|
|
Fast Weight Loss Information - Articles, search and news in
a single place.
Losing Weight, the Jenny Craig Way :
Actress Kirstie Alley made headlines
when she lost 50 pounds following the Jenny Craig weight program.
As a result, Alley has become an outspoken advocate of this nutrition
system. While Alley’s weight loss may be surprising, you may
be wondering whether you could duplicate her success. But, to begin
with, you need to have an understanding of Jenny Craig, the company’s
claims, and whether the weight loss program is a sure-fire way to
lose weight.
The company website notes that Jenny Craig is one of the biggest weight
loss programs in the country. Company managers say that the program
stresses good nutrition and moderate activity. As a result, company
executives say, individuals can achieve their weight loss goals by
carefully following the program. Jenny Craig has more than 600 locations
in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico. If you
enroll in the program, you will receive a weight loss instruction
book and you’ll be able to locate a weight loss partner through
an online bulletin board.
The program offers two general approaches to weight loss. With the
first approach, you report to a Jenny Craig Center, where you’ll
receive individual consultations. The consultant will work with you
to develop daily menus. You buy the diet food directly from the company.
The second approach is an at-home program in which you have phone
conversations with your consultant. You order your food every two
weeks, with menus and other materials delivered to your home, within
five to seven days after your order has been placed. Your consultant
will take you through the program, answer any questions you may have,
and attempt to ensure that your experience with Jenny Craig is a positive
one.
Calorie counts on Jenny Craig depend on your individual requirements,
but the daily calorie level will be at least 1200. Under the program,
you should lose at least a pound a week or one percent of your total
weight. The menus are designed according to the specifications of
the Department of Agriculture’s Food Pyramid. You can select
from at least 70 different foods. The food has received the seal of
approval from Jenny Craig’s Medical Advisory Panel.
In her autobiography, entitled The Jenny Craig Story, Craig wrote,
“When somebody makes a decision to go on a diet…they become
almost totally preoccupied with food. We decided that if we provided
the food, it would let the clients focus on their own bodies.”
According to dieticians at Northwestern University, the Jenny Craig
system does have its drawbacks. For instance, it offers little in
the way of fiber, and those who follow the program may not consume
enough iron and zinc. Consequently, the program may be difficult for
women of child-bearing age who need a great deal of iron in their
diet in order to prevent anemia. Also, since Jenny Craig supplies
the food, clients do not learn how to prepare their own low-calorie
meals. As a result, once you stop using Jenny Craig, you could find
your weight skyrocketing upward. Moreover, Northwestern dieticians
say that the company’s counselors have limited training, meaning
that the individual consultations with clients are less effective
than they could be. In addition, there’s little in the way of
a support network for Jenny Craig clients, since there are no regular
support group meetings. Because nine out of every ten Jenny Craig
customers are women, men may not be comfortable taking part. Jenny
Craig’s weight maintenance program is also expensive--$200 a
year.
Is the Jenny Craig program appropriate for you? The answer depends
largely on your personal preferences. If you do not want the hassle
of having to shop for your own low-fat food, Jenny Craig offers an
attractive option. Also, if you believe in a go-it-alone approach
to weight loss, Jenny Craig may be perfectly acceptable. However,
if you want professional weight loss advice, you do not like the idea
of buying company food, and you want to meet and talk with other men
or women who are trying to lose weight, another program might be more
appropriate. As always, talk at length with your doctor before beginning
any serious weight loss program.
Weight Loss Tips
Sponsors;
|
