Interview with Sumaya Khan – the newest edition to Bargainista’s team

Sumaya Khan recently joined team Bargainista as an editorial assistant/intern. Self-described as an “Upbeat and fun chick looking forward to a great career in public relations and marketing,” currently interning at Matchstick, I thought you might like to get to know her a bit better. I know I did.

Why have you decided to accept the challenge of Bargainista intern?
As someone who’s interested in social media, this is a great opportunity to gain exposure to various aspects in the industry. Interning at Bargainista will definitely help me gain the experience I need to pursure my career in the future.

How long have you been reading Bargainista?
I’ve been reading it for almost two years.

What was your favourite post?
I’ve enjoyed reading Eden’s weight loss journey with Nutrisystem. It’s great to see results just by healthy exercise and eating right.

If you could change anything about Bargainista, what would it be and why?
As more information is flowing in, I hope to see some changes in the layout.

What do you want other members of Bargainista’s community to know about you?
Now that I will be actively helping with the blog, feel free to say hi or ask me any questions! I’m just one e-mail/tweet/facebook away!

You can reach Sumaya at bargainista at gmail dot com.

Hooked on LÄRABAR

My sister has been raving about LÄRABAR for years because she’s the more athletic one of us. So, when Jess Bennett from Palette PR asked if I’d like to try some, I said sure.

I received a lovely sampler with four different flavours (Cashew Cookie, Coconut Cream Pie, Pecan Pie and if memory serves me correctly, Ginger Snap) in a stainless steel thermos. They’re all made with various unprocessed, uncooked combinations of two to eight different ingredients consisting of fruit, nuts and spices. I’ve tried about six or seven different flavours. My favourite ones are Cinnamon Roll and Ginger Snap although I’d really like to taste Peanut Butter & Jelly and Cocoa Mole.

According to LÄRABAR, three new flavours are coming soon. Although the flavours sound creative and these bars are relatively tasty, I’m not sure I’d go as far as saying they’re “indulgent deserts” – a claim I read on the Wikipedia page.

If you’ve been reading Bargainista for a while, you probably know I’ve eaten a lot of NutriSystem and my favourite items were the bars. LÄRABAR is a completely different type of product. I think it’s designed more as an energy bar than a meal supplement. I really like the idea there are no additives. For those of you who are concerned about various allergies (except for allergies to nuts) and dietary restrictions, you may want to take a closer look LÄRABAR.

Being able to purchase LÄRABAR at many retail outlets including grocery and health food stores make them easily accessible. I’m also comfortable giving them to my kids who want to give them a try as soon as they come home from camp. As for the price, I’ve spent anywhere from $1.99-$2.99 per bar. I’ve found grocery stores tend to be less expensive than convenience stores and health food stores are selling them anywhere within that range.

UPDATE: Costco sells a 12-pack for $15.99 with three flavours - Key Lime Pie, Cashew Cookie and Cocoa Coconut Chew - it’s a great deal. I’d like it better if there were more flavours or at least two combinations to choose from.

Perhaps, like my sister you’re a fan of LÄRABAR. If so, you may want to check out their fan page or tweets.

Have you ever tried LÄRABAR? What are your favourite flavours?

Get Fit-in 15 and win an iPod Shuffle

Full disclosure: now that I’m consulting full-time as a digital strategist, in addition to sharing my personal experiences as a consumer and my experiences with products, services or initiatives I’ve learned about through online outreach from other firms, I may also share my experiences related to my client work from time-to-time. This is one of those times.

By now most of you know I’ve been relatively successful with NutriSystem. My downfall has been integrating regular physical activity into my daily routine. So when I was asked to help with outreach on the Canadian Chiropractic Association’s Fit-in 15 program, I jumped at the chance to participate. Fit-in 15 is a program designed to help busy Canadians learn to fit a mere 15 minutes of physical activity into our day. Check out these helpful tips.

Since Wednesday, I’ve been incorporating at least 15 minutes of physical activity into my daily routine. By adding only 15 minutes, I’m gaining several health benefits. I’m keeping an activity log that I’ll share next week.

But this isn’t about me. It’s all about you and how you can win a 4GB iPod Shuffle and $20 iTunes gift certificate by getting involved too. Read on…

Bargainista and Parent Club have arranged a friendly Fit-in 15 competition between our two sites. Who will win the much coveted (very-non-official) Fit-in 15 trophy*?

Monday, June 22 (that’s this Monday people!) go for a 15-minute brisk walk. You can do it downtown – on your lunch break. Quick step your way to your favourite store for some power shopping. Push the stroller to the park. Walk to pick the kids up from school. However you can fit-in 15 minutes of fitness into your day.

Then, (pah-leez), come over to Bargainista and comment before 6 p.m. ET The blog with the most reader comments on Monday (by 6 p.m.) “wins” the competition and gets to display the virtual trophy.

So how can you win?

It’s easy. Do your bit. Take a brisk 15 min. walk. Leave your comment on the blog. All comments will be tossed into a virtual hat and one lucky commenter who is chosen by random will get a 4GB iPod Shuffle and a $20 iTunes gift certificate courtesy of Fit-in 15.

It doesn’t matter where you live to get involved. Only comments from Canadian residents will be eligible for the Shuffle and iTunes gift certificate.

[Disclaimer: we devised the trophy/competition all-by-ourselves. It is not an acutal competition endorsed by Fit-in 15. It's a buddy-system competition to get ourselves - and you - moving]

Bargainista shape up for 2009 contest

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably been thinking of new goals for 2009. Maybe you call them resolutions, maybe you don’t.

One of my goals – and I have many – is to lose some of the weight I’ve gained back since the Nutrisystem Challenge last year. Fortunately, NutriSystem has kindly offered to give me another month of food. Now, if I would only get up the nerve to place my order.

What I really need to do is kick up my activity level.

Enough about me. I want to hear about you. What are you doing to help stay in shape this year?

Leave me a comment, photo or video clip, provided I have permission to use it on the blog.

What’s in it for you?
I have a women’s 2-pc. workout outfit from Vata Brazil. It’s supposed to be one-size-fits-all and claims to be made with fabric they call “10x stretch”. I think it’s probably for women sized 6-10 or 12. The pants sell for $89.99. I don’t have a price for the top but I think it’s between $30-$40. I’ve included pictures except the top I’m giving away is white.

Entries are due by Sunday, Jan. 25, 11:59 p.m. EST. (Open to Canadian residents only.)

Michael Allison will be picking the winning entry and here’s why:

We met in person when he was in Toronto last summer and we’ve stayed in touch. Last month he asked me if I’d like to run a contest with outfits donated by his (now former) client Vata Brazil.

He did an excellent job on the blogger outreach side of things. Why? He did his research. He didn’t schmooze me in any way and most of all, he built a relationship with me. When he had a client who he thought might interest me, he got in touch and tailored his approach.

Unfortunately, Michael lost his job due to downsizing since he was one of the new guys. If you’re in Vancouver looking to hire a sharp guy with a background in communications with a solid understanding of social media, Michael’s your man.

Okay, so I finally blew it but I’m determined to get back on track

Once I started deviating from NutriSystem and eating junk food other than the occasional ice cream or gelato, I had trouble stopping. To make matters worse, I was on a mini-vacation last week and my hosts were quick to express their disappointment when I suggested I eat salad with tuna instead of their cooking.

You guessed it... I’ve gained back a few nasty pounds. I need to learn not to be discouraged. I need to remember I’m still hanging on to my original goal of 25 pounds and down three sizes!

I have lots of NutriSystem dinners on hand because I’m pretty good about knowing how and what to eat for dinner at home or at restaurants so on maintenance I’d been pretty religious about sticking to the plan except for dinners.

I inquired about ordering more breakfasts and lunches from NutriSystem but that option isn’t available – at least not to Canadian customers.

Feeling desperate, I asked one of their PR company’s reps for help. NutriSystem came through and thanks to them, I have an order of breakfasts and lunch bars on their way.

Losing the weight was challenging and keeping all of it off is even tougher but I’m determined not to go back to the weight I was when I started the NutriSystem Challenge last winter.

Tamsin is finding maintenance tough

This month, Tamsin interviews a NutriSystem counselor about maintaining her new weight...

Help! I’ve hit a snag in my NutriSystem maintenance and gained 4 pounds in the past week! This really bums me out but, in truth, I know exactly where those 4 pounds came from: Summer snacking! A fruity cocktail on the patio here, a handful of low-fat chips there… it adds up.

I called NutriSystem to chat with a Nutrition Counselor about getting back on track. I explained my horror and Counselor Donna asked me questions about to get a sense of my typical day of eating.

I told her that I really love the NutriSystem breakfast and lunch bars, and that I usually have the dessert with my afternoon coffee because that’s when my sweet tooth moment hits. Then I sheepishly described some of my favourite snacks for unwinding on the patio at the end of the day. Ah-ha! That’s the culprit right there. Donna was very supportive. She told me, “Sure, it common sense that it’s important to avoid resorting to old habits that may have contributed to your original weight gain, but knowing that doesn’t make it easy!”

Tamsin: How many NutriSystem foods do you recommend during Maintenance?

NutriSystem Counselor: How often you use NutriSystem foods depends on you. During your maintenance, you decide which NutriSystem foods you want to help maintain your weight loss. Some people, like yourself, stick wit the bars for breakfast and lunch because they are convenient. Many NutriSystem dieters choose NutriSystem foods for 2-3 complete days per week.

Tamsin: How many calories are required for maintenance?

NutriSystem Counselor: Donna explained that the number of calories I need to maintain my weight is determined by my activity level, weight, age and metabolism.

Tamsin: How long do NutriSystem dieters stay on maintenance?

NutriSystem Counselor: Donna told me that maintenance time is a personal choice. On average, dieters stay stick with the maintenance program for a year. At minimum, Donna recommends 6 months. She’s met many NutriSystem dieters who stayed on the maintenance program for 2-3 years.

Tamsin: What does NutriSystem recommend for alcohol consumption? Is it OK to have a cold beer or icy mojito on a hot summer day?

NutriSystem Counselor: NutriSystem recommends no more than 2 alcoholic beverages a week, including during maintenance. Donna reminded me that those tasty sweet cocktails are often loaded with calories.

Donna emailed me some guidelines for following the NutriSystem Maintenance Plan, which is available in the U.S. Getting back on track is my new 4-Day Goal! The bright side is that I have loads of NutriSystem food and motivation to get back on track.

The NutriSystem Challenge: two months later

Wow! That's all I can say. I’ve been off the Nutrisystem Challenge for just over two months now and not only have I managed to maintain my weight and svelte new figure, I’ve actually lost another few pounds!

Here’s what I’ve been up to:
• Two conferences
• Major family party weekend
• Eating lots of ice cream and cake
• Drinking martinis and beer
• Little exercise - I’d love to ride my bike and try Wii Fit but I have a bit more healing to do

How I’ve been managing?
• Smaller portions
• Maintaining similar eating habits as when I was on a more rigid NutriSystem routine
• Following Nutrisystem as much as possible for breakfast, lunch, snacks and some dinners
• Drinking lots of water and eating lots of veggies, fruit and protien, while shunning the carbs
• Minimal after-dinner snacking

Thanks NutriSystem for keeping my cupboards fully-stocked with your food. ;) When are you starting the maintenance program in Canada? I want in!

How do you maintain your weight? What tempts you? How do you manage when you’re away from home?

Tamsin talks maintenance and The Four Day Win

Eden and I continue our NutriSystem maintenance through the summer, as we negotiate our way through summer-social commitments (why do they all somehow involve yummy food!?) and nasty hip injuries (Feel better soon, Bargainista). If you’re looking summer reading that doesn’t involve torrid romance or scandal, I’ve got a book for you!

I’ve been reading a new book by one of my favourite writers – “The Four Day Win: End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace” by Martha Beck. The concept of small wins isn’t new; it’s a simple method of breaking a goal into digestible pieces (pardon the pun!) that you can accomplish over a four-day period. You can do this with help quit smoking, start an exercise regimen, tackle chores around the house, or your entire to-do list. Martha Beck applies the concept to gradually changing the way we think about food and our bodies. She talks about rewarding yourself for a 4-day win with something you love (a pedicure or massage), and then creating another goal. (OK, it’s much more introspective than that, but I won’t give it all away.)

In general, I’ve been pretty good about staying the NutriSystem course – but bags of chips (Miss Vickies, plain or jalapeno) bring challenging times. You see, I still find myself struggling as an emotional eater. In my case, I’ve noticed that the better I feel, the more permissive I am about “treating” myself with food. I feel so good about where NutriSystem has helped me get to that I am determined to undo my self-sabotaging habits. This book has got me thinking about stomping out my self-indulgent, reward eating by gradually sneaking in small changes.

I always admired people who are able to give up white flour, white rice, and potatoes (way to go, Donna Papacosta). Seemed impossible to me! But I can see how achievable that could be by taking it 4 days at a time. Maybe that’s be a longer term goal for me.

In the meantime, I’m continuing to eat NutriSystem meals a few times a week and starting to chip away at my conscious, healthy eating goals 4 days a time. Can’t wait to treat myself with a pedicure – less fattening than those chips!

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.

NutriSytem: maintaining the (behaviour) modification

The NutriSystem journey continues. Tamsin weighs in this week with her thoughts about staying on track while trying to maintain her current weight.

The good people at NutriSystem Canada continue to encourage us - they offered to help Eden and I transition back to grocery-store foods by continuing NutriSystem on a maintenance basis. NutriSystem Canada doesn’t offer an official maintenance program yet (its US counterpart does), so we are starting to eat NutriSystem foods a couple of times a week while slowly introducing non-NS home-cooked meals.

The best of both worlds? Let the maintenance begin!

After 3 months of continuous NutriSystem, I find myself automatically planning my meals and thinking before eating (well, except for a certain time of the month when I *do* allow myself free reign). I was always a try-anything and eat-as-much-as-I-like eater, so “portion control” and “meal planning” are new behaviours for me.

So, now that I am eating NS a couple of days a week, how have I managed in my own real-world kitchen with my husband's Twinkies in the cupboard, steak on the BBQ, and ice cream in freezer?

I’m not going to lie: I’m still tempted. Especially as I’m feeling thinner and more confident. You know, it’s so easy to indulge when you are happy! The little temptress on my shoulder whispers, “You look great! What's a cheeseburger and bowl of Ben and Jerry's gonna hurt!?”

Fortunately, my good sense kicks in. After all, our weight loss was well-earned, and there’s simply no point letting our new waists go to waste. :)

I’m striving to maintain the protein intake that NutriSystem provides by restricting my breakfast to fantastic fruit smoothies (I most enjoy strawberry-banana or mango -- sometimes indulging in chocolate!)

I’m continuing to eat often. With full-time NutriSystem, I was always eating. Fruit snacks, entrees, yummy NS desserts, lunch bars. On my own, I am learning about the Glycemic Index that NutriSystem is based on and incorporating more “good carbs” with low GI values in my diet to help keep my blood sugar levels stable and my appetite in check. I’ve even ordered some GI recipe books from the library. I was so excited to see some of my favourite food on the Low GI list -- fresh salsa, chicken breast with spinach, cottage cheese, stir frys, red peppers, edamame.

What are your cravings? How often do you indulge them? I’d love to read your tips on curbing your cravings!

NutriSystem Challenge: mission accomplished!

Weigh-in (Day 84):


• Tamsin – no change – lost 13 pounds in 12 weeks!
• Eden – -1.6 lbs – lost 25.5 pounds in 12 weeks!

I can’t believe this is the last official post for The NutriSystem Challenge. Tamsin and I have lost a total of 38.5 pounds combined and gained a friendship. It’s been amazing connecting with a member of the community this way. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her in this space. She has an open invitation to contribute anytime.

Most likely, we will be testing out NutriSystem’s maintenance program. I suspect we won’t be blogging about it weekly but we will have a regular weigh-in and posting schedule sorted out soon.

I am so grateful to the team at com.motion and NutriSystem for asking me to participate in the program. I was nervous at first because I had never done anything like it before. I’d always been uncomfortable with the idea of food supplements and diet food. Not anymore. It worked for me. I feel great and I’m loving every minute.

I’d be lying though if I didn’t acknowledge the psychological component and my prior experience with Weight Watchers – both were critical to my success. I was highly motivated and ready for a drastic change. It was more than the food. If you’re wondering, I’m at exactly the same weight I was at when I became a Weight Watchers lifetime member in 2002. The biggest difference is I lost almost the same amount of weight in half the time with NutriSystem and I didn’t need to go to weekly meetings or public weigh-ins.

I’m looking forward to continuing with some NutriSystem products at least for the short-term. I’ve started altering my bigger clothes and buying new ones so there’s no way I’m prepared to give up my new body or the benefits of being more than 25 pounds lighter – a lot on my barely 5’3” frame.

As for Tamsin, here’s what she had to say…

Hey there
No change for me this week, but I DID start working out with my favourite Goodlife trainer in a Women On Weights (WOW) program for the next 8 weeks. Not sure I'd promote Goodlife, but NS definitely got me pumped to keeping trying with the weight loss and maintenance!! My trainer, who I haven't seen in a year, told me I looked "amazing" and that she almost didn't recognize me. She measured me, and we compared the inches to 1 year ago. Major inches lost in my thighs, calves, and waist combined. Amazing! I credit MOST of that to NutriSystem.

I am eager to keep working out and practicing the eating habits that I picked up from NS - portion control, frequent minimeals, PROTEIN, and water, water, water!

Tamsin

Are there any questions on your mind we haven’t answered? If so, please send me an email or leave a comment. We’ll do our best to help. What we haven’t learned is what it’s like to order the food and receive deliveries as a regular customer. If you have, we’d love hearing from you as that is one of the most frequently asked questions I get whenever people ask me how I lost the weight.

As a final note, we still owe you some pictures of how we look today. It would be awesome if we could have makeovers first à la Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear. Being a bit more realistic, spending a few hours with a wardrobe planner at Yorkdale would be awesome. Any takers?

Banana Republic accidentally appealing

Last month I wanted something new to spruce up my wardrobe. Still in the midst of the NutriSystem Challenge, I wasn’t ready to take the plunge and buy a new pair of pants but I wanted a new jacket (or something like it).

While browsing through Banana Republic, a smart and tailored cardigan caught my eye. (I bought a beige one but I could only find a yellow one to show you.) I looked at the price and was in disbelief. The grouping wasn’t on a sale rack yet every one was marked down to $39.99 from $130. I tried it on and loved the way it looked – the comfort of a cotton sweater with the professional look of casual blazer all in one. And, the price was definitely right.

Fast forward to April 20. I was in Montreal and Banana Republic was having a great sale with reductions based on the total purchase price (e.g. spend $200 and get $50 off). I did some damage that I’ll tell you about later. On my way out of the store, I spotted the cardigan. Guess what? It was back up to regular price. Yesterday, I returned to the Yorkdale location and sure enough, it was back up to $130. I suspect the $39.99 price tag was an error. Oh well, their loss my gain. Shh! Please don’t tell them.

UPDATE: I was at Banana Republic yesterday. They have lots of great items on sale at terrific prices and the cardigan is now on sale for $69.00. I’ve only seen it in beige and emerald green.

Preparing for maintenance after NutriSystem

Weigh-in (Day 77):

• Tamsin – -1.25 lbs (-13 pounds to-date)
• Eden – -1 lbs (-23.8 pounds to-date)

*Note: Eden spent last weekend in Montreal and managed to lose weight while eating regular food most of the time.

Here’s a post from Tamsin after 11 weeks on the NutriSytem Challenge.

For weeks, most of my food has come in handy packages from NutriSystem:
• lunches that fit in my purse;
• breakfast bars on the streetcar;
• dinners that heat up in 1 minute.

I’ve been thinking about what I’ll miss the most and how I’ll translate what I’ve learned about portion control to the real world where convenience and nutritionally balanced don’t always go hand-in-hand.

I think the trick is planning ahead and choosing foods that I enjoy. Convenient meals are useless if the food is tasteless. That's been a big plus for me: NutriSystem is handy AND tastes good.

I met a coworker in the kitchen at work the other day while I waited to heat my NutriSystem lunch. He was just taking his lunch from the microwave -- and boy, it smelled yummy! He asked about my NutriSystem package, and I asked what he was heating up for lunch. High Liner Scallops Mediterranean. We compared nutrition labels, and I was shocked to see similarities to NutriSystem (serving size, calorie and nutrients). Imagine scallops and linguine for lunch -- with the added bonus of 13 grams of protein!

These single-serve meals seem like a good meal option that offers the perks I’ve come to enjoy with NutriSystem: portion control, convenience, and the all-important yummy factor.

How have you transitioned from a diet? What are your tricks to eating healthy on-the-go?

Mr. B weighs in on NutriSystem

Weigh-in (Day 70):

• Tamsin – no change* (-11.7 pounds to-date)
• Eden – 1 lbs (-22.8 pounds to-date)

*Note: Tamsin spent last weekend in California and maintaining her weight must have been quite a challenge. Congratulations!

For something a little different, we thought we’d share a little insight from our husbands points of view. After all they are the ones who have been putting up with us after 10 weeks on the NutriSytem Challenge.


First, my interview with Mr. B…

B: What did you think when I told you I was going to begin the NutriSystem program for 12 weeks?

Mr. B: I was happy for you.

B: Why?

Mr. B: You seemed to be bothered so long by your weight and you were very unhappy about your body image: the way you were complaining about how your clothes were fitting or not fitting as the case may be.

I wanted you to be happy and if this is what you felt was going to get the job done, then great. At the same time, I did have reservations that you’d be able to stick to the program when all you basically would be eating was NutriSystem food. I mean if it were me, there’s no way I could eat that stuff meal after meal, day after day. There’s just too much other food I would miss. And frankly, some of those dinners look a little less than appetizing. Looks like the type of food they probably serve at the Kingston pen.

B: What changes have you noticed since I started the program?

Mr. B: A number of things...
You’re in much better spirits. For example, on any given weekday morning, when we’re both rushing around getting ready for work, it’s nice not to hear you moan about how everything in your closet is too tight. And you complained everything made you look fat. It’s nice to see you smile when you get dressed for work now.

B: What is your biggest beef?

Mr. B: What is my biggest beef? Well, for one thing beef, or what I mean to say is in all the years we’ve been together, I’ve almost never complained about your cooking except for the infamous tuna casserole incident. So basically, I miss your cooking. While on the one hand, I’m thrilled you’ve stuck to the program and you’re able to eat that ahem “food” day after day, I find myself longing more and more for those days when you’d come to me in the morning and say “Would you like me to make such and such for you for dinner tonight?” Plus, the kids are missing out too. I realize this may come off sounding selfish but I find the kids and I eating the same thing over and over.

Bottom line: I love what NutriSytem has done for you on a number of levels but a few more home-cooked meals per week would be nice. A way to a man’s heart is through is stomach? No, sh*t. But of course, I still love you.

B: What is your biggest fear?

Mr. B: That you’ll fall off the wagon so to speak. It’s not so much that you may gain the weight back, in and of itself but what the weight gain will do to your spirit and the more positive outlook you have on life in general.

B: Is it worth the trade-off for a slimmer, more-energetic and healthier wife?

Mr. B: Absolutely! Not withstanding the answers above, I fully support you on this journey.

Tamin and her husband share their tips for Nutrisystem dining...

I have a lot of dinners, so sometimes my husband and I take split 2 of them to taste test -- especially ones that aren’t my faves. And it’s a way we get to dine together (you know, without me drooling over the table at his yummy home cooked meals).

Chef Tamsin gets cooking with NutriSystem

Weigh-in (Day 63):
• Tamsin – 1.2 lbs (-11.7 pounds to-date)
• Eden – 2.3 lbs (-21.8 pounds to-date)

We're nearing the final NutriSystem-fueled weeks. I recently discovered some creative NutriSystem recipes using the NS foods, so I decided to get cooking!

I actually found a way to enjoy the powdered Scrambled Egg Mix! I added prepared as directed with boiling water, then I sauteed some red peppers, mushrooms, and onions with a little cooking spray. I added the eggs, tossed, and rolled into a wholewheat tortilla. NS eggs are mixed with cheese, so I just added some salsa. Delicious breakfast!

Many of the NutriSystem dinners are heavy on sauces or gravy. It's actually a perfect opportunity to mix in the requisite vegetable serving -- rather than eat veggies separately from the entree. I baked a small potato, steamed some broccoli and topped both with the Beef Stew. Not bad! I've also enjoyed the Chicken Dumplings with steamed bok choy.

As for the boring chicken patty, I sliced it up and stir-fried some veggies with Pam. (In many of the recipes I found, foods are often sauteed in Pam or cooking sprays.) Another way to enjoy the chicken (or beef) patty: serve as a fajita! Add a tablespoon of shredded cheese (fat serving), lots of veggies, and a whole wheat tortilla. I enjoyed this MUCH more than the NutriSystem Fajita Mix.

A little experimenting went a long way! I really enjoyed the patties served as fajitas. And I learned a lot of great tips for following NS principles outside of the program. (The discussion board on the NutriSystem website also has some great tips for maintaining your weight, post-NS) Blogger Amy posted recipes and pictures of her own “NS type” meal plan using her own foods. (While on NutriSystem, she lost an amazing 56 pounds in 6 months!)

Big changes during week 8 of the NutriSystem Challenge

Weigh-in (Day 56):
• Tamsin – 2.4 lbs (-10.5 pounds to-date)
• Eden –1.6 lbs (-19.1 pounds to-date)

Once again, I’m experiencing problems on weigh-in Wednesday. I woke up yesterday morning, stepped on my scale and watched it have a hissy-fit. The numbers started flinging around and after multiple attempts, I never saw the same number twice. Results showed anywhere from a 4 pound gain to a 12 pound loss since last week.

The lifetime warranty on my scale really came in handy tonight. I took it back to the drugstore and exchanged it for a new one. I’ll have to update my weight progress tomorrow.

There is some good news too...

Shout out to Tamsin had her best week ever since she started NutriSystem. Yay!

As for me, my clothes are starting to hang off and the only pair of pants that fit properly is one I just started wearing again after two years of taking up space in my closet.

Last night I was at Third Tuesday Toronto (yes, it was on a Wednesday), and friends who hadn’t seen me in several weeks commented on how much slimmer I looked. Slimmer but far from skinny - I’m not aiming for the Kate Moss look - I want to look and feel healthy. My self-confidence is coming back, I have more energy and I’m feeling pretty good - that’s the most important part of this whole exercise. Isn’t it?

Now, with just less than 4 weeks left, I’m thinking about how I’m going to keep the weight off and for good this time.

Tamsin’s answers frequently asked questions about her NutriSystem experience

Weigh-in (Day 49):
• Tamsin – 1.1 lbs (-8.1 pounds to-date)
• Eden – 3 lbs (-17.5 pounds to-date)

Eden and I are past the halfway mark. It feels great! Lots of friends, family, and co-workers are rooting for us. This week, I’ll answer a few of the questions that I hear most often:

Does the food really taste as good as it looks on the commercials?
I started out a bit sceptical, but I was pleasantly surprised! It’s true that the eggs are awful but, all in all, the food is very tasty and the menu has a lot of variety. Plus, I get to choose your own vegetable, fruit, and protein servings to suit you.

Are your clothes fitting differently?
More than anything, I notice my pants are getting looser in the waist and thighs. Also, my face feels thinner.

Anyone notice a change in your appearance?
My co-workers and several of my pole-dancing students have noticed a difference.

Are you in a groove now or sick of the whole thing?
After the first week, I couldn’t imagine 84 days of NutriSystem – I thought I’d get sick of it. But the truth is, I like the routine and the variety of food. Tonight, I enjoyed Lasagna with Meat Sauce (still my favourite!) with a spinach salad and Blueberry-Lemon dessert bar (yummy, not too sweet!).

What do you find most challenging?
Maintaining variety! I am always looking for new protein, veggie, and fruit servings to add more variety and I’m not a big fan of salad (except spinach). I live near Chinatown East, so I am experimenting with interesting fruits (like litchi) and veggies (rapini and bok choy).

My favourite discovery is steamed edamame – I found them in individual-sized servings that steam right in the bag (they come with little packs of sea-salt). I love my plain-old vanilla protein shake in the morning; this week, I’m going to pick up a different flavour.

How do you stay motivated?
I’ve noticed that my energy is consistent and pretty high – an extra bonus for me because I often struggle with fatigue and low iron. The protein boost works! I have no problem tackling writing contracts until late into the night or teaching 3 pole-fitness classes after a day at the office. Plus, there’s always the dream of great new spring clothes in a smaller size to keep me on track!

NutriSystem Challenge: Let’s get moving

Weigh-in (Day 42, we’re halfway there!):
• Tamsin – 8 oz. (-7 pounds to-date)
• Eden – 9 oz. (-14.5 pounds to-date)

This week the focus turns to exercise. That’s right, you heard me. It’s time to get moving.

I’m pretty active but except for a love of walking and sporadic cycling during the warmer months, I hate exercise. Okay, I’ve said it, now let’s move on.

NOT! Two weeks ago I introduced That Kathryn Girl to Tamsin at the NutriSystem blogger event. They started talking and the next thing I knew, Kathryn had registered us for an intro class at Aradia Fitness Uptown – the studio where Tamsin teaches pole dancing.

I can’t believe I’m telling you this but last Sunday, Kathryn and I took an introductory pole dancing class. Tamsin was our teacher. I guess it’s only fair. She’s been hanging around my blog, the least I could do was check out her turf and besides, she gave us coupons for $10 off. ;) It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

We had a blast and a good workout to boot. Tamsin is an incredible teacher. She’s got tons of energy, a lot of enthusiasm and patience for even the most spastic student.

Check out the photo of Tamsin teaching Kathryn how to slide down a pole.

*Housekeeping note:
I have a confession to make. I’ve actually lost about 14.5 pounds to-date so tonight I updated my results. In the search for an accurate scale, I ended up making a few switches during week one. I thought I had reported my weight loss correctly. I was wrong. The only constant that week was Mr. Bargainista’s weight. We both weighed ourselves and the difference between us has increased by 14.5 pounds since I started the program.

NutriSystem Challenge: Greetings from Las Vegas

Weigh-in (Day 35):
• Tamsin - 1 pound (-6.5 pounds to-date)
• Eden - 1.6 pounds (-8.8 pounds to-date)

Tamsin shares her challenges while vacationing in Las Vegas last week...

Week 5 of our NutriSystem Challenge took a bit of a detour for me. I spent 4 days and nights in what is perhaps the most indulgent city in North America – Las Vegas. So this week, I am talking about how I navigated the many tasty temptations of Vegas.

Before I embarked on my weekend getaway with my girlfriend, I logged into the NutriSystem website (free for anyone to sign up!) to check out the advice in their handy “NutriSystem Dining Out Guide”. I like that NutriSystem acknowledges “real lives” that might include a special night out and the occasional desire to order dinner in. NutriSystem’s advice is all about positioning your mindset before you even enter a restaurant (or flip through the delivery menu). The guide includes sections for different cuisines: Chinese food, Indian food, Italian, Thai, and so on. It lists dishes to avoid and dishes to go for.

It’s all about preparation. I arrived in Vegas feeling prepared to eat healthily and watch out for portion control – especially the notorious buffets. I tossed a few NutriSystem breakfast bars (I’m enjoying the cranberry) into my suitcase to have with my morning coffee and juice. They contain a good amount of protein, which saw me through to lunch most days.

NutriSystem encourages enjoying the dining experience—rather than eating everything to get your money's worth. Given the spectacularly designed restaurants and glorious presentation of each dish (especially the sushi at Koi), enjoying the experience was easy! I ate a salad with every meal and, despite enjoying some expensive dishes, I really did find myself worrying less about clearing my plate.

I didn’t expect to lose any weight this week because of my trip, but I am proud of how I balanced the temptation with my new awareness of how I eat. Portion control is important, but I am convinced that a prepared mindset is just as critical – whether you’re in excessive Vegas or ordering in pizza at home.

Photo credit: Roadsidepictures on Flickr

Our evening with NutriSystem spokesperson, Jillian Barberie Reynolds

Weigh-in (Day 28):
• Tamsin - 1.5 pounds (-5.5 pounds to-date)
• Eden -.8 pound (-7.2 pounds to-date)

Being a blogger has its perks, like 12 free weeks of NutriSystem. Last night, NutriSystem had something else in store. They hosted a blogger event at Atom Egoyan’s CAMERA bar – one of the coolest venues I’ve seen in a while. It’s the perfect spot for mingling with an intimate crowd and has a small screening room at the back.

Tamsin and I were there and joined by Kathryn and Henna. They’d been following our weight loss adventures on the blog and were curious to see what all the fuss was about.

As for dinner, there were plenty of raw fruits, veggies and NutriSystem-friendly hors d’oeuvres on hand. For the curious and those with a sweet tooth, there were a few trays with NutriSystem desserts. Who would have thought of entertaining with them? Somehow, it worked.

Burlington born Jillian Barberie Reynolds hung out with the crowd and shared her experiences living in La La Land and losing her 41lbs. pregnancy weight gain with the help of NutriSystem.

She is a genuine, warm and funny woman who says what’s on her mind. I videotaped her speech so I could share it with you. Unfortunately, at 13+ minutes it was too much for my digicam to handle. You may have seen her on Breakfast Television this morning.

I asked Jillian how she’s managed to maintain her weight. Her answer was simple: although her husband is a great cook, she also likes NutriSystem food and includes it as part of her regular diet.

Another perk of the evening was having the chance to get to know Tamsin. That’s her in the picture with Jillian Barberie.