Nutrisystem

[fatrockstar]

My dad lost 40+ pounds on this diet. His diabetes is practically in remission, and his doctor has taken him off of a couple of the meds he was on to regulate it. When I was there for my reunion I would open the cupboards and instead of boxes of granola bars from Costco I was greeted by a wall of prepackaged, brightly-labeled Nutrisystem meals. It was disappointing. 20 years ago as a hungry teenager I would not have let their presence keep me from eating. Now... I know how much that shit costs, and my dad is on a budget these days.

I take an interest in what my dad does. I worry about his health and overall well-being. He's the closest family I have right now until my sister pulls her head out of her arse and visits me (which will most likely be never). 20 years ago the Nutrisystem program left my dad many, many pounds lighter, but deficient in several nutrients. He said it wasn't like that anymore and said I should try it. "It's less than $300 a month for food," he tells me, as if I have the budget for it. I nod and the day continues.

He and I don't see eye-to-eye on a lot of diet and fitness things. I hesitate to blame his age, because I know a lot of people his age that aren't cantankerous and stubborn.

Example #1: I say "if you're having back problems, work on strengthening your core muscles, dad -- it's cheaper than that inversion thing you got off of Amazon.com." His response? "I'M NOT GOING TO DO SIT-UPS BECAUSE THEY'LL AGGRAVATE MY BACK. END OF STORY."

Example #2: I say "I have tried light and fat-free dressings and it's the one thing I can't get used to. Everything else is fine, but ff dressings are so awful I'd rather eat salad dry." His response (repeated several times until I stop interrupting him to tell him he's not listening) is "YOU CAN GET USED TO ANYTHING IF YOU HAVE TO. YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP WITH IT."

This last response is similar to the one he gave me a hundred years ago about setting my clock forward five minutes so I wouldn't be late for school: "SET YOUR CLOCK ON TIME AND YOUR ALARM FOR WHEN YOU WANT TO GET UP. IT'S THAT SIMPLE." If I don't say "okay, daddy," to any of his statements of fact, he will repeat himself louder and louder until I give up. I usually give up because it's easier and I hate the sound of my father's raised voice. HATE it.

So here we are with Nutrisystem. I am very happy he is having such great success with the program and that it's treating him well this time around. I'll admit I've looked at the website and have been tempted to try it out... but a lot of it is pasta-based (I don't eat pasta), and they don't let you pick your own food for the first month. Have I mentioned that my dad loves pasta so much that he often makes his own? Yeah. Maybe that's why this program has worked so well for him.

I don't have the cash or patience for it. Maybe when my employment situation evens out I'll look into it. Maybe.

Comments

[twilight2000.livejournal.com]

FWIW -- whether Nutrisystem or Jenny Craig, the diet industry is far healthier today than it was 20 + years ago and tends to work a great deal better than it once did.

But you have to want to play that game -- and I'm not certain whether I'm ready to head down that road either...

[winifred.livejournal.com]

It doesn't help that my dad doesn't make it look easy. I know he tries to, but after years of managing his blood sugar in a logbook and eating on a strict schedule, he probably thinks this program is a piece of cake.