How to Lose Weight with Nutrisystem

So you've taken the plunge, made the phone call (or logged on to the Web site), and ordered an assortment of the Nutrisystem diet's pre-packaged food offerings. Here's what you need to know to get the most of your substantial investment in your health.

Identify the food you don't like. While I think most of the Nutrisystem food is tolerable--some of it is actually pretty good--you will definitely find at least a few items you pretty much hate. For me, it's the chocolate cake and mac & cheese. That stuff is terrible! The good news is that you can ship back things you don't like from your first order for a refund. Nutrisystem offers a fairly wide variety of food, so you shouldn't have a problem several things you do like and sticking with those.

Don't skimp on the water. This is a must on any diet, and Nutrisystem is no exception. Drink your full 8 glasses of water per day and you won't regret it. It helps your body's natural flushing process, and keeps you nice and hydrated all day long. I noticed that I seemed to lose more weight on weeks where I consistently drank the recommended amount of water.

Realize that you're in it for the long haul. Your body has to get used to eating smaller portions, and if you're like me, that's not fun. The first two weeks I felt hungry all the time. Once I made it through the first 14 days, though, I realized that I didn't want massive sized portions anymore. It's just a matter of retraining your body and mind to only eat what you need, and not stuff yourself at every opportunity.

Add in some exercise. Just a few minutes of some kind of activity that elevates your heart rate will help keep your metabolism up and those calories burning throughout your day. I found it to be really effective to do a fairly light aerobic workout 3 times per week...when I was consistent, I lost more weight and generally felt better.

Customize your reorders. Don't forget to customize your reorders with your favorite foods. Everytime I make another order I refine it to my tastes, so that eventually I will only be getting the foods I really like. The longer you stay with the system, the more familiar you get with the menu. If you have your orders set to automatically ship (which saves you a few bucks) it's easy to forget to add or take away some thing from your order. Don't forget!

Use plenty of spices. You can use unlimited amounts of spices (other than salt) on any of the foods Nutrisystem offers. A little pepper, oregano, or even Tabasco sauce can go a long way toward making food that's usually bland really pop. Once I tried several different seasoning ideas, I found that a lot of the food suddenly became much more appealing.

Be creative. There are tons of great recipies out on the web for combining Nutrisystem food with the fruits, veggies, and carbs you must buy on your own. My personal favorite is fruit crepes made from the Nutrisystem pancake mix and my fresh fruit serving for breakfast. Put your food on a plate, make it look good, and don't be afraid to try new flavor combinations. This makes dieting on Nutrisystem more fun, and keeps you from getting tired of food quickly.

No diet is for everyone, but Nutrisystem certainly worked (and is still working) for me. I hope you'll give it a try and use these ideas to have fun, lose weight, and put yourself on the road to a healthier lifestyle.