Third week on NutriSystem and I’m REALLY into a great routine. I don’t think I’ve ever had a diet and exercise routine I’ve ever stuck to till now so even I am amazed at myself! So here’s how my routine looks like:
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-
My body is really changing. For one, ready for this… I can fit into my old (I mean REALLY old) pair of jeans! And I can do it without having to lie down on top of my bed and suck in my stomach as I zip up! ha.ha.
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-
Finally called the NutriSystem counselor. My mom encouraged me when we talked about it a couple of nights ago. She said “People PAY for expert weight loss advice and you’re not using what’s available to you.” That made perfect sense
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-