Tailor-Made Weight Loss
Making NutriSystem work for your personality
type
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Keeping Your Program Fresh
Whether you’re a morning person, a
night owl, a socialite, or an
introvert, try these ideas to keep
your weight loss program on track
and in step with your lifestyle:
- Jumpstart your weight loss
by trying new carbohydrate
choices like garbanzo beans,
couscous and whole grain pitas.
-
Don't forget about
vegetables like artichokes,
beets, cauliflower, mushrooms
and snow pea pods. (And
remember, vegetable juice can
also count as a vegetable
serving.)
- Make a fruit salad on the
weekend with a big blend of your
favorite fruit (like cantaloupe,
cherries, grapes, honeydew,
kiwi, mandarin oranges, peaches,
plums, raspberries, etc. ).
Portion it into individual
containers for use as fruit
servings during the week.
- Snack on "unlimited" items
like cucumbers, radishes, celery
and zucchini. They're great with
the no-calorie dressings
available these days.
- Put your chocolate
NutriSystem items in the freezer
for a refreshing twist.
- Add a little more zing to
your NutriSystem entrees with
spices like paprika, onion
powder, garlic powder, oregano,
sage, rosemary—even chili
powder. Sprinkle seasonings on
before heating entrees for
maximum flavor.
- Make a pitcher of water with
lemons—or try adding limes and
even oranges for more flavor!
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People come in all shapes and sizes—and
personality types, too. So when it comes to
weight loss, it only makes sense that you
need to acknowledge "the way you are" and
find a program that suits that
individuality. That's where NutriSystem
comes in! One of the best things about this
program and its meal plan is that you can
tailor it to make it work for YOU—for your
own unique lifestyle and behavior patterns.
Not a morning person or big
breakfast eater? No problem on this program.
Starving when you get home from work? We can
handle that. Ultra social and used to eating
lots of meals out? Success can still be
yours. All it takes is a little awareness
and ingenuity, and you can create a
NutriSystem plan that's perfectly suited to
your personality type.
Check out these examples for
ideas on tailoring the NutriSystem program
to fit your personality:
The Early Riser
A breed that stands alone, these folks pop
out of bed in the morning, ready to greet
the day with a great big smile and a hearty
heave-ho. Sound familiar? If this is
you, then a big breakfast can be a key
component to your weight loss success.
Load up. Filling choices like the
NutriSystem pancakes or scrambled eggs might
be a great entrée choice, along with some
cantaloupe, and even 1 ounce of ham for your
protein serving. Some could even add some
oatmeal or a slice of pumpernickel bread as
a carb serving to complete a great day
kickoff meal. Along with a hot cup of
coffee, it's a strong start to the day.
And for those of you who are
really ambitious in the morning, definitely
go grab that workout before your day gets
underway. Studies show that people who
exercise in the morning have better overall
fitness success—not because it's a better
time, physically, to exercise, but more so
because those who fit in their routines in
the morning stand a better chance of
actually completing them (versus those who
wait to work out until later in the day,
only to have their schedules change and
their work out get bumped). So rise and
shine (and work out), everybody!
The Night Owl
These are the people who couldn't give a
"hoot" about anything that happens much
before 10 o'clock in the morning, yet are
still rarin' to go well past 10 o'clock at
night. If this is you, then you know
that hunger management from dinnertime well
into the nighttime is key. On the
NutriSystem plan, you can set yourself up
for success and satisfaction every
night—here's how. For starters, back up your
day. Eat a lighter, later breakfast , maybe
getting your dairy serving in a morning
latte with a granola bar and apple on the
go, and then bump back lunch an hour or so,
if possible. Have your afternoon snack later
in the day, so you can enjoy dinner around 6
pm or later. Additionally, "save" your fruit
from either your afternoon snack or from
your dinner meal to have later in the
evening, either with your dessert (the
NutriSystem chocolate desserts go fabulously
with some fresh strawberries), or even
later, perhaps along with a cup of decaf
tea.
Here's another idea: get some
Crystal Light or other low-calorie beverage
and pour it into ice cube trays or freezer
pop molds. It can be the perfect treat when
those late-night cravings hit.
And one last tip for you
night owls out there—brush your teeth when
you're finished with dessert. Try it—it
really helps to ward off late-night
snacking. (Because really, who wants Dorito
breath when they head to bed?)
The Social Butterfly
We all know this person—the guy or gal who
flourishes at lunches out, cocktail parties,
and neighborhood barbeques. And because of
it, these folks are often drawn to social
events, which can be tough when you're
trying to lose weight. But don't despair!
If this is you, you just need to
master a few tricks of the trade and those
smaller sizes will be fluttering by in no
time. It's all about planning
ahead. Business lunch today? Then load up on
a later breakfast packed with protein like
cheese or Canadian bacon, which helps you
stay full longer (so you're not starving
when you walk in the restaurant for lunch).
Then choose a light salad from the menu and
enjoy the company with a glass of iced tea
or diet soda, and then catch your
NutriSystem lunch entrée when you get back
to your desk (or, you could have it before
you go).
The same thing applies if
happy hour is calling your name. Sure, you
can go—just make sure to get in a hefty
afternoon snack right before you go—maybe
some berries with some cottage cheese. And
do one more thing for yourself: decide well
ahead of time you ARE and ARE NOT going
to allow yourself to have, even drink-wise.
A few pineapple chunks and a glass of club
or diet soda is a great choice; five buffalo
wings and four beers isn't. But you have to
make those choices before you're faced with
them—leave nothing to chance at the bar or
restaurant where you can be easily derailed.
Think ahead as to how you're going to feel
afterwards, and make a plan that you can
stick with. Also, be sure that you have the
salads and fresh produce you need waiting at
home to make a quick, healthy NutriSystem
dinner right away when you get there—no
grabbing junk food or takeout meals on the
way home.
For weekend events or those
at your house, just be sure to stock up on
tons of fruit, vegetables and no-cal drinks
(and it's fine to take them with you
wherever you go, too). Above all, make a
mental shift and realize that truly
makes you happy is your social nature and
the energy you receive from and give to
people—not the things you consume while
you're with them.
The Homebody
For lack of a better term, "homebodies"
spend more time at home than out and about.
This can be a huge challenge when it comes
to things like overeating and portion
control—obstacles that people who work from
home, many stay-at-home moms, and
introverted-types can surely attest to.
If this is you, losing weight is all
about control—controlling yourself and
controlling your environment. For
this type, getting enough healthy foods in
the house (good fruit and veggie choices)
isn't so much the challenge as is keeping
the bad foods (chips, cookies, baked goods)
out of the house. Just because you'll be
staying at home more doesn't mean you should
stock the cupboard with junk food, or have
the local pizza place on your speed dial.
Shop wisely and don't bring the temptations
into the house.
Also, since you have more
time at home, use it to your weight loss
advantage. Cook well for yourself—make some
gourmet vegetable dishes, or take a whole
afternoon to slow roast a turkey breast and
then portion it into daily protein servings
for the week. Use some of that home time to
cut up fruit and vegetables for the week
ahead, or make breakfast smoothies for your
fruit and yogurt servings. Hard boil some
eggs, or heck, even grow some of your own
tomatoes and zucchinis—make homemade salsa!
Get creative and use your at-home resources
to your advantage.
If you do find yourself at
home a lot and constantly tempted by your
kitchen, try this: spread out your
NutriSystem meals and additional servings
throughout the day. Maybe break up your
afternoon snack into a morning and an
afternoon snack (take a fruit break between
breakfast and lunch, and enjoy a yogurt in
the afternoon). Or save your salad from
lunch and have it later in the evening. Use
the flexibility of your meal plan and find a
strategy that works for you. And remember,
just because you're within twenty feet of
your fridge all day or night doesn't mean
you need to constantly open it. Control
yourself from the very beginning and it will
become a habit. |