Should You Try Jenny Craig?

If you’re looking for a weight loss program, you may have been inspired by the success of Valerie Bertinelli, Queen Latifah, and Kirstie Alley – and you may be wondering if you should try Jenny Craig for yourself. The following is some information about how the program works that may help you make your decision.

The Jenny Craig program began in Australia in 1983 and hit America two years later. While it has always used prepackaged foods, its approach is somewhat different today. The Jenny Craig program follows what they call a “Food, Body, Mind” plan. The food plan consists of prepackaged meals – frozen or shelf-stable – together with groceries you purchase to complete the meal plans. Plans are available for women, men, couples, teens, seniors, and vegetarians. Their newest food focus is “volumetrics,” or learning to choose foods that provide the same or greater volume you’re used to eating at a lower calorie level.

The body plan consists of beginning and increasing a program of physical activity. Your consultant will work with you to develop an exercise routine that you’ll stick with.

The final component of the plan – the mind – consists of working with a Jenny Craig consultant for support, education and motivation. You may meet with a counselor in one of the Jenny Craig centers around the country, or at home by telephone.

The calorie level of your meal plan will vary and is determined when you join the program – it’s based on your activity level, weight, and the amount you need to lose. You may choose from a pre-planned menu, or choose your own selections from those offered. About half-way to your goal weight, you’ll begin doing your own menu planning – with guidance from your consultant – and prepare all of your food for one day each week. When you’re comfortable at that level, you’ll begin preparing all of you food for two days each week. Finally, as you near your goal, you’ll prepare more and more of your own foods, eventually foregoing the prepackaged food altogether.

Program fees exist in addition to the cost of food, and several different program options are available, whether you plan to be with the program for a short period of time or for a longer term.

Overall, the Jenny Craig program teaches portion and calorie control, being active, and learning to deal with the stresses and challenges of eating on a day-to-day basis. The following are some reasons why this program might be a good choice for you:

Their approach targets the mind and body, as well as your eating habits.
There’s a structured method in place to help you transition to maintenance once you’ve met your goal weight.
One-on-one consultations with your counselor provide support and counseling.
The program is adaptable for different life situations, whether you’re a teen, a senior, or a vegetarian, for example.
Telephone consultations remove geographic barriers and help you achieve success with the program.

On the other hand, there are some reasons why the program might be a bad choice for you:

You still have to prepare some of your own food, despite having some prepackaged food.
Prepackaged food may be inconvenient to use outside the home.
Prepackaged food may limit your variety, and some may not like the taste.
You must pay for program fees in addition to the prepackaged foods and your own groceries.
No peer group support, except online.

If you don’t think you need an in-person support group and you think you can work with prepackaged food, then the Jenny Craig program might just be a good choice for you.