It fit my personality & lifestyle
Written: Jul 01 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Nutritional, convenient.
Teaches lifestyle.
Return any time.
Half membership fee back after maintaining a year.
Cons: Cost prohibitive for many people.
The personal consultants vary in quality.
The Bottom Line: It's not a diet. It's a lifestyle. The support and convenience worked for me.
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| jhallokc's Full Review: Jenny Craig Platinum Membership |
I lost 40 pounds on JC in 5 1/2 months. I contacted them after I got blood work back from my doctor saying my LDL chloresterol and my tryglycerides were "borderline high". I had already known I was overweight, but my health was the real issue. I was 45 years old, and have my dad's health and body type; he had 3 heart attacks in his 50s and his third one killed him at 59. I wanted to be around longer than that for my kids/grandkids.
Because my life is pretty busy, I didn't want to have to re-learn how to cook all at once. I felt overwhelmed by the information online about how to lower tryglycerides. (LDL chloresterol can be lowered with medications.) After being depressed about it all for a few days, I went online to find an outside party to help me. Weight Watchers, with their group meetings and points program, just didn't sound like something I like. But I wanted a local contact, and Jenny Craig came up on an online search. It sounded do-able. I called, and then went in. I took the Platinum Membership because it provided long-term support (even through maintenance -- however many years you want it) and because it promised me 1/2 my membership money back after I kept the weight off for a year. I was planning on this being permanent!
Some of the food I loved, some I didn't. I did like how healthy the food is. Compared to Lean Cuisine or South Beach frozen meals, it is much better in sodium content. (I also have high blood pressure, and watch sodium.) The program teaches balanced nutritious eating, which I needed to learn. It also encouraged exercise, which I needed. The weekly meetings with my "consultant" (more of a "coach") were motivating to me, just knowing someone would notice my successes or struggles.
I never followed their program 100%. Even from the start, I ate out 2-3 times/week with my family. I used the skills I was learning at JC to help me deal with eating out. And by a few weeks into it, I was cooking once/week for dinner. Again, I used JC skills to help me with that. But I had to convince the JC people that I could handle it. They ask people to stay on their program 100% until they reach their halfway goal. I think many people "cheat" if they don't follow it 100%, and JC's goal is to reprogram our eating habits BEFORE we have to make independent choices. But I did okay.
People talk about the cost being prohibitive. I only paid full price for food the first 2 weeks. After that, I was only buying about 1/2 as much food as they suggest (since we ate out and I increasingly cooked, and I was eating "leftover" food from those first 2 weeks when I bought the whole package). Even now, after being at my desired weight, I still purchase JC foods to use several times a month. As a teacher with a 25-minute lunch hour, I love the convenience of JC meals. And very few Lean Cuisine or Weight Watchers frozen meals can compare nutritionally with JC meals. The nutritional quality and the taste quality of JC meals is good. (Of course, there are JC foods I simply don't like; but that's true for any line of foods.)
JC Platinum Membership is good for people who are willing to pay extra for the convenience of pre-packaged foods and for people who are motivated by the pay-off refund for keeping the weight off.
BY THE WAY, my doctor re-did blood work after I was on JC for 5 months. My tryglycerides had fallen to GOOD and my LDL chloresterol was GOOD!!! YEAH!!! I'm 40 pounds lighter, have much more energy, went from a size 20 to a size 12, and my sleep apnea has dramatically improved.
Recommended:
Yes
Approximate Monthly Cost (US$) $350
Food Variety Restrictions A somewhat varied menu
Restrictiveness of Portions Few small portions
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Epinions.com ID:
jhallokc
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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