NutriSystem

[Michael]

I decided to try NutriSystem. They offer pre-packaged meals and have a program specifically for vegetarians.

The regular price is $319 for 4 weeks of food. But they had a special where you get a 5th week free. And if you sign up for auto-renew you get 10% off and free shipping. So basically I paid $289 for 5 weeks of food. Basically $10 a day. Not bad, right? Wrong.

First thing I notice is over half the lunches are shakes or meal bars. A lot of the breakfasts are 1 cup portions of cereals. An average day ranges between 500 and 600 calories. You need to supplement their food with your own. The commercials are very deceptive in that regard and that totally defeats the purpose of buying pre-packaged diet plan. Not very impressed.

The breakfasts, lunches, and desserts have all been mediocre. The dinners have been delicious.

Anyway... I just posted about this in my LJ and wanted to share it with everyone here. This is what really pissed me off...


So I'm at work last night, preparing my NutriSystem dessert - hot cocoa, when my co-worker says "hydrolyzed gelatin, you know what that is don't you?" Sure enough it was #2 on the ingredients list.

So this morning I contact customer service using the live chat on their site. I ask if it's derived from animal or plant sources. She says she's pretty sure it's from an animal source. I tell her what gelatin is and that it's not vegetarian. She apologizes and offers to send 2 replacement items. Which was fine. But then I was miffed that she wasn't going to do anything to make sure it didn't happen to someone else. So I asked to return the whole thing and she said I'd receive an e-mail with instructions.

So I get the e-mail and right away I notice they don't cover return shipping. So I call customer service. The rep says those were part of my free week and I can't customize my free week. So I ask why they'd send non-vegetarian items to someone who had specifically requested a vegetarian package? She couldn't answer that. Then she said maybe it was a mixup, that those items shouldn't have been in there. Yeah, right.

I was really pissed off and trying not to take it out on the her. I worked in a phone center for 5 years so I know what it's like when people bitch at you about something that's not your fault. So I finally told her to just send the two replacement items.

If you're considering this program I'd say don't. I was excited to see they offered a vegetarian program and was more than happy to support it. If they're not going to address my concerns and do what's right the only thing I can do is try to keep others from making the same mistake.

[purrpelle]

Wow michael. that sucks!

My old roomate worked for Jenny Craig years ago, and all those weight loss centers are basically crap. she got two weeks training (mostly sales, not nutrition)and the whole motto was to sell as much of their product as possible, try to rope in the clients friends, and sell the program to anyone even if they didn't need to lose any weight. :wall:

I think the the "zone diet" has a food delivery system as well, but it's more expensive though I have heard the food is pretty good. (vegetarian, not vegan)

eDiets has a vegetarian option too I think.

[Life2k]

Thanks for telling us. I was curious about that too.

[vggiegirl]

Thanks for the heads up! I was considering the program to supplement Weight Watchers...I won't bother now :)

[rainbowmoon]

I was really thinking about doing this over the summer, but it sounds crappy. I REALLY liked the idea of having a specific, preset list of foods I need to eat everyday, because I suck at making choices for myself. But it sounds like this is not the way to go! Sorry you had to pay all that money though...it might not be that much for you depending on what you make, but I think it sucks to spend $300 on something that isn't too great.

[Vanilla Bean]

Michael, did you have to pay shipping to send back the non-veg items? Since the woman you spoke to said that there was a "mix-up" and those items shouldn't have been in your order, ask why you should have to pay for shipping to send the items back - that would be like paying for THEIR mistake. She said the items were part of your free week, so was the shipping free for that week? If so, then why would she want you to pay for it to be shipped back? (Or did they ship all 5 weeks at once?) I feel bad that you were unhappy with their service. Thanks for the info, I will tell my co-workers about this since they have all been interested in trying this diet.

[eggplant]

I had a friend who worked there years ago as a "consultant." Basically, although she had nothing more than a high school diploma, they had her giving out "health advice" to clients, giving the impression that she was some sort of nutritionist when really she was just a salesperson. She felt really weird about it.

I'm not in favor of diet programs that include prepackaged food. First of all, many of those foods are highly processed and not good for you. Secondly, what happens once you reach your goal weight? Are you going to eat pre-packaged Nutrisystem or Jenny Craig food for the rest of your life? Unless you learn how to prepare your own nutritious, tasty food and still eat in moderation, you're going to gain the weight right back as soon as you go off the plan. And we now know that yo-yo dieting (losing and gaining, losing and gaining) is worse for your health than just remaining overweight.

[Michael]

Michael, did you have to pay shipping to send back the non-veg items? Since the woman you spoke to said that there was a "mix-up" and those items shouldn't have been in your order, ask why you should have to pay for shipping to send the items back - that would be like paying for THEIR mistake.

They didn't say anything about returning them. So I assume they're mine to give away, throw away, whatever.


I'm not in favor of diet programs that include prepackaged food. First of all, many of those foods are highly processed and not good for you. Secondly, what happens once you reach your goal weight?

Processed foods don't really bother me. And when I'm making an effort I usually eat fairly healthy.

And I've been dieting for a year now, I'll have another 2 months to go once this is over, so I know what to eat to lose or maintain. Whether or not I eat those things is another story. :D I know what you mean though, it can be an issue for a lot of people.

[CarbLover]

That sucks that it is false advertising. They make it sound like they give you enough food for the entire day, $300 a month for maybe half of what you need to eat is ridiculous. BTW I checked their website and it contains a warning about the gelatin now. It says you can buy a package without the gelatin by choosing which specific items you want to get.

[kpickell]

Never heard of this, but thanks for the warning. That's really expensive, and then for it not to be any good, and only contain a 4th of the calories you need... :(
I hope you get your money back!

[Michael]

BTW I checked their website and it contains a warning about the gelatin now. It says you can buy a package without the gelatin by choosing which specific items you want to get.

Ah, that could have been there before. The rep probably would have mentioned it if it was. I guess I need to call them about replacing another item too. :rolleyes:

Those items are not vegetarian. I don't understand why they can't just replace them with something else!!! :mad:

[jenni-anti-fur]

wow thanx for the heads up on this---my mom tried this system--not the veggie one--she isnt a veggie-and she didnt care for it and sent it all back.

peace and love

jenn