Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli, and now Carrie Fisher aka Princess Leia have all taken it off with Jenny Craig. Jenny Craig touts itself as a Clinically Proven Weight Loss Program. It focuses on several key issues to personalize weight loss for each one of its members. Those key issues are Food, Body and Mind which are “tailored to your needs and lifestyle.” The Food key issue centers around portion controlled nutrition. The Body category encourages gradual activity increase. The Mind aspect hones in on Education and Motivation.
The program focuses on one-on-one support, whether it be in person at one of their Jenny Craig Centres, or Jenny Craig at home, which offers weekly phone consultations. For those that choose to go to one of their centers, they can order and pick up their food each week. Those that do the at-home plan can have their food delivered to their home. The program has an introductory online price of six weeks for $36. The food cost is additional, which comes to an average of about four to six dollars a meal, amounting to $85-$100 a week.
The first step is to meet either at one of the centers or over the phone with one of the Jenny Craig consultants to establish Your Style Profile. This will help you identify your personal eating style, activity stage and weight loss mindset. It is here where there will be an initial weigh-in and measurements will be taken. Online tools are also available such as the Progress Tracker, Menu Planner and Recipes.
Of course what makes Jenny, Jenny, is the food. Jenny’s Cuisine will be the basis for meals and snacks each day while still incorporating plenty of fruits and vegetables. The company states that “Jenny's Cuisine is a model for balance, variety and moderation, and it’s an essential part of your menu while on the Jenny Craig Program.”
Breakfast foods from the Jenny Cuisine line incorporate everything from Cinnamon French Toast to a Breakfast Scramble. An emphasis is also placed on moderate physical activity to establish an active lifestyle. Lunch steps up with Jenny favorites such as Meatball Stuffed Sandwich or a Philadelphia Cheese Steak Panini. Dinner shines with scrumptious dishes such as Chicken Pasta Parmesan and Turkey Chili. Jenny doesn’t forget dessert either, with decadent Cookies and Cream Cheesecake or a S'mores bar. You will also shop for your own grocery staples such as fruit, veggies, dairy, whole grains and healthy fats.
Jenny Craig guides you through all the different stages of your weight loss journey. After successfully completing the initial Getting Started you will reach your Halfway There milestone where you will transition to Days on Your Own. Your consultant will work with you on the Food Confidence Quiz and help you put together menu planning for your specific eating style. During this time you will also learn how to Get Used to a New You, and incorporate more exercise.
When finally at goal weight, you will work on reducing the number of days you eat the Jenny Cuisine and transition into the Maintenance Menu. The goal is for you to have learned new habits about food and balanced eating as well as incorporating physical activity into your lifestyle.
Online References:
Jenny Craig.com – Jenny Craig. Web 25 Aug. 2011.
www.jennycraig.com
Joanne Sgro-Killworth is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training. Joanne's fitness plans and recipes are available globally on her website www.fitnessanswer.com. She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area with her husband, where she runs her personal training business, Fitness Answer, LLC.
Reviewed August 26, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg R.N.
Edited by Jody Smith