Nutrisystem :

Nutri/System is a commercial program that has made the transition from weight loss center-based, like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig, to an online weight-management program. It is a reduced calorie diet that focuses on balanced nutrition (60 % carbs/ 20% fat/ 20% protein) which follows the Food Guide Pyramid . This basic strategy is where your focus should and is recommended by virtually all dietitians, nutritionists and doctors. Their twist on it focuses on the "glycemic index" which measures the quality of carbohydrates. "Good" carbs are complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and vegetables, while "bad" carbs are refined carbohydrates such as white sugar and flour.

Nutri/System's approach revolves around the consumption of their prepackaged meals, which are definitely convenient and helpful in dealing with controlling your portion size, but they often fail to prepare the dieter for food preparation once the diet ends. Therefore, the key to the success of this diet is the transitional period where the dieter goes from prepackaged to regular, prepared meals. Unless you plan on eating prepackaged indefinitely, which is great if that's what works for you.

On the program you are assisted by a wealth of on-line support, counseling and informational resources. Regular exercise is emphasized and their website has an excellent virtual trainer that shows you how to do innumerable exercises the safe and healthy way. Basic membership and access to their website is free. You pay for the food, which averages about $300/month.

Nutri/System might seem at first to be more expensive in comparison to other programs, but when taking into account that any diet is going to require the purchase of food, it is probably less than most. On my diet, which I lost 75 pounds, I followed a similar plan and have kept the weight off for 12 years. Nutri/System is an icon in the history of commercial weight loss and remains one of the few weight loss companies that has stuck to the basic principles of healthy weight loss. Learn more at nutrisystem.com

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