.S. I would not have been interested or that committed in eating better or exercising more if I didn’t get into the NutriSystem diet program. We’re all different. Motivated by different things. Influenced by different things. And for me, the thought of having a structured meal plan that was as convenient as NutriSystem was the thing I needed to see this diet attempt through.

For those reading my posts, maybe NutriSystem will work for you, maybe it won’t. All I can attest to is that it worked for me and I’m living better than I’ve ever had in years! Don’t let others decide for you… I didn’t and I am SO glad about the choices I’ve made.

-Cindy-

Saturdays: I hate the house being dirty so if necessary, this is the day I do my laundry, vacuuming, etc. Because I have more energy now, I find that I can finish this now in the morning. In the afternoon, I and a ‘running body’ go to a park near her place and run a few rounds. Normally we have dinner ‘out’. By this I mean eating out with friends at some other place but I always have my NutriSystem meals with me.
Sunday: REST. And I make my grocery list. I prefer doing this after lunch so I don’t list down any ‘guilt foods’ and make a silent commitment to STICK to the list when shopping. I make the list so that it compliments my NutriSystem meals perfectly for the coming week. After making the list, I shop already. I prefer Sunday afternoon because it’s leisurely. Also, weekdays, I come from work so I don’t want to make impulse buys as a result of me feeling tired or hungry from work.
Monday: Work. Stop at the gym. Home.
Tuesdays: Work. Home.
Wednesdays: Work. Home. Do some yoga (I got a great DVD about this.)
Thursdays: Work. Stop at the gym (focus more on weight training). Home.
Fridays: Work. Pilates or Yoga. Home. (nothing super strenuous because I run the next day)

Of course, through each day, I’m supplemented by NutriSystem meals and fruits and veggies I bought to complement them. I must say, there’s a Zen type of feeling with this routine. Knowing what I need to do and when and why… it suits me.

-Cindy-

I was really shocked. I opened my closet, saw the jeans and said “ok, let’s give this a try” and swoosh, the jeans just glided (I swear, it glided) up my legs, over my thighs and fit snugly! I am thrilled to bits. But I haven’t reached my personal ‘perfect weight’ and yes, I DO have a realistic weight target, I know my body type is no Kate Moss but STILL. For all of you reading this post and ever tried to lose weight you KNOW what I mean. The idea of old clothes fitting again and the prospect of shopping for clothes in smaller sizes, well, that’s just BEE-YOO-TI-FULL.

I also noticed that I’m really more energetic now (the word my ‘gym buddy’, Elizabeth, said the other day was that I looked more ‘vibrant’). It’s easier for me now to just get out and go to the gym. I’m not even worried anymore of being invited by friends, colleagues or clients for a drink or to eat out because I have the discipline now to not over indulge and to ‘compensate’ by being more active the following day even if I do eat something else rather than my trusty NutriSystem meals.

If I need to go out of town or visit a friend for a sleepover or go on a weekend away, I just bring along my NutriSystem meals and I’m all set! It’s really funny how you make so many excuses when you’re overweight. Back then, the mere thought of going out already made me feel lazy. Now? Often, I just say “sure, be ready in 5 minutes”. (And I am

-Cindy-

So I gave them a call and just checked if the progress I’ve made (7 POUNDS LOST NOW!) is ok for the time I’ve been on the program (almost two and a half weeks) and basically just did a ‘check in’ with them if I was doing everything right. The lady who talked to me was VERY pleasant and said that the weight loss I was experiencing was good. (Because not everybody is the same, not everybody reacts at the same pace on the NutriSystem diet; some slower, some faster.)

I also asked if I should (or even can) make changes on the food items I ordered. You see you get to choose 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners, and 7 snacks/desserts. And then they more or less send the same things for the duration of the program. Since I was on the 28-day Women’s Program that means the same 7 food items for four weeks. Again, not really an issue if I feel that I want to change anything. Actually, I just asked this ‘in case’ as so far I like the choices I’ve made and really would not mind having them for fours weeks. I mean, I DO have a different food item for EACH meal for EACH of those seven days!

-Cindy-

I read somewhere that NutriSystem is the best for people who love fast foods. I guess this is true in more ways than one. Like for me, I DO like my fair share of McDonald’s and KFC so I love the fact that NutriSystem has meals that are not boring at all. I don’t feel like I’m going to TOFU land if you know what I mean. I can have a Flame Broiled Beef Patty, HomeStyle Chicken Noodles with Gravy, Chili with Beans… a whole menu!
On the other meaning of ‘fast food’. What can be faster than heating something up, or putting boiling water in it, or opening a package? Faster than falling in line at McDonald’s.

Anyway, this just really donned on me today because I’ve been extremely busy and I realized that if not for THIS particular diet, I’ll be going through  drive-thrus again!

As I’m sitting here now writing this post, I’m glad I met the deadline at the office, that I’m still on the diet, that I feel GREAT (the best in many years really), while at the same time enjoying my dessert of NutriSystem Double Chocolate Almond Cookie here beside me.

-Cindy-

Needless to say, I was really pumped up because of this. I went to work with light, happy steps I went to the gym as I committed I would do and… yes! I stopped and bought that nice workout suit I said I would ‘reward’ myself with if and when I lose 5 lbs.

I’m really happy I chose NutriSystem for my weight loss attempt this time. I can’t wait for the second week to roll in!
Also, I realized that I never even made use of NutriSystem’s counseling assistance. I know I’m losing weight and all but would be great to have some outside feedback too. Think I’ll give them a call tomorrow…

-Cindy-

Ok, it’s late now so I’ll make this post short. It’s my sis’ birthday today and of course, nice, big dinner at mom’s. I was concerned about this for a few days because how do I explain to mom that I won’t be having a serving of her Decadent Chocolate cake? Or my Aunt’s Super Cheezy Lasagna? Or my Dad’s personal recipe for Deep-Fried Breaded Pork Cutlets?

Anyway, I brought my NutriSystem dinner - Zesty Cajun Style Chicken and Sausage with Brown Rice. I brought this so I can impress my family with how OK the ‘diet food’ really was so that they won’t pester me all night. And guess what? I was surprised at how SUPPORTIVE they were! I swear I felt really guilty for underestimating my family’s love and support for me! We had the same great time, laughing so hard and just loving being together.

My mom heated my NutriSystem food for me and placed it on the same fancy plate we always used for family get-togethers. Even my skinny sister who would often make fun of my weight (like what normal sisters do, nothing mean!) was really sweet. I guess they saw how committed I was this time? Or maybe they saw how happy I was? I don’t know and don’t really care!

HOWEVER… the Decadent Chocolate cake. When it came out, it was sooooo beautiful and really decadent! So here’s my confession, I forgot about my NutriSystem Blueberry Lemon Dessert Bar and had a piece of mom’s Decadent Chocolate cake. My mom was so sweet because she asked me how ’small’ I wanted my piece to be I had a slightly smaller than normal serving and I did feel a bit guilty but you know what? I’ll get on the treadmill an extra 30 mins for that tomorrow when I go to the gym…

-Cindy-

At work yesterday, another colleague of mine noticed the nicely-packaged lunch I had (Cheese Tortellini this time). I showed it to her and she said she’s been looking at NutriSystem online too! and wanted to know how it was. Told her my positive experience so far and I started discussing my daily menus and routines, which made me think of sharing it here too. Here’s what a typical ‘NutriSystem’ day is for me.

Wake up at around 7 AM. Shower, get dressed for work, go to the kitchen.
BREAKFAST: Open cupboard (where I stored all the NutriSystem meals I got) and heat up, put boiling water to, or simply open a package of what NutriSystem breakfast goodie I want for the day. (By now, I think the Scrambled Eggs and its different versions are my favorite.) I have a glass of skimmed milk and/or orange juice. I already feel full mostly but if not, I grab an apple.
Go to work. SKIP my latte stop. (Surprisingly, this was not as hard as I thought it would be and I guess I’m saving money too!)
LUNCH: Bring out NutriSystem pre-packaged lunch. (Think my favorite are the ‘chicken meals’.) Normally I eat this with a salad (no dressing) or some fruit. I drink only water. Actually, I can drink other stuff but I’ve always been a big water drinker so this is not issue for me really.
I think because I’m at work, I don’t really feel the urge to snack a lot in the afternoon. I like the thought of looking forward to relaxing at the end of the day and eating a dessert while in front of the TV. He.He.
Go home. Sometimes, I have some ‘drinks’ with my colleagues but I don’t take any alcohol anymore as advised by the NutriSystem program. Again, this is not really difficult for me. Here’s a tip: I used to find it hard to NOT eat anything at bars but now, I bring small carrot sticks or the NutriSystem pretzel snack. This way, I’m not A-social but still keep to my diet
DINNER: Heat up or put boiling water to NutriSystem dinner. I normally have this with a small salad.
Rest. Relax. Try not to work anymore. Call Mom. Call friends. Eat a snack if I feel hungry. Sleep.

-Cindy-