Why I Started Jenny Craig

Thank you Jenny Craig for sponsoring this post. Tried other ideas? It’s time for Jenny Craig.

Yep. I’m on Jenny Craig, and I’m pretty excited about it. Let me explain.

Several weeks ago I wrote a post about my general state of being (which hasn’t been great), how I’ve been considering a change in location, and ways I’m going about improving my happiness. One of the things that was really bothering me was the fact that I had gained a few pounds over the past year.

Since January began I had been doing my best to lose weight, and no matter what I did, the scale wouldn’t budge. As luck would have it (It’s “The Secret” at work.), the folks from Jenny Craig reached out to me (not in response to my post) and asked if I’d like to try their program.

While their email certainly piqued my interest, I honestly didn’t know much about Jenny Craig or how the program worked. So, I visited their website and did my own research via Google. When it comes to dieting, I tend to do best on programs that have some sort of regimen. What I loved about the idea behind Jenny Craig is that I barely needed to make any decisions. This is a huge plus for me. Being self-employed, I make about a million decisions each day. (That’s an exaggeration, but it feels like it some days.) So when it comes to deciding what to eat, I usually choose what’s easiest. As you’d expect, easy isn’t always best.

The thought of having a menu made for me every day is what really won me over – no points, no tracking. Plus, it was finally a reason to take off these extra pounds that have been causing unnecessary stress and anxiety. 2017 is my year to find the happiness that I’ve been seeking. This opportunity was a great step toward that. I was in!

Before I talk about the program (I’m sure many of you are curious.), I should tell you that I’ve been on it for exactly three weeks, and I’ve lost 8 pounds.* As you can imagine, I’m super excited about my progress and so thankful that Jenny Craig is working. (*Members following the Jenny Craig program, on average, lose 1-2 lbs. per week. I received promotional consideration.)

Now, a bit about the program. I’m using the Jenny Craig Anywhere program since I don’t live near a center. This means that my food is shipped to me (every two weeks), and I chat with a consultant every week. My consultant, Kim, has been wonderful. The phone calls only last about 15 minutes, but after talking with her I always feel more motivated and inspired. We discuss the meals, healthy eating tips, any challenges I’m having with it, and my goals for the week ahead. It’s like a 15-minute food therapy session.

About the food: The majority of what’s in the meals is shipped to me. I’m responsible for adding things like fresh greens, vegetables, fresh fruit, and dairy (usually Greek yogurt).

After being on the program for three weeks, I’ve been greatly impressed with the quality and flavor of the foods. There are more than 100 menu items created by 40 professional chefs. Of course, I don’t love everything, but as a quasi-foodie, I’ve been surprisingly and genuinely pleased. Most of the items are frozen and require a few minutes in the microwave to warm them up. The program is flexible to accommodate allergies and personal preferences. I’m not a huge fan of fish, so those items were swapped out for something different.

I’m on the 1500 calorie program. Each week I’m given a menu plan, listing what to eat (of course, substitutions are allowed if there is something I don’t want). There’s also a list of Fresh & Free Additions, which consist primarily of fruits, vegetables, and seasonings. You can consume these in moderate amounts if you’re feeling hungry throughout the day. However, I must say, I haven’t been hungry once since starting the program. To keep your metabolism moving and grooving, the menu is broken up into six “meals.” For me, it’s been more than enough food.

In addition to eating the prescribed meals, I’ve also been much more active. Exercise isn’t required to lose weight on the Jenny Craig program, but for me, it was important to get moving. Over the course of the past three weeks, I’ve jogged, walked, or used the elliptical machine for a total of over 65 miles! Another goal of mine is to start incorporating some weightlifting in the next week or two.

I’m excited about the program and feel fortunate that Jenny Craig came into my life. (Their delicious cinnamon rolls help too.) It’s been a huge help to me. This week, I’ve also been doing more research into “that move” that I talked about. More on that soon. While I still have my days, 2017 is looking more promising!

Thanks for joining me on this self-improvement journey. I’ll pop back in with another update soon.

This post was sponsored by Jenny Craig and the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

The post Why I Started Jenny Craig appeared first on Inspired by Charm.