Weight Loss

Jenny Craig Inc. is a well-established weight loss program with centers all across the globe. First set up by Jenny Craig and her husband in Australia in 1983, it began operations in the United States in 1985. The Jenny Craig method of losing weight and maintaining weight is three-fold.

Three-level plan
The first level of the plan deals with food intake. It teaches how to control portion sizes of whatever the client wants to or is used to eat. The client is advised on how to regulate intake at restaurants and how to manage occasional splurges.

The second level of the plan deals with physical activity. The present lifestyle of the client is looked into and a specific strategy is developed accordingly. They claim to take into account various factors like busyness or not wanting to stay away from family.

The third level of the plan teaches some mind matters to help maintain weight by bringing about a balance in life. They teach positive thinking and how to seek motivation from oneself or from other sources. This level sometimes goes beyond food; it talks about nurturing oneself.

The diet
Clients are provided packaged meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Their food consists of 50-60% carbohydrates, 20-25% proteins and 20-25% fats. Clients need to supplement these meals with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat dairy products. Any amounts of non-starchy vegetables are allowed.

No food is outright banned. Rather they educate the client in nutrition facts of every kind of food. Moderation is the key. They allow for occasional binging but in a methodical way that doesn't have too many repercussions on weight.

The diet is calorie-based. Weekly weigh-ins and discussions with the counselor are mandatory. The client is taught how to develop a plan for the long term and come out of the dependency on prepackaged meal plans.

Support
Support is perhaps the most impressive part of the deal. There is a 24x7 helpline to help the client seek support and ask for information. Online help is excellent - as expected when you've shelled out so much. Discussion groups and lots of information can be found on their official site.

Negatives
The food may not be to everyone's liking, and although there is variety it all tastes the same. The feeling of fullness after a meal needs to be brought about by eating a fruit. Portions are tiny; some people are just not going to feel satiated. And although the facilities and support are top class, you may want to look hard at how much Jenny Craig is going to cost you.