Nutrisystem is one of the best-known names in diet programs, having been in the public conscience since 1975. The program provides a solution for people who are overweight but don't have the time, knowledge or inclination to cook healthy meals, serve correct portions or count calories and fat grams. Nutrisystem dieters simply log on to the company's website, select their meals for the week and their food is delivered to their door, eliminating menu planning, grocery shopping and elaborate food preparation. The Nourish and Advanced plans are two sub-plans within the Nutrisystem diet, with more similarities than differences.
Basic Premise
All Nutrisystem diet plans are based on the glycemic index, which rates foods according to the way they affect your blood sugar. Refined foods like white bread and rice have a high GI rating, while whole, unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables have a lower GI rating. By choosing foods that are gentler on your blood sugar, you learn to choose healthier food options, which gets you into the habit of making smarter food choices so your weight doesn't rebound when you stop the diet. Nutrisystem also focuses on calorie and portion control. According to Nutrisystem Customer Service, the meal plans average about 1,500 calories for men and 1,200 calories for women.
Nutrisystem Nourish
Nutrisystem Nourish is a book that outlines a 28-day meal plan following the Nutrisytem formula. The book includes recipes for meals you can make yourself, or you can order the prepared versions directly from Nutrisystem. You can even combine the two and order only a few meals for days when you are too tired or busy to cook. The plan emphasizes exercise, and you will be encouraged to work out on most days.
Nutrisystem Advanced
Nutrisystem Advanced is the company's newest plan, and takes the basic premise of the Nourish plan a step further. Although the Advanced plan does not give you the option of preparing your own foods, the prepared meals have been updated to include omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fiber to promote heart health in addition to weight loss. When you enroll in the Advanced plan, you also receive an exercise DVD that guides you through your workout rather than simply emphasizing the importance of physical activity like the older plans.
Guarantee
Nutrisystem does not guarantee that you will lose weight, because the companycannot guarantee that you will faultlessly follow the program. Nutrisystem does guarantee the food and will refund your money minus shipping costs if you don't like the taste. The company also guarantees that the transactions you make through its website are completely secure, and it will reimburse you up to $50 for any fraudulent charges on your credit card made through its server.
Effectiveness
There are thousands of customer testimonials over the years by people who have lost weight with Nutrisystem. According to MayoClinic.com, however, the evidence is mixed. Some research shows that there is little difference between low- and high-GI foods and their effect on weight loss, while other research shows that people tend to lose more weight with low-GI foods. The leading theory as of 2010 is that low-GI foods are generally high in fiber and protein -- this makes portion control easier, which also makes the diet easier to stick to. While GI diets are not thought to pose any health risks, they do rely heavily on processed and packaged foods whose GI ranking can actually vary according to a number of factors. Consult your doctor before beginning any diet, and be sure to supplement your program with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as recommended by Nutrisystem.
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