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NutriSystem: Day 11

Logistics prove difficult, especially on the road

By Joseph S. Enoch
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 8, 2007

Nutrisystem • NutriSystem Leaves a Bad Taste in Many Mouths • Consumer Complaints --- 28 Days of Nutrisystem • Day 28: Mission Accomplished • Day 26: Hold the Eggs • Day 21: Tired, Hungry, Not Much Lighter • Day 14: More Energy, Fewer Pounds • Day 11: Logistics Prove Difficult • Day 5: Cardboard Soup • Day 1: A Brave Beginning --- • Weight Loss News

On day 11 of the NutriSystem diet, my body has grown accustomed to the lower calorie intake. But the actual logistics of the diet are becoming an increasing nuisance.

That's because the diet is much more than pre-packaged meals. In fact, a person must provide 11 helpings from various food groups every day.

To illustrate what I mean, here's the daily food diary that a dieter must follow:

Breakfast:

NutriSystem breakfast entree
Dairy or protein serving: one ounce of low fat cheese, eight ounces of skim milk or light yogurt, one egg, one ounce of sandwich meat, etc.
Fruit serving: one small apple, one medium orange, half a banana, ¾ of a cup of pineapple, 1/3 of a cantaloupe, 15 grapes, ½ cup of orange juice, etc.)
Low glycemic carbohydrate serving: 1/3 cup of barley, 1 slice of whole-wheat bread, ½ cup of corn, ½ cup of pasta, 1/3 cup of couscous, 1/3 cup of brown rice, etc.

Morning snack:
Dairy or protein serving
Fruit serving

Lunch:

NutriSystem lunch entree
Salad (with two tablespoons of fat-free dressing): Unlimited amounts of alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, spinach, celery, parsley, etc.
Fat serving: 1/8 of an avocado, six almonds, one teaspoon of peanut butter, five olives, one teaspoon of mayonnaise, etc.

Afternoon snack:

One NutriSystems dessert

Dinner:

NutriSystem dinner entree
Vegetable serving: ½ of an artichoke, one cup of raw asparagus, one cup of raw broccoli, one cup of tomato juice, one cup of raw carrots, one medium tomato, etc.
Salad
Low glycemic carbohydrate serving
Fat serving

Dessert:

NutriSystem dessert

It is truly a test of one's planning capabilities to get in every one of these minuscule servings of all these various items throughout the day. Since I live on my own, this diet often leaves me with half a piece of fruit or vegetable. If I'm eating somewhere other than my apartment, such as at the office, it is particularly hard trying to keep my meals balanced.

I keep a few of the necessary foods I need at the office, but for most of the perishable items, such as fruit and vegetables, I'm often forced to skip that and eat it later in the evening.

While I'm pleased it's forcing me to eat healthier than I probably ever have in my life, it's a drain on my schedule fitting in all these helpings. It's also a drain on my wallet as all of these lowfat and all-natural foods are pricey.

In fact, the food I purchased for hopefully the duration of the diet cost me $80. It's not completely accurate for NutriSystem to advertise their plan as a money-saver because they "provide the food."

Nowhere is this scheme of constant nibbling more annoying than when traveling. On Thursday I drove to southern Virginia to cover a hearing.

At first I thought, "This will be easy. I can just throw some of these pre-packaged meals in my suitcase." But then the reality of hauling all these extra helpings, most of which are perishable, set in.

All I could bring was the prepared meals and snacks, and a bag of unsalted peanuts. I had my lunch right before I left for what was supposed to be a three-hour drive. But traffic turned it into a six-and-a-half-hour drive and I was starving.

With no place to pull over and prepare one of their meals, and hundreds of fast-food stops tempting me, I held myself over by eating my two allowed desserts and then finally, my breakfast for the next morning (a granola bar).

The story I was covering kept me in Virginia so late, I had to stay an extra day. I planned accordingly, but with one breakfast already down the hatch and no extra helpings, the food was running low. I spread it out as much as possible and, starving again, made the long trek back, fighting the nagging hunger with one last NutriSystem dessert as I drove through fast-food nation.

I can only imagine how this diet would work for an extended trip.

The food diary includes a guide on eating out, but after looking at calorie contents for any burger joint, versus one NutriSystem entree, I'm not sure how one could legitimately stop and eat anywhere – even to have a salad.

On the bright side, I have lost four pounds. I hoped to lose more than that by now, but realistically speaking, that's not bad.

Thank you to those who have written in with words of encouragement and personal weight loss stories.

I check in with Dr. Henry Fishman on Thursday for a mid-diet meeting. I plan to have a new post and video blog up that evening.

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