What is the Nutrisystem Fast 5? And, Do You Really Lose Weight? #NSNation #Sponsored

Disclosure:  Nutrisystem is providing their  My Way Select Favorites program free of charge to me over a three-month period as part of my participation in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program.  All views I share are mine and mine alone.

Yesterday I shared a post about how I was chosen for the 21 week Nutrisysem My Way Select Favorites program.  My reason for joining this weight loss program was to lose the weight I worked so hard last year in losing - the baby weight from the past few years.  It seems that during this crazy year of dealing with terrible two's and three's, our crazy work and life schedules and just life in general, I gave into snacking more and spent less time working out.  As a result, the pounds slowly inched back on.  So, when I was selected to participate in the Nutrisystem blogger program, I jumped at the opportunity.  It came at a good time, too, as I found myself getting upset with myself about putting the weight back on.  It was so hard to take it off the year before and years past.  But, within a matter of a few months, I had put the weight back on and added some to the scale.  

But, being enrolled into the My Way Select Favorites program from Nutrisystem and having access to weight loss counselors, I knew this was the step I needed to reach my weight loss goals and keep the weight off.  Like I shared yesterday, I am nearing the end of 8 weeks on the Nutrisystem program.  For the first week, I took part in what is called the Nutrisystem Fast 5, which gets your body and mind set for the whole weight loss journey -- which for me, will be 21 weeks in total.  Eek, will I be able to lose the 20 lbs I am hoping to in only 21 weeks?  It took me almost an entire year last year to do.  We will just have to wait and see.  But, I will say that since being on the NutristyemMy Way Select Favorites program my body doesn't feel like it is on a diet.  The foods from Nutristyem are tasty and there is a wonderful variety to choose from for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even snack time and dessert.  I am not eating the same foods over and over again.  I think this variety and the great taste of the food is what has me sticking to the diet plan.

So, back to the Nutrisystem Fast 5.  What is it?  And, do you actually lose 5 lbs. in the first week. 

Speed up your slim down with Fast 5, a special intro week included with your order, designed to help accelerate weight loss in your first week**:

• 7 specially selected breakfasts, lunches and dinners
• Special 7-day meal plan for fast results in week one
• 7 FREE Energi-ZING™ shakes to rev your metabolism^†
• 7 FREE Craving Crusher™ shakes to fight off hunger^†

It wasn't until I welcomed my girls that I took dieting seriously and knew that it was work.  Back in my 20's I could skip a few meals here and there or work out harder and see the pounds come off.  But, as I said goodbye to my 20's and welcomed my 30's, along with my girls, I found that losing weight was not as easy as it once was...thanks in part to my slowing metabolism and also my hypothyroidism caused by my cancer treatment in 2008.  But, like all things you are looking to change, it takes dedication, will power and a structured program to be successful -- and, this is what you get when you sign up for the Nutrisystem program.  The first week on the plan, you go through a kind of weight loss boot camp -- well, this is how I thought of it, as it is a fast track to losing up to 5 lbs. with food and special shakes.  

Why start with Fast 5?  Well, most people looking to lose weight like to see results.  And, if you find yourself loosing up to 5 lbs in a week, you are more prone to stay on the plan and continue to lose weight. You want to see results quick and fast and if you don't, you usually walk away.  Also, knowing that you have the ability to lose 5 lbs, or get your money back is also enticing.

The Nutrisystem Fast 5 has plans for both men and women and is structured to your metabolism and any dietary restrictions.  

The Nutrisystem Fast 5 includes 7 breakfast, lunch and dinners and 7 of each of the two Nutrisystem Shakes specifically made for this portion of the diet.

• EnergiZING™shakes– Packed with energizing B vitamins, caffeine and green tea extract, the EnergiZING™ shake is formulated to boost metabolism and provides calcium and vitamin D.
• Craving Crusher™shakes — To fight hunger, the Craving Crusher™ shake features a unique blend of filling fiber and protein, and a nourishing mix of vitamins and antioxidants for optimal well-being. It is designed to help curb common dieting pitfalls, like hitting the vending machine at work or the snack cabinet at home in the late afternoon.

What I liked about the Nutrisystem plan, especially the Fast 5 kit is that they took the guesswork out of what to eat.  

Seeing that this was a new diet plan, I didn't want to be overwhelmed with trying to count points, figure out what I could and couldn't eat for each meal, etc.  By being provided with pre-picked meals, and having the first week spelled out for me, I was able to concentrate on starting my weight loss journey on a great food, and concentrating on losing the up to five pounds Nutristyem guarantees.

The foods you see above are the foods you will be enjoying during the Nutrisystem Fast 5 and the remaining weeks.  I am taking part in the My Way Select Favorites program, which is 21 weeks, with a personal weight loss goal of 20 lbs. As you can see in the picture above, the Fast 5 is made up of not just meals but also shakes.  The shakes are what rev up your metabolism and make you see results fast.  There are two shakes included in this week's kit, which include 7 Energi-ZING shakes that rev up your metabolism and 7 Craving Crusher shakes that fight off hunger.  I will lie, I was a little hesitant at first that just drinking shakes would help me lose the weight.  But, knowing that I wasn't giving up food altogether and simply sipping on shakes throughout the day, made the first week on the Nutrisystem plan easier.

Back when I was undergoing cancer treatment, I spent the month of treatment drinking only shakes from a straw and using a feeding tube.  After treatment, I didn't want to see shakes again.  It was just something mentally that I was blocking out, as it reminded me of the difficult and grueling effects of chemo and radiation, and how lousy I was feeling, trying to keep my weight in check and food down.  So, when I saw that I would be drinking shakes for the Fast 5 plan, I had a little anxiety attack.  I wondered if I could get through the week without drinking the shakes, and then found myself asking why I joined the plan.  But, I knew that I wanted to achieve my weight loss goals and sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do.  And, after slowly drinking the first shake, I found myself liking them, and looking forward to each shake of the day.  I couldn't believe how the Craving Crusher shakes really worked in keeping my food cravings and thoughts of needing to keep eating at bay.

So, did I lose the 5 lbs. they guarantee on the Nutrisystem plan?  Well, I will start by telling you that this first week was a real challenge for me, and I only lost 4 lbs, as I was dealing with the girls being sick as well as the anxiety of my annual oncology visit.  I think that if I didn't have the oncology visit, I would have been more calm and not looking to deviate from the Fast 5 plan.  But, you know what, even though I only lost 4 lbs. instead of the 5, I will still happy with the results, under the circumstances.

I was so proud of myself by the end of the first week, and found myself excited to continue on the Nutrisystem weight loss journey and see what the final scale numbers read.  I hope you will follow on as I share my ups and downs and personal weight loss journey with you over the next couple of months.  I missed a few posts early on, as I am required to post bi-weekly as being apart of this blogger program, so you will find me doubling up on posts in a given week, to catch up.  Then, I will be back to posting bi-weekly until the final week.  

*Results vary depending on starting weight, adherence to the program and other factors. If you’re not 100% satisfied, call within 14 days and return the remaining food for a full refund plus return shipping. First order only.

Disclosure:  Nutrisystem is providing their  My Way Select Favorites program free of charge to me over a three-month period as part of my participation in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program.  All views I share are mine and mine alone.