PEERtrainer

New Nutrisystem Program For 2011

Nutrisystem has released its annual "program refresh" and have announced some changes that appear to increase the quality and value of the program. As we have written previously, the "core service they provide is convenience, and the core benefit is that this approach works for many people."

We observe that many people, especially men, do not want to focus on counting calories or points nor do they want to jump right into a high nutrient diet that requires extensive habit changes. At PEERtrainer we strongly advocate a high nutrient diet and we help people make long term changes. But if you have not been able to make these changes on your own, you need to do something, now.

The reality is that Nutrisystem works for many because the company helps people take these important three first steps that you will need to master following any diet program:

• Getting Your Portions Under Control
• Starting To Increase Your Food Quality
• Understand The Critical Value Of A Support System

Nutrisystem has been criticized in the past for having poor tasting foods that are low in nutritional value. Over the last couple years the company has worked to overcome these concerns, as well as build out a support network that helps people make long term behavioral changes. In late 2009 the company introduced Nutrisytem Select, which featured fresh frozen food delivery for the first time.

Fresh Frozen Meals Now Included In All Plans

This year Nutrisystem is rolling out fresh frozen foods in all of its plans, as well as reducing the monthly cost of the "fresh food option" by $100. The new price of the basic Select program for women is $299, and the basic Select program for men is $329. (The price is higher for men because there is more food and calories delivered.)

New Chefs Culinary Council To Improve Food Quality

As part of their long term effort to increase food quality, Nutrisystem has added some well known chefs to their "advisory board." The company states:

"The Nutrisystem Culinary Council includes: Tony Mantuano, recently one of the Top Chef Masters Chef contenders; Mark Estee known for his restaurants in Nevada and California; Michael Solomonov, owner of Philadelphia restaurant Zahav; Carmen Gonzalez of New York, also a contender from Top Chef; and Kent Rathbun, owner of Texas restaurants Abacus and Jasper’s, and a former contender on Iron Chef America. 

“With the addition of the Nutrisystem Chefs Culinary Council, we now have some of the hottest and most talented chefs in the industry as advisors. They’ll be guiding us on the latest trends in the food industry and help us bring foods and programs to market that will be truly innovative"

Why Are The Changes To Nutrisystem Important?

At PEERtrainer we have observed that many people are interested in the convenience of home food delivery. The core problem is usually the cost. There are services out there that can cost over a thousand dollars a month. If you have the budget there are many great locally based services.

Nutrisystem appears to tackling this problem by increasing food quality and taste while keeping a lid on costs. We will be interested to hear from people how the rhetoric of the company matches the reality of the customer experience.

If the changes that the company have communicated are for real, this will represent a good step forward for the home food delivery market.

Visit The Nutrisystem Website To Learn More

FORT WASHINGTON, PA. (December 28, 2010) /PRNewswire/ — Nutrisystem, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRI), the number one home delivery weight loss company, announced today that it is revamping its programs by incorporating its highest scoring, best tasting fresh frozen gourmet foods into all of its weight loss plans at the lowest price in the Company’s history. Part of Nutrisystem’s “Hooray You! New You Revolution” initiative is to empower and celebrate the success of its members, and with these significant changes it will make Nutrisystem® weight loss programs more accessible to a wider audience than ever before. The new Nutrisystem 28-day program will now include one-third frozen foods and two-thirds of pantry foods. Additionally, the program previously cost $399 per month and it will now cost $299, including an additional free week of pantry foods, a gourmet money back guarantee and free shipping. The New Nutrisystem® Select® Plan, available only in the Continental U.S., can be purchased by calling the Nutrisystem hotline 1-800-891-3215 or logging onto www.nutrisystem.com.

“The launch of this program is a groundbreaking accomplishment for our team. Nutrisystem has now found a way to do what no other weight loss company had been able to do – and that is to provide home delivery of fresh-frozen foods at the lowest price in the category,” said Joe Redling, Chairman and CEO of Nutrisystem. “We spent the better part of the last year conducting extensive category research and, of course, listening to our own customers. The message we heard was clear and simple – they want great tasting, high quality foods at a low price with no gimmicks and no complicated plans. Through this system wide revamp I’m truly pleased that we’ll now be providing just that.”

Added Redling, “This winter season, many weight loss companies are launching new programs. We applaud those who are working hard in the fight to combat the national obesity epidemic but warn consumers to be wary of the newest fads and magic pill solutions. At Nutrisystem, our program is backed by the science of the low Glycemic Index and at a low price. We believe the solution to a healthier lifestyle can be just that simple.”

Nutrisystem Chefs Culinary Council

As part of the effort to revamp its food program, Nutrisystem has assembled a Culinary Council of industry leading chefs from around the United States to act as an advisory board to guide Nutrisystem in developing the best tasting and most desirable foods and menus going forward. The Nutrisystem Culinary Council includes: Tony Mantuano, recently one of the Top Chef Masters Chef contenders; Mark Estee known for his restaurants in Nevada and California; Michael Solomonov, owner of Philadelphia restaurant Zahav; Carmen Gonzalez of New York, also a contender from Top Chef; and Kent Rathbun, owner of Texas restaurants Abacus and Jasper’s, and a former contender on Iron Chef America.

“With the addition of the Nutrisystem Chefs Culinary Council, we now have some of the hottest and most talented chefs in the industry as advisors. They’ll be guiding us on the latest trends in the food industry and help us bring foods and programs to market that will be truly innovative,” said Redling.

The New Nutrisystem Select

“Nutrisystem Select” offers gourmet, fresh frozen cuisine to every customer, delivered right to their doorstep. As part of the revamp of its food programs, Nutrisystem is adding new items to its menu including: Garden Vegetable Omelet, Margherita Pizza, Roasted Vegetable Pizza, Asian Style Beef, Roasted Turkey Medallions, and Orange Crème Bar.

The New Nutrisystem Select program includes:

* Free 24 hour, seven days a week phone access to nutrition support and counseling from the Nutrisystem team of registered dieticians as well as weight loss counselors

* Free membership and access to online tools, tips and community support on Nutrisystem.com

* Savings of hundreds of dollars compared to other weight loss programs

* New – Gourmet Guarantee – money back if not completely satisfied

* New – First seven days free

* New – Transition plans to help keep you on track after reaching your goal weight

* Available for Women, Men, Seniors and people with type 2 diabetes who want to lose weight via Nutrisystem D

* Nutrisystem is delivered right to the customer’s door, and free shipping is included with Auto Delivery – there’s never any center visits or calorie or carb counting required

“As the nation continues to spiral into an ever-worsening cycle of obesity, we’re taking action now that will make our weight loss programs more accessible to more Americans than ever before. When crafting this new program, we recognized that the barriers to dieting and the reasons why people fail often comes down to a matter of cost, convenience and eating foods that taste good,” said Dr. Bruce Daggy, Vice President of Research and Development of Nutrisystem. “Feedback from our members has always given the highest food ratings to our frozen foods, but cost has been a barrier. One of the most important aspects of our programs that will continue is our adherence to a balanced diet based on the low Glycemic Index. We recognize that weight loss and health is not just about counting calories. Our focus remains to support a sensible and sustainable approach to eating.”

To order the new Nutrisystem, visit www.Nutrisystem.com

NutriSystem D: New Program For Diabetics, Link To Review

We just did a post in our Diet blog about NutriSystem D, which is a new program for diabetics. Click on the link to learn more and also learn some of our thoughts and observation on how to turn short term success on NutriSystem into permanent life change.

You can also click on this new logo to learn more about NutriSystem D. Isn't the logo nice btw?

If you are interested in ordering information, click on this link which will take you to a page where you can chat live with someone at the company on the NutriSystem website.

NutriSystem Select Menu Items

NutriSystem Select is a move into the frozen foods market. This allows the company to offer a much greater selection of food- because you can freeze anything. The foods are still prepared in a portioned controlled format that has been shown to help people lose weight. The frozen format also allows the company to deliver foods it could not previously- perishable fruits and vegetables. This makes it easier to eat healthier and potentially simplifies the process of being on NutriSystem. It is also designed to taste better:

Sample Menu Items:

Homestyle Pancakes (1)

Garden Vegetable Omelet (2)

Golden French Toast (1)

Vegetable Frittata Strata (1)

Turkey and Egg Breakfast Sandwich (2)

Toasted Ham and Cheese (2)

Steak and Cheese Melt (2)

Chicken Fajita Melt (1)

Roasted Vegetable Pizza (1)

Margherita Pizza (1)

Asian-Style Beef (1)

Tender Beef with Portobello Mushrooms (1)

Roast Turkey Medallions (1)

Glazed Chicken Tenders (1)

Chicken Alfredo (1)  

Shrimp Alfredo (1)

Ravioli Formaggio (1)

Ice Cream Sandwich (1)

Fudge Swirl Sundae (1)

Chocolate Fudge Bar (1)

Orange Crème Bar (1)

Blueberry Parfait (1)

Apple Crisp (1)

Peach Crisp (1)

(Customers who order the NutriSystem Select Men’s Program will receive an additional 7 Ice Cream Sandwiches for their extra meal occasion.)

Complete List of NutriSystem Select Meals

NutriSystem $100 Savings Offer

NutriSystem alerted us to a new $100 off the first month offer, and this is only good for their Core program, not the new Flex or Select. We hope to see a coupon for NutriSystem Select when it formally launches later this month. This is the link and it may only be good for a couple weeks from what we are being told:

Try NutriSystem and get a total savings of $100

Incorporating Weight Watchers and Dr. Fuhrman's Eat To Live and Eat For Health

This was the first email from the subscriber with specific feedback on the new WW program. It is very cool to read this, especially the idea of "Diet Fusion" that we have developed here. People are frustrated and tired of "failing" at dieting, and this new approach of focusing on gradually increasing fruits and vegetables appears to be working really well. Even NutriSystem is getting in on the act with their new "Select Program" where you can choose fresh frozen foods.

It is important to highlight these new approaches to dieting, because so many people have been losing and then regaining with low fat and low carb diets like Atkins or South Beach. The South Beach Diet has been the subject of a lot of debate on PT recently, with some people pointing out how for many the gains can be short term. And a couple MD's now have weighed in on the subject pointing out the dangers of these low-fat low-carb focused diets.

The most important part of diets like Momentum and Eat To Live and Eat For Health is that they are gradual things you can't really fail at. It is just work that you do or don't do. But it is not this frustrating thing where you start to eat carbs again after restricting them and you ballon back up. Which is something we see all the time.

"Hi Jackie,

I just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for all the PEERtrainer resources. I have been receiving your Tips of the Day for a couple months, and while it has taken a while for things to sink in, I am really coming to appreciate your approach. Specifically, the concept of 'diet fusion' has been very helpful, previously I was always looking for the 'perfect' system, that would make it easy. 

I recently rejoined Weight Watchers (I really like the new Momentum program), have read Eat to LIve and Eat for Health, and am working on incorporating much more plant foods into my diet. I'm a vegetarian who didn't eat much vegetables. :-)

I have listened to a couple of the boot camp calls, and Dr. Fuhrman's call last week. I don't currently use the site for logging, but have been using the principles of accountability and support via an 'accountability partner' that I meet with weekly. Your tips, and blog are relatable and helpful, and I truly appreciate that you share the resources at no cost. Again, Thanks!"

Thank you for sharing!

NutriSystem Flex Program

NutriSystem has just launched their "Flex Program", where you are on the program for 5 days and then off for two "Flex Days." NutriSystem Flex is also their cheapest program ever. The women's program is $200 a month or $7 a day, and the men's program is $230 a month or $8 a day. On your flex days you can buy frozen vegetables in bulk and add high doses of very healthy foods for cheap. 

Does NutriSystem Flex Work As Well As Their Regular Program? Will It Help Me Lose Weight?

This is a commonly asked question. People often see the success stories on TV or hear about them from friends. The idea is that if you follow this plan and eat their foods, you will lose weight. But what happens on those two days a week that you are off the program? Will you do so much damage that you will lose the benefits of the previous five days? In our view this is both a risk and an opportunity for you. We have written much more about it here in a review of the NutriSystem Flex program which goes into the detail of the overall program and what you might want to be doing on those flex days.

Is NutriSystem Select Offered In The 5 Day Flex Format?

It would make sense if they did, because it would help to manage the cost a little. NutriSystem Select is a new, more expensive version of their plan that delivers foods that are frozen fresh and that feature fruits and vegetables in the meals that are delivered. Adding high levels of fruits and vegetables to your diet is seen by many as being the only path to sustainable and healthy long term weight loss.

What Fruits and Vegetables Can You Eat On NutriSystem Flex?

The overall NutriSystem Diet plan is based on the Glycemic Index, which is basically a good carbs, bad carbs approach. This is especially helpful for Type 2 Diabetics and people at risk for Metabolic Syndrome. Most doctors simply tell you to "avoid the white stuff"- so maybe go easy on the potatoes. But hit the greens hard. Things like spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, romaine lettuce salad- those are going to juice your diet, give you a ton of nutrients you really can't get elsewhere in this high a level of concentration. Same thing for fruits like Strawberries and blueberries. Those are high in cancer fighting anti-oxidants and nutrients.

How Long Does It Take To See Results From NutriSystem Flex?

This obviously depends on you personally, and how much weight you have to lose. In general we observe that when people really focus on their portion control and have a way of measuring it each day lose weight. If you are on NutriSystem Flex specifically, you are going to have to really pay close attention to your flex days, and learn to do "Diet Fusion" where you incorporate different elements of other proven diets. For example you might want to count Weight Watchers points on your flex days if you know that system. You will also want to try eating a cleansing diet very high in salad, greens and fruits that you like. Doing a combo of controlled points with a cleansing diet will help you see results very quickly.

How Long Should I Be On The NutriSystem Flex Program?

Your long term goal should be to develop solid eating habits where you eat a diet high in plant-based nutrients and low in animal protein. A decent target to shoot for is to bring your animal-based foods down to about 10% of your diet. Things like meat and cheese should be used as dressings for salads, not the meal itself. As your intake goes above 10% your risk of disease goes up, and unless you are a hardcore vegan, you really don't want to get too far below this level based on available science.

So use your flex days to begin to develop these habits of high fruit and vegetable intake. You will find specifically that this approach helps fight hunger. Weight Watchers focuses a lot on this with their new "Filling Foods" list, which include things like Avocado and Hummus. The idea is that those foods are high in protein but also contain high levels of important nutrients. Your body is pretty smart and knows when it is getting what it needs. The result is you are less hungry.

NutriSystem Flex can be a great tool to give you some "training wheels" to get you to this long term point. At PEERtrainer we call this "The Point Of No Return" and many of you who read this blog are members of this coaching program that focuses on the mindset issues with weight loss, and assumes you are going to be on your own chosen combination of diet approaches. Our coaching team at PEERtrainer has put together a series of articles to help you with the psychological aspects of weight loss and how to develop the motivation to lose weight. One of our most popular articles focuses on the importance of understanding the difference between desire and expectation. There is a big difference between the two and one needs to develop an expectation of weight loss in order to really succeed.

Can I Choose My Flex Days?

According to the NutriSystem website you can choose any two days a week to be your flex days. They say some people will choose the weekend for convenience. What is interesting is that this new program really allows people to mix and match their diet approaches.

What Should I Do On My Flex Days?

NutriSystem has some sensible recommendations on their website when you sign up. Many people do NutriSystem and participate in PEERtrainer to give them added support and a very broad range of ideas. One idea is to make use of ideas put forth in our free Tip Of The Day weight loss coaching program.

Are There Coupons Or Savings Offered?

Right now the company is running the following offer:Save $100 with NutriSystem

This offer is good for the basic program, diabetic program, silver program and the vegetarian program.

Should I Do South Beach On My Flex Days?

We have been alerted to some of the dangers of diets like South Beach and Atkins. While we hear that they work in the short term, there are a series of health risks associated with these diets. Follow the instructions from the company and also start adding high levels of green vegetables and salad on the flex days to lose the most weight and fight any cravings.

NutriSystem Select: New Plan That Includes Fresh Frozen Foods

NutriSystem Select is a new offering that improves the taste and increases menu choices by including fresh frozen foods from the Schwans food delivery service. When you sign up for NutriSystem Select you get 28-35 menu items (depending if you are a man or a woman) that you eat in addition to the regular "ready to go" entrees. This appears to be a very good move for the company, and it allows people to add more fresh foods to their meals.

Is NutriSystem Select A Good Program?

From our perspective any program that increases your food choices and improves the levels of fruits and vegetables is a good one. This page has a list of the new fresh frozen menu items and choices:

NutriSystem Select Menu Items

Tip Of The Day readers know we had written very recently that we expected the company to come out with some new offerings that improved the amounts of plant-based foods in the diet. Select appears to be a nice balance between great taste and health. To get a free diet consultation from the company, order Select or to ask questions on how it works click here. 

How Is NutriSystem Select Different From NutriSystem Flex?

NutriSystem Flex is another new, different offering that allows you to order 5 days of food a week instead of seven. The idea is that you have "flex" days to follow your own plan. Right now, you cannot order NutriSystem Select with the Flex option. 

How Do I Order NutriSystem Select And Can I Choose My Own Foods?

With NutriSystem Select you have two options for ordering the program:

1) You can either order the pre-selected Favorites Package- the easy option

2) Or you can choose to customize your 3 weeks of ready-to-go entrees and desserts, plus a bonus free week to fit your preferences (in this option, you select your own menu items, ready-to-go items only). 

Then, in addition to your ready-to-go meals, you will receive a pre-selected assortment of delicious frozen breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts (one week's worth or 28 menu items (35 items for Men's Program)) to add into your meal plan as you choose

How Much Does NutriSystem Select Cost And How To I Get The Best Price?

This is a premium product and they are offering an initial discount of about $100. The program is $369 a month for women and $30 more for the men's program. Both men's and women's "Silver" programs are $360 a month. I would observe that money spent on a healthier diet is money well spent. If the program does end up costing a little more it would be something to prioritize. I would imagine that the overall food quality is higher as well. We will see.

NutriSystem Select FAQ:

When Will NutriSystem Select Be Available?

The product has just launched in February of 2009 and is available now.

What Foods Are Available On NutriSystem Select?

There seems to be a very big selection of foods available through Schwan's "Live Smart" product line. One big problem with the old NutriSystem line is that they made you buy your own fruits and vegetables and the new Select program allows you to order everything you need once. Makes it easier to eat healthier. And the added cost is probably mitigated because you no longer have to buy a ton of extras to make it a healthy meal.

How Expensive Is NutriSystem Select In Comparison To Jenny Craig or Other Meal Delivery Services?

According to a recent Forbes Magazine story, NutriSystem was the cheapest of any diet out there when you analyzed all the costs of buying food, going to meetings, buying extras, equipment like blenders. Forbes compared NutriSystem to Weight Watchers, The Zone, The Abs Diet, South Beach, 5 Factor and the Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox and found NutriSystem to be cheaper by quite a bit after a total cost analysis.

Does NutriSystem For Men Now Include An Option To Do Select?

Yes, if you are a man, woman or a senior you can opt into the select program. Men pay a little more, I would assume because they get more calories a day and will eat more food.

Will The Foods Taste Better On NutriSystem Select?

That seems to be the idea, and their partner, Schwans, has a strong reputation and track record of delivering healthy and tasty foods. NutriSystem seems to be

How Can I Find A Coupon, Coupon Code Or A Discount For NutriSystem Select?

NutriSystem often gives incentives to join a program or commit for a period of time. When you click on one of the banners you will see some incentives to get you to start. Most companies do things like this to get business. We have also created a page where we link the latest NutriSystem coupons.

What Is The Cost Of NutriSystem Select In Comparison To Buying Your Own Groceries?

I am sure that one could buy a great amount of healthy frozen foods for cheaper, but what you are paying for is the convenience and the knowledge that you are on a program with a certain expectation. Over time ideally you will start buying bags of frozen spinach and broccoli every time you go to the store. But keep in mind that even with the higher price of NutriSystem select you probably will not spend a ton more than you already are.

Does NutriSystem Offer Select Or Advanced Especially For Athletes Or Other Very Active People?

We need to look into this. Men already get a higher caloric intake and obviously if you are burning more calories you need to eat a little more. One thing we observe is that higher quality foods such as fruits and vegetables will give one more energy as a general rule. There is great micronutrient and phytochemical concentration.

Does NutriSystem Really Help You Lose Weight?

We observe that the company has been very successful in the past in helping people lose weight, especially in the short term. But what the company lacked was a focus on high levels of fruits and vegetables which are critical to getting people off the food addiction cycle. So Select will probably improve the ability of NutriSystem to lose weight. For permanent weight loss and the odds of the best health possible one will have to graduate to a nutritional approach like the one pioneered and advocated by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. But NutriSystem is an excellent first step, especially for people who have not been successful getting started.

Do NutriSystem Select Meals Have Fewer Preservatives?

It would seem that by freezing foods you are able to keep them fresh for a long time without preservatives which increase one's overall toxic load.

Should One Join The Select Program Instead Of One Of The Legacy Programs?

Based on everything we have observed in the last 4 years running PEERtrainer, we feel very strongly that if NutriSystem is a solution for your particular needs, you should definitely pick this plan over the other ones. No question.

What is the Favorites Package?

The NutriSystem Favorites Package, gives you a pre-selected assortment of their most popular ready-to-go menu items for each meal occasion. If you’d like to try the wide array of NutriSystem foods, this may be a good choice for your first order (versus choosing your own foods). Once you’ve tried the NutriSystem favorites, you can always customize your ready-to-go items in any subsequent orders.

Does NutriSystem Help You Keep The Weight Off?

The company has spent a lot of effort building support groups on their site. This is a fundamental aspect of their program now. PEERtrainer has also started a NutriSystem Select Weight Loss Support Group for the members of the site who end up choosing this program as part of their overall weight loss efforts.

Discuss this in the PEERtrainer community:

How will my NutriSystem Select Order be Shipped? 

Your order is divided into two separate shipments: Your first shipment will contain your 3 weeks of ready-to-go NutriSystem entrees and desserts, your bonus free week of ready-to-go menu items, and your Results Kit with a Meal Planner that outlines how the program works. They will help you understand which foods to eat and when, as well as guide you in selecting the add-in foods to complete your diet. This way, you can get your program underway before your frozen foods arrive. 

Within the next 14 days, your second shipment will arrive containing your frozen items, which you can then begin to incorporate into your program. There are a couple caveats: If you refuse to accept the shipment once it is delivered, you will be charged a $30 cancellation fee. Residents of Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico are not eligible for the NutriSystem Select program. Select cannot be shipped to PO Boxes, APO boxes, or military addresses.

What If You Are Not Sure About Ordering NutriSystem?

There are all sorts of options out there to help you lose weight. NutriSystem seems best for people who need some real hand holding during the weight loss program and don't want to have to follow a plan. Over time you are going to have to change your diet to increase fruits and vegetables, decrease animal protein and keep your portions in check for long term success. If you go to restaurants a lot you probably would do better with the NutriSystem Flex program. You also might want to consider the Weight Watchers Momentum program.

If you do think you want the convenience and the low relative cost of the program compared to other diet options, you might want to start your process by taking the weight loss assessment on their site.

How will my frozen food remain frozen for delivery and how will it be shipped?

From the NutriSystem site: "Your frozen food shipment will be shipped separately from your ready-to-go items and delivered by a special Schwan’s Home Service truck that is designed for frozen storage. If you are not available to accept your food upon delivery, your frozen items will be packed on special ice packs and placed inside an insulated bag to keep your foods frozen for approximately four hours. Some customers may have their frozen food delivered by UPS. In this case, your frozen shipment will be packed on dry ice and placed in a Styrofoam cooler."

Can I order extra items? 

From the NutriSystem site: "The "A la Carte" area is good for picking up a few extra items beyond your total program (not for building a meal plan). It’s also the place to get things like vitamins, supplements, and other individual items. Browse through the A la Carte menu before checkout and you can find some great items which make weight loss that much easier. Simply select the category in which you’re interested, and choose individual items to be added to your shopping cart. Then proceed to checkout."

What is Auto-Delivery? 

From the NutriSystem site: "With Auto-Delivery, you get a 10% discount off the regular 28-Day program price and FREE shipping within the Continental US when you remain on the program for at least 2 shipments. Plus, your discount increases to 15% after your third consecutive 28-Day program delivery. You are automatically charged and shipped your 28-Day order once every four weeks unless you cancel. You will be sent an e-mail reminder when your next order is to be shipped. You can edit, customize or delay your Auto-Delivery order at any time."

Does NutriSystem Offer A Money Back Guarantee?

The company offers this money back guarantee: "Try our foods for a week. If you do not like them for any reason, simply call within seven days of receipt of your first order and return the three remaining weeks of food, and we will give you a full refund of your purchase price, less shipping. NutriSystem Select Program customers must return two weeks of non-frozen foods only. Frozen food items are not returnable."

Can You Exchange Foods You Don't Like?

Here is the NutriSystem Exchange policy:  "Our exchange policy is simple. Within 30 days of receipt of your order, you may return any item in its original condition, for an exchange. Simply contact the Customer Service Department for an Exchange Code. Please make sure you have an adequate supply of NutriSystem food to stay on the program, as you need to allow 14 business days to process your exchange. Make a list of the items you are sending back and a list of the items you would like in exchange (breakfast for a breakfast, lunch for a lunch, etc.). On your list, please indicate the order number, your name and address and send the package to the below address: NutriSystem Returns Dept - (Your Exchange Code) 200 Welsh Rd Horsham, PA 19044"

NutriSystem: How To Make This A Long Term, Sustainable Success

One of the most interesting things about our Tip Of The Day email program is the feedback we get from people. One thing we hear over and over is how hard weight loss can be for so many people. It is tough because we tend to steer people towards diets with very high amounts of fruits and vegetables with a specific focus on greens on a daily basis. 

A lot of people, though, are in such a state of struggle that they need or gravitate towards things that are either easy or fun. So our challenge is really to try and connect the two. To show a path between the easy and fun and the more longer term and sustainable. We have been focusing recently on NutriSystem because we hear from many that it is very easy, convenient and for many people it is the only thing that worked for them. They just needed that combination of ease and structure.

But we also hear from many, and from the medical community especially, that success on this program can often be short term in nature. So the question really is, how does one make this part of a long term plan. I asked Dr. Laurie Rothman this question and here were her thoughts:

"-I would introduce the concepts that we want the "dieter" to carry on into his/her real life after Nutrisystem or similar plan, immediately. 

-Most of these plans give you unlimited non-starchy vegetables in addition to the foods provides. I would recommend having full servings of raw or steamed vegetables and salads before meals. 

-This will encourage healthy eating habits and likely promote more weight loss and decrease food cravings. In addition, there is some choice of meals in the plans. 

-I would recommend staying away from the meals with red meat and cheese, etc. As these may be okay in the small amounts provided by the pre-packaged meals, but most people are not good at continuing those portion sizes. 

-Also, stay away from the plan's desserts. Have fresh fruit instead. As weight loss occurs, I would recommend replacing one meal at a time with home prepared food. As long as weight loss continues or is maintained as desired, the client is doing great."

The advice is essentially to start learning and adopting the basics of Eat To Live/Eat For Health as soon as you start NutriSystem. One of the most important things these book teach you is that many vegetables, especially greens, can help fight hunger cravings. 

We also hear from many of you that "mindset" issues often overwhelm any knowledge or desire. One man emailed me recently and said he had been to Weight Watchers and done many diets but knew that his mindset was the problem. We hear this a lot and this is one of the reasons we have developed a coaching program around this specific idea. Personal Development Coach Joshua Wayne, MA leads this program. You can learn about it here:

http://www.peertrainer.com/coaching

This program is for people who feel like they know all they want to about "dieting", and want to focus on the mental aspect of weight loss, health and fitness.

NutriSystem: Why You Need To Learn Portion Control and Get Social Support To Make It A Long Term Success

I was talking to Dr. Laurie Rothman at a party recently, and we were discussing NutriSystem. We talk about all sorts of diets, because as a women's health doctor, she sees first hand the impact and results of all these diets. Her observation about NutriSystem is that she sees people lose weight on this consistently, but that people often gain it back.

So we started talking about things people could do to ensure greater odds of long term success on that diet. If there is one thing we have learned at PEERtrainer, it is that support works. And a recent trip to the NutriSystem website showed that they place a very heavy emphasis on support and teaching people fundamentals. It would be interesting to hear from the company itself on the impact of social support on the success rate of NutriSystem.

Learning portion control on your own can also be a challenge, but there are people who have done this. I found this great example in the PEERtrainer community:

"I used NutriSystem (NS) during a period of time that I knew that I would have very little time to prepare or shop for food (because of work). I lost 3 lbs in one week, but this is due to the fact that everything is already measured for you. The food wasn't great (I liked the italian the best), but it helped me learn how to "eyeball" the right portions and to find out what my body needs in order to function every day.

If I stayed on NS, I am sure that I would have lost quite a bit of weight in 2 months; but I knew that I needed to have a lifestyle change rather than a quick weight drop, so I started cooking my food again when my schedule allowed for it. 

Overall, I think it was a helpful experience seeing what portions sizes were and being on a regimented eating plan. I purchased the food on the Internet (NS website, Amazon, and EBay!). No foods were moldy and there are lot numbers and expiry dates on each box. This doesn't mean the food will taste great, but at least you know when the food officially expires."

This is an interesting observation- there is an element of personal responsibility involved. It might be that something like NutriSystem is so easy that it can lull people into complacency. There was another comment in the same thread in the PT community and someone pointed out that people on Weight Watchers can have the same problems with portion size. Once you stop counting points, you can have a tough time with portion control:

"You get out of it what you put into it. My husband was on Nutrisystem for a while and he lost weight. He has been off it for almost 4 months and he hasn't gained an ounce back. I have been eating some of the leftover stuff and I've never had a problem with moldy food. Some items are really tasty, too.

You don't have to stick with them forever but you MUST learn about portion control and making healthy choices. If you can't go out to a restaurant and order something appropriate and not overeat, you will probably have a problem when you go off the program.

The same goes for every other 'diet' program out there, food-included or not. If you don't change your bad habits forever, you will gain. Every single person I have known that has followed WW and it's point system has gained all of their weight back because they stopped paying attention after they reached their goals."

Related Posts:

NutriSystem For Men: How It Works, Price, Features And Benefits

The Glycemic Index And NutriSystem: A Look At The Fundamentals and Science Of The Diet

Beyond The Glycemic Index: Some Observations On How To Improve Upon This Proven Tool

NutriSystem Success Story: What Kinds Of People Do Well On This Diet

Weight Watchers New Momentum Program: Some Thoughts On The NutriSystem vs. WW Debate

The Limitations Of The Glycemic Index: Dr. Joel Fuhrman Argues For A "Micronutrient Index"

In an earlier post on the Glycemic Index and NutriSystem we published some notes from Dr. Laurie Rothman on the subject. And we mentioned that we wanted to get Dr. Joel Fuhrman's take on it as well. We got it, and here it is. It is a dissenting view, and we work to present a wide array of views and approaches. This is also an interesting perspective on the dominant approach to fight metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Joel is essentially arguing against what most MD's are telling their patients. He also takes a swipe at our "Diet Fusion" idea- arguing that this is just "watering down" the ideal diet. We agree and just point out that "Diet Fusion" is methodology, not a diet. And this methodology leads to a very high level of micronutrient intake over time.

Glycemic index Versus Micronutrient Index-- No Contest 

By Joel Fuhrman, M,D.

In diabetes research the glycemic index (GI) of carbohydrates has long been recognized as a favorable aid  for diabetics to control blood sugar.  The same is now often the case in lipid research as it has been demonstrated that high glycemic diets, rich in white flour, refined sweets and processed foods are unfavorable to both glucose levels and lipid parameters.

Authors and writers who advocate a high protein (meat-based) diet, hang their hat on the low glycemic index of animal products to explain the advantages of a diet rich in animal products and lower in vegetation.  This view oversimplifies the multi-factorial nuances of nutrition and results in a distorted understanding of nutritional science.

Ranking food on glycemic index alone ignores many other factors that may make that food favorable or unfavorable.  Because a carrot has a higher glycemic index than a slice of bacon does not make the bacon a better food for a diabetic or heart patient.  There are other more important nutritional considerations besides the glycemic index, including the toxicity, micronutient density and fiber in the food.  .

A good example of such nutritional nonsense is when Barry Sears of the Zone diet, warns against the consumption of lima beans, papayas and carrots because of their glycemic index and Atkin’s excludes or limits those carbohydrate containing fruits and vegetables with proven powerful anti-cancer benefits.

The studies that have looked at the negative effects of a higher glycemic diet are always diets that are low in nutrients and fiber, with lots of processed grains and sweets.  Obviously this diet-style is not unhealthy merely because the diet has a high glycemic response.  Processed foods are also low in fiber, phytonutrients and anti-oxidants and rich in those toxic acrlyamides; they are disease-promoting foods and one of their features is that they have a high glycemic index. 

When a diet is rich in high nutrient containing, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and fresh fruits the disease-protective qualities of these foods and the weight-loss benefits overwhelm any insignificant drawback from the high glycemic index of the carrot. Even though the entire diet taken as a whole happens to have a low glycemic index, eating lot of high micronutrient containing vegetables is the most effective way and the healthiest way to lose weight because it removes food cravings and the drive to overeat. The high phytochemical index is the main factor curtailing overeating, not the glycemic index of this diet.  

Recently, a systematic review was performed of published human intervention studies comparing the effects of high- and low-GI foods or diets on appetite, food intake, energy expenditure and body weight. In a total of 31 short-term studies.  The conclusion was that there is no evidence that low-GI foods are superior to high-GI foods in regard to long-term body weight control.   More carefully performed research done recently compared the exact same caloric diets one with a lower and one with a higher glycemic index and demonstrated that lowering the glycemic load and glycemic index of weight reduction diets does not provide any added benefit to energy restriction in promoting weight loss in obese subjects.

The important point to remember is that a diet with a high micronutrient density already has a favorable glycemic index, but it also is low in saturated fat, high in fiber, rich in phytochemicals, and naturally alkaline.  In other words, instead of focusing on one aspect alone consider all the positive features of what makes a diet-style disease protective.  When you do this all popular diets look just second-rate and this fusion idea is just watering down the healthiest and most effective diet-style to be politically correct.  Eat For Health results in people losing weight more effectively than gastric bypass and it is the most effective weight loss methodology ever recorded in the medical literature.

Joel Fuhrman is a board certified family physician specializing in nutrition and the author of Eat To Live and Eat for Health.  Visit him at  www.drfuhrman.com

 

REFERENCES

Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Merz CN, Brewer HB Jr, Clark LT, Hunninghake DB, et al. Implications of recent clinical trials for the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Circulation 2004;110:227-39.

American Dietetic Association. Hyperlipidemia medical nutrition therapy protocol. Chicago: American Dietetic Association, 2001.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Behavioral counseling in primary care to promote a healthy diet: recommendations and rationale. Am J Prev Med 2003;24:93-100.

Sarter B, Campbell TC, Fuhrman J. Effect of a high nutrient density diet on long-term weight loss: a retrospective chart review.  Alt Therapies in Health and Medicine 2008;14(3):51-53.

The Glycemic Index: How The Glycemic Index Is Used In Diets Like NutriSystem

We have been looking into the NutriSystem diet recently, and specifically NutriSystem for men. We are seeing some merit in this approach for some men because it is so easy and very low cost because you are already paying to eat each day. But we wanted to dig into the actual diet itself and begin to analyze the science behind it. One of the core ideas behind the program is the concept of the Glycemic Index. It was developed by a scientist in Canada in 1980 and is used widely in the weight loss industry. And NutriSystem makes it part of the core of their program. This is an excerpt from their site (and I hope this is ok to print here):

"The Glycemic Index is the science behind the NutriSystem program. It measures the quality of carbohydrates and their impact on your blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down slowly in your body encourage stable blood sugar levels, which is good, so they rate well or "low" on the Glycemic Index. On the other hand, carbs that break down too quickly cause your insulin levels to spike, and high insulin levels can cause your body to store fat. These "bad carbs" are given higher glycemic values and most often leave you hungry soon after a meal. So if you’re looking to lose weight, you should stay away from "bad carbs" and instead, seek to incorporate more "good carbs" with low glycemic values into your diet to help keep your blood sugar levels stable and your appetite in check. NutriSystem ready-to-go foods make that simple."

I asked Dr. Laurie Rothman her take on the Glycemic Index and if she used it with her own patients. Because I know there is some controversy around this. There seems to be controversy about everything!

"It is not something I rely on heavily. It is a good concept for people with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome to get a handle on what foods to eat. For example, white rice has a very high glycemic index -raises blood sugar and insulin levels quickly, as do white potatoes. Sweet potatoes would have a lower glycemic index. I would have to reference an article or 2 up to give a better clinical answer...Honeslty, I just give my patients the concept of whole grains and complex carbohydrates rather than having them need to refer to yet another chart. At the end of the day, avoid anything white....flour, sugar, rice, potatoes, pasta and you are good to go for lower glycemic index foods."

This is an interesting comment because it bolsters our observation that NutriSystem can be a great starting point for people who need to get jumpstarted on weight loss. Most people need things to be easy at the start. Long term people really have to learn the concept of nutrient density. But if you have not yet lost weight, you have to for long term survival and quality of life. It is not an option. 

If you are a man or are concerned about one, do something now. There are solutions out there, and there are diet approaches that work, especially when you understand that you have do different diets and different stages. Men can start with the NutriSystem Diet, then learn Weight Watchers, then read Dr. Fuhrman's work, then get some expert help with the mindset issues around weight loss.

There is no failing on this approach- and there is no magic bullet. You are the magic bullet when you learn to master a wide array of tools and master what we at PEERtrainer call "Diet Fusion." The most important thing we try and advocate is that "weight loss is possible." Whatever starting point works for you, just do it and find it. And keep going along this path. If you get frustrated just try a different starting point. Something will work as long as you keep working. One thing we have observed also is that when people join our Tip Of The Day program, sometimes they will get the messages for 30 days and then take some action. It helps them manufacture "readiness." At that point they might start logging on PEERtrainer, they might join Weight Watchers. Again, we are trying to point out a very broad array of ideas here.

The reality of long term weight loss is that the apex of an ideal diet is bringing your consumption of greens and vegetables to a very high level each day. Higher than you might think. And you need to bring your consumption of animal protein lower than you think. Dr. Fuhrman recommends about 20oz a week as an ideal target.

I am going to ask Dr. Fuhrman his thoughts on the Glycemic Index and if he uses anything like this with his own patients and in his books. We are also continuing this discussion in the PEERtrainer community, so if you have some experience or input, please chime in.

NutriSystem For Men: Review Of The Diet, What Foods You Eat, Who This Works For and Cost

NutriSystem can be a very effective weight loss tool for busy and active men. Many men simply are not into group support environments, and many do not have the time to do the work necessary to craft their own diet programs, even with great assistance. The core service they provide is convenience, and the core benefit is that this approach works for many people.

If you are 25 pounds or more overweight and have not yet made real progress, you need to do something. The most important thing is that you learn that you can lose weight, and that you get accustomed to this process. On PEERtrainer we have seen that many men have used NutriSystem to lose weight, especially those first 20 pounds. If you need to lose weight they offer a free diet analysis to show you how a plan like this would work for you.

NutriSystem has been very successful in reaching out to guys through ads like the one with Dan Marino below. A whole range of very active and physical guys have found this approach helpful. They send you the food and you follow the plan. I think the most important thing is that they don't make you go through "brain drain"- not being overwhelmed is a critical part of succeeding on a diet.

How Is NutriSystem For Men Different From The Regular NutriSystem Program?

 

A key difference is simply in the calories allowed. Men eat roughly 1500 calories on the diet and women are allowed 1200. The other difference is simply focus. It takes into account that a lot of guys eat hearty meals, like to feel full and basically don't want to eat tofu. But they balance these hearty foods with healthy stuff like salad and broccoli. This blended combination seems to work.

 

What Are The Fundamentals Of The Diet?

 

They are aiming for a healthy diet that balances protein, carbs and fat. This is similar to the basics of the The Zone Diet, but the exact percentages differ. What is important for men in particular is that they feel full and have energy. There is a reason that athletes have found success with NutriSystem.

The diet is also designed to be low in the general bad stuff like sodium and bad fats. They encourage whole grains and fiber, and have a strong focus on portion size and social support. If you start playing around with their online tools you have the option of joining their community for free. They also encourage you to eat fruits and vegetables with the packaged meals, and if you have read the work of Dr. Joel Fuhrman you understand clearly the association if fruits and vegetables to long term weight loss.

 

And What Foods Do You Eat On This Diet?

They have a really big menu of options, and when you sign up online you can go through all sorts of choices of foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert. Lots of grains, cereals and oats for breakfast. If you look at the menu it is foods you are familiar with. Same thing with lunch, things like Tex-Mex rice and Spicy Oriental Noodles with vegetables. For dinner offerings include Beef, Beans and Rice with BBQ sauce, pizza, lasagna, chili. All foods you would normally eat.

New NutriSystem Select Program

If you want to add more fruits and vegetables to the foods that are delivered the company just launched the NutriSystem Select program where fresh frozen foods are delivered to your house. This program expands the food choices and also improves the overall health profile of the food. We would observe that going with the Select option is the best one for long term health and long term weight loss success.

How Much Does NutriSystem For Men Cost?

The cost is roughly $11 a day or $300 a month. Many people say they actually save money doing this approach. And with the money you save, you can spend extra on fresh fruits and vegetables. The company has also introduced the NutriSystem Flex program where you can do the diet 5 days a week with two Flex days. This program is $230 a month for men.

NutriSystem For Men Coupons:

We have a list of NutriSystem coupons here. The company is currently offering $100 off the first four weeks or month of food, which is a nice incentive to get started.

What Support Does The Company Provide?

NutriSystem has begun to focus a lot on providing support and teaching people a lot of the fundamentals of weight loss. Their efforts are in an attempt to provide some of the things that are at the core of Weight Watchers. But there are no in person meetings, so this is very different in some respects. When you sign up you will start getting helpful emails telling you exactly what you need to do.

Will NutriSystem Help You Lose Weight Long Term?

With any diet approach you need to do a lot of work yourself to develop the proper habits and mindset. The best thing about NutriSystem is that they easily help you get on track if that is what you need. And it is a cost neutral thing for many people. Weight Watchers has a proven track record for men as well. If you lose a lot of weight following NutriSystem, you might want to join Weight Watchers after to help focus on the long term adjustments and habit development. 

All these tools work well if you use them the right way in the proper context. It is like tools to build a house- you need a hammer for this, a saw for that etc. This is at the core of the work we do with the PEERtrainer Tip Of The Day. We encourage you to find the mix of tools you need at different stages of your life and to not use just one diet approach. Your body is your house and you need all sorts of tools to build and maintain it. 

View The Full Meal Plan On The NutriSystem Website

Tips On Making NutriSystem A Healthy Diet Approach:

-Augment the meals with large servings of spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce

-Make sure to start mixing in fruit for your breakfast

-Every week find a way to eat a vegetable in a cheap and easy way.

It is easy to criticize diets like NutriSystem. Some people say that it does not teach you to make proper food choices, or that the food is not as healthy as it could be. That is a fine criticism after you have lost a nice chunk of weight. But if you have not been able to make better or healthier food choices, the you need to do whatever it takes to help you lose weight. You need to know that this is a long process and you will need to learn many tools in addition to NutriSystem.

The questions of what is an ideal diet can be addressed once you have started the process of losing weight. And there are many men who have found success using NutriSystem. 

What If I Don't Like The Food?

They offer a 30 day guarantee, and you can just stop. They have been criticized in the past for food that does not taste good or tastes bland, and they seem to be working to address this issue. As we get more feedback we will update this post. One thing to point out is that they are selling $700 million worth of their meals each year, which means there are a lot of people doing this. They offer a pretty compelling value proposition- you don't spend much more than you already would and it is convenient.

Continue The Discussion In The PEERtrainer Community

Man Who Lost 80 Pounds Using Weight Watchers- Got Some Detail On His Experience

Ok- I mentioned a few days ago that a friend knew a guy who lost 80 pounds on Weight Watchers and that we were going to get his story. We got it and here are the questions we asked. I also have some thoughts, and they are not so PC and totally generalizing, but I think probably true. Questions in bold, answers short and sweet.

 

1) Did he do the meetings or just do ww online? -- went to meetings 

 

2) Who recommended the diet to him -- wife 

 

3) Did he find the online tools helpful -- somewhat, the tools were not conveniently available 

 

4) how did he perceive the cost vs the result -- I thought the cost was reasonable but that may be because the result was good 

 

5) How hard was it and how long did it take? -- not too hard; my eating habits were so poor that small changes made a big difference. it took about 8 months 

 

6) Has he made permanent changes in his diet and how hard is he finding it to keep it off? --Yes changes are permanent. I pay a lot of attention to what I eat and what is in what I eat. Never did that before. Keeping it off has not been difficult. But I still have more to lose.

 

So this really got me thinking on something totally controversial, but I have to say it. 

 

Controversial Comment #1--Men are from Mars, Women Are From Venus.  Men are more logical and women are more emotional. As you see in these comments there is no major drama in his story. It is very simple- he was overweight because his "habits were so poor." Weight Watchers said- ok, try these new habits. He did. Problem solved. 

 

This is brings me to Controversial Comment #2-- this guy had no excuses and took total responsibility. His weight was nobody's fault but his, it was not a result of some external force. There was no going on about he gained weight because of things being hard at work or really any excuse at all.

 

If you are a guy and need to lose weight, think about the controversial comments. Can you follow directions? Do you understand the concept that you are responsible for your actions? Can you follow through and persist with a plan?

 

You might be like the guy who could only lose weight on Nutrisystem, where they just sent you the food. No shame in that. Just think about what kind of person you are right now. As you become the person you want to be, then your diet will change. You will incorporate concepts of The Zone Diet. Lots of professional athletes do btw. You will get to know Joel Fuhrman and embark on a path of nutritional excellence.

Maybe you will even make so much progress that you will run a marathon.

But.....If you are a guy and you need to lose weight and you can follow directions, you'll find it easier than you think to lose weight. You need to make some distinctions and make some choices that seem hard at first, but will get easier. Frankly, most guys are used to making some hard choices.

At PEERtrainer we have created a very simple guide and system that helps you make some of these changes. It is called the "Cheat System" and it is something you download for free. 

Here is an email from a guy we were just sent. What is interesting is that he first downloaded it and dismissed the advice. Then he went back in, started to do it it and is having success:

"I looked at your system a few weeks ago when it first came out and the second I saw the left side column, I dismissed it. Even though I had already on my own been dramatically increasing the salad and vegetable intake. I was losing weight, it was very simple, but the daily diet was very rigid and had certain rules that if broken meant no weight loss for a day or two. This had worked once before very well but the boredom finally took its toll.

With much respect for Peertrainer, I took another look and realized everything I was doing already fit the cheat system, just not the best choices, so I took a leap of faith. It took 3 or 4 days to educate myself and turn my wife's kitchen into a farmer's market (which I though was very cool). I also learned how to chop, use a rice cooker (quinoa), craft salads from lots of fun green stuff, steam vegetables, use all those funny little cans of spices in addition to salt and pepper, etc.

I'm having a great time... never knew who bought all that stuff in the vegetable department except apples and oranges. Finally, I put it all together and now feel like I know what I'm doing. Weight loss is back on track. 

I am so glad I decided to download the Peertrainer Cheat system and glad I was able to get beyond my traditional thinking.

Good luck and thanks for doing what you're doing.

P.S. I was recently in the San Francisco Bay area and needed to go to the store and not knowing the area wound up in a large Asian market. I knew it was different because half the store was devoted to greens and vegetables. The customers, mostly Asian, were all thin-active looking people and most were buying greens. Now I understand why."

Why This Email Is So Interesting

One thing that this email shows is that this guy thought he was doing the right thing. When he opened up his mind to a new idea, he found some success. At PEERtrainer over the years, we have observed that when people are more flexible in general, good things happen. If you are doing the same thing and not getting a different result, obviously you need to do something differently.

The second interesting thing is that he cites oranges and apples as the produce he was familiar with, and is now familiar with the full range of vegetables. After you sign up for the Cheat System, we also follow up with some awesome recipes from time to time. A recent one is "Asian Fusion Chicken Salad." Delicious!

Finally, what an interesting comment about the visit to the Asian market. As part of our "PC" culture we are sort of taught to not acknowledge our differences. Or at least not actively point out ways in which we are different. (It seems like comedians are the only ones who are "allowed" to talk about this.)

 

I have also created a video for this:

 

Eat To Live Diet, Eat For Health: Review, Observations, Success, Doing It With Weight Watchers

Tip Of The Day readers know that I talk about Dr Joel Fuhrman a ton. We met him a couple years ago and really saw first hand his passion for promoting proper nutrition as a tool to lose weight, and also improve your health. In his words "Nutrition Is The Prescription." He showed us, and continues to show us, how certain foods can help you lose a lot of weight but also improve your health. He promotes nutritional excellence as another tool, alongside drugs, to help people regain their health.

 

Eat To Live

So it was great to see Alanis Morisette publicly credit Joel and his book Eat To Live as helping her lose 20 pounds, get more energy and feel better physically. The diet of my family- my husband, and two kids- was permanently changed after meeting him. We incorporate his ideas in every aspect of what we write on PEERtrainer. We also show how adopting his focus along side diets like the new Weight Watchers Momentum program can make their good diet a ton better.

When Joel came out with this book, he really was attacked by the medical community. I remember showing the book to a very senior doctor/ healthcare executive in New York City. His response to Joel's work was to literally question his medical credentials.

This man (let's call him Ben) started to surf the internet to find out if Dr Fuhrman really was a doctor, if he really graduated from medical school. What Joel was saying in Eat To Live ran so counter to what the medical establishment was saying that he was branded a quack by many. For Joel to focus on the role of nutrition in health, not just drugs was heresy. And we know from history that heretics get burnt at the stake.

But Mehmet Oz did not think Joel was a quack, and has publicly backed him every step of the way. Joel gave us a copy of his book for feeding children "Disease Proof Your Child"- it is on my desk and the very first quote of "praise" on the back cover is from Mehmet Oz. Here is the quote:

"Dr. Fuhrman reveals the success to long-term, sustainable health using diet choices for growing up smart and growing old happy. Take your doctor a copy!"

It is very important to note that these words written by Dr. Oz challenge the assumptions most of us have. We assume that diets can't work in the long run, and we assume getting fat and sick is part of aging. Dr. Fuhrman is begging us to reconsider those assumptions.

Eat For Health

In April of this year we were sent a copy of Eat For Health, which is Joel's new book that is a bit easier to follow than Eat To Live, is not a strict vegetarian diet, and introduces MANDI points system. This system assigns point values to foods in terms of their nutrient density. It is a very important tool and we immediately had a way of quantifying the level of health promoting foods in our diet. I now use this in combination with portion control in an approach I call "diet fusion." We have developed a simple way to do diet fusion, which we call the PEERtrainer Cheat System.

But what was interesting and important is that the entire first chapter of the book is Joel defending himself from the medical community. He has found some excellent and very well respected voices in the community to vouch for him and he does an excellent job in his defense. 

He has incredible success stories from people who he has helped improve their entire cardiovascular profile, cure lupus, prevent having to undergo dialysis, help asthma, migranes, high blood pressure, sarcoidosis, psoriasis etc etc.

We actually lent our copy to a doctor friend of ours, someone who recommends diets to her patients. Here is what she had to say about "Eat For Health":

"Last month, my friends lent me Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book, Eat for Health. Dr Fuhrman has it 100% right. Let me say that again - he has it exactly right. We are all trying to figure out a way to not do what is right, how to get around it. We think that we want to keep eating the over-processed, high calorie, nutrient poor food. He says stop eating the garbage. Eat the good stuff. You will lose weight, get healthier and feel better. 

Dr Fuhrman Makes Optimal Eating Easy To Implement

He comes out and says what we all know is true, but don't say or do. He states the obvious: eat more vegetables and fruits. Eat more fiber. Eat less animal products. The result is that you will be healthier and lose weight. He gives easy to implement strategies for how to do this. Why didn't someone think of this sooner and why isn't it a national phenomena?"

Weight Watchers Now Moving In Joel's Direction

It is really important to point out the struggle Joel has had with the medical community and really highlight his leadership role in bringing them around to a greater focus on nutritious foods. So I was extremely interested in the last couple weeks learning the details of Weight Watchers new momentum program.

I read on their site and in other places that they were adjusting their points system to focus not just on fiber but also in the water content of food. Which means a lot more plants. Now they don't seen to be focused on his MANDI points idea yet which promotes massive greens as part of the daily diet. But they are going in the right direction.

And I was able to get confirmation of this from my mom, who is now on the new Momentum Program. She was able to give me some feedback of their program and did confirm that they have moved away from dairy and low calorie nutrient poor foods towards plant based nutrition. I cannot say for sure that Joel was responsible for this, but I am sure he was a strong influence.

Stronger Diet Recommendations- Some Books, DVD, Free Tools

We pretty much insist you own a copy of either Eat To Live or Eat For Health. (Click on the titles for the exact amazon links.) We do find that people want a "baby step" approach to eating a nutrient dense diet, which is why we created the Cheat System.

March 2011 Update

It is important to note that if you are extremely overweight, or if you have reached a disease state, you need the nutritional intervention that Dr. Fuhrman outlines. The Cheat System will help, but if you are reading this and are scared about where you are, we STRONGLY recommend that you not only read Fuhrman's books, but that you spend a few weeks in his member center.

This is an online forum, which costs about $14 a month to access. You can ask any question you have about your particular situation. There is a deep database of answers to questions, Dr. Fuhrman directly answers questions and you will also get support from others who are using nutrition as part of their plan to get healthy, thin, energized.

We have now known Dr. Fuhrman for 4 years, and we have seen the results in the PEERtrainer community of everything we have outlined in this article. We want to reiterate that if you are sick, please visit the member center. It may be the cheapest and most effective medical care that you'll find.

If you are reading this part of the article and paying close attention to what we are writing here, know that we know what you are going through. You have been to many doctors, and have explored lots of options. You are likely scared and frustrated. In addition to what you are already doing, deeply explore Fuhrman's advice. If you are in the Northeast you can even visit his office and get some one on one. It can be a wait to get an appointment. We have referred people we know to him, and if it is super urgent, mention PEERtrainer, and you might be able to get in quicker. No promises, but we have been able to get people in more quickly.

What Is Unresolved In The Nutrient Dense Diet?

One unresolved issue from our perspective in the nutrient dense diet is the role of organic food.  We remember sitting in on a conversation between Joel's marketing team and a senior statesman in the health care industry. This gentleman was enthusiastic about the focus on nutrient density, and dramatically reducing the levels of animal protein in the diet. As a Phd level scientist he also thought that the protein in milk, casein, was wreaking particular havoc among people and might be a contributing factor to breast cancer. 

This is a big debate right now and there is a lot to figure out. But some influential people have some strong opinions on this subject, and it will be interesting to see how this debate evolves. Even Weight Watchers seems to be tiptoeing away from a heavy dairy emphasis, emphasizing foods like avocado and hummus instead of lowfat cheese. This is based on feedback we are getting from people in their new program.

The other big thing the senior statesman said was the importance of organic food. This man has a masters in Physical Chemistry in addition to having done Phd work in Nuclear Physics and run several health companies. A unique perspective. And he was adamant about eating organic food, going on in detail about the organic garden he had set up in his country house. Given that this was the man who introduced us to Joel, we listened carefully and took what he said very seriously.

Continue This Discussion in the PEERtrainer Community....

Video of My Experience With Eat To Live and Eat For Health 

How NutriSystem Was The One Thing That Worked

Readers of my daily emails know I am always encouraging people to find what works for them and really think about it. And I ask people to get back to me and tell me. This is one email I got yesterday and wanted to share it.

"I probably did so well with Nutrisystem because I am one of those people who need to be told exactly what to do and how to do it. Nutrisystem definately makes it foolproof to lose weight as long as you only eat what they recommend.

I didn't get especially hungry on Nutrisystem, and if I did I just ate extra steamed veggies. They say limit the veggies to a given amount (can't recall amount) but I didn't follow that. Food isn't too bad, but I am not a picky eater when it comes to taste. I think i could eat cardboard if I was told too. I have friends who tried it after seeing my good results and they thought the food was terrible. The last time I tried Nutrisystem I couldn't stomach the thought of chicken / meat that was "soft-canned", which is the Nutrisystem method of preserving without needing to be frozed. 

In fact, I became a vegan while doing Nutrisystem and haven't eaten meat since. (That wasn't the reason ultimately, but that definately contributed to my veganism) I gained when I went off Nutrisystem because I was eating more than the 1200 something cals a day I ate on Nutrisystem. 

The reason you lose on NS is it limits your caloric intake, like any diet. Definately not a complicated formula for weight loss. Less In / More out = weight loss. Eating vegan has been the easiest recipe for weight loss because the food is usually less caloric so I get to eat more of it. All in all, NS is a great diet with a huge online support system. For me, it is unrealistic because I do not cook for one and also, there is no way I can limit myself to such small portions. NS is all portion controlled. 

Hope this helps give you some insight."

It does, thank you very much. One thought I had is after learning all of Joel Fuhrman's work in Eat to Live and Eat For Health is that I don't quite understand why they are suggesting to limit vegetables. If someone from NutriSystem reads this post, please feel free to comment in this post or maybe even email me. I will post any response I get.

I would guess that they mean cut down on higher glycemic foods like rice and potatoes. I am certain they don't mean limit the amount of greens and broccoli.

This response is also similar to the comment about the persons husband who lost 20 pounds on NutriSystem and who probably would not have otherwise. They have a very popular NutriSystem For Men product that we have started to take a look at based on these comments. They seem to be evolving their menu and food offerings based on what we read.