Review: The Jenny Craig Diet
Actress Kirstie Alley’s 55-pound weight loss using the Jenny Craig diet program has brought new worldwide attention to this particular diet regimen. It is important to note that Jenny Craig is known as one of the largest weight management services in the world.
According to its website, Jenny Craig stresses sound nutrition and simple activity in order to help clients achieve maximum weight loss. The company boasts more than 600 locations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico. Through the company’s online bulletin boards, clients can find a weight loss partner who can help provide support during the dieting process.
Jenny Craig offers two different programs for weight loss. In the first, clients receive one-on-one consultations through a Jenny Craig center. A weight loss consultant helps the client plan nutritious meals. One important component of the Jenny Craig program is that the client buys diet food directly from Jenny Craig.
The second program is designed for those who do not want to go to a center. The “at home” program allows you to have phone consultations with a weight loss consultant, enabling you to order your food from home. The program’s menus and support materials are delivered directly to your home.
The Jenny Craig program allows you to lose one to two pounds a week—the equivalent of one percent of your body weight. Calorie levels vary according to individual need, but the lowest calorie allotment is 1200 calories a day. The menu plans are designed with the USDA Food Guide Pyramid in mind. However, the plans do offer a great deal of variety—customers can select from more than 70 different products.
Each of the foods is approved by Jenny Craig’s Medical Advisory Panel. It usually takes about five to seven business days for the food to arrive at the client’s door via UPS. However, clients can receive the food in as little as two days by going through Fed Ex for a small fee. Obviously, the convenience of the Jenny Craig plan is one of its major selling points.
Jenny Craig is ideal for those who want someone to take the guesswork out of menu planning. Since Jenny Craig provides the food, you avoid the hassle of going to the grocery store and having to figure out for yourself what kinds of food would be appropriate for your diet. The weight loss consultants can be especially helpful in enabling you to figure out a meal plan that’s right for you.
However, it should be pointed out that all weight loss programs have disadvantages. With Jenny Craig, the convenience of the meal planning can ultimately be considered a drawback. This is because, once you’ve lost the weight, you might be ill-prepared to shop for nutritious foods on your own. You may lose weight in the short run, but you might have difficulty sustaining the weight loss over the long term.
The Jenny Craig diet program can also be expensive. Jenny Craig food tends to be more costly than pre-packaged meals found in your local grocery freezer. Under Phase One of the program, you must buy a certain number of meals which can cost as much as $400. The Jenny Craig website offers little information about costs, so you might find the program is even more expensive than you’ve bargained for.
Still, the Jenny Craig diet plan is a proven weight loss program that has enabled people around the world to achieve their ideal weight. In order to determine if Jenny Craig is appropriate in your case, it’s best if you check with your family physician. He or she can provide the guidance necessary to steer you to the right diet program.
