Nustrisystem Fast 5 Review - Week 1 Weight Loss Progress

I had mentioned previously that I was trying to lose some weight by working with Nutrisystem Nation Blogger. I started off with the Nutrisystem Fast 5 starting on January 13th and have made some progress so far.

The Nutrisystem Fast 5 is a one week jump-start kit that gets you started to quickly lose weight. I don't know about other people, but my biggest problem with any diet regimen is the lack of motivation. Any jump start helps keep me motivated. The Fast 5 kit is supposed to help me lose 5 pounds within my first week!

Included is a one-week meal plan that features 7 breakfasts, lunches and dinners that were specially selected to help the weight loss jump-start. Included is also new shakes that were specially formulated to fight off hunger and boost metabolism. After the Fast 5 week, I transition into the regular monthly program.

And how has this worked out for me so far? I unfortunately cheated and had a few too many drinks once or twice, but I have followed the guidelines for the most part and eaten a lot cleaner. I didn't lose 5 pounds within my first week, but I loss a total of 3! For all the good meals and some inappropriate cheats along the way, I am absolutely thrilled with the results. It is definitely a great motivation for me. I anticipate easily losing another 10 pounds within the next two months as long as I stick with Nutrisystem.

Expect some before after pictures sometime in the future!

Some tricks my Nutrisystem counselor taught me to help get through the first week:

• Drinking non-calorie beverages around like diet soda, crystal light and water to stay hydrated and feel full.
• Eating plenty of veggies prepared and cut up and then some cooked and ready to reheat.

Nutrisystem Nation Blogger & Recent Updates

I know you've noticed the lack of updates and I apologize. I wish that I could say that posting schedules will return to normalacy soon, but I really can't make any promises. I am attempting to cut into my holiday hours and prepare some additional posts, but the current work schedule doesn't really allow for any regularity.

So what else have I been up to? How about gaining an additional pudge here and little bit of fat there? Busy schedule means no time for working out but lots of time for pigging out. And with Thanksgiving having just passed, my additional pudginess is more than I can bare.

Luckily for me, I am now officially a member of the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger program. How will this make me lose weight? They basically feed me and my pounds are supposed to drop. I know we're all a little skeptical here, so keep an eye out for my blog updates starting January 2014. I'll record the meals and progress along the way.

Who knows? Maybe my New Years Resolution will actually work out this time.

Please update me on your lives! I feel like I've been missing so many connections since I've been MIA. What types of posts are you hoping to see? Any New Years Resolution?

Disclaimer: While I will be receiving some free meals to test out, I am not getting paid to write about Nutrisystem. Everything I write is my honest opinion.

Origins Samples & 5 Vegetables Drink

I vacationed in Atlantic City the past week and stopped at the Macy's in Center City Philadelphia on the way back. Nancy from the Origins counter was the biggest sweetheart in the world. She even offered me a complimentary facial and gave me a sample of the Origins A Perfect World Guardian. I fell in love with the product as soon as she applied it to the back of my hand. My hand felt so supple and soft that I could not resist touching it. It is similar to one of those Lush hand treatment experiences. If you're ever in the area, definitely stop by to visit the ladies at this Origins counter.

Sample pot of Origins A Perfect World Age-defense skin guardian with White Tea

Nancy was very excited to let me know that Origins is very loved by many beauty bloggers. She didn't say magazines or editors, but bloggers! Origins is a brand name loved by magazine editors and celebrities alike; I'm proud to know that the blogger seal of approval is held in great esteem by them.

Mysterious Green Drink

The drink above doesn't look too appetizing, does it? That's because it isn't. I was on my way to making a fruit smoothie this morning when I decided that I would instead use up the random stale produce in my fridge. I added green apple, pineapple and green bell pepper. The drink is not as horrible as it looks and sounds since the pineapple masks most of the scent.

Many years ago I loss weight drinking daily a fresh vegetable mix consisting of blended green apple, green bell pepper, celery, cucumber and bitter melon. I drank a big glass every morning and effortlessly loss 5 pounds in less 2 weeks. I know people who claim that this specific combination eases weight loss. Personally, I think the weight naturally dropped because the big glass of yuck filled me up with nutrients and  made me lose my appetite. It also made me feel very energetic throughout the day. I eventually stopped drinking the concoction partly because I hated cleaning the juicer, but mostly because I naturally have low blood pressure. The daily consumption of celery lowered my blood pressure more than I liked. I guess I could just reduce or eliminate the celery, but I decided to stop drinking the disgusting drink altogether.

---

June Giveaway A Day daily prize is $10 Paypal or $15 Sigma Gift Card.

Is Fasting Good or Bad? My 3-Day Water Fast

Some people fast for religious reasons, cultural reasons or health-related reasons. Regardless, I believe that a fast, when done correctly , under professional guidance and under the right mindset, can do one a lot of good. It can rid the body of toxins. I think that fasting is bad and extremely harmful if one just wants to lose weight fast, starve oneself or control one's weight/life through starvation. The mind must be sound before the body can be.

Some people scorn at even the idea of a fast, calling it unhealthy and claiming that it will shut down your metabolism and burn off your muscles. While there is some truth to those claims, not all fasts are created equal and not everyone fasting will be affected the same way. There are many books that write of the benefit of a fast. Some doctors recommend complete water fasts for morbidly obese people or people with digestive and colon issues.

This is not a post about whether fasting is good or bad in general. That part is up to your doctor to help you decide. I personally believe that a fast every few months or once/twice a year is beneficial for me. It clears my body of toxins and gives me a clearer mind, evident in my yoga practice and meditation. This post is only to share my fasting experience with my readers. Perhaps it could be useful to someone fasting or thinking of starting a fast. As this is not my first time doing a fast, I've had good trial and error and have reaped the benefit before.

Day 1 Fast. I drank 3 liters of water and did 20 minute of light cardio. I had a fairly normal day with several slight pangs of hunger that lasted only minutes at a time. Water suppressed the hunger completely. I slept normally at night.