Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program

The Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program is a well-known diet plan that has famously brought weight loss success to many celebrities over the years.


This plan is an intensive program requiring meetings, pre-packaged foods, calorie counting, but also offering lots of support.

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Type - Portion Control

Are special products required? - Yes

Is eating out possible? - No

Is the plan family friendly? - No

Do you have to buy a book? - No

Is the diet easy to maintain? - Yes

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So how does it work?...

Jenny Craig is basically a three-part program where the focuses are Food, Mind, and Body.


Food is tackled first in the program, where the portion sizes are controlled appropriately, but no food is expressly forbidden.


This first phase introduces pre-packaged Jenny Craig meals that most people probably think of when they think of the Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program . Vegetables and fruits are supposed to be added to each meal.


The low portion size and calorie count, decided on by a counsellor given your height and weight during a consultation, ensure that you begin losing weight immediately.


The program goes on to introduce exercise and, in theory, weans you off of the pre-packaged frozen meals.


One thing that separates this program from many others is the in person support and counselling system. There are hundreds of physical Jenny Craig centers where dieters come in for meetings, weigh-ins, and supportive counselling sessions.


There is even a 24/7 hotline number for instant encouragement.

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The Diet Plan...

The first phase of the Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program introduces the frozen meals which replace each of your normal meals. Certain fresh fruits and vegetables must be added to each meal.


Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert are planned out for the day, and most follow a specific ratio: 50% Carbohydrates, 25% protein, and 25% fat.


This low fat content is said to help the weight loss process, while the main weight loss element here is the low calorie count.


Though the calorie count is low, it is not low enough to cause extreme amounts of hunger, and the Jenny Craig meals are designed to be satisfying and evenly spaced through the day to keep dieters energetic and motivated.


Peer support and one-on-one meetings with nutrition specialists are aimed at teaching dieters that there is no such thing as a forbidden food and that the basic secret to a healthy weight is controlling portion size.


The goal is to eventually help the dieter create their own menus and recipes that follow the basic principles of the Jenny Craig pre-packaged meals. You should be able to apply the principles of portion control and moderation to your lifestyle in general.


Exercise is an important component of the program.

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Is it good for you?...

The Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program is one of the most popular dieting options in America because it can get results and the basic advice and plans tend to be sensible.


However one huge drawback is the dependence on the pre-packaged meals. Even though representatives say that the goal is to wean dieters off of these foods, the truth is that very little effort is put into that part of the program.


There aren’t as many resources for learning to control portion sizes of real foods and how to prepare real foods from scratch.


The focus is very much on the Jenny Craig meals possibly because of the good profit margin on those meals.


Preparing a family meal in addition to a Jenny Craig meal for yourself is impractical for many people.


The meals themselves are sometimes criticized as being over processed and unhealthy. It is arguably a better choice to prepare your own food from fresher, more organic sources.


One of the positive things about The Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program is the overall psychological angle of the program and the way that this angle is promoted through lots of support and in-person meetings.


The program increases self-esteem and teaches valuable methods and techniques for lifelong weight maintenance for anyone who is dedicated to learning them, but all of this support comes at a financial cost.

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Example Day...

Breakfast
• Jenny Craig Breakfast Scamble
• 1/2 Grapefruit
• Glass of skim milk

Lunch
• Jenny Craig Turkey Burger
• Celery sticks

Dinner
• Jenny Craig Meatloaf with BBQ Sauce
• Garden Salad with Jenny Craig Dressing
• fat-free frozen yogurt

Snacks
• Jenny Craig Vitamin Bar

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