The key to the Jenny Craig diet is its prepackaged meals. Her group is also named as ‘Hoodies’ – a term meaning ‘healthy foodies’. Her weight loss program has garnered rave reviews from dieters across the world. This write-up provides information on the diet plan program floated by her.
The Jenny Craig program began in 1983 in Australia and started US operations in 1985. This weight management program offers a 3 step guide to losing weight and staying healthy. The program is conducted in two different ways, physically, through their 650 centers around the world, and with the telephonic support, through their 24/7 Jenny Direct program. This is a helpline for those members who cannot physically get to the centers. The Direct program offers advice and consultation, along with motivation to the members via telephone and mails.
The Diet Program
The weight loss diet works at three levels: food, mind, and body. In the first phase, the person is encouraged to have smaller and healthier portions of food. In the second phase, he is motivated to increase his energy levels, whereas in the third phase, the members are taught to build balance in their lives in order to maintain weight loss and healthy diet. Support is available to members in various forms. The centers offer seminar and lectures to the members, throughout the program. The same consultation is offered to distant members either online or via telephone. A guide with healthy recipes is also provided, to assist the members at every phase.
Foods
The program is inclusive of prepackaged meals, which are delivered to every member’s doorstep. These are frozen meals, and include 60% carbohydrates, 20% protein, and 20% fat. In the first phase of the program, the member completely relies on these meals for the daily nourishment. Additionally, a person is encouraged to eat fresh fruits, low starch vegetables, and low fat dairy products. In the second phase, the person is slowly weaned from the prepackaged meals. This is called transition phase, and it lasts for 4 weeks.
During this period, the person becomes more familiar with recognizing correct portions sizes and then the counselors teach them how to cook at home and to eat out. Surprisingly, even greasy foods like French fries can be consumed in the transition phase. After this phase, the person goes back to his normal diet, along with exercises. No food is considered taboo, however, the focus is on moderation, a balanced diet, and enough exercising.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Clinically tested and approved
- Relieves from cooking and counting calories
- Customized to suit every member’s needs
- Offers a wide variety in terms of menu
- Guides on how and what to eat in a restaurant
- Don’t need to give up the favorite foods
- Focuses on eating in moderation and not on eating exclusively healthy foods
- Prepackaged meals cuts down on temptation at the grocery store
Cons
- Inability to translate small portions of food to real eating
- Some dieters may feel hungry and low on energy
- Some people hate eating frozen foods
- The taste may not go down well with everyone.
- No special diet menus offered for vegans
- Cost is far more than other diet programs
Reviews for this diet can be found on the official website of Jenny Craig. The membership subscription can be made through this website. You can also get various offers and coupons on the web.
Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by a nutritionist.
