Protein punch and Nutrisystem

What a short work week for me!  Since I took off Sunday and Monday, that means I am done with the week already.  Yay!  It is also a rest day for me – one of those really difficult things to do.  To help my sore muscles out, I made a protein-rich brekkie that looks different than my usual!  In the bullet blender, I put:

1 egg, 1/2 cup of egg whites, 1/2 scoop (15 g) of unflavored/unsweetened whey protein isolate, a dash of stevia, 1 tbsp oats, 1 tsp cinnamon and blended up.

Poured over a preheated pan sprayed with nonstick coating.

This set up pretty quickly and when I was able to get a large spatula under it, I flipped it over.

Even without having coffee, I was successful – yay!  I wonder if I would have shown a photo if I didn’t make it…..

I made some of my blueberry sauce to put in the center after I folded it onto my plate and then used the rest on top.  1 tbsp of vanilla yogurt just for fun.

Quite good,  I don’t think I would even bother with the oats next time.  It had a firmer texture, much like a fritatta has.  It was kind of like a big thick crepe. The best part was where the blueberry sauce had soaked in.

This baby packed in 32 grams of protein and about 270 calories!  When I told John, he said I should just eat a steak next time….

Worked fast and furious today.   I decided to make a tasting plate of finger food so I could work through lunch (bad girl…).

This was really light and refreshing!

I had someone pose a question to me about Nutrisystem.   Really long time readers may remember that I did Nutrisystem a couple of years ago for about 6 months or so (not even sure I had readers back then).  It was after my big plateau (and regain) and I was kind of bouncing around from trying different things.  I knew WW just wasn’t working for me anymore (core or flex), and eDiets GI program was neat, but I was just so tired.  So tired of thinking about food.  So tired of having to plan everything and have the weight stay the same.  I was almost paralyzed with too much nutritional information.  So, I decided to do Nutrisystem.  I just wanted to go for a period of time where I didn’t have to think about anything.  I just ate what I was told when I was told to and could get my brain out of its funk.  And you know what?  It worked.  I did NS for about 6 months or so.  I did change it a little bit, as I ate a little more fat and and protein than I was ‘supposed’ to.  I also was not working out to the extent I do now, so it was okay.

A lot of people knock meal delivery programs without actually understanding what they are all about or how to use them properly.  Some people think the foods are full of chemicals because they are shelf stable.  They actually are not.  It’s the vacuum sealing process that keeps them shelf stable.  The food is processed, though – and I did not care for anything with a sauce on it (so I didn’t order it).   I really began to enjoy the guidelines that NS set of how to make a balanced meal and snack, with protein in everything.  It kept me pretty satisfied, so that is something I stick to now.  Some of the food was good, some really tasted bad to me, and some was kind of middling.  I don’t really think I would enjoy any of that food now because my tastes have changed so much, but if you eat a lot of Lean Cuisines and Smart Ones, you would probably do just fine.  I kind of ‘weaned’ myself off the program by alternating days of my own food with NS food until I stopped all together as I decided I was in an okay place again.

I thought of NS as a tool, and it was a tool that I needed to use at that point.  Just like any number of tools out there, like food trackers, pedometers, GoWear fit, bodybugg, protein bars, the scale, clothing.  Whatever.  It is something that helps you on the weight loss path.  It doesn’t do it for you.  Some people expect it to magically cure everything.  It doesn’t.  You still need to learn how to cope in real life without the food.  Again, the reason why so many people fail is that they assume once you go off the food, you can go back to the way you ate before.  So, that is my experience and take on it.

John made up lattes today:

And I busted out the rest of my lines to be done for the weekend!  Work on my new computer is great, especially when my company’s end is working 😀

Dinner time was something new – turnips!  I got some at the farmer’s market last weekend.  I need to do a whole GVE post on them.  I roasted them up in the toaster oven for about 20 minutes on 400.

Served along side some chicken with laughing cow and caramelized onions.  Sometimes meals at home are just better than what you can get out, you know?  Unless you pay an arm and a leg.

Tonight is a little weeding if it stops raining, then movie time with my hubby 😀

Tonight’s snack?

Granola bar.  Yum.

21 thoughts on “Protein punch and Nutrisystem

  1. Ali

    Lori-
    Thank you for this! I appreciate the advice and I have been a long time reader, not wanting to delurk. Kind of creepy I guess, lol!
    Anyhow- your chicken looks great too- Thanks again!

  2. Tish

    Interesting about your Nutrisystem experience. That’s one I never tried. I read something a couple weeks ago that I found quite insightful. The author said that if you thought back about all the (failed) diets you’d been on throughout your life time, you could probably learn something useful (positive or negative) from each one. I think that’s true. Even from the crazy ones, I’ve learned what sorts of things work for me and what kinds of foods keep me satisfied for longer.

  3. cammy@TippyToeDiet

    I know a couple of folks who did a similar program to NS and had great results. One friend didn’t, but that’s because she forgot the “transition” part. She just went back to the same old stuff. I like what Tish wrote, we can learn from most of the programs out there…if we’re open to it.
    .-= cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Oops! for Dinner =-.

  4. Susan

    Your food looks great as usual. Very interesting about the Nutra System program. I always wonder about that program when I see the commericals for it thanks for explaining it to us. Your right it is one more tool out there eventually folks have to learn how to fix there own healthy meals.
    Have a great weekend!

  5. Ali

    That chicken with the onions and cheese looks divine. At first I thought it was a piece of toast with onions on top. I don’t know where my brain is today! Well, I do because it is Friday!

  6. Amy

    That sounds like a good idea for breakfast – I am getting a bit tired of my oats after five days straight, need something different for the weekend… And I am glad to hear you took your NRLFW book with you to the gym – maybe I will take mine with me, too!
    .-= Amy´s last blog ..Feeling Groovy =-.

  7. Jody - Fit at 52

    I think that brekkie looks YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have that over a steak any day but I am not a fan of read meat so…. All your meals look so pretty!!!! One of my 35 year reunion friends does that too & it is so cool!

    I am so with you on finding your own way & the “tools” out there.. and that YOU have to do it & nobody can do it for you. I have a post coming up this Tuesday on that subject matter. Yes, slow me.. always trying to keep ahead… plus if I travel to UCLA, that takes up a lot of my time in a week.

    I actually think food at those fancy places are not as good as others.. sometimes… but I hardly ever go out! 🙂
    .-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Flavored Almonds Recipes =-.

  8. Fran

    After reading so much about it I bought my first can of protein powder. It arrived today so will try it tomorrow after my run.

  9. Gina Fit by 41 Maybe 42

    Great breakfast idea. I need more protein.

    I get the part about being paralyzed with too much nutritional info. You said it beautifully.

    And your dinner looks wonderful. I’ve never had turnips before (no idea how to prepare them). Thanks for the idea.
    .-= Gina Fit by 41 Maybe 42´s last blog ..Getting Crotchety Here =-.

  10. Leah

    Nice breakfast idea! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on NutriSystem. I’ve never tried it, but I also see it as a tool that might work for some people should they try to use it.

    BTW- All your gardening looks nice! I just planted a little a week ago as well. Love the painted daisies!
    .-= Leah´s last blog ..Weigh-In … Summer Challenge #3 =-.

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