Jenny Craig

Nurse Ria: Started the diet 2 weeks ago and have lost almost 5 lbs. Food is just OK. I am learning portion control and to eat in the A.M. BIG drawback is the sodium content. I’ve never had such a large sodium intake in my life. My hands and feet are swollen constantly. My “counselor ” tells me to take in more water. Not working… Going to cut out a lot of their snacks and add the equivelant except with much lower sodium content. Jury is still out on this one!

Sheron: JC provides for a well rounded diet. But the bottom line is each person has to work it for themselves. Let’s stop complaining about Kirsty and getting rid of the fat on our own bodies. If you want to know how much it is, go down to a center and ask, they don’t bite. Sometimes, they have wonderful sales…20 pounds for $20.00 years ago when I talked to my doc about joining, he said it’s a great program but “be a life-time member”. I did, and was glad I did. Now, when I slip (yes I do) I go back and get a “tune up’ for free. plus the cost of food if I choose to go that route or I can buy my own…They have a varity of options…If you’re thinking about it…go check it out….No I don’t work for them…all I’m saying is loosing weight is hard work and each person has to do it him/herself..but Jenny Craig offers balanced meals. If your counselor isn’t a good fit for you, request another one.

Kay: Does anyone know if you actually HAVE to buy the food from them or if you can actually just make recipes. Oh and also if anyone knows how much it cost to join, the website is really confusing, when you go to how much it cost they said it depends they don’t even say between that and that which I think is not really cool. I just want to know if I can actually afford it before getting started… Anyway, thanks for you help!

Marcia: On Jenny Craig I’ve felt very supported in my weight loss and have been making steady progress for the past 6 months. I’m still 20 lbs from my goal, but I’ve already lost 15 so that’s okay wiht me, I know I’ll get there. This is the only program that has worked for me and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to keep the weight off once its all gone, because I’m finally learning how to eat properly and take care of myself.

Courtney: I am encouraged when I see stars I admire such as Valerie Bertinelli lose weight and keep it off using Jenny Craig. I have been looking for the righ fit for me and I think this is it. I need a flexible plan and I do not mind taking it slow and steady since I am a 45 year old mom and not a starlet. I think it is sensible and safe. I will probably get started this week and let you know how I am doing. My sister in law has been doing the diet for three weeks and she says it works so that is just a piece of inspirational information for all yall.

d.n. rafael: do u half too pay to be a membmer how much does it cost to be on jeeny craig?

Norine: well, I love all the ideas, recipes and menus available. You can see how many calories and all the nutritional information and that really helps me to plan meals for my family. I did not grow up with helathy foods and I am trying hard to lose weight and be a good example for my kids. I think there are great ideas for light summer cooking to find their.

Fleur: Saying anything other than wonderful about Jenny Craig approaches blasphemy, right? Well, I have some questions! Like, what happened to Kirstie Alley, hmmm? She looks like she’s walking around on telephone poles for legs, and every single bit of weight she lost using JC is right back and it looks like then some. So how can this be a good diet plan? They should have given her a free ticket to Wyoming, never to be seen again, rather than letting this poor diet failure be so in everyone’s face. If it didn’t work for her, how can it possibly work for me? I mean she was getting paid big bucks to show how it was a wonderful plan! So for a regular old person to try this in the face of this colossal celebrity melt down? Doesn’t make sense.

Polly A.: The food was okay on Jenny Craig, but they do want you to buy it. Between the cost of the program and the extra cost of food, I spent a fortune on this diet program! It was not that bad of a program overall, but I just felt a little suckered into spending extra money, on supplements, bars & the meals. I could’ve found that stuff cheaper at the grocery store, it wasn’t worth it to me.

Jeanie: I cannot believe the cheddar jack ball is part of a diet plan! I served it at a cocktail party this past weekend and it was such a hit. I am going to use every tool they have got and I know that I am finally going to keep off the pounds after the summer diet. Going walking with friends every night keeps my metabolism going strong and is fun like this great plan!

Gillian: The biggest problem I have with Jenny Craig is the food, and I don’t mean the price, but the fact that it’s all so processed. There’s nothing natural going on with this food…it’s like eating endless hot pockets and frozen peas and I don’t like it. Pretty soon everything tastes alike, I’m bored, but have to keep eating it because I’ve all ready paid for it. Not very tasty, and not very healthy if you ask me.

Tisha: OMG, I am a huge fan of Queen Latifa! I have loved her music since the late 80s, at home we had all her music. She is also a pretty great actor, loved her in Cabaret. Anyway when I heard that she was gonna start the Jenny Craig program ans also be a spoke person for it I was a bit disappointed as I always thought she was really beautiful the way she is. I listed to her speech about why she decided to start the diet which she explained is because her grand mother died of diabetes so she wanted to live a longer and healthier life I totally heard what she said. It made sense. Being over weight is not so much a matter of how we look but how we feel. I too decided that I wanted to live longer and be healthy, I have joined Jenny craig because of Queen Latifa and I am very happy I did.

Glenna: I like the Jenny Craig plan ’cause I don’t have to think while I’m on it! That’s my biggest downfall with food….as soon as I’m finished with breakfast, all I can think about is lunch…what to have, how I’ll serve it, how nice it will look on the plate…it’s a constant mental image! But with Jenny, it’s all done for me, I number the boxes in my freezer with the date and time of when I’m supposed to eat them, and that part of my eating pattern is broken. The more I can get food out of my head, the better!

Vickie: I am not convinced that Jenny Craig is the very best diet. I do think it has some good points, like informing you of every gram of fat and stuff, but I have found that the more I htink about food the less I lose. For me, there are good guidelines here but I am going to try a soup and lemonade diet supported with an appetite suppressant.

Sara: At first I was really excited about my decision to join Jenny Craig, and the center is not too far away from my apartment so its not a big problem to see my consultant once a week. The problem I’m having is that my consultant is…well, a little rude, or maybe just judgmental. I just don’t feel comfortable with her. Has anyone had this problem before? I am considereing switching but I don’t want any bad blood at the center. Seems like a silly thing to quit over but I’m at a bit of a loss right now.

Hester: I love the bars on the Jenny Craig diet, in fact, I think they’re the best part of the food that you have to buy. But it’s all really expensive, and I wonder if you couldn’t substitute some of the same types of things with ones that didn’t cost as much? For instance, my favorite Whole Foods has a lot of frozen vegetable meals that have the same or less calories as JC, and why wouldn’t that work just as well? I’d get a little variety, and not have to keep ordering the same old stuff. Has anyone tried this?

Deanna: Well I kinda like the food, I don’t think its soo bad. The supplements & stuff are overpriced, I don’t buy mine from Jenny Craig, I shop online for better deals. Found an amazing fat burner that way, between that & the JC plan, I’ve lost 14 lbs. I just am not sure which part of the combo is working better, so, I’ll stick with both for now.

Jennifer: The food is Blah, that is not how I want to live my life. I don’t want to be punished because I had 3 beautiful kids and have not be able to loose the extra 18 pounds yet! I am sure there are better ways to lose weight. I tried Jenny Craig just cause they spend so much money on advertising that it is all you hear about when you search for diets. I wasted way too much money and time with that program! 2 Thumbs down.

Sarah: I think for once it is nice to have a diet that understands how important food is in society. You have lunch with friends and dates for dinner and home coooked meals on sundays. If I did not have the support of my friends at Jenny Craig I would never have lost 30 pounds and am keeping it off. I consider myself a recovering food addict and Jenny knows how much support I need. This is a diet for real women in the real world. I thank them for theri guidance and bravery.

Jewell: The first few weeks on Jenny Craig are really good…you feel so in control, the weight is coming off, and you’re programmed into some pretty tasty food. Or, at least, it seems that way. But I’m all ready getting tired of the strict regimen, and of eating what turns out to be a series of small choices of what’s ok and what’s not ok to put in my mouth. I don’t like that! I don’t like the lack of control I feel about my food choices…I mean, I’m making choices in my menu and so forth, but it’s still not being prepared and tasted by me, and I miss that!

billie: so i’d heard so much about jenny craig for ever & ever i finally thought i’d join. i went into one of the centers (first consultation is no charge, you know) and met with a consultant, got a tour and all that. then i was talking to the woman and learned that you don’t need any type of credential to work at jenny craig. i don’t wanna get advice from just anybody, i want a professional, thank youvery much.

joan: I’m so disappointed in Jenny Craig! It’s like finding out there’s no Betty Crocker! First of all, when I went in to join and talked to a counselor, she was like barely out of high school, as skinny as a pin, and not very bright. Not too good a start…then I was offered some classes and tapes on nutrition, which turned out to be oh so basic they really weren’t worth it. And that’s not all. Do you know how much that food COSTS? Like about $120 a week! For one person! In this time of trying to cut back, I’m going to do just that! A big NO THANKS goes out to Jenny Craig!

Florence: Jenny Craig is a very good start for me to lose weight, I just started a week ago and I don’t find the food to be bad at all. I actually never cook, I work long hours and usually crab some greasy Chinese takeout or pizza after work so this is a nice upgrade and I still don’t have to waste my precious time cooking. I did stat working out which is very difficult and wonderul at the same time. I love the pain you have after working out when you wake up in the morning. So again, I just started last week and feel pretty good about it. I know that a couple friends at the office have had success with it that is why I tried in the first place so I’ll will stick to it already lost 2 pounds.

Kit: Why is everyone whining about Jenny Craig somuch? It’s a wonderful plan, obviously works, and it is my new favorite way to finally lose some weight. Here’s why: l. The counselor I talked to has remained my counselor and I call her whenever I need to, which is a lot. 2. I loved listening to the tapes to get all the nutrition facts…it’s a very good back-up for me, and helped fill in some food smart holes I didn’t even know I had. 3. The food is yummy! Isn’t all that enough?

Elaina: Jenny Craig makes dieting a chore. I do not need that. Life is too short. I tried to lose weigth on Jenny Craig and could not live with all their preachy articles and torturous packaged meals. Instead I am learning to eat seasonally and incorporate fun exercise into my day. I do take a fiber supplement to maintain my systems and metabolism but I am working hard and enjoying all the pleasures of the season. And it is paying off. I lose a dress size this past month and I know I can do ever better this month.

Loralei: How long do you think Jenny Craig will take for me to lose 60 pounds? When you go in, do they figure that out for you? Because that would determine the price, and that’s very important to me right now. I’m not sure I can pay what I may need to, and I don’t want to start unless I can go full tilt into the diet. So how does this get figures out?

Jan: I have tried nearly every diet out there from the insane to the doctor-approved. I am just starting on jenny and I feel pretty good about it.

Tina: Maybe I should’ve waited to see what happens with Queen Latifah before starting on Jenny Craig. So far, I’ve only lost 2 lbs, in 6 weeks, and I’m not enjoying the foods so much. The support is fine, its just, not really working yet. I don;t want to give up but I’m having doubts.

Mary: I think that it is easier to do Jenny Craig when you have a support system. I am going to start and become and member in September when our life is more structured. Summer time is too fun and chaotic. You never know what can happen or when the ice cream man is coming. For now, I am trying to walk in the nice weather and take advantage of veggies and fruits although many of my favorites are fried and picnic classics like burgers. Just have to maintain until september.

Monique: As others have mentioned eating the packaged meals does become tiresome after awhile. I needed to lose 15 lbs and just reached my goal last week, so now I’m off the packaged JC meals and learning how to cook for myself. Portion control seems to be key here, I’m not so worried about it, I’m sure I’ll be able to maintain my weihgt.

Douglas and Ines: Just want to quickly share my experience with Jenny Craig. If you stick to it, work out or just run or walk 4 or 5 days a week and most important STOP MAKING EXCUSES ! You will really see results. There is no secret in loosing weight, whatever diet plan you chose, stick to it whatever that is, me and my wife happen to very happy with Jenny Craig’s program because we both work a lot and don’t have a lot of time to cook during the week. Just in case it was not clear, the diet really work and we love it!! Good luck to all.

Lorraine: My schedule is way too crazy to fit in a weekly consultation at a Jenny Craig center so I do the at-home program, its working well. I get the meals delivered and all the tools are online on the website so its easy to keep track of everything. The shipping cost is a bit high but for me its worht the convenience. I too take an appetite suppressant.

Anna L: With the nice weather its getting depressing eating my Jenny Craig lunches in the lunchroom every day. I;m really trying to stick to the plan, I know if I go out wiht coworkers I’ll blow the diet, but I’m really struggling wiht this diet plan. I’m hoping to be done in about 6 weeks, but thats a long time to miss out on the noontime sun. Any suggestions are welcomed, thanks.

Beatrice: Jenny Craig is a smart way to eat but I have not lost as much weight as I wanted to in time for my daughters wedding so I cannot give it a thumbs up.

Colleen: Just moved to Venice, California because of a nice job offer. I have never seen so many beautiful people in one place, which leads to my next question? Are any of you from Venice, CA by any chance and are just so beautiful because you were on Jenny Craig? I hope the answer is yes. I am starting it as of today and I am very excited about. I chose not to get cable TV so I will be more inclined to go out and exercise and now I keep my fingers crossed that it works for me:)

Halle: I think that Jenny Craig would be better if you could drink alcohol. I would rather have a glass of wine than meat with dinner.

Mercy: The Jenny Craig Diet is better than Weight Watchers because I do not like being weighed in front of a bunch of strangers. Going to meetings always felt like I was an addict or soemthing. With Jenny Craig I can participate as much or as little as I want. I like being able to look up recipes and articles for free on their website. I think it is a good diet plan and I have lost 4 pounds already.

Maia: Jenny Craig is for suckers! This is the lazy man’s way to diet…for heaven’s sakes, you can do this on your own, just fine! and save a whole lot of money. I’m tired of all these diets that cater to weak wimps! Come on, ladies, stand on your own to feet, and make this weight loss your own…and plus, that will keep it off because you’ve invented it yourself! It’s working for me, using just the foods in the frozen food depatment in Von’s and I like being in control of my own food choices. So there!

Denise: Some diets never mention exercise, I like how Jenny Craig emphasizes that physical activity should just be a natural part of every day life. It makes sense and thinking that way has made a difference for me. I don;t see the harm in taking an additional supplement too, for faster weight loss, but the plan has encouraged me to spend more time moving and less sitting and I feel much better about myself.

Howard: Do you get all the ingredients details of what they put in theirs prepared meals on a sticker? Thanks

Claudia: I am so happy that I lost 2 pounds which I know sounds ridiculous to some people but if you have been overweight your whole life you know what a victory it is! I am learning how to eat which is wonderful and I do not ever feel desprived. The whole thing is oging great and I think I will soon have the confidence to start swimming at my college gym which will mean losing more weight faster, I cannot wait.

Shawn in NJ: Is Jenny Craig just for chicks??

Annamay: Didn’t have time to go to the clinic and thought the online stuff was too much work. Jenny Craig just took too much time, writing journals and whatnot. I need the personal attention, I guess, I’m just gonna look for a trainer at the gym instead, since I already go there anyway.

Kristin: I am always trying different diets and I am not obese or anything, I just have about 30 extra pounds I have wanted to lose for a while. But something is always coming up like a holiday or vacation and I cannot seem to resist my favorite foods. I tried to be on Jenny Craig and I did not like the food they offered and did not think much of the diet. If I am going to finally lose weight it will not be like this. I think I will try a diet capsule or something.

James: I was not planning to speak up but since some people are ignorant I have to I guess. Jenny Craig is not just for chicks. I am a 30 year old man who was tired of being fat. I tried Jenny Craig and was welcomed into the group. I tried to follow their diet and though it did not work for me I respect them and their methods. I eventually went on a drastic cleanse and with the help of a great supplement I am keeping the weight off. I would recommend this plan to some men, if you are confident and do not have as much to lose as I did. I am giving a thumbs down but not for their ideas just for my alck of success on this diet.

Maria: Jenny Craig is not what you think it is. Mainly I think it’s a dumping ground for diet foods that noone else could get rid of. The price and the quality of the food do match up, and I’m pretty miffed about that. It seems like it’s really expensive for not very good quality…some of the meat even looked freezer burned! So how long has this stuff been sitting around? And the other problem is they just load this stuff up in bags for you before you get to see it, and you can’t tell if there’s been any damage to the containers. I’m definitely not sold on the system.

Chase: Okay, you know what eating out of a pre packaged boxe does not teaches anyone about nutrition and the people who work at Jenny Craig either for that matter. They gave the most basic “advice” even my 6 year old would know. Very disappointing. The diet is not design for people who love gourmet healthy food.

Helen: I was on the Jenny Craid plan for 6 weeks and guess what? I lost not one single pound. I do now know who can actually lose weight on this but not me, and I heard that Kirsty Ally got fat again too…disappointed.

Minnie: IN the beginning, all of the counselors were very nice & helpful, calling back quickly to get you signed up & basically, just to get your money. Then they lose interest and are on to the next sale, its all about making money with this company. I’ve been struggling to lose 25 lbs since last February and still can’t get my weight down. I’m very disappointed with Jenny Craig, I’ve wasted lots of time & money for nada.

Olivia: I think this type of diet plan is a good one…I like the idea of prepared foods, not having to think about what you’re going to eat next, all that seems a positive because that way you’re not thinking about food constantly. And that’s a good thing. If you know there’s no possibilities of chocolate cookies at the end of the day, you can stop fixating, and just get onwith your life. However, some of thefood is not that great, and when that happens, I feel dissatisfied with the whole idea! And then I DO start thinking about cookies, and I’d like to find a diet pill or something that would cut my food cravings. THEN it would be a perfect diet!

Janice: I cant figure this out at all. I do not know how to calculate my BMi all I want is to just lose some weigth and not sit around and think about it for hours every day. I want a diet pill that will shed pounds. I will even work out but I do not want to talk about and think about food all the time…

Fiona: I appreciate the support offered on Jenny Craig, but I still prefer a good appetite suppressants to keep the hunger away and the cost of food down. My favorite is Hoodia bcs its natural, and I take Nuphedrine (http://www.nuphedrine.com/ ) for the fact that it burns more calories too. JC has taught me some things but I just need a little more, this seems to work for me.

Margie B: I must give Jenny a thumbs up because I lost 60 pounds on the diet 10 years ago and until the past year have kept it off. The food is very expensive, so I onlly buy the items that I like …cheesecake, muffins, and the breakfast bars. I gained 20 pounds when I stopped smoking and I’m back on Jenny. I buy Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice meals, have a piece of fruit for lunch and I’m good to go….I do modify but try to stay within the 1200 calories that my diet calls for!!!

Sandy: When I signed up for jenny Craig they told me i had to eat the Jenny Cuisine 3x a day and one Jenny’s cuisine snack per day and that’s what i did for the 6 weeks. It IS very expensive and i only lost one lb/week on average. Maybe there were other ways to do this? It was not working for me, sorry to say, just too darn sloow and costly.

Cindy: This if for Kay: I joined Jenny Craig yesterday. It cost $20 to join plus the cost of food which with tax all totaled out to $165. That is just ONE week of food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 3 snacks). At the first consultation, they weigh you, take your measurements, and tell you what it’s all about, etc. etc.. They also have a $300 program plus the cost of food and if you reach your goal within a year of the day that you joined, then you get $150 back.

Cindy: By the way, I think the food is great!!! It’s almost like you never stop eating.

Lorraine: Does anyone ever gain weight on Jenny Craig, bcs I feel like thats whats gonna happen to me. I like the muffins a little too much, it could be a problem. I just read a review on hoodia bites and am wondering if that would be a good addition to the program? It has a lot of positive comments.

Laura: I love Jenny Craig! It’s like any diet, it works as much as you will allow it. If you follow the menu you will see the results you want. People are always complaining that losing weight is a slow process, I disagree. Usually it takes people months to years to gain 10-50 pounds, but on this program it can be off in less than a year. If you don’t like cooking and you want to lose, this program WORKS : )

nancy: Hmm, well, i started having my doubts about Jenny Craig when i first saw how obese their recent “poster girl” Kirstie ALley, has become. I mean, she has ballooned up to be bigger than she ever was….this worries me. Sure, you can say that she probably is not following the program. Probably not. But the thing is, i think they should have taught her how to manage her real life eating habits by making healthy food choices. I am not heading into maintenance phase, and I don’t think the maintenance phase of Jenny is strong enough. Obviously, we are people with a weakness for food, and when we are faced with many delicious choices out in the world, we often choose wrong. I am so scared that I am going to cave in like Kirstie did…and she probably has a personal trainer too!! I think i might have to try those HOodia Bites you recommended, Lorraine, just to give me some extra strength and motivation.

gayle: Well regarding Kirstie Alley, I read in People magazine that she’s now decided to start her own weight loss program. apparently she turned down Jenny Craig and she wants her program to focus on helping people “end the seemingly never-ending fatty roller coaster ride.” To me, that implies that she doesn’t really consider Jenny to be a permanent solution. hm. not sure i would necessarily want to try Kirstie’s own program, but this casts some doubt on Jenny Craig, for me,

Cecilia: Good to know I was wondering what happened to Kritie Alley.

cheryl bowen: yeah, kirstie alley was getting on my nerves, but what about valerie bertinelli? i saw her on oprah last spring and seemed pretty dedicated to the plan, and looks great. i’ve been toying with the idea of joining ever since then and am still not sure if jenny craig is the right choice for me. i need to lose 15 lbs or so & am trying to get some info about all these plans.

Sabrina: I have joined Jenny Craig last month and so far I only lost 4 lbs, not really what I had in mind when I started it. I am really not happy with that.

Heather: I just started Jenny craig and boy the packaged food is nasty. I am not sure I am gonna be able to last a long time with that kind of food. Any advice?

Fern: The planned menus seemed to be working well for me the first month I was on Jenny Craig, but by the third month, I was over it. Not enough variety, and I was not getting enough fresh foods. Its hard to spend MORE money on extra food items, when I already was spednign so much on the Jenny Cuisines. Since the weight wasn’t exactly falling off anyway (only lost 7 lbs) I stopped. and now i;m looking for another way.

laurel: you know, it worries me that there is NO long-term data about whether or not people on Jenny Craig maintain their results. ANd this company has been around since 1983!! So there’s no reason there shouldn’t be some sort of information about whether this plan works for the long haul. For most other diets, you can find that kind of info.

Mandy Main: The program has been fairly successful for me so far, I’m in my fourth month of Jenny Craig & love not having to think about planning meals. I just let Jenny do that for me, and I make sure I go for a walk right after work, for 30 minutes at least, to stay active. Still, i found that I didn’t know when to call it quits on some of the snacks & I also take a hoodia supplement, like someone mentioend (HoodiaP57 is my favorite) and then those extra calories are a non-issue. Anyway, I lost 19 lbs already.

alison: Well, i don’t know…I find it kind of annoying that on Jenny craig, i can only eat the pre-prepared Jenny foods, yet i have to cook a regular dinner for my family. It most definitely makes it harder, making yummy dishes, knowing i will then have to microwave myself something kind of pathetic. So far i’m sticking to it, but it’s starting to seem pretty unrealistic.

gilda: You make a good point, Laurel, but Jenny Craig is like any other diet: it can help you lose weight, but the maintenance is up to you. It requires work. So if people don’t keep the weight off, can you blame the program? It seems to me that Jenny craig teaches healthy lifestyle habits, it actually seems like one of the better, more legit programs around. it HAS been around for 25 years, after all. Though I haven’t yet, I will most likely be joining this program soon.

Christy: I AM STARVING!!!!

Linley: The food was bland and the support on the at-home jenny craig program was lacking. it didn’t take long for me to lose my motivation. not a good program for me.

Sheryl: I am really happy with Jenny Craig, I loose an average of 4-5 pounds every month which for me is really good. If you commit to it, it really works. Its slow going but I dont mind I am not that overweight.

sherry: I also thought the food was bland, esp. for how expensive the Jenny Craig program is. I liked the advice and the counseling, and i think the program would have worked for me if the food wasn’t so awful. I don’t see why Jenny Craig can’t let us eat regular food….??

chocoPuff: I also want to start taking supplements, I wasn’t sure until now but your post convinced me. I just can’t wait to see more weight melt!!!

s.pierce: the food thing is not much of an issue for me, i am able to stick with the meals from jenny craig, and unless i’m at a party or in someone else’s home, i don’t really sway from the plan. its the level of activity that i don;t think is quite enough. i appreciate advice on “natural” ways to just move more, but, its not what i need. i’d like a more intense exercise plan, but i don’t want to pay for a personal trainer AND jenny craig. anynoe have advice?

Grace: WEll, i don’t want to complain but i noticed that once i started eating fresh, delicious food again (instead of Jenny Craig meals) my discipline and resolve just weren’t so strong anymore. In that way, i guess the bland food is brilliant — its like its own appetite suppressant! But once i was able to cook again, and enjoy a variety of flavorful dishes, my portion control kinda fell by the wayside. I’m not saying I *BLAME* jenny craig for this, I’m all for taking personal responsibility. But i guess i would have to say that for someone who might lack self-control, this program doesn’t really set you up for long term success & maintenance. Good luck everyone, with whatever works 4 you!

Erika: Really, if you follow the Jenny Craig meal plans and exercise every day, and basically, just don’t sit in front of the TV all night, you really should have no problem with weihgt loss. No, you’re not gonna get results overnihgt, but I know I feel more…alive, the more active I am. The program gives me support emotionally, and that’s why I’m sticking wiht it until I reach my goal!

Darlyn: “have you called jenny yet” Yes I did and I wish I never did. They fed me food that not even my dog would eat and I had to give them lots of money for that. I did 6 lbs in 3 months and gained back 9lbs the month after. Not recommended!

laurel: Another thing you might want to know is that regulatory agencies such as the FTC have cracked down on Jenny Craig for deceptive claims, like “Jenny Craig, Nutri/System, and Physicians made false or unsubstantiated representations that their customers typically reach their weight-loss goals within certain, predicted time frames.” Hmm. Between that and no long term data, it makes you stop and think.

Peneloppe: I can care less about their support at Jenny Craig. All I want is to eat good food and to loose weight. Does it sound that impossible? It sure seems to be.

marjorie: i saw on Larry King that Jenny Craig (the actual person) couldn’t speak for quite some time due to a bizarre jaw accident or something? Whhat’s that all about?

Lindsay B.: i am not a quitter. This is what I had to chant to myself the first month on Jenny Craig, when I wanted to spit out every bite of the food. But I’ve failed every other diet, and I could NOT do it again. I kept eating the Jenny Cuisine and staying active and tracking my results. Painful & slow. Two months ago I bit the bullet & ordered Slim 10 (http://www.slim10.com/patented ) and it’s all been a breeze since then, and i lost an additional 13 lbs (twice as much as in the first two months). Maybe its cause I don’t need to eat as much of the tasteless “cuisine”, I don’t know, but its working. i am not a quitter, this is the way I will win on the diet.

kd91: How long is the typical person on the Jenny Craig program, before reaching their goal? I don;t know that i could do this for more than a few months?

susan: The food on Jenny Craig is the worst….ick. I’m going to keep trying for a while longer but I’m definitely eyeing up the food I’m preparing for my family each night. I have to admit that while cooking last night, i did sample the dishes a bit before eating my microwaved meal.

misty: Does the pill you tried with Jenny Craig help with appetite too? Or just fatburning?

Milli: They say the food is not more expensive than an ordinary grocery list, but as a single woman, I only spend about $60/week on groceries. I know how to cook simply and utilize left-overs for either lunch or dinner the next day. On Jenny Craig, my monthly total was almost 3x as much! Sorry, I just can’t afford it. I’ll just make soups and salads and smoothies, join a gym, and see what happens.

jason: things were going pretty well on jenny craig for me, until Monday Night Football started back up. it the only time i get to hang with the guys, and well, pizza & beer is usually involved. i stopped the program and have been hitting the gym hard 5 days a week instead. surprisingly, the results are pretty much the same.

renee: I just think Jenny Craig sets you up for failure in the long run, bcs the meals are all portion controlled for you, and then it makes it hard in a real world setting to know when to stop eating. esp. when the NON Jenny Craig food tastes about a zillion times better. The counseling is all well and good, but i think the reason people lose weight on this is because they are only eating the food that can fit into a little microwavable tray, and nothing more. Good luck applying that principle to dinner in a nice restaurant!

Grace: My company was part of the corporate wellness plan that Jenny Craig offers, and so I decided to join along with some of my coworkers. I mean, we got a discount so why not. It was kinda funny, we’d all be in the lunchroom with are meals, trading snacks, tracking results. We even had our own “biggest loser” contest going for awhile. I really thought this was the way to lose, and I’d say I lost about 6 lbs or so. Unfortunatley, life happened. People started stopping, one by one, and it got harder to “go it alone.” It was fun, but not the longterm lifestyle change I was looking for.

liz golden: great blog, i have just started on jenny craig and will take these comments into consideration as i continue the wieght loss journey…good to know about teh extra help i might need!

kathy: Speakking of the “Biggest Loser” has anybody tried the Jillian Michaels weight loss plan? It looks really good to me…

Rebekah D.: About 5 yrs ago I lost nearly 20 lbs on Jenny Craig. And here I am now, back up to 152, when I should be at 125. It didn’t come back on suddenly, it was gradual, but I had hoped to never be in this position again. I wanted to see if things had changed over at Jenny Craig in the years since i was a member of the program, but it sure sounds as if it hasn’t. I thought about joining again, cause i know I could lose the weight, but really, i don’t want it to ever come back. Not going on the jenny Craig roller coaster again, I need something permanent i can do.

arielle: yup, the “fat roller coaster” is what Kirstie Alley was talking about in that article about her not doing Jenny Craig commericals anymore.. I also took a ride on that roller coaster, and I’m sick of it! Jenny Craig was NOT the answer.

jen ward: my counselor was too condescending. i’m sure they are not all like that, i just could not even stand this woman after a few weeks. i don’t know about doing jenny craig direct instead, maybe weight watchers is better.

BabyDoll: Yeah I agree, the food can be expensive but at least I dont have to cook and to me it worth every penny I spend. I slowly loosing weight and it’s all because of Jenny Craig!!

Marisa: I’m still addicted to Valerie Bertinelli’s blog and am really proud of her. SHe’s been through a lot in her life. Unfortunately I have not had as much success wiht my own weight loss wiht Jenny Craig and doing better taking a fat burner than having to stick to those meals. I still look to valerie for inspiration, because, no matter how we’re losing, as long as we are working towards a common goal (better health) its still relevant.

brenna govigne: well, i suppose if you don’t have to cook for any other reason, Jenny Craig meals could make your life easier. But for many of us – and c’mon ladies, am i alone here? — there are other people we have to cook for IN ADDITION to ourselves! So, you see how it’s not quite practical??? To have to make an absolutely mouthwatering pasta primavera for my husband and kids, and then for me, I get “mesquite chicken” which believe me, doesn’t taste so much like mesquite chicken at ALL.

laurel: hi, me again, i just feel that the facts do not really support Jenny craig’s advertising propaganda. It disturbed me to read that 40 lbs weight loss is considered “not typical” as a result. I think it should be, esp. since this program enjoys one of the best reputations out there. What, one of our best diets can’t even achieve 4o lbs weight loss? That seems weak, to me. Anyway, just providing the information and you guys be the judge. just in the interest of disclosure…YES, I am a bitter ex-Jenny Craig dieter who got nothing out of the program.

bayley: it seems like jenny craig overtime may aid at least temporarily, and i think the basis of what they teach you is good. common sense with practical guidelines. i think for myself, i would’ve done better with recipes vs. packaged meals. i need to cook for the whole family, as others have said too, and i don’t to make my kids fat from my cooking. i gained the weight i lost back within 2 months, because I still had not mastered low-fat cooking.

denise: Poor Valerie Bertinelli, first shes on that stupid sitcom, then she’s married to van halen, now she’s being humiliated by being the pitchwoman for Jenny Craig. ugh. what a tacky life.

Connie S.: Jenny let me down. I chose the program because I wanted something straight forward and this made sense and that would work right now. I also started drinking these slim Shot diet drinks for extra vitamins/energy/fat burning, etc and the weight was coming off. But my food bill was out of control, i mean, $150/week just for me on JENNY, plus about the same for the rest of the family. I just couldn’t budget it in. I quit Jenny Craig and contineud wiht the slim shot drinks, and am still losing. i probably could’ve saved my money.

Sally: There is no way on earth celebrity eats that pre packaged food!!That’s why it’s working for them , cuzthey probably have private chefs cooking for them at home. Unfortunately i tried Jenny Craig really seriously but the food was just horrible, I had to stop the second week at least I got some $ back.

Karen Grimaldi: As much as I am motivated to loose weight with Jenn Craig, I am having a hard time with not thinking of my favorite LU cookies. I mean I am just caving them so much and the bad food I have to eat at each meal only make me miss them more. Help keep me strong. Carry on everyone!

dolly: when i was looking into this i thought, well, jenny craig really will make weight loss easy. food delivered straight to me, phone calls once a week, lots of articles & things online. i did everything right for about 4 months and then finally i said to Joni – she was my consultant – i said, Joni, i ain’t no where near a size 6 and i been exersising, eating right, what gives? she said to keep at it. well that’s not good enough, bcs it was not working so why stick with it?? disappointing, is what it was.

Anonymous: My biggest problem is that this Jenny Craig thing is costing me a lot of money, and like everything I invest my money I expect results which I am not having with jennycraig, at least not as good as I thought. 2lbs in less than one month is not what i call loosing real weight.

Sally: It’s just fascinating how people say they want to loose weight but with the first challenge, they start making excuses to defend their weaknesses. I will tell you something, every diet works, you JUST HAVE TO DO IT!!!

Jeralyn_TN: All i wanted to do was to loose 12 lbs so I tried the Jenny Tune Up that jenny craig offers. It took me more than 4 months to get the weight off! Way too expensive and not worth it at all. If i could do it again, I’d just follow the South Beach diet or something.

Patricia: I had a feeling that a diet with some sort of celebrity may not be that good. Thanks for reaffirming so. Good luck everyone and thanks for sharing your experiences.

Martina R.: NOT true, not every diet works. Sally, I get your point, but I have been trying several different diets over the past 2 years, when my metabolism suddenly came to a halt at age 51. I never had a weight problem before. I believe Jenny Craig is one of the better ones, but it still was not enough for me. Maybe if I wnated to invest 3 years time and thousands & thousands of dollars, it would work. I don;t have that kind of time or money.

Bess: For 3 years, I was on and off Jenny Craig. I’d lose, gain, lose more, gain more, and kept going back because I could get the weight off. Didn’t think about the fact that it kept coming back on. I like a lot of aspects of Jenny, I just need soemthing longer lasting that works faster and is cheaper.

Kimberly Chambers: After 2 months with Jenny Craig, I am not really getting where I wanted. I wish I would have read this before I signed up. At this rate I feel it would take me over a year to reach my goal. I will stop Jenny Craig at the end of this month and do something else.

k. Dominic: Well, at least the food is better than what you get on Medifast. I am only in my third week of Jenny Craig and its okay. Not too difficult, though I have not lost weight yet. I’m trying to have patience, i know diets take time…

Ellie: I tried Jenny Direct for 6 weeks. I lost 10 pounds, but the cost really set back. 1 year later and I’m still trying to pay for it (charged on credit card). I gained the 10 pounds back, plus another 20. I also didn’t get my full 6 weeks from the consultant. She only called 4 times and didn’t seem real enthusiastic about her job.

Jessica: Jenny Craig is a life saver ! i lost 100 pounds on jenny and truned my life around ! sure it coast some money and the food was not like in and out food but its still very good. Jenny helps you lean to get the weight off and its not a diet its a lifestyle change !

Michelle: I am going to sound very naive but Valerie Bertinelli is the reason why I picked Jenny Craig over Weight Watchers or any other diet. I thought her transformation was just beautiful and it inspired me After 4 weeks into the program I am really having a hard time believing that Valerie lost all that weight eating that horrible horrible food. I am not sure I am going to last long, I rather do something that teach me how to prepare healthy but tasty seasonal food.

Bridgette: While I do feel Jenny Craig is kind of expensive, I loved my results. I did the program for just over 2 months and lost 23lbs!! The first week, 7.2lbs! The message boards are great and so was the food. I did not buy all my food from Jenny, I supplemented with frozen Weight Watcher or Lean Cuisine meals. I would have continued, but the money was needed elsewhere. Have seriously thought about going back.

francine: I lost some weight on Jenny but then i gained it all back worse than ever. i ended up becoming fatter than i ever had been (185 lbs) after i tried unsuccessfully to transition from Jenny Craig to the real world. I understand now why Kirstie keeps getting fat again…this program really doesn’t teach you the skills you need it just makes you eat their icky food and then throws you to the wolves, you are on your own. I’m going to try a normal diet like south beach.

dietgoround: I did this program, spent soo much money, gained it all, plus some back. Checked out Smart for life.com and got myself into a center. Love this program, known as the cookie diet.They have cookies, shakes, soups, granola, bagels and all are organic. I feel healthier on this program and have lost faster than on JC. I started 12-24-08 and have already lost 12 pounds. They have a maintenance program for when I get to my goal.Yeah!

MissK: I just started the program Sunday, I bought a weeks worth of food and signed up for the gold membership and bought the full set of books. It cost me 99$ to sign up 50$ for my books and 135$ for the first week of food. So far the food has been really good, I have been following the eating schedule they set up for me and I very rarely feel hungry. I feel like im eating all the time yet im only eating 1200 calories a day. I feel better too even though it has only been 2 1/2 days so far, I already feel an increase in energy, which im assuming is from the better food and more balanced diet I am consuming. I picked a goal weight of 125, I was 165 sat when they weighed me. My councilor says it should take aprox 6 months to reach my goal, that is losing the weight at a safe rate of 1.5lbs a week. I was kind of skeptical when I got all my frozen entres but they are a lot better then most of the froze diet foods at the grocery store. I am not sure if I am losing weight or not but it is really nice having my meals planned for me, all I have to buy from the store is skim milk, nonstarchy vegis (which you can eat as many of as you want) fruits and any seasonings you can think of to spice up your vegies. I really do recommend this to someone who has had issues getting the pounds off, it makes you realize what size portions you should be eating, and they teach you that your salads and vegies should me your main course and your meats and starches should be your sides. I love it so far… we will see what happens in 6 months.

sabrina: At first I also really liked Jenny Craig because it was a sudden change in my eating habits that was easy to stick with. And I lost a healthy amount of weight in the beginning, about 11 lbs after two months. I was happy wiht the progress and of course, stuck with it. But then in the third month, I stopped losing. And I was never ablee to lose more after that point. Finally I didn’t see the point in continuing. I think that, Jenny Craig can only get yo u so far. I think Jillian Michaels program gets better results, because it makes me work out more often. Eating is important but I’m learning you gotta really burn to loose.

sista!: my sister has been on Jenny for almost 3 years, has lost a lot of weight, has kept it off!!! and it has changed jer life!! She is eating healthier than ever before…Thank You Jenny Craig!!

Joan: The Jenny Craig diet works and I lost several pounds but put them all on again, and more, after I completed the programme.The food is expensive and boring. The Counsellor I had was untrained and not very professional. Would I go on JC again? No.

Wendy: Hi Kay. I just joined on Wednesday. Not sure if you HAVE TO buy thier food, but they do NOT list their fees or costs on their website at all. The basic package is “Lose 20 lbs. for $20,” and you basically get 10 weeks to do it in. If you do it sooner, great. If you don’t lose 20 by the 10-weeks, you have to re-up the $20 contract. Not included in your contract is the price of food. You can choose your own items to control costs a bit, or you can choose a pre-selected food program. I recommend choosing your own b/c you might not like what is selected for you. Breakfast items range from $2.19 – $4.99, lunch items from $4.19 to $5.99, dinner items from $5.49 – $6.99, snacks/dessert items from $1.30 – $2.49. You need 7 items from each category per week, so you do the math. On top of the Jenny food, you also need fruit and veggies each day. It’s not cheap, but if you put a little thought into it, you can get out of there for about as much as you’d spend on your groceries anyway. Good luck!

Lia: Thanks Wendy, that’s helpful. It doesn’t sound too bad i just wonder why they are not clearer upfront with potential new clients? I have been really looking at Jenny Craig, and also weight Watchers and not sure which direction to go.

Keeley: IT seems to me like, anyone can loose weight on Jenny Craig at first, especially if youused to eat large portions or just, the wrong foods. I felt good (a little hungry) the first coupel weeks and thougth I was losing, but by the end of the 10 weeks, i had only lost 4 lbs..all of that had come off in 12 days! I admit that I sorta lost motivation after that, and did not re-up my contract. The next thing I did was try Weight watchers, which was better, but still slow. I finally bought a hoodia appetite surpressant (hoodiaP57) and stuck with the weight Watchers and thats how I lost 32 lbs. Now I just take a pill if I feel i need some extra discipline, but overall I;m eating better.

Serina Hunter-Thomas: I am disappointed in the misleading advertising and hidden fees associated with Jenny Craig’s program. There are other weight loss programs that are cheaper and just as effective.

Pammy: Has anyone had a problem with excessive thirst with this program? I was on it four years ago, lost about 30 lbs and everything was terrific. I’ve been back on for quite a few weeks now and I have lost inches but NO weight. They keep insisting that the sodium content is “balanced” perfectly for my calorie plan. I’m starting to seriously question that…..any ideas?

Amber: I really think the sodium is too high. The national recommended amount of sodium for a 2000 calorie diet is 2400 mg. On Jenny Craig I’m on a 1200 call so half of that is 1200 mg. So i’m thinking 1200-1400 is a good amount of sodium to shoot for. On an average day I take in around 1640-1700 mg. My weight loss is slow and I work out. So at JC they told me I work out too much I eased up on it and still not loosing much. I lost 15 pounds in 3 months. I have gone into 3 plateaus in 3 months. I’m bloated constantly and gassy. I think I’m going on the exchange diet.

Joyce: Jenny Craig works, but like anything that works, you still need to follow the diet. Jenny works with me on the food plan. After a few weeks, I was able to buy 5 days of food vs. 7. I lose because I want to lose and work at it. Jenny Craig makes it easier.

Julie: Jenny Craig only works if you follow it 100% That is the food and exercise, problem is when you stop the food you will regain the weight and some. Jennys own statistics say only 5% of people on the program will maintain there goal weight for a year. Its very expensive. 10 weeks of food cost about $1200 plus your fresh food you have to buy . Its a waste of money eat in moderation and exercise everyday you dont need to spend all that money if you have the motivation you can do it yourself

Helen: Really Julie, only 5% maintain there goal weight? I never heard that statistic about Jenny Craig before. I never even reached my goal. after 8 months on the program I just got really fed up. I’d only lost 13 lbs, and my goal was to lose 64 total. During the time I was on it I did follow the program, it was just super super slow. Would’ve taken me years to lose it all, at the rate I was going. I said, enough, and went for a good ol’ diet pill instead. Slim 10 looked hte most advance, with high ratings. And, it works! Its been 4 months,and I;ve lost 36 lbs already! I’m sure that doing this after Jenny Craig helped me think about my food intake differently, but still, I think I needed something for my metabolism,and this is doing it, finally!

Miss Miller: JennyCraig Foods epensive but, it is way better than nutrisystem.

Serina A. Hunter-Thomas: Jenny Craig does use the premise of portion control and calorie restriction, but for the price, it is not worth it. You are restricted to eating only Jenny Craig foods – all processed, with a daily allowance for fruits and salads. There are other programs, like Weight Watchers that use the same premise, offer support, etc. but for much less and you choose whatever foods you want, just calculate points (you associate a point value to the food, and you have a certain number of daily points that you stick to for weight loss). I also feel Jenny Craig’s advertisement of “20 lbs. for $20 plus the cost of food” is misleading. I signed up for the option to lose the weight, and get half of the consultation/sign up fee back after 12 months of weigh-ins of the goal weight. The total fee was $399 (broken up into three payments, it was $201, then $99 and then another $99 stretched over three months). I decided two to three weeks into the program, that the initial cost of $443.74 (which included two weeks of frozen food, the $50.00 to ship it, part of the sign up fee of $201, guides, manuals, two food bags, i.e. “fluff”, ***NOTE ONLY A PART OF THE SIGN-UP FEE as I still owe them two more payments of $99 dollars) was not worth it. By the time I realized the cost, it was too late to back out. Contractually, they only give you three days to get a full refund based on your state of residence. My state is W.V. So add the $443.74, plus $198 (broken up into 2 payments and 2 months). That’s a grand total of $641.74 invested BEFORE YOU LOSE EVEN ONE POUND!!! When they send you the itemized sheet/receipt/invoice with your first shipment, they go ahead and itemize the food, but not the price of each food item. How are you suppose to figure out how much the individual food items are actually costing if they don’t individually price it? They just give you a subtotal then grand total at the end.

lar87043: I am on JC and have lost 12 pounds (halfway to goal) in 6 weeks. However, I realized that their 1200 calorie menu plan is not really 1200 calories when you add in all the extra allowable food. So now I count calories, using JC food, adding in only enough to meet 1200 calories, and it has worked for me.

between2: Duke University – Rice Diet is the only way to live a healthy happy life. The only goog thing abou JC is “They” make money off of people who are too weak or lazy to take control of their own lives. Get real: Whole Grains, Beans, Veggies, Fruit and walk 60 minutes per day. The qualifications of the staff???? Counselors – what is their training? Are they under HIPPA laws? No they are not so they can blab all over town about you. Use self control – get counseling from a profesional LMHC if you need it but don;t think these people are your friends….it’s all about the money. If it’s processed…..it’s not healthy. WAKE UP

fit at 48: Kay, of course you have to buy the food! It’s a FOOD BASED program!! If you want to do your recipes, try Weight Watchers.

Jean: I’m on my third week of Jenny Craig and I’ve lost almost 10 pounds in the first two weeks. I own my own business and like the part that the meals are ready to go. I needed a jump start and it’s working for me. Besides loosing the pounds I’m loosing the inches too.

Me in Iowa: Who is this Jenny Craig? what does she look like? Why do she need others to promote her diets? why not do it herself? Is she embarrassed about her weight or what?

50 and fit: Simplicity. This diet teaches you portion control by example (their meals)and boy, had my idea of a proper portions gotten out of whack! The pressure is off. No more stressing about what to eat. I’ve even learned how to eat out comfortably and in moderation. Fruits and vegetables are stressed. I didn’t use their supplements or bars, just meals. 7 months, 25 pounds gone w/8 to go and it’s the easiest I’ve ever done. It does cost more, but in the long run, it’s worth every dime. I now feel 100% confident I can maintain. Ultimately, how well we do on any diet is up to us and how we train our minds. Change is hard…but doable.

Real Food Chick: Five years ago, I joined Jenny Craig after not having success on Weight Watcher. I lost 35 pounds only to gain that back and more. To make a long story short, I quit after about 19 months. The program is a total ripoff and it didn’t work for me. Also, I had experienced some health issues as a result from this program. Eat real food in moderation!

Anonymous: 300% higher in cost than lean cusine and taste about the same. Too bad…..we sure need an affordable,reasonably priced balanced diet that taste good…..we’de have a better chance of being able to stay with it…. indifinitely….and keep the weight off. – Jenny Craig

Anonymous: Jenny Craig works if you follow it correctly. Yes it’s kind of pricey….but hey, it’s a business. Yes you can go buy the same foods at the grocery store, but will you do it? Will you weigh,measure,cook,council and be your own cheerleader? Chances are…if you have not done it by now, your not going to. I went on the J.C. program 5 years ago and lost 40lbs. They weaned me off the food and gave me all the knowledge I needed to keep it off. I threw it all out the window 3 yrs later. I gained 60lbs. I found out fat won’t go away if you ignore it. Well, to say the least……..I’m back on the program and have already lost 15lbs. When I get to my goal weight they have a maintainance program where I go in once a month so I can stay on track. I am a lazy cook, and that was my downfall. I love my “Consultant” and she is going to help me with cooking ideas. Easy ideas. She has helped me so much with my motivation and calls to check on me. It’s easy with the food, because I think it is so good! The exercise is what gives me a problem, because I am lazy. We are working on small steps though and I am greatly improving! It’s nice having some one help you. I would reccommend Jenny Craig to anyone who needs help losing weight! Remember…they do wean you off the food, and you have to take it from there. They can’t follow you home and do it for you, but you will have all the tools and knowledge you need in order to keep at your goal weight. Thank you Jenny Craig, Holly

Merly: I did some research on Jenny Craig. Nestle makes the Jenny Craig food. So I bet the food is nothing more than Lean Cuisine’s with her name on it. Go to the website and look at the calorie content. It looks like you average about 270 per meal and the snacks are about 150 calories. I would think they put you on a 1500 calorie a day diet. So you can buy your frozen meals at the store and you can find snacks like the 100 calorie packs. So why spend all that money. Plus you can find websites like Webmd that helps you lose weight and you can find a diet buddy for FREE!!!. Save your money and do some research on the Internet.

Deanne: I am in day one of the Jenny Craig program. I bought a year program and the food. They have a special for 20 pounds for 20 and that is it. I went for the year because I know if I spend the cash, I will stick to it better, So, with the year program and a weeks worth of food (and a discount on this first week of food)I spent $431.28. You get cash rewards back when I meet goals. I paid about $81 for a week of food. I went with the food because it was the easiest thing for me to do. As I was sitting in Jenny Craig, about 3 women came in for their food. So that seems to be the borm. The food is actually good. I think it tastes about the same/better that Lean Cuisine. You do need to supplement it with fresh veggies and fruits. My day one experience is that this is a lot of food! it’s 6pm and I ate the breakfast and lunch. I am not hungry. So, on my menu I still have a dinner and two snacks. So for me, I will go into my next week meeting asking, do I have to eat all the meals and snacks? If anyone can answer this, I would appreciate it.

Ann: I have been on Jenny Craig for about 2 months and have lost more than 26 pounds. The food is good, I am relearning portion sizes, and I am motivated to increase my activity. The program really works. It may not be the cheapest program, but it is a bargain for weekly consultations, 24/7 available support, and a plan that really works.

Missi: I joined Jenny Craig in Sept of 08 and I have lost almost 55 lbs. I want to lose another 20 and should be back in a size 8. I hope to get there by my anniversary date. I have a great counselor and I have been eating a combination of J.C. foods as well as preparing my own. I want to be sure that I can continue on this path of weight loss with my own cooking and it is working. J.C. teaches portion control which I feel is the most important part of the program. If you take away one thing from the program it should be to understand portions and with that you WILL succeed!!

brooke: Jenny is not hard too follow, takes no time to prepare and tastes really good. People who say they didn’t lose weight on it didnt follow it and I find it really hard to believe that they found it tasteless and boring. Think about how most people eat Thursday- Pork chop night…Friday- Spaghetti night…. The point of Jenny Craig is to eat Jenny Craig food and lose weight which is good for people who just dont have the time or desire to weigh and measure portions and count calories. You are paying for the convenience of the food. If you want to prepare your own meals do another program!!

brooke: Oh and as far as Christy Alley is concerned you have to want to change and keep it off in order to do so. People who have gastric bypass surgery will eat until they stretch thier stomach out and gain weight again she needs help and its not from a program. Its therapy..what is she missing in her life that she is filling with calories?????

moody: On was on the Jenny Craig diets from about six weeks, everything was going well and I was losing weight and satified with the program. But I began experiencing h*adaches, and mood swings, b*d mood swings I almost lost my job I was mad at the world. I had know idea what was going on until I realized I had apologized to everyone in my dept; and thought perhaps I was gong through the “change of life” ???????? One of the people in my dept. asked if I thought the diet could have had something to do with my change in behaviour, after thinking for a minute I thought about a few other things I was experiencing beside mood swings. That night I went home and decided not to have a Jenny Craig dinner but a real meal with chicken I had cooked with fresh vegetable; within a day my headaches went away, within two days I could feel the difference in my behaviour wihtin a week I was back to myself, happy and easy going. I didn’t share my experience with my peers I wanted to see if anyone noticed a change, and they all did, when I told them I had gone off Jenny Craig, I was told that my behaviour became so nasty I was about to be teminated. After the fact I realize I had a reaction to the artifical sweeteners, and additives in Jenny Craigs food. I would be interested to know if others have experienced something similar to my experience.

SandyT: I joined the Jenny Craig diet and tried very hard to lose. I had 40lbs to lose and did lose 15 in six weeks. I joined the one for life so it cost a bunch around 600.00 so I charged it! However they forgot to tell me the food was $80 a week just for me. after six weeks i stopped going and tried to do it on my own but it is hopeless when all you have been eating is their food. I ended up putting the wgt back on plus about 10 lbs. Not a good experience – the one on one weekly – did not really cut it. They were nice enough but it was usually a 5 minute – is every thing fine etc. then checking off what you had to buy for next week. Also they were all skinny!! acted like they had always been – not a lot of help there. Lesson Learned

Janet: I just joined JC and I hope it will be a success. Frankly, I’m a bit embarrassed by how much money I spent on food. Ridiculous. I hope that encourages me to follow the plan even more. I hate to see that money go to waste. But here’s the reality of this diet or any other. It’s about you and whether you are mentally ready to make a diet work. There is no magic formula. It’s about cutting back on the calories, and adding physical activity. I could write a diet plan as good as JC or any other. I know everything there is to know–just about. But, until I’m ready mentally to do what I know I should do…I’m not going to lose an ounce. About Kirstie Alley.. it wasn’t the diet that failed…she failed at the diet. She wasn’t ready. She can try every diet there is–and every single one will require her to cut back on the calories. That’s what dieting is. Wish me luck.

mariana: can someone please help me…Im trying to join Jenny Craig but the initial cost is a bit much…my consultant is wonderful she is trying to get me halp price deal so it covers my maintenace…all i need to do is find someone else on the premium program i need your name and the center you joined ,,,you will recieve a 25.00 gift certificate from jenny craig too they said..just reply back here to me PLEASE i really need to lose weight for my daughters wedding…can you help?

Beth: Sorry, wish I could help, have looked into this and decided its gonna b e too costly, and besides, the ratings here are not al that great. Now I;m thinking mabye I oughtta go for Weight WAtchers instead of Jenny craig. Or maybe nutrisystem? I dunno, need to do some more research. Good luck to yuo.

Beth: Sorry, wish I could help, have looked into this and decided its gonna b e too costly, and besides, the ratings here are not al that great. Now I;m thinking mabye I oughtta go for Weight WAtchers instead of Jenny craig. Or maybe nutrisystem? I dunno, need to do some more research. Good luck to yuo.

jenny downs: well its been about four weeks that i have been on jenny craig and i have already lost 15 pounds. I am getting very tired of the foods tho,it is the same thing every week.the food is all starting to taste the same but, i enjoy the weight loss. one Another thing that makes this diet difficult is my consultant, i dont think she enjoys working with me. Every time i go in there she seems irritated or something. It makes me a little uncomforatble and the care calls are short and sweet i feel that if that is your job you need to make every person like they are important, dont rush through the visit.Make them feel comfy like they belong there.I alsi get the impression that i am bothering them if i call in to the center for advice during the week so i quit doing that. The food is so expensive but now i get to prepare my own meals a couple times a week so that is helping out a lot.It is very exciting to see the weight come off so fast tho,i just hope that it stays off once the program is compleated. all in all i feel that jenny craig works but the people at the center could be a little more friendly it might make my weight loss experiance more fun and exciting

jenny downs: ok well i dont see my post on jenny craig yet so im makin another one.i have to say that im indesicive about this diet but im leanin more towrds the negitive side just because of my consultant(the foods not all that great either).i have lost 14 pounds in the little time that i have been on this which is approximently four weeks maybe four and a half.my consultant i feel is not very friendly with me she just treats me like another doller on her paycheck which is unfortunate because if it wouldnt be for me and all of you out there she wouldnt have a job.i feel like a bother to her when i call into the center for help or advice.when i go in weekly she tries to get me out of there as quickly as she can. i feel if i am paying that much money she should take the time and actually sit down with me and go over what it is that i might be having trouble with instead of well heres your food now give me your money and get out of here.the food is too costly and it all tastes the same.most of there items are discontinnued also whats up with that take them off of the menu if they are discontinued.there is no variaty its the same food every week. i dont know maybee im just getting board with what to eat and what not to eat. the first couple of weeks were real easy for me but latley im at the point where i dont care i want something else and unfortunetly i cant call the center because like i said before i feel that i am bothering my consultant.i must be doing something right tho ive lost 14 pounds.maybee ill try a fat burner on top of tis and see what happens.i do kno one thing tho when im done with this im going to try that hcg diet it sounds like it might work a little better than this well i hope so i still have 25 pounds to loose good luck to everyone out there i wish you all luck with what ever you decide to do and many congratulations on everyones weightloss progress

AMPS: I started Jenny three weeks ago. I’ve lost 4 pounds so far. I think it’s a good program and I’ll stick to it because I’d hate to quit after so much work. It’s NOT easy. I had headaches the first couple of days. And it’s expensive. But I have a good feeling about it. I still have 20 pounds to lose so I’ll make sure to post a comment as I go along. It’s worth trying, though.

Tera: There is no one program that will work for every person, and something that works at one time in your life may not work in other circumstances. I lost over 90 pounds on my own 5 years ago, through limiting/counting calories, and exercise. I spent hours a week shopping, prepping and portioning meals, etc …it worked. Last novemeber my husband became seriously ill. It is a catastrophic illness that has changed our lives forever. He is permanently disabled, and I have little time to deal with regular life, let alone counting cals. The enormous stress of the illness put 40 pounds on me in a year. I thought I could eat the fear away, and it turns out it just made things worse. Suddenly I had no clothes that fit, I was having my own health problems, and I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror anymore. I just couldn’t find the time to do the things I did 5 years ago, so what to do? I went to Jenny Craig. She does all the work for me. I pick up my food at center, I follow the menu exactly as written, never have to count a calorie or weigh a portion. It’s what I need at this time in my life. I have already lost 15 pounds, and I know I will soon start easing back into homemade meals, but it is so less daunting now, and I have the comfort of knowing I have Jenny’s stellar consultants to turn to whenever I need. I am nothing short of grateful for the plan and I know it works. And the best part about it? I love the food! It does not taste like diet food. I will actually miss those turkey burgers once I’m at goal.

Gregory: Little Piggies, If you do not like it, go back to trying it on your own. If you follow it and exercise, yes, get your walrus butts off the couch, you will get a significant loss. Once you reach your goal, you can go back to your own food, I have been a member for one month and lost 20 lbs, by following the program to the tee and hitting the gym 5 days a week. If you want it, you’ll do it.Otherwise, stop whining.

Caroline: I went on J.C. before – lost and gained it back. Was not serious. This time I reached my goal (60 lbs. less) Just ate my 1200 cal. per day – lost about 1 – 2 lbs week. and have been at goal for a year! Praise God! I did have one plateau for 2 weeks – just kept going and started losing even faster! I think the food is good. Of course, you get tired of eating things over but it was worth it!!

Barb T: How can I get help, I am 60 years old and about 100 lbs over weight. I am in good health but I feel awful about my appearance. I can not afford Jenny’s food,but I would love to be your spokes person and show the world a normal every day person struggling to lose weight. Most of us don’t beleive the movie stars on TV, because we know they have the money to get their inperfections taken care of. I am a grandmother of three and I want to see my grandchildren graduate college and play with my great grandchildren. I would be the greatest spoke person you ever had.I work with women who have been on every diet there is and we talk about Jenny all the time, but none of us could afford the food. Help me and I will help you, I will sing your praises and have more people buying your product than your movie stars. Come on give me a try…Thanks for listening.

R.C. Royer: I started the Jenny Craig Program in May 2007. It helped me lose some weight. I lost 55lbs hit my goal and then left the plan back at the beginning of 2009. I had/have concerns about eating highly processed foods for a long period of time and the major link to cancers. JC does help to lose large amounts of weight and it worked for me the best, as long I was doing zero exercise. As soon as I started to workout regularily I would stop losing weight. So to get pounds off I had to be lazy and eat packaged food. Looking back, it wasnt the best lifestyle change to be learning. I ended up going on to eat normal healthy food and I have lost 80lbs to date. The JC plan gives you the fish but doesnt teach you how to fish for yourself. They give you the pre-portioned chemical filled foods and then once you hit your goal, your on your own and back to square one with no nutritional knowledge. I was forced to re-educate myself on eating, and could have just done that in the first place and saved the $400 membership fee and the $150/week for the JC food (times almost two years) If you do that math that’s a total price of $16000 in two years, for 55lbs. scary. Overall I’d say its a good place to start, if you dont have any other support, but you wont learn much from having someone hand you food, unless of course you plan to be on their food for the rest of your life. In whichcase I hope you’re rich.

bjsdeb: I started JC in January 2010 and my husband joined in March 2010. I lost a total of 30 pounds and my husband lost only 5 pounds according to JC, but according to his doctor he lost 20 pounds. Not sure why the difference. Anyway, I did quite a bit of research and we have since quit JC. According to our research we CAN do this using our own plan using Eating Right meals. There is very little difference between JC and Eating Right. We just started on this new plan after viewing our spending plan at our bank and found that in March alone we spent $2700 on JC and produce. UNBELIEVEABLE! So JC is NOT cheap, it is a rich person

Anonymous: JC is a good way to get yourself started, but after a while it gets too expensive and you can finish losing on your own. I was spending $125 a week for their food and could not sustain that. Look on their website forum for the price list of the items you will purchase and you will absolutely freak out. Some meals cost almost $7 each and 1 cookie is $1.99. None of their frozen food is over 300 calories but you can find substitutes in the grocery store for much less. I lost 35 lbs in 4 months on JC and continue to lose on my own.

Johanne: All this sounds great…but when you’re on a very low budget plan and have a family to feed…how can you afford paying for Jenny Craig’s plan and pay separate groceries for your family…All we see mostly see are actors, singers, etc… advertising for this plan…they don’t have to worry about the cost…they get it for free for advertising..and most of foremost they have plenty of money to pay for it…please give me a break…I’d love to try it but if I want my kids to have a roof over their heads, food and clothes…come on lets be realistic…this program is only suitable for people who have the extra money to spend…like I said sounds really good…but obviously for middle class families and up

jenny craig stinks!: Jenny Craig is the worst program available to consumers to help them lost weight. It is extremely expensive and the counselors only do a couple of things for you…tell you when you have lost or gained weight (anyone can do that) and then go back into the back room to get you your frozen food (anyone can do that also…like let’s say that you want a lean cuisine, just ask one of the employees to grab it out of the freezer for you at Wal-Mart and they will even do it for free!). Let’s get real here people, yes, you can lose weight on the program as long as you act like a robot and don’t deviate from the course laid out before you at all. Not to mention, good luck staying on the program when you are invited out to eat with a friend or are invited to eat at someone’s house for dinner. I am a previous Jenny Craig client and it cost me on average about $150.00 a week in food and that did not even include the raw vegetables and fruit that they wanted me to eat daily which was another $25-$30 a week grocery bill and this was MY food bill per week only…it did not include food for my husband, kids, etc. Not to mention that many times, I would go for my appointment and they were ALWAYS running behind. On one of my visits, I waited 45 minutes to simply be weighed in and then given my food which can take all of 10 minutes. I got sick of waiting to be weighed in when I had a very busy life…I am a Grad student taking 6-9 credits a semester and holding down a full time job along with being a wife, mom, etc. Fast forward…I left the program for about one year and, of course, gained the weight back. Stupidly, I tried to go back since I had paid to be a “life-time” member and they would NOT let me return because of a food alle*gy that I have. Well…I told them about the food alle*gy the first time that I joined the program and it was not a problem but they said that I couldn’t eat the food because of the alle*gy even though it was the exact same food that I had eaten one year ago. They ushered me out the door with a “good luck” and I felt cheated of all the money and time that I had wasted on their program. Also…the majority of the women working there were overweight including the site director. If you are thinking about joing Jenny Craig, let me ask you this…”What is the point to join a program that will cost you around $180.00 per week to feed yourself only and will take you about 6 months to reach your goal depending on how much you want to lose, to only re-gain all the weight back?” In case you didn’t do the math…that is around $4320.00 just to lose on average 30lbs and then not stay thin in the long run. Trust me, you WILL gain the weight back because they offer little to no support to help you keep it off even though they “say” that they will help you to maintain the weight lost, they WON’T! They will drop you like a bad habit just as they did me. I would encourage you to do it on your own – it is simple, burn more calories than you take in daily and it will come off.

Laura: If anyone needs a bodymedia band. Its brand new, used 3 times, i just can’t track everything, its not for me. Selling for $140-

Rhonda: I am so dissapointed. I just came from a jenny craig center. I filled out all the information, was interviewed by consultant, was weighed and made promises it would get better-only to learn that because I have tree nut allergies I can not participate in the program. That is fine but why didn’t they have that information up front so I would not waste my time and get my hopes up. I feel discriminated against because of my allergies.

Anonymous: Jenny Craig is a horrible diet plan. Now that Nestle Corporation bought them out several years ago. They now put SATURATED FATS in their food to keep you on their program longer. Make more $$$$$$ and you lose less weight and they keep you on the program longer. BUY LEAN CUSINE which is OWNED by NESTLE CORPORATION!!!! The public is not stupid these day’s when it comes to food. Please read the lables. As far as JENNY CRAIG CORPORATION. THEY HAVE NO VALUES OR INTEGRITY IN MY WORLD/ THEY CHEAT THE CONSUMER AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND CONSUMERS. I KNOW THIS FIRST HAND.

Anonymous: I would just like to say thank you to jenny craig not only did i lose 85 lbs on the program i was at one time a type two diabetic that no longer has to take medication. If it wasnt for the knowledge and support of my counselor i would not have achieved my goal. Furthermore i was also a single mom of three and at one point could not afford the full cost of the food my consultant was more than willing to work with me to keep me on track.