Let’s talk Nutrisystem – the good, the pretty- good and the very, very ugly

Straight out: I hate prepared, packaged food. Not just packaged but frozen food.

I’d rather eat fresh food out of the garbage in New York City before I eat packaged food that can linger in your fridge for 2 years.

Is it unrealistic to live life unpackaged in this way? Does Nutrisystem, a pre-packaged food weight loss delivery system, have a role in today’s society?

(NOTE: I use the term Nutrisystem, but there are plenty of companies doing the same thing, such as Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, The South Beach Diet, eic. When I say “Nutrisystem,” I include all such plans.

Nutrisystem (and other plans) means instant success NOT!)

Sure: Fatter, bigger and more, more, more. This is the concept of crowd eating. Super size me at McDonald’s, Burger King, Sam’s Club or Costco.

Go into any restaurant and you will see the humongous serving sizes that are offered. What’s expected That you will, without inhibition, eat till the last piece of food is consumed and the plate is cleaned.

Portion control is overturned by “more is better” or “more is cheaper.” Nutrisystem does a fantastic job of helping you to control your portions; no doubt about it.

It comes prepackaged. You don’t have to count the calories. Or guess the serving size. It is easy and convenient to use. And it doesn’t ask you to “super size me” for $1.

It tastes good

Here are some sample menus:

• Light, fluffy pancakes with syrup (Possible addition: Canadian Bacon and strawberries) (Breakfast),

• Ice Cream Sandwich (Desert),

• Apple Strudel Bar (Breakfast),

• Fudge Graham Bar (Lunch),

• Cheese Puffs (Dessert),

• Cinnamon Bun (Breakfast),

• Mashed Potatoes with Meatloaf with steamed Green beans (Dinner),

• Cheese Tortellini (Lunch)….****

Wouldn’t anything that tastes sweet taste great? Sugar is a flavor enhancer. It turns the taste of your food from fine to fantastic.

And doesn’t this remind you on the Twinkies diet guy? He ate Twinkies and occasionally, vegetables and he lost weight. And yes, fewer calories can help you lose weight. Basic science. The point is proven ages ago.

So why am I writing about Nutrisystem (and other such plans) today? One of my book reviewers shared a private message with me that I’d like to share with you:

“The only thought I wanted to share with you privately instead of writing it in my review was your specific comment about Nutrisystem. I agree with you 100% that a diet of whole organic food is vastly superior to any packaged diet food. However, in this epidemic of obesity, sometimes “convenience foods” can make weight loss possible when there is no time to prepare whole food. I am referring to your comment about Nutrisystem in your case study about Vikki. I am actually on Nutrisystem myself right now. Eventually I would like to reach a point where I am able to stop eating packaged food but with young children, time is at a premium. My additions to the program do consist of fresh whole foods and lean organic proteins.

I just felt that your point was made throughout the book about the superiority for health of following this program and it bothered me a little to see you specifically mention a program which has given me the tools to take back control of my life. I started off at 263lbs and currently weigh 181lbs. I still have some weight to lose but my health is vastly improved. When one is that significantly overweight, the negatives of eating processed food I feel are outweighed by the health benefits of dropping pounds.”

The very, very ugly

I couldn’t agree more that it is a tool. A short-term tool that will help you to get back on track. Yet, for a long-term approach, it does not work. Here are the reasons why:

• You don’t get enzymes you need for efficient food digestion from cooked, preserved foods

• You take in fewer vitamins, which affects optimum cellular function

• You don’t get as many antioxidants to fight off free radicals

• Sugar suppresses immunity within minutes of its consumption*

• Sugar causes high circulating levels of insulin

• And greater deposition of fat

• Sugar greatly hinders healing

• Yeast thrive on sugars (yeast infection – candidasis and thrush)**

• Sugar is damaging to your skin; it attaches to the protein collagen, causing it to “crosslink.” Collagen becomes stiff and inflexible, leading to wrinkling, stiffness and old-looking skin***

Convenience food that is processed is not convenient when it causes such health-damaging effects. It is an inconvenient truth when cancer, diabetes, and infections take hold in our body. And accelerated aging we can now add to this list. ***

Eat Nutrisystem long-term if you don’t care about yourself.

Weight loss is just one measure of improving your health.

Look deeper at your cellular level and get your cellular function tested.

Ask your doctor for a glucose test if you are on a high sugar diet. Do you fall in the norm? Or on the borderline or high glucose levels? A diet, should not be charged by the portion of food you eat.

What example do we give our children when we eat packaged food? No time for it? Really, you make time if you want your children not to see packaged food consumption as the norm. And you do set examples for your children at any age.

Obesity is an epidemic. And convenience food feeds right into it. To stop this epidemic, grass-root change needs to happen, from the way food is offered to the consumer to the lobbying of the corn syrup and sugar industries.

Believe that you have time to prepare food. Who said anything about complicated cocking? Assemble fresh foods that you can grill, bake or eat raw. Get some cookbooks and get some ideas.

Get inspired.

Try the following: Instead of saying “I can’t,” say “I can try.”

Stay focused,

Stefan

Europe’s Premier Youngevity Coach

P.S.: Leave a comment below if you disagree or agree.

P.P.S.: Disagree? Are you willing to be filmed and present your case on National TV? Please contact us by clicking here.

Sources:

*Jeane Marie Martin with Zoltan P. Pona, M.D., The Complete Candida Yeast Guide Book

**Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and James F. Balch, M.D., Prescription for Nutritional Healing

*** Nicholas Perricone, M.D., The Wrinkle Cure

**** www.Nutrisystem.com