The search begins!

So I'm a little crazy- I've always been the kind of person who gets things when other people said it couldn't be done. I like being able to find a way to do it. Of course, in weight loss, this is usually a good thing- I find a healthy way to make things that I like. With Nutrisystem, some of that is coming out, but the crazy in me is trying to find a way to get hold of discontinued meals. I think I'm nuts, because even if I find something I love, odds are that I'll never be able to find it again! But, I want to try as many things as possible, so there it is. Since Nutrisystem food has such a long shelf life, maybe I'll be finding discontined items for a while. I hope to keep finding the Beef Tacos, now that they are gone from the Canadian site. I have to ration the few I have left!

Florentine Sauce with Chicken Fettuccine (Dinner):


This was my first discontinued find, and it was delicious. Why on earth did Nutrisystem get rid of these??? The chicken and noodles were in a rich, creamy sauce with spinach. It tasted too decadent to be a weight loss entree! I am trying to hunt down more of these as well.


Peppermint Cookie Patty (Dessert):


I was expecting to love this since I adore mint and cookies, and it got good feedback on the Nutrisystem boards. It just didn't do it for me, though. It is basically a chocolate coated soft, chewy mint patty- there was no crunch from a cookie. I was expecting the mint to be more of the soft, melty kind like in After Eight bars. Having to chew the mint really made me think of bad mint bubble gum. With so many great desserts to choose from, I'm not going to waste any more time on this one.


Apple Granola Bar (Breakfast):


OK, this was the first item I've actually taken one bite out of and thrown in the trash. It tasted dry and crumbly, and the fake apple taste was just overwhelming. I couldn't possibly eat it. I used to read posts about people throwing away items and I said to myself, at about $3 a pop, I wouldn't be that wasteful, but I guess everyone has their breaking point! I am really not a fan of the fake flavours- would it have been so hard to put in some dried apple chunks?


Apple Strudel Bar (Breakfast):


I had some trepidation about this, since I'd had the Apple Granola Bar the day before. I took a bite and the icing and heavy sweetness of the strudel bar seemed to mask most of the fake apple taste. I'm not crazy about this and I won't order it again, but I was able to eat it. It was much better than the other bar.


Sloppy Joe Mix (Dinner):


I decided to try the Sloppy Joe Mix with pasta instead of a bun, like I speculated in my last post. OMG, this is diet food??? You've got to be kidding me. I prepared the Sloppy Joe Mix following package directions except that I only microwaved it once- I didn't want it to thicken up too much. In a saucepan, I added chunks of my favourite veggies- onions, bell pepper, mushrooms, and tomatoes, and added the Sloppy Joe Mix on top. There didn't really seem to be enough sauce, so I got the idea to add a half cup of fat free cottage cheese for my protein serving. I prepared my pasta serving (I use Catelli Smart), and dumped it into the saucepan to mix, and then served it. It was rich, cheesy, and delicious. Dan had a bite and he wanted to eat it himself! I am definitely adding more of these to my next order.


Beans and Ham Soup (Lunch):


When I first opened the can, this looked very unappealing. The soup had separated, leaving a clear liquid floating on top. Fortunately, I had a recipe up my sleeve to try with this! Cut up two fat free/low fat hot dogs (no more than 100 calories total), and dump the soup on top. Then add a tbsp of Splenda Brown Sugar Substitute, and a few squirts of ketchup and mustard. Stir until blended, then microwave for two minutes. It tastes like weiners and baked beans. I was sure I took a photograph of the finished product, but I can't seem to find one so I suppose it smelled so good that I was too eager to dig in! I'll get one next time. This was delicious and I'll be ordering more!

Tips for Eating at a Buffet

I had a wonderful time in Niagara Falls this weekend! It was so relaxing. We went to the spa, hung out in our suite overlooking the falls, and spent a little time at the tables and came home with a few extra bucks (which is always nice!).

During the weekend, I chose to stick to program as much as possible. I brought a Nutrisystem breakfast, lunch bar, and dessert with me, and I chose healthy add ins like Subway's grilled chicken salad.

My biggest challenge came on Sunday night when our friend met us up there for dinner. He had comps for the Grand Buffet for the three of us, so I was going to have to try and find a way to avoid all my old habits if I didn't want to torpedo my weight loss!

Here are my suggestions if you find yourself at a buffet restaurant. Go to the salad bar with a dinner plate and make yourself a massive salad with all your favourite veggies. Salad bars frequently have lean proteins like hardboiled eggs, cocktail shrimp, or mussels as well- throw them on to bulk up your salad. Most buffets do not have fat free salad dressing, so either keep a packet handy in your purse or try using a squeeze of fresh lemon and some vinegar to jazz up your greens.

After you finish your salad, check out the soup bar. There is usually one clear broth type soup. Have a nice big bowl of soup. By the time you're finished soup and salad, you're probably feeling pretty full if you've already been working on portion control. At this point- go for it. If there's something you really want, have it. Use a salad plate or a side plate when you go up to the buffet and take a small serving of the dinner items. You're probably not hungry enough to do any real damage and you won't feel deprived of your favourites. Just stop eating once you are full and you'll be OK. By the time I had my salad with shrimp and a bowl of vegan onion soup, I was stuffed. I had a tiny piece of broiled salmon and a few more shrimp and I was done.

I was really happy with the way I handled food this weekend. Did I miss a few things? Sure. The Fallsview Deli has delicious sirloin burgers with caramelized onions and pepper jack cheese, fries with gravy, and enormous slices of your favourite cakes, giant muffins and cookies. But, I honestly felt my dinner was almost as good! I had a lean turkey sandwich on whole wheat with mustard, lettuce, and tomato, with a side garden salad. It was really good! Would I have enjoyed the other meal? Absolutely. But it's not worth the bloated feeling and extra pounds. I'm ready to make this a lifestyle change and I will not allow myself to fall back into my old habits. I really want to get to my goal this time. And I'm going to do it.

Looking forward to the weekend!

I'm excited for the weekend, not only because I get away, but because I can prove to myself that I can still lose weight even in the "real world". I was inspired by last night's episode of the Biggest Loser, where the contestants went home for a week and some still posted record weight losses (I can't believe Sam lost 14lbs!), even with all the temptations of their favourite foods and friends. If they can do it, I can do it, too!

Here are some new meals that I have tried:

Italian Herb Flatbread Pizza (Dinner):


I think of the three pizzas, this is my favourite. It feels bigger than the Thick Crust Pizza, and I love the herbs and spices on the flatbread. I topped it with turkey pepperoni and my favourite veggies.


Chicken & Pasta in Cacciatore Sauce (Lunch):


I don't think I've ever had this before even prior to trying NS, so I am not really sure what it's supposed to taste like. I took a bite and it tasted like pasta in diced tomatoes with a little kick. I prefer my pasta dishes to be a little more sauce-y and less tomato-y so I wasn't really a fan of it but I think this may be personal preference because NS's pasta dishes tend to be quite good.


Red Beans and Rice with Sausage (Lunch):


Oh my goodness where has this dish been hiding and why haven't I tried it before??? It was absolutely amazing! There was actually a decent size serving of rice and several chunks of sausage. This was a nice, spicy dish that was loaded with flavour. As soon as I tried it, I immediately rearranged my auto delivery to get lots of these with my next order!


Chicken Tortilla Soup (Dinner):


This came as a freebie with my last box. If it hadn't, I would never have ordered it. With all the delicious things I can choose from for dinner, I can't imagine what would possess me to choose soup of all things. I decided to give it a try, since I like the lunch Black Bean Tortilla soup. I was disappointed with the bland flavour- it just didn't taste right to me. If it was a little zestier, I might have considered it again, but as it is, I really didn't care for it.


Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing with Diced Chicken (Lunch):


I figured this meal would be easy for days where I am having lunch at a restaurant so I could just order a plain garden salad and add my chicken and salad dressing to it and still be eating a NS lunch. I opened the chicken pouch and about six sad little pieces of chicken were inside. The dressing was definitely not creamy- it was more of a vinaigrette based Caesar. Again, I have nothing against that type of dressing, but why on earth would they label it creamy? I wish some of the descriptions were more accurate. Would I eat it again? Yes, because I do like the convenience and it's easier to eat out with it instead of a lunch bar. The dressing had a bit of zip to it and I like that. I did use my lunch protein to add some more chicken though and found myself surprisingly full afterwards. This won't be one of my favourites but I'm sure it will make an appearance from time to time.


Fettuccine Alfredo (Lunch):


I like this meal as is, but I decided to jazz it up a little. I added diced tomatoes, red onion, green pepper, and mushrooms and fried them in a pan with a little Pam spray while the fettuccine was being made. I chopped up a serving of chicken and added that as well. The result was a delicious, filling pasta dish that I really enjoyed.


I'll be doing my weekly weigh in post on Monday next week since I am not bringing my computer to Niagara Falls (the hotel charges a whopping $14.95 a day for internet access, ouch!), and hopefully I'll have more good news!

It's been seven weeks...

Nothing like progress to make you feel great! I weighed in today and I lost 3.4lbs this week! I've been unable to get much exercise in lately since my husband has been out of town, so it's a good feeling to know that I can still lose just by eating smart. Of course, I want to get back to getting in my workouts 3x a week again though.

I have another big challenge coming up next weekend- my husband and I are going to Niagara Falls for 2 days to celebrate our fifth anniversary, and to have some time to ourselves while our son gets quality time with Grandma. My plan is to bring my NS breakfasts and lunch bars, and then to eat something reasonable for dinner. I am not sure how this is going to look on the scale but I am going to do my best to stick to program as much as possible. I've lost over 18 pounds in 7 weeks- the last thing I want to do is shoot myself in the foot! It's really not worth it. Sure, you enjoy the food for a few minutes, but then what are you left with? That heavy, bloated feeling and a sense of guilt.

I've been feeling so positive about myself lately that there's no need to self sabotage! Weight loss isn't easy. It's a decision you make multiple times every day, so you really have to be committed to your goal. Remember- you're worth it!

Yum!

I've really been enjoying trying all the new US foods. I still have quite a few left to sample and I'm looking forward to it. Variety is definitely the spice of life in this case- there are enough things I enjoy that I can see myself sticking to this program for as long as it takes to lose the weight. For the first time in my life, my weight doesn't seem like an insurmountable issue anymore- I know I can do it!

Here are some of the new foods that I have tried.

Chocolate Rainbow Delights (Dessert):


These came free in my order. I wasn't too sure what to expect from the name but they were basically M&Ms. I like the desserts that have more smaller items because it takes longer to eat them, so you get to enjoy them for longer.

However, I didn't just eat them plain! I saw a great idea on the Nutrisystem boards to jazz them up. Mix one cup of popcorn (a free food), some nuts (I chose almonds, my fat serving), dried fruit (I like apples, make sure there is no sugar added!), and the Chocolate Rainbow Delights for a yummy snack mix. It was a great choice for sitting in front of the TV and having some munchies. This is definitely on my reorder list.




Turkey Hot Dog (Lunch):


This was again, a freebie. I hadn't planned on ordering any because I've been eating veggie dogs occasionally as my protein serving so I haven't been feeling hot dog-deprived. The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was the smell. It smelled like bad cat food, honestly. After I followed the directions and microwaved it, it still smelled gross but I decided to give it a try with a whole wheat bun that you are supposed to add. I made a veggie dog at the same time for comparison. The texture of the NS hot dog was just right- it felt like a real hot dog when I was chewing it. I really couldn't get past the smell though so I won't be ordering it again. My veggie dog was thicker and denser (and thus, less hot dog-like than the NS dog) but it doesn't stink and it still tastes yummy with ketchup and relish, plus I can have it and a meal, so why waste my meal on a hot dog?


Strawberry Shortcake Bar (Dessert):


I was excited to try this because I adore strawberry shortcake. I was very disappointed by NS's take on it, though. The strawberry part was like one of those chewy Fruit To Go candies, very stiff, sticky, and synthetic strawberry-tasting. I know there was more to the bar underneath it, but I couldn't taste it because it was overwhelmed by the chewy strawberry part. The bar was so stiff it was difficult to chew as well. Maybe I just got a stale one? I don't know. I don't plan to order this again though. There are so many desserts I love that I don't see the point in wasting time on one that was just "meh" or worse.


Sloppy Joe Mix (Dinner):


I really enjoyed this! The sauce was somehow sweet and zesty at the same time, and it was full of meat chunks. There was far too much to eat with the whole wheat bun you are supposed to add, so I ate a lot of it plain. It was still good. I am considering using pasta to make spaghetti bolognese next time instead of the bun- I think it would be really delicious that way.


Chocolate Chip Cookie (Dessert):


This cookie was soft and cake-y. It was good, but basically just a soft chocolate chip cookie. Not too much to say about it. It was very light and not overly sweet. I was thinking it wasn't going to be one of my favourite desserts, but I did find myself wishing for another bite once it was finished.

New foods and more tips and tricks!

I've been away for a few days visiting family so I haven't had as much time to be online as usual- still sticking to my program, though. I had my first major challenge this week. I went out to dinner with a friend, and I decided to eat my NS dinner before going out to reduce the possibility of temptation. I just ordered a big garden salad with fat free dressing. I was really proud of myself. Of course, my friend ordered a burger and fries and seemed to take perverse pleasure in trying to get me to eat some fries. Then after dinner, he tried to get me to split a dessert! It wasn't easy, but I didn't want to throw away everything I've done for something that would taste good for a few minutes and then be forgotten. If I got through that, I can get through anything!

Here are some of the new things I have tried.

Fudge Graham Bar (Lunch):


I really liked this! It smells exactly like a graham cracker and I liked the chocolate. I think this would be good with a little of Walden Farms calorie free marshmallow dip on top- it would taste exactly like a S'more. It was more chocolatey than fudge-y, which I like better anyway.


Macaroni and Cheese with Beef (Dinner):


Since I liked the regular Macaroni and Cheese, I figured I would like this and I was right. It tasted exactly like Hamburger Helper cheeseburger macaroni. Loved this- it definitely made me feel like I was cheating. There is absolutely nothing missing from the flavour. I think Kraft Dinner and Hamburger Helper could take a page from NS here.


Carrot Cake (Dessert):


This was pretty good. I wasn't impressed by the frosting, since I was expecting the usual cream cheese type. This didn't really make much of an impact on the flavour so as far as I was concerned, it was only there for appearance. The cake itself was very good though and I enjoyed it.


Meatloaf and Tomato Sauce with Mashed Potatoes (Dinner):


My question here is, where's the beef??? The box shows a nice thick slice of meat loaf, a pile of mashed potatoes, and dill pickle slices. The entree was almost entirely mashed potatoes with a couple of bites of meat loaf. Now, I like mashed potatoes as much as the next person (despite the unappealing look of the entree in the photo), but if I just wanted to eat potatoes, I'd have the lunch Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes. I was disappointed because this is one of my personal favourite comfort meals and I don't think it's going to be one of my go-tos. It was okay, but not what I wanted. And why would they put dill pickle slices on the box if they don't give you any? They haven't done that for any of the other meals.


Buffalo Chicken Wrap (Dinner):


Loved this! It is zesty with a kick, and I found it very filling. There is too much meat and sauce to fit on their wrap, though. For some reason they give you a wrap for this meal and not for the veggie fajitas. I also thought it was a little odd that the wrap tasted slightly sweet but it was OK. I added some onions, bell pepper, lettuce, and tomatoes after taking the photo and it was a really yummy meal.


Here are a few things I've tried with the NS meals to jazz them up a bit.

Granola Cereal (Breakfast):


I turned it into apple crisp and it was fantastic! Chop up your apples and stir them up with cinnamon and a little brown sugar Splenda, and a little sugarfree maple syrup if you like. Top them with the granola cereal and 1 tsp of butter (yes, I am stealing your dinner fat serving but it's worth it!). The butter will melt in the oven so it doesn't need to be stirred or anything. Bake for 20 minutes and enjoy! You can also make this the night before and just microwave it in the morning- it tastes just fine.


Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes (Lunch):


I got the idea from the Nutrisystem boards to make potato salad! First prepare the potatoes as directed. Then I hardboiled an egg and diced onions and celery, then stirred in a little mustard. This was incredibly filling and yummy. At first I didn't add enough mustard so the cheesy flavour was a little odd for potato salad, but I just added a bit more and it was fine. I really enjoyed this. Add whatever things you'd normally add to potato salad (except mayo but you don't need it) and try it out! You can eat this warm or refrigerate it and have it cold like regular potato salad.

Weigh In Day!

I was happy to see I was down another two pounds today! I was a little nervous this week because I was feeling a bit bloated, but so far so good! I'm now down 15lbs in 6 weeks! It's really exciting to see real progress.

This is the best decision I could have made for myself. I am getting my health back and soon, hopefully, I'll be getting my favourite jeans back, too!

Musings

I received an email from one of my readers that made me think. She told me that she enjoyed reading my blog because it wasn't so negative.

It's true- the vast majority of NS blogs that you find when you Google are all negative. When I ordered the program, my husband asked me if I had read reviews and I admitted I hadn't. When I did, I honestly regretted ordering because everyone had such awful things to say about it. Fortunately, I didn't cancel because of Nutrisystem's money back guarantee (try the program for a week, if you don't like it, send back your remaining meals and get a full refund). I'm really glad I decided to try it for myself!

So the question remains- why are so many people so negative about Nutrisystem? I think it's a combination of reasons. If you go into a weight loss program with a negative attitude, and think that you're not going to like it or it's not right for you- it won't be. I have read lots of complaints about the portion sizes and the taste of the NS foods. Well, portion control is one reason why we've gotten to where we are- we have been eating massive servings because that's what we get when we eat out. Check out this quiz- I saw it a few years ago and it's really stuck with me about how crazy restaurant meals have gotten. We have to relearn what is an appropriate amount of food for our bodies- and believe me, after a few days, your stomach does shrink back to normal and you're not hungry after dinner anymore!

I think that the comments about the food are also based on attitude. If you're expecting your mother's lasagna (oh, do I miss my mother's lasagna!), you're going to be disappointed. If you take one bite and it's not exactly what you're used to so you give up, well, it's not going to work for you. I think that the food is pretty good, given that they offer so many choices and that you can eat all these things and still lose weight. I mean, come on- on how many weight loss plans can you eat pizza, hamburgers, pancakes, pasta, and chocolate every day? Those are usually the first things you have to cut when you're trying to lose weight. Do they taste exactly like the "real thing"? No, but for what they are, I think they are generally excellent.

In my opinion, the last key ingredient to success at weight loss is being motivated and ready to make the changes you need so that the weight stays off. I've talked to people who say they want to lose weight, but then ask me how they should do it if they still want to eat out all the time, or they like their food fried, or drink a lot of alcohol. I mean, there's not much to say to that. If you're not prepared to make a lifestyle change to become a healthier person, nothing is going to work for you. This Nutrisystem Daily Dose helps put it all into perspective. (I love the Daily Dose and read it every day- it's very positive and affirming for weight loss!).

If you stuck with me for this long, it's time for the fun stuff!

Pasta with Beef (Lunch):


I can't believe I'd never reviewed this item before, because it's one of my staple lunches. I love food with lots of flavour and this meal definitely qualifies. It it spicy and filling.


Penne Pasta with Chicken In Alfredo Sauce (Dinner):


I am not sure if it was hormones or something else, but this meal triggered me to want to eat more. I wasn't hungry but I just wanted to eat something after I finished my dinner. I thought that I had ended the battle against random cravings, but apparently not. The meal was good though- the alfredo sauce tasted kind of like Campbell's cream of mushroom soup. I sprinkled a little Parmesan cheese on top and really enjoyed it.


Double Chocolate Muffin (Breakfast):


This was yummy! There weren't very many chocolate chips in the muffin though- I was actually surprised when I bit into one because I'd eaten half the muffin and hadn't noticed any before. It would be nice if there were a few more but maybe I just got a dud?


Chocolate Cake (Dessert):


I was expecting this to be similar to the Golden Pound Cake, but it wasn't really. It was still very light but not as sweet as the vanilla version. It was good but nothing special. Although this was bigger and fluffier, for a chocolate dessert I definitely prefer the Fudge Brownie instead.

Lovin' Those Desserts

I've always had a serious sweet tooth. Carbs have consistently been my biggest vice, and I struggled with other weight loss programs because they are usually so strictly limited. Nutrisystem is the first program I've tried where I can have carbs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner- and even have a sweet treat for dessert! So far, I have found the desserts to be consistently good, and having one every day has really helped to cut down on my cravings. I'm in my sixth week on Nutrisystem and I still haven't cheated, nor have I really felt the urge to. I do look forward to my dessert every night, though!

Here are a few more of the new foods I've tried.

Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies (Dessert):


When I ordered these, I figured they'd be like all the other cookies and just be one cookie. I was surprised to see that you actually get 8 small cookies. When I put them on the plate, they looked exactly like those old McDonalds chocolate chip cookies (anyone else remember those?). I took a bite of one, and they had the same crispy texture that I remembered, as opposed to the chewy texture of the larger cookies. The walnuts were plentiful. I really liked having a bunch of small cookies because it made dessert last longer.


Pasta Fagioli (Dinner):


I didn't realize when I ordered (silly me) that pasta fagioli means pasta with beans. I ate it and it was good, but there are so many pasta dishes that I like much more that I probably won't be ordering this again. There was nothing wrong with it and I would eat it again, but it's not one of my favourites.


Chocolate Raspberry Bar (Lunch):


My first reaction when I bit into this was that it just tasted a little weird. I was expecting something of the order of a chocolate covered granola bar with raspberry sauce on it, something like the Blueberry Lemon dessert bar. This was actually just a chocolate granola bar with raspberry flavour. It didn't taste like real raspberry to me. I did finish eating it because it wasn't that horrible, but if I have to have a lunch bar so far I prefer the Chocolatey Peanut Butter Bar, although I still have a few more to try.

Sourdough Pizza with Cheese (Dinner):


I wanted to try and compare this to the Thick Crust Pizza- too bad I can't make half of each and try them side by side. This pizza comes in a square instead of a circle, and the crust definitely has a different flavour. It's denser and tastes more bread-y as opposed to the crispier crust of the Thick Crust Pizza. I'm not sure yet which one I like better. I think I'll need to eat at least one more Sourdough Pizza before I make up my mind. I topped this with their tomato sauce, chicken breast strips, onions, tomatoes, and green bell peppers. Very filling and satisfying.

Cinnamon Bun (Breakfast):


I was delighted to see frosting when I opened the package! I haven't had cinnamon buns in ages because they are SO bad for you (have you checked the stats for Cinnabon lately? It's sick!), so when I saw them on the Nutrisystem menu I was so excited. My first bite did not live up to the excitement though. It was incredibly dense and hard to bite into. Then I remembered a post from the Nutrisystem boards suggesting that you heat these up in the microwave. Wow- what a difference! The icing got all gooey and melty like Cinnabons, and it became a warm cinnamony treat. Definitely on my reorder list. I did note that it was awfully small so I was wondering if I'd be hungry faster, but it has tons of fiber in it and I was fine until lunchtime.


I think a good rule with a lot of these foods is to try them twice. Sometimes the things you don't like at first may become things you do enjoy more later on. I'm hoping the Tomato Soup will be better with a second look, and maybe I'll decide I like the Chocolate Raspberry Bar after all. On the Nutrisystem boards, a few members posted about hating something the first time they tried it, and then it eventually became one of their favourite meals. Especially if you are just starting your Nutrisystem program, your taste buds are still acclimated to foods with tons of calories and fat, so you may need to adjust a little before you get used to eating a healthy, balanced diet.

Some Meal Tips

While I enjoy most of the Nutrisystem meals just as-is, there's no reason why I shouldn't make them even better if I have time to do so! I got these recipe ideas from the Nutrisystem.com message boards.

Although I enjoy the Nutrisystem pasta, I do miss a rich, cheesy sauce. It was suggested to me that I put a 1/2 cup scoop of fat free cottage cheese in a bowl and dump my lunch pasta (Pasta with Beef or Cheese Tortellini) over the top, and then microwave it. You can also add veggies like onions, mushrooms, bell peppers- whatever you like in your pasta dishes. It was really yummy! And I was very full after eating my lunch- the extra protein really helped.

The second modification was fantastic! Take one of the breakfast scones (either apple or chocolate chip), and cut it in half to make two thin squares of bread. Beat an egg with a dash of milk and maybe some cinnamon, and dip the bread in the egg to make French toast! Cook in a pan until golden brown and serve with sugarfree syrup.



This was absolutely an amazing breakfast. Dan tried to take it away from me and eat it himself! You could also use fruit to make your syrup which would use all your breakfast portions, or save it to eat later. I will definitely be eating this again in the future!

Weigh in Day!

I weighed in this morning and I am down another two pounds! Although I wish I was losing weight a little faster, my husband reminds me that it's going to come off eventually and it's probably easier on my body this way.

At times I go from feeling so positive to feeling so negative about myself. I'm really proud that I have lost thirteen pounds- and then I look at myself in a photograph. Ugh- how did I let myself get this fat? I just have to keep reminding myself that if I hadn't started Nutrisystem, I'd be thirteen pounds fatter. At least I am doing something about it!

I can't wait to be back in my favourite jeans!

Win some, lose some

I've tried a few more new things from my box of goodies, and I've enjoyed some but been let down by others.

Creamy Tomato Soup (Lunch):


This was really my biggest disappointment. Who doesn't love a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup? I was so excited to try this that I borrowed my fat serving and my carb serving from dinner so that I could have the grilled cheese with the soup. The sandwich was delicious, but I wasn't too happy with the soup. I mean, really- how can you screw up tomato soup? It's one thing that is naturally high in sodium and low in calories anyway. Unfortunately, Campbell's this was not. It kind of had an odd, gritty taste to it. Would I eat it again? Yes. My expectations were probably too high so I was let down when I tried it. It's not bad soup, it's just not what I hoped for.

Swedish Style Meatballs with Pasta in Sauce (Dinner):


Although the photo doesn't look very appetizing, this was good. I loved the noodles (they tasted like classic egg noodles) and they were in a thick beef sauce with the meatballs. This one is definitely on my reorder list.

Golden Pound Cake (Dessert):


I loved this! It was good all by itself, but I'm picturing it with mashed strawberries and a little fat free Cool Whip... Mmmm. It was light, but very tasty.

Banana Nut Muffin (Breakfast):


This was good but nothing special. Just an average muffin. The nuts were fairly plentiful which was nice. I preferred the blueberry one, personally.

Flame Broiled Beef Patty (Dinner):


I felt it was time to issue a revised opinion on this meal. I think I was so negative about it the first time because the appearance just revolted me. I mean, it still looks like dessicated shoe leather when it's dried up in its little tray. Not appetizing at all.



However, dress it up on a nice whole wheat bun with cheese and your favourite condiments, all of a sudden it becomes a pretty nice dinner. I usually have sweet potato "fries" with it and it definitely beats the burger and fries craving.

The appearance still sucks, but then again I love the veggie fajita and it looks like dog barf, so I am trying to be fair to the hamburger.

Blueberry Lemon Bar (Dessert):


This was delicious! I love the way the blueberry and citrus tastes are both present but not overwhelming. If you're looking for something sweet but light (and you're not in the mood for the amazing Fudge Brownie!), this will definitely do the trick.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

I was so excited to dig into my American box! So far, I have tried three new foods and liked them all!

Chocolate Chip Scone (Breakfast):


This was a sweet chocolatey treat- it felt too decadent for breakfast! I have heard they are wonderful warmed in the microwave, or even cut in half and used as "bread" to make French toast with an egg as your protein/dairy serving, but I haven't tried it yet. I really like the density of the scones.

Blueberry Flavoured Pancake Mix (Breakfast):


These were really good. How can this be diet food? The pancakes do come out a little thinner than what I'm used to, but that could probably be fixed by adding less milk than they suggest. I also plan to add real blueberries next time to supplement the dried ones in the mix. I topped this with a little sugarfree maple syrup, and they were delicious!

The third item I tried was eaten one handed while I fed the baby, so I didn't get a chance to take a picture. It was really good, though! I had the Thin Mint Crisp Bar. This will definitely be on my reorder list.

The last item, I let Dan do the taste testing because it really wasn't my type of snack. In my free week, I was sent Buffalo Wing Pretzel Sticks.

Buffalo Wing Pretzel Sticks (Dessert):


He started eating them before I got the picture, so that's only about a third of the actual serving size. They got a little smushed in the package, too. Basically, they are breadsticks with a little salt and buffalo seasoning on them. Dan's verdict is that they could use a little more of the seasoning and needed a bit more kick. If you are looking to kick a salt craving, he says these are certainly edible, but they just didn't quite do it for him. They tasted like salty sawdust to me, but then again I never liked this type of snack even when it was the "real thing".

Sometimes I just look in amazement at the food I'm eating- pancakes, pasta, pizza, cake, and brownies, and I can't believe I'm losing weight! This is the easiest way to lose weight ever. It's quick and convenient, the food is mostly good, and I don't feel deprived of anything! Of course, there has been the odd item that I can't stand, but you can't like everything I guess.

It's Here Again!

My second (and third) boxes have arrived! The reason I have two boxes arriving today is that you have to be on the Nutrisystem Canada program for two months before cancelling if you don't want to pay back the discounts and free shipping, which of course I didn't. It was also my chance to stock up on the Beef Tacos, which I love, but which are discontinued on the Nutrisystem.com site. Their menu is constantly being tweaked, with new items being added and old/unpopular ones being removed. I also wanted to take advantage of the bonus offer to order by March 1 and receive $50 off my order, so I had a little overlap. Now I'll never be running out of choices for meals like I was this week!

It's so nice to have all this variety available! I am looking forward to all the new things I have to try! I'm also looking forward to more pizza. I love the NS pizza, especially with low calorie BBQ sauce and chicken. There were two new kinds of pizza and I ordered them both to see how they compare to the Thick Crust Pizza.

I actually found myself only able to get one or at most two of each item, because there were so many things that I wanted to try! I love that there is so much choice on the Nutrisystem.com site and I think it's going to be quite a while before I get bored. I could eat a different breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert every day for a month if I wanted!

I also like seeing what they sent me for my free week. When you sign up, they give you two free weeks of food- one in your first shipment and one in your second. I have gotten a few things that I wouldn't have ordered for myself, but since I got a chance to try them I found that I enjoyed them. However, should they send you something that you absolutely can't stand, or if you try something you picked and don't like it and have some left, you can call Nutrisystem and they will give you a Return Authorization Number and you can ship it back and get stuff you want instead, which is nice. You have up to 30 days to return or exchange food.

And for those of you who are considering Nutrisystem, they have a guarantee for you. Try it for a week, and if you don't like it- you can return the rest and you will receive a full refund. Don't forget to click the link in the sidebar to email me for a $30 coupon if you decide to try it!

Here are some of the new things I have tried lately.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar (Breakfast):


This was one of the items they sent me in my free week. I hadn't ordered any because I thought that a granola bar for breakfast just wouldn't cut it. I mean, I used to eat granola bars as a snack, not as a meal. When I looked at it on my plate, it looked pathetically small. I was very surprised to find out that not only was it really yummy, but it held me over until my next meal. Since you still get a dairy/protein serving and a fruit with breakfast, this was a nice light treat and I will probably order it in the future.

Salisbury Steak with Rice and Mushroom Gravy (Dinner):


As you've probably noticed from some of my previous photos, most of the Nutrisystem dinner entrees are very saucy. I love sauce so I think it's great, especially since you can use the excess gravy on the vegetables you add. I really liked this mushroom gravy. As with the teriyaki meal though, I was still disappointed by the size of the rice serving. I am probably going to stay away from meals with rice in the future- it seems that you get a lot more starch when there is pasta instead. The Salisbury steak was not bad but it wasn't anything special either. Definitely edible though.

Cheese Puffs (Dessert):


I have a sweet tooth, so I hadn't ordered these but they came in my free week. I would generally much rather have a sugary dessert (hello, fudge brownie!) instead of a savoury one, but again, I was pleasantly surprised. The cheesies are miniature, but there's lots of them, so it just makes them last longer for snacking. They tasted exactly like Cheetos except they didn't leave all the cheese powder on your fingers afterwards. I wouldn't want them every day, but for a once in a while cheesy snack, they were pretty good.