Thursday, June 05, 2008

Keeping it off with NutriSystem?

Okay, so it’s been a month since the official NutriSystem Challenge ended. I actually kept up with the routine until mid-May then family gatherings got in the way. I lost another few pounds even though I didn’t want to.

So when my son’s Bar Mitzvah weekend came around, I planned to eat whatever I wanted. A week later my weight was still about the same. Then today, another half week later, I hopped on the scale and gained two pounds! Yikes!

I still look the same and my clothes still fit fine but I’m getting concerned. I’m at my ideal weight (according to me) and I don’t want to gain another ounce. So, guess what, instead of doing a half-assed job of following NutriSystem, today I followed it every step of the way, well except I didn’t drink eight glasses of water. Thank goodness the good folks at NutriSystem have agreed to keep me stocked up with their food.

Now it’s a balancing act. I want to keep my current weight and not lose any more. I think I’ll try keeping it up during the week and give myself a bit of a break on the weekends. Ideally, I should be exercising but thanks to a hip injury, I’ve had to put that on hold for another month or so. I’ve been trying to walk a bit at night but 10 minutes is about my limit.

FYI, my friend ZoeDisco and her husband have started their own NutriSystem project. They are video chronicling their experience. Pretty cool, huh?

What do you do to maintain your ideal weight? I need some help. Please share your tricks and tips.

6 comments:

  1. Eden, I wanted to let you know...I was inspired by you and Tamsin to really work on my own weight loss...and so far, it's going really well. I'm doing Weight Watchers instead, and I like it because I can eat my own food. In fact, I didn't even sign up, and I don't go to meetings. All I did was get some info from some friends on the number of points things add up to, and how many I need per day. The rest is all up to me, and I really like it that way. Let me know if you want me to send you the info that I got--it's really easy to follow, and apparently, it's great for maintenance. My friends say they're at their ideal weight now, and they still try to eat healthfully, but it's more about being conscious of the choices you make. They go back on it for a week or two when they're feeling like the weight's coming back.

    Anyway, it's really working for me--I admit that I haven't been weighing myself, but I've been on it for about 3 weeks now, and my boyfriend noticed that I've gotten thinner. Even better, I feel healthier!

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  2. Anonymous8:03 am

    Hi Eden. I hope your hip heals soon. What works for me is weight training along with cardio exercise. I am very fortunate to have a great trainer at the Oakville Y who is helping me to build muscle and strength, which just seems to prevent me from gaining any more fat (although I have gained a couple of pounds -- it's muscle). Also in the last few years I have had to give up almost all white flour, white rice, potatoes, sweeteners, etc. These are only occasional indulgences now, which is fine. I was never a sweet eater, so I don't miss sugar.

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  3. I think everybody needs to know that your weight fluctuates +/- a couple of lbs day-to-day, at least that's what I read somewhere. It could be water retention, or if you don't make regular trips to the bathroom. :)

    I still work out with a trainer in the gym, but my sessions are ending soon. Drinking water never fails me. I'm still learning to up my water intake, but every day I do, I feel and look great. Also don't starve yourself between meals.

    Hope your hip gets better soon!

    ~ Arianne

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  4. Tiff, Wow! That's a pretty tall order. Glad you're finding Weight Watchers is working for you. I became a life member in 2002 and did well as long as I attended regular meetings. I agree, it's great for maintenance. Sure, send me the info. Thanks.

    Tamsin and I are trying to see what maintenance is like for NutriSystem first and hope we can participate in their actual maintenance program soon . For now, we're happy they've decided to continue giving us their food for two more months.

    After my experience, although you're looking weight and feel better, I think regular (weekly) weigh-ins are key. Good luck and keep me posted.

    Donna, Thanks. You've inspired me to work out. You look amazing. I will have to wait until I get the go ahead from the doctor before I can participate in a regular exercise program. I've also given up a lot of those foods you've listed (and or at least the quantities of them I used to consume pre NutriSystem.) I really miss bagels.

    Arianne, thanks for your comment. You're right about daily weight fluctuations. That's why I should only weighing myself weekly but sometimes I can't resist taking an occasional mid-week peek.

    I also drink a lot of water but not as much as I should according to the NutriSystem program. Glad you're feeling great and loving how you look. I truly think the two go hand-in-hand.

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  5. Hey Eden,

    If you're a lifetime member, you probably have all the information I have. For me, it's just about being aware of what's healthy and what's not. It's definitely helping--my pants have suddenly been feeling very loose, which is great.

    I've also had an injury recently, but with my ankle, so I haven't been working out. I'm going to try to do some light pilates or yoga at home. It's impossible for me to do any cardio right now, which is annoying.

    Glad to hear that at least Nutrisystem is helping. I think you should just stick to whole grains, fruits and veggies, and have a little bit of snack food if it's in front of you. It's all about moderation.

    Thanks again for inspiring me!

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  6. Oh Tiff,
    I hope your ankle heals soon. I do stick mostly to fruits, veggies and whole grains. As for Weight Watchers, it's been years but I'll try and get a handle on the current program. It's changed quite a bit from when I was actively attending meetings.

    ReplyDelete

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