If you’re just joining us, the hubby and I have been losing weight together on the Nutrisystem program. Each week, we post a new update and share info about our experiences, let you know about the program, and tell you how much we’ve lost so far.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been half a year since the hubby and I started our weight loss journey together! I’ve been super happy with how easy the Nutrisystem program has been to follow, and with the success we’ve had so far. My weight loss has not been nearly as rapid as his but between the two of us we’ve managed to lose a combined 85 pounds! He’s lost 54 lbs so far and I’m down 31 pounds to date.

Moving forward I’m going to be looking at some ways I can pick up the pace on my weight loss including drinking more water and adding more exercise to my routine, since I’m still 13 pounds from my goal weight, but this week I’m just taking time to give some thumbs up to both ourselves and to Nutrisystem for everything we’ve been able to accomplish so far!

If you missed any of our previous Nutrisystem posts, just visit the links in the table below or click here to catch up! We’d love to hear from you about your own weight loss experiences, challenges and goals, so leave a comment and let us know you stopped by. We’re also happy to answer questions, so ask away!

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For those of you just joining us, the hubby and I have been losing weight together on the  Nutrisystem program. Each week, we post a new update and share info about our experiences, let you know about the program, and tell you how much we’ve lost so far.

This week, we had family visiting us for Easter break so there was lots of restaurant eating and big family meals and we were on the go a lot…super FUN to all get together but challenging for those of us watching our weight.  Even though we did splurge just about every day, we did it on a smaller scale than we would have before being on Nutrisystem. That means just having a couple of jelly beans, and not the whole bag. We colored 2 dozen Easter eggs, but I only ate one egg. I had a big slice of pizza for lunch one day…but another day I had broiled fish. Last night I had a small cup of frozen yogurt instead of a large one…you get the picture!

We did our best to keep a balance between the splurges and the sensible eating so we could have fun and not regret it later. We also stuck to our exercise plans. The hubby went running as usual, and I walked with Daisy every morning. We ate Nutrisystem meals for all our breakfasts and didn’t do any snacking during the day to save the extra calories for lunch and dinners.

One more thing that I think really helped this week was weighing in every morning. In the past, a week of vacation or family visitors would mean completely ignoring the scale for 7 days and just pretending we wouldn’t gain weight. It would be common to have each gained 10-15 pounds in a week and then feel really surprised and bad about it after all the damage was already done.

While we both still gained a little bit over the past 7 days (I gained 1.4 and the hubs put on 4 lbs), seeing our weight each morning helped us stay accountable and more in control. I feel pretty good about how we did and we’re right back on track today now that everyone is on their way home.

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Just because you’re dieting or watching what you eat doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a great meal (and drink) on St. Patrick’s Day! The hubby and I are already planning ahead on how we’ll celebrate while still staying on track with our Nutrisystem weight loss program.

After going a little crazy for National Margarita Day, we decided to get smart and plan ahead for St. Patrick’s Day. The goal is to enjoy a little of our favorite food and drink, but not derail the diet. Even though we LOVE going out for St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve decided to stay in this year. We’ll still be celebrating the holiday AND hubby’s Irish American heritage, so I thought I’d share a few tips with you.

Irish Lunch with Nutrisystem

One of our favorite lunch items is the Nutrisystem Loaded Baked Potato meal. Just add extra hot water, low sodium chicken broth or skim milk and it becomes Irish Potato Soup. Sprinkle some green onion, crumbled turkey bacon and low-fat cheddar on top. Skip a SmartCarb for the day and you can also enjoy a Guinness at 125 calories for 12 oz instead…not a bad swap if you ask me!

Diet-Friendly Corned Beef and Cabbage

I couldn’t even imagine not having corned beef and cabbage for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day. As our Nutrisystem coach Meredith always reminds us, everything is OK in moderation.

Some important tips to keep in mind when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day:

Portion size: the brand I buy is 190 calories for 4 oz of corned beef. That’s really not too bad if you stick to the recommended portion size. It IS  high in fat and sodium, so  keep that in mind and adjust the rest of your day/week accordingly to compensate.

More veggies: Put the emphasis on more cabbage, onions and carrots so you’ll feel full and satisfied. By cooking everything together in your crock pot or french oven on the stove top (that’s the method I use), your veggies will absorb all the flavor from the meat and spices making them extra yummy! Also, start your meal with a healthy salad to help keep your appetite under control.

Parsnips instead of Potatoes: I haven’t tried this one yet, but I’ve read that you can use parsnips instead of potatoes when making a more diet-friendly version of corned beef and cabbage. You’ll cut your calories in half, and carbs are less too.

Watch the booze: Not only do alcoholic beverages add empty calories, but they also impair your judgement meaning you’re more likely to eat stuff you shouldn’t or eat more than you should. Limit it to one or two drinks to be on the safe side!

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