How a TV-Advertised NutriSystem Diet Helped Me Lose Weight in 2007

Like most people, I've tried many different diets, from cabbage soup, to Adkins. And although I may have lost some weight, none of the "diets" were realistic in that no normal person could stick to the diet plan forever. Try as I might, I'd count calories, I'd try portion control, I did no carbohydrates, I did only carbohydrates, I did juice fasts. The list goes on.

In desperation last holiday season, I did the unthinkable: I ordered a weight-loss program from a TV commercial. This is as off-the-wall as anyone could imagine; I'm the person rolling her eyes each time my mom sends me the "get one free" from the latest handy dandy kitchen gadgets offered on late-night television. But I really was in a crisis, and I didn't know what else to do. My brother and my sister were both scheduled to get married a month apart, and I had to lose weight, and I only had 4 months to do it.

Some people have said the food is awful. I actually liked most of the lunches and several of the breakfasts. And yes, the desserts are too small, but they are tasty. What I did to make it work for me was I had the dinners that I wasn't so crazy about for lunch and then had the lunches for dinner, along with my snack. You must remember that the three glasses of milk are required for this diet to work. No measuring. No calorie counting. The meals only need microwave or boiling water - no need to refrigerate.

I lost 17 pounds in the first month, 21 pounds the second month and 12 pounds the third. The best part: I started taking weekends "off" and using the prepared meals during the week and continued to maintain a healthy weight.

The downside: It cost more than $400 a month just for your food, veggies, fruits and milk.

The upside: It works!