Susan's Weight Loss Journey

If you click the picture, I think it makes it bigger :-)

I started Nutrisystem on January 18, 2005. I did it on my own for a week and a half before my food came. I lost 11 pounds that first week and a half! The first few months I lost about 10-12 pounds per month, then it started slowing, down, but I was never discouraged, thanks to the support on the NS bulletin board.

In the beginning I did no exercise at all. I had really severe plantar fasciitis and could hardly walk. My knees were about shot too. Amazing what carrying all that extra weight around does to your body!

I started exercising in March - I got a Body Glide because it was inexpensive and I didn't have to stand up to use it. At first, I could only do about 4 or 5 minutes. I slowly worked up to about 20 minutes. Then someone recommened Walk Away the Pounds (Leslie Sansone).

By this time, I had lost enough weight that my feet weren't as bad and the WATP workouts didn't bother my knees. I worked up from the 1 mile to the 3 mile and from 1 lb. weights to 3 lb. weights. Then I got the Walk & Jog, which led me to believe I might be able to try the couch to 5K program on coolrunning.com.

I can't believe it, but I now can run an entire 5K without stopping. I'm not fast, but I can do it. This from a woman who couldn't run from the front door to the mailbox a few months ago.

Now I run about 4-5 times a week. I still eat on plan, as I have 9 pounds still to lose in order to get to my goal. I'm only losing about 4-5 pounds a month, but that's just fine.

I've gone from a size 22/24 to a size 6/8. I thought, initially, that I'd be happy in a 12. Well, I wasn't. I'm not even happy in an 8, which would've sounded nuts to me a year ago. I'd like to be solidly in a size 6, and that's just around the corner. I may shoot for a 4. Who knows??

What I do know is this - If I can do this - anyone can!! There are 4 keys to success with Nutrisystem:
1. The food
2. Your will (not willpower - your WILL)
3. Exercise
4. The support community on the NS bulletin board

If you work at getting all of those keys in line, you'll be successful.

These were taken on 11/5/05 - at 164 - a total of 80 pounds lost and GONE FOREVER!!

I started Nutrisystem using the "weekends off" program from QVC. This way, I learned from the start how to eat on program using my own food.

Now, I use my own food almost all of the time. I do use NS food once in a while for convenience, and also because I really like some of it!

Here are some of the things that I eat regularly. I don't get bored eating the same thing all of the time, so my menu's pretty limited. Keep it simple - words to live by for me. What I've listed below are entree options. I also add in the required dairy, fruit, & veggies. Some items I cook myself, but a lot of them are just prepared foods you can find at your grocery store that work well as NS substitutions.

Breakfast Options:

Egg Beaters - 1/2 cup scrambled with one or two Morningstar "sausage" links diced and stirred in. 1/2 piece whole grain toast with butter-flavor spray.
"Paul's Bundt Cake" - not my recipe, but here's how I make it without the NS pancake mix. (not quite as high in protein, but close) - 3/4 of a quarter cup of Aunt Jemima's Whole Wheat Pancake mix and 1/4 of a quarter cup soy flour (hope that makes sense), 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1/4 cup egg-beaters, 1/4 tsp. vanilla. Whisk all ingredients together in a big, microwave-safe cereal bowl and microwave for 3 minutes - turn out on a plate, spray with butter-flavor spray and top with sugar free pancake syrup. I eat this a LOT! It's quick and delicious!
Banana-Oatmeal-Blueberry Pancakes - 1/2 mashed banana, 1/4 cup quick oats, 1/4 cup egg beaters and 1/4 cup blueberries mixed together and cooked on a griddle, like real pancakes - delicious!!
Kashi Go-Lean Cereal - 3/4 cup is a great substitute for NS cereals. I also like it mixed into my yogurt for a very filling breakfast.
South Beach Cereal Bars - very good substitute for the NS granola bars.

Lunch Options:

Tuna or Chicken Salad - one of my favorites! (makes 2 servings) One can tuna, packed in water, mixed with 2 tablespoons Hellman's Reduced Fat Mayonnaise, 2 stalks celery, diced, and a couple of tablespoons of diced onion, mix together and add Mrs. Dash and a little salt. I put this on a whole grain wrap with some sliced cucumber - DELISH! (I also make the same thing with leftover chicken)
Boca Chili - Fabulous substitute for NS lunches - high in protein, practically no fat. I usually add a dollop of fat free sour cream and a little bit of low-fat shredded cheese. YUM!
McDonald's Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad - for a lunch on the run. Order it with the light vinaigrette dressing - hold the croutons.
Wraps - I make a lot of wraps. I just use an ounce of deli meat or leftover chicken or turkey, and add salad and a tablespoon of Hellman's Reduced Fat Mayo.

Dinner Options:

I have to admit - Nutrisystem has me so spoiled that I rarely cook anymore. So... this is a list of frozen foods that I use to substitute for NS food. When I do cook, I try to have 3 oz. of lean meat or tofu, one whole-grain bread serving, and lots of veggies.
South Beach - I use any of these, especially the pizzas, that are under 300 calories.
Amy's Organics - I like the brown rice bowls - both are great (original and teriyaki)
Boca Burgers - Fabulous substitute for the NS flame-broiled beef patty
Michelina's Lean - Meatloaf entree, or any of them that aren't mostly rice or noodles
WW Smart Ones - again, I stay away from anything with white pasta or rice
Lean Cuisine - any of them with the whole grain pastas, etc.
I just found this stuff - Morningstar Farms Meal Starters Steak Strips, I cook them with frozen snap pea blend Bird's Eye Stir Fry Veggies and add a little bit of House of Tsang Classic Stir Fry Sauce. The whole thing has 550 calories, and I fed myself, my two kids, and my husband, so very low calorie count. Lots of protein and very lowfat too.

Dessert Options:


It's really difficult to find desserts that have as much protein as the NS desserts. I make Christinagray2003's crustless pumpkin pie quite often (see her profile on the NS website to get to her blog) and her other desserts are fabulous.
Without having to cook, I look for these items in my grocer's freezer case:
Skinny Cow Ice cream sandwiches (the fat-free, no-sugar-added kind)
Blue Bunny fat-free, no-sugar-added ice cream and ice cream bars
No Pudge fudge bars
I also like the South Beach Chocolate Cereal Bars for dessert, and they do have a decent amount of protein.


I hope this helps you make the transition to your own food, or helps when you need to make smart choices.