Weight Loss: What Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem Won’t Tell You

I could easily lose weight in my late teens and twenties. Lots of water and exercise and keeping my calorie total in check was all I really needed to focus on. When I was in my 30s, I gained about 20 pounds. I was working long hours and earning a good salary, so I decided to give the Nutrisystem a try. To sum it up, the food isn’t horrible. You avoid hunger and cravings. I did not change my exercise routine, which at the time consisted mainly of walking. I lost 4 pounds the first week, and for the next 12 weeks, I lost 1-2 pounds per week. I needed to do some weight-bearing exercise when I was at my goal weight to tone up. This regimen worked for me and I was satisfied.

Fast forward ten years. It was deja vu, at least at first. I gained some weight. I started a Nutrisystem program, like before. But, this time, I did not lose weight. In fact, he was gaining quite a bit. I noticed that I was gaining water weight around my fingers, ankles, and even my midsection. I looked at the amounts of sodium and realized that this was the problem. They were out of sight. Nutrisystem publishes what you will be getting sodium, daily, “Nutrisystem’s standard program contains approximately 1,800 mg/day of sodium*.” They add: “Sodium reduction for some people may need less than 1800 mg.”

*Jenny Craig has over 2000mg.

“Some” individuals?!! As you get older, it’s not uncommon for you to start cutting back on your sodium intake. Some people seem to become more sensitive to it. And some people feel their blood pressure rises when they eat a lot of sodium a day.

I have not had to cut my sodium intake. But most days I only have about 25% to 30% of what the Nutrisystem allows you to have. That is a big difference. And if your body is sensitive to salt, you’ll really feel and see the difference in the results of your diet program.

Effectively managing your salt intake is one of 10 incredibly simple yet powerful steps outlined in a program I created. I developed this out of necessity. I was middle-aged. What worked before would no longer work. It took me many years using a lot of trial and error, before I figured out what would work now. The good thing is that this program is really easy to follow and flexible. This way of eating will work even for people who don’t like to diet or exercise, as well as those who have been unable to lose weight in any other way. Last but not least, it doesn’t cost you any extra money. You are going to save money that you would have spent on prepackaged foods from Nutrisystem.

The 10 steps are:

(1) Reduce your salt.
(2) Cut your carbs in half
(3) Eat these vegetables (raw cucumber and celery)
(4) Eat these fruits (Granny Smith apples and white grapefruit)
(5) Drink enough water
(6) Reduce or eliminate certain sweeteners
(7) Evaluate canned foods
(8) Reduce/eliminate dairy consumption and avoid bad fats
(9) Give yourself satisfying but clever snacks
(10) walk

Try just one step this week, you decide which one. When you’re ready, add another step! Add another when you feel ready until you take all 10. I think you will be very happy with the results! And you may feel this way long before you reach the tenth step!