3. No Thinking Required
Let’s face it, in our crazy-busy world we have to make hundreds of decisions a day, often at lightening speed. Wouldn’t it be nice to let someone else do it for you some of the time? Meal plans like Nutrisystem take the work out of weight loss. It’s like having your own personal chef. The foods literally show up at your door. All you have to do is heat them up. And some require even less work. Think about grab-and-go breakfast bars and sweet protein shakes. Plus, all of the meals are labeled by meal occasion so the only real thinking you have to do is decide if you’re in the mood for macaroni or would rather make it a hamburger night. This convenience gives you a real weight loss edge: Research shows that consumption of portion- controlled, prepackaged meals leads to more weight loss than other diet programs.
4. You Never Go It Alone
You’re at a wedding and eek, it’s a buffet! What can you eat? You love salmon. It’s your go-to meal at a restaurant. But you’ve never cooked it yourself. What do you do? Nutrisystem never lets you down. There’s a weight loss app and a comprehensive weight loss blog you can access on your smart phone or computer anytime, anywhere. There you’ll find tips, guidance and hundreds of recipes and meal ideas to help you. Not only that, you have inside access to a live person—a weight loss expert—who can help you make better choices, bust through a plateau, and offer an encouraging word. Don’t underestimate the value of support. A 2014 review of studies looking at the effects of behavioral counseling on weight loss found that people who had counseling were more likely to lose weight than those who didn’t.
5. You Can Choose Your Foods
Numerous scientific studies have shown that one of the best ways to gain weight is to diet. A review of long-term diet studies found that although most people lose five to 10 percent of their weight on a diet, for most, the weight comes back—and then some. Over four to five years, a third to two-thirds gain back more than they lost.
No, you’re not doomed, particularly if you know why people fail: It’s because they restrict themselves too much. No white foods. No carbs. No breakfast. No ice cream, chocolate, or pizza. Too many “nos.” Deprivation can lead to binges. Not on Nutrisystem. You can lose weight while eating your favorite foods—pizza, burgers, mac and cheese, pasta, chocolate—so you don’t feel deprived and boomerang back to your old ways. You can even choose to customize your menu so you’re only getting foods you enjoy. After all, the best diet is the one you’ll actually stick to, right? Feeling lazy? Don’t sweat the selection! Nutrisystem will send you their pre-selected Favorites pack, full of their most popular meals and snacks. You can always customize your next shipment (if you’re feeling less lazy)!