I am debating on NutriSystem or Weight Watchers.  I am really not sure which, if either, of the systems I should do. My initial reason for the NutriSystem weight loss program was mainly because of the NFL commercials I saw.  Kind of a stupid reason huh?  But it was also because I have never tried these and thought it would just be something different and also something useful to share with others.

Last week I wrote that I will begin my weight loss program on March 1st.  This is still my starting date.  I haven't changed on my plan for this.  You can read up on all my posts, as they happen on my diary page .

I thought I'd cover each diet a bit and I sure wish a few readers would tell me their experiences with each.

NutriSystem Advanced

Pros:

•  All the food is done for you - I admit it, I am lazy. This is good :)
  
• Over 120 meals to choose from including burgers, pizza,pasta and chips.  This is on the mens specific plan
  
• Uses the Glycemic Advantage - this measures the quality of carbohydrates and their impact on your blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down slowly, encouraging stable blood sugar levels, rate well or "low" on the Glycemic Index, versus those that rate higher because they break down too quickly and cause your insulin levels to spike and your body to store fat while also leaving you hungry soon after a meal. It's the difference between "good" carbs and "bad" carbs.
• No Counting, Weighing or Measuring - OK I like this
• Mindset Makeover   - This is supposed to help you learn new eating behaviours over a 13 week period in a guide format and done by Gary Foster, Ph.D.
• NutriSol - Soluble fibers in their food, they say their deserts have 3 grams each.
• OmegaSol - Each lunch has 3 grams of NutriSol plus omega-3 fatty acids which apparently is supposed to help you feel full.
• Dan Marion lost 22 lbs - Come on, I had to throw this in! :)  I loved Dan in his playing days.

Cons: 

•  They provide the food.
• You have to eat their food.
• The food you order isn't guaranteed to be what NutriSystem sends you - I find this shocking, but its true!
• Lack of Variety - OK. 120 items sounds like a lot, but after months of it?  Hrmmm.  What about eating out?
• Food Tastes different from month to month - So you find a select group of food you like but then you order the same dish(es) again and it tastes considerably different - NutriSystem has been reported to not have consistency in its food tastes.
• Temporary - No way you will eat their food for the rest of your life.  But lets hope their education on eating right helps.
• Food is expensive.
  

Weight Watchers

Pros:

•  The Weight Watchers Points system makes the process simple.
• Variety is endless, as long as you can get points for the items.
• Help educate you into good eating habits.
• Ongoing Support and Advice Service
• Plenty of Resources from them and on the internet, such as points calculators.
• Allowed to eat all food groups, thus helping stave off cravings.
• 
  

Cons: 

•  The Points System - Just because the points for your daily allowance has not been used, does not mean you are eating healthy.  It has its limits on helping you there.
• Temporary Points System - How long will you count points?  For the rest of your life?
• Class Attendance - I hate the thought of going to a weight watchers class.  Some people may like support groups, but I abhore the thought.
• Costs Money for Classes - OK, so I have to pay for a class I dont want to attend in the first place.

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Comments (4)

	1. 29-08-2008 09:56
	which diet Diets don't work... not by themselves and not for the long hall.     I've tried everything and I am currently writing a book about all the different "fad" diets out there.  "Diets" are short-term... the results wont last once you go back to "normal" eating.     This is why Atkins, Nutrisystem, and the like get many bad reviews... they are ways to "trick" your body into temporarily being thin rather than teaching it to stay that way.    Getting healthy and fit has to be a lifestyle change, something you can stick to for basically the rest of your life. Weight watchers is great because it just becomes habit after a while. You start to memorize how many points things are and eventually you can't stop even if you try, so when you get to the "maintenance" phase it's just second nature. It just makes you think harder about what you're putting into your body, and that's the key.    Think about it though... most of us KNOW what's right and wrong... how to eat right... we just usually chose to ignore what we know.    Eat right, follow the food pyramid, limit fats and lower calories slightly to lose weight. Don't drastically cut calories unless you want to do it for the REST OF YOUR life because your body will get used to it.    Here it is... the BIG SECRET TO WEIGHTLOSS...  get off YOUR BUTT and exercise!    I'm not here to promote any specific plans or diets because I've tried them ALL and they all have pros and cons... but right now I am doing P90X because it is great for people like me who have roller coaster dieted their way to a nearly healthy weight and now just want to get fit... it's tough but it works. Guest Report

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	2. 22-02-2008 09:43
	which diet Hi Pamela,    Thanks for the great comment feedback. I am REALLY torn between weight watchers and now a weight loss program called "body for life" http://www.bodyforlife.com/ is their homepage.    I have never tried weight watchers so your comments will make me think a bit harder on which to try. I have all but ruled out NutriSystem. The horror stories I hear on the food competely turn me off. Registered Report

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	3. 21-02-2008 17:55
	Good luck! I've done weight watchers since June 5, 2006 and have lost almost 150 pounds. The things that I like about it is that once you get your healthy guidelines in (dairy, whole grains, healthy oils, etc.), you are free to do what you want with the rest of your points. However, though I could eat a bunch of junk with the rest of them, I've found that I've begun eating so much healthier without even realizing it, simply to maximize my points. Healthier foods are worth lower points, so you can eat more. I like that I can eat at restaurants, or with friends without having to worry about getting off plan, like it seems you would with Nutrisystem. I've also done the plan entirely online, without meetings. Like you, I hated the thought of the meeting "support group." They have some fabulous tools on their site and it is only about $17 a month. Also, after a while, counting points becomes almost automatic. You memorize your favorite foods and get to the point where you can automatically figure a rough estimate of what a food will be points-wise just by looking at its NI. Sorry this has become so long, but I just wanted to wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide! http://www.uncoveringpamela.com Guest Report

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	4. 16-02-2008 14:41
	Think I will do a different diet After thinking about it some more, I think I will either do my form of Atkins or bodyforlife as seen here. Registered Report

Glenn

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