I kept telling myself that I’d get in shape, but that motivation lasted about a week, and then I was back to my bad habits. Between rich, decadent dinners with friends and always sitting in the office, I started to notice that I didn’t quite have the body I was hoping for.
I knew the problem started with my diet – when I wasn’t eating out, I was cooking foods with little to no nutritional value at home or eating some of my quick go-to's like cereal which wasn’t helping my weight situation.
When I started looking into weight loss programs, I was pretty overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start. I wanted something where I didn’t have to starve myself or fast, but also wanted real results - and preferably quick.
During dinner with some friends, I started talking about how I needed to stop eating out so much and try to lose some weight. One of my friends, Margot, said she uses Nutrisystem throughout the week for some of her meals, while my other friend Shannan uses Optavia.
I trust both of them but honestly didn’t know much about either Nutrisystem or Optavia. I knew Nutrisystem has been around for a long time and I’d heard of Optavia a few times, so I just decided to try them both over the next two months.
Here’s a recap of the meals, plans, and resources from Nutrisystem and Optavia:
Nutrisystem Uniquely Yours Max+ Plan | $379.99 Per Month
I went online to find the plan for me and was pretty impressed with their selection – they have plans designed specifically for men, women, and partners, and even options for diabetics and vegetarians so they can meet everyone’s individual needs. They also have a foolproof plan for those looking to lose 50 lbs or more with their new Complete Plan.
I was drawn to the Uniquely Yours Max+ plan which comes out to $13 a day for all my meals and has tons of exclusive bonuses. It offers new premium meals with up to 30g of protein, restaurant-style menu choices, and even a personalized nutrition plan to help me stay on track all through their NuMi app. After I picked my plan, I chose my meals and they arrived on my doorstep the following week.
Nutrisystem combines high-protein meals with lower-glycemic nutrition which allows me to eat 6 times a day. I felt full, satiated, and satisfied throughout the day – the meals were so good. My absolute favorite was the Grain-Crusted Pollock with Vegetables, but the Bistro-Style Toasted Ravioli and Chipotle Chicken & Bacon Flatbread were close seconds. I still got to enjoy some of my favorite snacks like Honey Mustard Pretzels and even Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcakes. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on options or any rich, complex flavors either!
The food options blew me away – I couldn’t get over their variety of choices, but what really surprised me was that they actually tasted incredible. Whether I was eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I knew I had something not only delicious waiting for me but also something that was going to keep me full and help me lose weight thanks to each meal's balanced nutrition.
On the days when I was hankering for a drive-thru meal, I just hopped on the NuMi app and talked to a coach! They walked me through what my choices mean when it comes to my eating habits, and how to build healthier, more sustainable ones. They’re also available 24/7, so I never felt alone throughout the whole month I tried Nutrisystem.
Optavia Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan | $378.35 Per Month
I was surprised to see that Optavia uses a social-selling structure, so I called up Shannan and asked how she got started. She jumped into giving me an overload of information and told me I should go with the Optimal Weight 5&1 which was their most popular plan of the three they had available.
The Essential Optimal Kit (5&1) was delivered right to my door and came with meals like Creamy Vanilla Shake Mix, Red Berry Crunchy O’s Cereal, and Rustic Tomato Herb Penne.
Like Nutrisystem, Optavia lets me eat six times a day, but I wasn’t nearly as full as I was with Nutrisystem. The “meals” were more like snacks and I never felt fully satisfied.
I was pretty let down with their meal selection and felt like I still had to find ways to eat healthy outside their choices. Shannan was really great in coaching me and supporting me - and Optavia has a huge community – but overall, it didn’t give me the nutrients I needed throughout the day. I even found myself snacking outside of the Optavia food.
I was hungry throughout most of the day, the meals were fairly bland and lackluster, and I also saw they had a BMI calculator on their site which turned me off a bit – I’ve heard those aren’t the most accurate nowadays.
Plus, after I told Shannan I wasn’t totally sold on Optavia, I noticed she stopped talking to me as much as she used to. I’d heard horror stories about social selling and losing friends, but never thought I would end up in that situation – I wish I would’ve taken that possibility more seriously before I started.
Final Notes
Nutrisystem is definitely the one for me! After I finished my month with Optavia, I went right back to Nutrisystem. Now that I’ve been on my plan consistently, I even get the freedom to eat out with my friends again thanks to their simple guidelines and tips!
Even though they have similar prices, Nutrisystem offers so much more; their meals are bigger and taste way better, they have 150+ options, and I feel like I have a coach that’s actually invested in my health rather than someone who can profit off my purchase.
Plus, I just love Nutrisystem’s structure. The ease and convenience of having everything delivered right to my door combined with 24/7 access to Nutrisystem’s coaches make it feel that much more personalized which helps me reach my goals faster.
UPDATE: The awesome folks at Nutrisystem are extending a new special offer to our readers. Save 50% OFF Two Months Of Nutrisystem Meals & Shakes!
