Nutrisystem is a well-oiled machine. The program itself made the ordering process easy—I simply picked my plan and menu for the month and placed my order. In less than a week, my box of monthly meals arrived, neatly portioned and color-coded for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
The biggest drawback was that I didn’t find the food satisfying. I prefer eating whole, fresh foods whenever I get the chance. My breakfast usually consists of berries and Greek yogurt, lunch is often a turkey wrap or filling salad and for dinners, I typically pair protein with roasted vegetables. I’m no stranger to processed foods—Taco Bell will be my downfall—but eating a pouch or carton of dehydrated food for every meal (with the exception of the “flex” meals) left me unsatisfied and, honestly, a little sick to my stomach.
Additionally, I strongly believe that just because something helps you lose weight, that doesn’t mean it’s healthy. For example, the ingredient list and nutritional label for Nutrisystem’s mushroom parmesan soup with chicken—labeled a lunch meal— included xanthan gum (a common food additive), 490 milligrams of sodium and 55 milligrams of cholesterol. These numbers aren’t necessarily bad, but are far from the threshold for what the American Heart Association considers low-sodium and are higher in cholesterol than many other foods.
An ingredient list like that—which read longer than my grocery list—was a turnoff. My body craved the whole foods it was used to, and there were times during my Nutrisystem journey that I felt sluggish and foggy.
Does Nutrisystem Work?
I cannot definitively say whether Nutrisystem did or did not result in weight loss for me—I do not weigh myself on a regular basis, as I find myself often fixating on the number on the scale. For what it’s worth, though, my clothes did not fit any better than they did before, and I didn’t see a notable difference when looking in the mirror. This could be because I did break Nutrisystem’s strict rules, as I found myself so hungry after some of the small, portion-sized meals, I had to grab something just to hold me over. And my usual exercise routine of working out four to five days a week went out the window, as the processed foods on the diet plan left me sluggish (and remember, Nutrisystem actually recommends keeping activity to a minimum the first week of the program).
For many, though, Nutrisystem often results in weight loss because it focuses on a calorie deficit. If you struggle with self-control and portion sizes and don’t want to sink the time into a weight loss program that requires calorie counting and deciphering ingredient labels, this plan will likely help you shed a few pounds without much effort. In fact, compared to Whole30—which requires an immense amount of planning and prepping—Nutrisystem is a breeze. It’s also a solid option, in my opinion, for people who want to lose weight in a set amount of time.
For me, this program resulted in a moment of clarity. Focusing on the number on the scale and prioritizing a calorie deficit rather than the nutritional content of the foods that go into my body wasn’t for me. I view food as fuel, and the meals provided by Nutrisystem didn’t meet my body’s needs. That might mean I don’t hit my goal weight before I walk down the aisle (my thoughts on the societal “shedding for the wedding” pressure is a story for another time), but after eating a month of dehydrated foods from a pouch, that’s a tradeoff I’m willing to take.
Before you begin this program—or any weight loss program—do a bit of research and reflect on your goals and how you want to get there. And don’t forget to speak to your doctor about any diet program you’re interested in trying—no amount of information online can replace the guidance and opinion of a medical professional who knows you best.