My Best Weight Loss Programs

Want a hassle-free diet plan? Then why not try the NutriSystem diet? As of the moment, it is considered as a diet plan very distinct in terms of convenience.

In fact, dieters don’t have to worry about any sort of planning or shopping for food and think about portion sizes which are very typical in other diet plans. They can have their own preference for food and simply go for their own thing.

Generally speaking, the NutriSystem Diet has a good potential to be very helpful and effective. Typical meals included in the plan are basically low in saturated and trans fats, and sodium.

Meals include whole grains and a wide variety of foods so dieters will be rest assured they are healthy meals. Its “glycemic advantage” approach which was from the many changes ever since it began in 1972, also seems effective.

Basically, the “glycemic advantage” approach emphasizes the importance of “good carbs,” low fat, high-fiber ready-cooked meals, and healthy protein. Fortunately, it was based on the idea that foods low in terms of the glycemic scale can help in stabilizing blood sugar and decreasing cravings or even hungers.

Like almost all approaches to weight loss, the “glycemic advantage” approach won’t also be effective if not accompanied by exercise or physical activities.

If in case dieters don’t have exact idea on what to do, they can refer to the demonstration CDs included in the plan. They can choose among the activities included like resistance-training programs, aerobics, and yoga.

Recommendations, Limitations and Restrictions

One of the nice things about the NutriSystem Diet is its long list of recipes of various entrees and desserts that any dieter can enjoy.

Typically, the entrees and desserts included are not only delicious but also healthy for they are balanced in protein, fat, and even “good” carbs. To be exact, they are made up of 55% carbohydrates, 25% protein, and 20% fat.

Along with the entrees and desserts are the supplements. To be totally relieved of your weight problems, you need to have supplements in form of 6 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

After the foods allowed and recommended are the foods prohibited. Well, with the NutriSystem Diet, sugar, white bread, candy, cakes, processed foods, and alcohol are not totally not allowed.

The NutriSystem Diet Works

At present, the NutriSystem Diet is one of the few programs that can work for both men and women. The plans it include are customizable if the dieter is suffering from an illness like II diabetes or is a vegetarian or the like.

Another reason why NutriSystem works is because of its not being restrictive and demanding. Dieters don’t have to do the weighing and all, measuring, counting calories, or cooking than they would otherwise normally do in other diet plans.

But unfortunately, the diet plan does not have a long-term or maintenance phase, therefore there’s a great possibility that dieters may actually regain the weight that they’ve already lost.

Insights of Some Experts

Because of some flaws like possible dependency on prepackaged foods and expensive cost of the diet plan, many have shown apprehension towards the NutriSystem Diet.

In fact, according to American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Suzanne Farrell, MS, RD., “dieters may only experience success while they are ordering the prepackaged foods because once they are on their own, they are faced with the real world of cooking, meal preparation, and issues they are not prepared to handle because they were not addressed on the plan”.

In addition from Farrell, “one of the most important aspects of weight control is learning how to shop and cook healthier foods, and this program does not accomplish that critical aspect”.

But on the better aside, she loves the way the plan encourages regular meals as well as snacks. However, just like the possible dependency on prepackaged foods, she is also not quite in favor of the amount of calories that regular meals and snacks may contain. For Farrell, “there may be too few calories to manage hunger.”

While, about the “glycemic advantage” approach of the diet plan, well, according to diabetes expert and author Marion Franz, MS, RD, CDE, the approach may be effective for diabetics but not to weight loss.

On contrary to Franz’s statement is that of Ludwig’s. According to Harvard endocrinologist and pediatric professor David Ludwig, MD, a glycemic index-based diet plan is very much capable of helping children and families lose weight.

Why NutriSystem Diet

Generally speaking, the NutriSystem Diet is a good weight loss tool. With the various meal plans and good disciplines it promote, there’s a great possibility for a significant weight loss.

However, NutriSystem Diet strongly promotes prepackaged foods and has not efforts of teaching you how to prepare your own meals, therefore when the time comes you have to face again the real world at the end the program you will more or less have lots of troubles to encounter, most especially when in terms of preparing your own meals.