I didn't know they also had an all-vegetarian plan. A 28-day plan with three meals a day comes out to a little over $10 a day, which is not bad at all. I spend that much easily on lunch alone, since I buy lunch at work every day.

Has anyone tried this? Is the food any good? It's a very tempting calorie-restriction option.

I'd love to try it if you'll buy ;)

A guy at work is on it. He just started. message me in a few weeks and I will let you know how things are going for him.

I started on 3/10. The only thing I add is a 22gms of whey protein every day, otherwise my protein was routinely falling below 100gms/day. At ~200lbs LBM, I wanted to make sure I had at least 100gms/day. That ends up putting me at about 1700KCals/Day in intake. The nice part is I don't have to think to much about about what/when to eat and I am surprisingly full by the meals. The male program spreads out the eating during the day so you never go more than 3 hours between intake. 19 days in I have nothing but positive things to say about it.

For me the sodium was also important, and they take care to limit that, unlike a lot of frozen "diet" entrees at the store.

As for the cost, You also have to add fruit, salad, dairy, grains, and veggies. But it replaces a lot of your expensive entree purchases. For me, I am spending ~$400 on food now, where before I started NS I was spending ~$300. So my net increase in food costs on the program is about $100/month.

I am not trying to sell anyone else on it, YMMV, but if you do decide to try it, let me know. They have a referral system that can save us both some money.

EDIT: My typical day
7:30am Breakfast NutriSystem Breakfast Entree, a Protein (I take 8oz skim milk + 22gms of whey protein powder), ~100 calorie serving of whole wheat grain (I make my own honey wheat bread to make it low sodium), and half a large banana (~500KCals)

10:30am Morning Snack (light yogurt + other half of the banana) (175KCals)

12:30pm Lunch- Salad(1 cup romain lettuce, 1/4 cup onions, 1/4 cup mushrooms + 2tbs low fat dressing) + NutriSystem Lunch Entree (~250KCals)

3:30pm Afternoon Snack - NutriSystem Dessert (soy chips or the like) (110KCals)

5:30pm Dinner - Salad (Like above), Grain (Whole Wheat, brown rice, oats, beans), fresh veggie, NutriSystem Dinner Entree (~500KCals)

8:30pm Evening Snack - NutriSystem Dessert (something sweet) (110KCals)

My nutrition during this period averages out to:
1667KCals, 43gms Fat, 215gms Carb, 106gms Protein, 26gms of Fiber

The only thing I am considering changing is to replace the morning snack yogurt with one of the afternoon snack items, then having another glass of skim milk + whey protein as my afternoon snack. That will increase my daily intake by KCals by 100, and my protein by 22gms.

Thanks VM! Very informative, and I didn't know you had to add stuff -- I was under the impression it was all-inclusive. Your meal plan looks extremely sound though -- getting two salads in a day is definitely a good move I think, and it's a great way to fine tune your meal to feel full without taking in too many more calories (leafy greens have a lot of volume and nutrients, for much lower calories).

K M, I'm definitely interested in hearing how this works for others!

I'd treat you to a soy latte Megan, but I'm afraid I'm no Bill Gates. I wonder if Traineo might be able to swing an ad deal with Nutrisystem though?

I've been too lazy to count calories, but Nutrisystem might be the transition I need.

You don't count calories with NutriSystem.
I log everything I eat in Fitday, the application, so I can break it down. The mens program is a little light on protein for a lifter, but other than that, the numbers were merely provided to give you an idea of the meal plan.

They provide a little book with check boxes for the entrees and extras. As you consume, you just check the box. At the end of the day you would have consumed everything I listed. My whey is in addition only because of the protein deficiency I found by tracking my consumption.

A couple of the other people I know on the plan like the fact they don't have to count anything, they just check off an item when they eat that part of the meal. I am just one of those types that is either hyperfocused or not interested

it's all good, IM. I will stick to my weight watchers points- I need the flexibility for when people offer to buy me soy lattes.

Alot fof the other nurses I know do Nutrisystem. They all seem to like it and they have reported 10-15 lb. weight losses in two months. (Two of the gals started it at the same time)

The ICU nurses are health nuts needless to say. After I recentely joined their staff, I know it lit a fire under my rear! I am even training for a marathon now.

As a cross between my two main online health and fitness communities I started the NutriSystem group. 6 weeks in and 28 pounds for me.

Vern