Jenny Craig Weight Loss

The Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program provides a host of benefits to clients during their weight loss journey; however, high food costs can create a challenge for long term weight loss. The Jenny Craig Program begins with an initial visit to the center, known as the Initial Consultation. This consultation, lasting approximately 45 minutes, involves meeting a Jenny Craig sales person who explains how the weight loss program works, how it is created for specific weight loss needs, and what the program costs are. As a prospective client you are introduced to weight loss consultants, get weighed in at the center, and can view pictures of clients who have successfully lost weight. Certain health conditions may require doctor approval for enrollment in the program, these include, but are not limited to diabetes, high blood pressure, nursing a newborn, and recent surgeries.

If a client chooses to join Jenny Craig they are able to purchase their program and food at the conclusion of their initial consultation. Jenny Craig clients' are expected to consume seven days of Jenny Craig food per week. This includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack, all provided by Jenny Craig. Depending on the calorie level assigned, the client then supplies their own fruits, vegetables, dairy, and some snacks. The menus offered vary greatly. Breakfast options range from cold cereal to french toast with fruit. Lunch ranges include lighter fare, like soups, to heavier meals like beef chow mien. For dinner, clients can choose pasta dishes, such as chicken fettuccine, or pizzas and sandwiches. Desserts or snacks (one per day) range from bruschetta veggie chips to double chocolate cake. To enhance satiety Jenny Craig focuses on the theory of Volumetrics, which finds ways to provide more food for fewer calories. Clients can consume unlimited servings of non-starchy vegetables and are offered various "free" food recipes, labeled as such, due to their low calorie count.

During their program, Jenny Craig clients visit the center one time per week to have a weight loss consultation. The consultation, lasting approximately 20 minutes, involves weighing in, describing the previous week's events, refueling weight loss motivation, and planning for the upcoming week. The consultations are private and most clients choose to continue with their same consultant throughout the program. Their consultant keeps a folder to track their weight loss, exercise progress, and to reflect on previous challenges. Consultants are not registered nutritionists; however, they are trained within Jenny Craig to use motivational interviewing techniques to enhance motivation. Consultants are crucial to the weight loss process, therefore, it is imperative that clients experience various consultants at their Jenny Craig Center, to find which is the best fit for them. Clients can also ask the sales person, who signs them up, to pair them with a certain type of consultant. For instance they may request a person more knowledgeable in physical fitness or someone with a very peppy personality. The last five minutes of the consultation is reserved for choosing the next weeks menu and ordering food. The Jenny Craig foods are kept in the center, so clients are able to take purchase their food each week. On average clients lose 1-2 pounds per week, but this is a loose number that can change due to age, gender, activity level, and other factors.

Jenny Craig does not offer a specific exercise program for their clients. Consultants may make exercise recommendations based on the client's physical abilities and desirable activity levels. Exercise products are offered for sale in the center. Clients can purchase balance balls, AB balls, workout DVD's, resistance cords, pedometers, and other merchandise to assist in fitness. In addition to fitness products, Jenny Craig sells cookbooks to ease the client back into cooking as the progress towards their weight loss goal.

Jenny Craig offers a maintenance program to help clients maintain their weight loss, at the conclusion of their program. This entails finding a new calorie level for the client (based on weight maintenance). Consultants help the client create a new menu based on foods that they can purchase outside of Jenny Craig. A four week transition from Jenny Craig food to grocery foods, allows the client to confidently switch back to making their own meals.

Before joining a weight loss program, such as Jenny Craig, important factors must be considered. First look at finances. Program costs are listed below, but weekly food can reach $130. This may seem like a small price to pay to achieve your ideal weight; however, it can become quite costly, especially if you aren't totally committed to the program. The second factor is the types of foods that you like to eat. Jenny Craig food is processed and pre-packaged. There is little or no cooking during the initial phases of the program. Dining out and social gatherings can be challenging unless you take your Jenny foods along (which is uncomfortable for some people). Finally look at your level of motivation. Are you really ready to do this? Because weight loss is not a single decision, it is hundreds of decisions every single day. It means constantly overcoming temptation and making the healthy decision. Ultimtaly, regardless of consultations and prepared foods, only one person decides whether or not they will lose weight.

Several programs are offered for Jenny Craig clients to allow for longer weight loss durations and food discounts.

Free 30 Day Program- This program allows a client to try Jenny Craig for thirty days for free; however, clients must still purchase their food weekly. Essentially the client is receiving free consultations and materials during this time. Food will generally cost $110 - $130 weekly.

Advertised Special- This program is based on the current short term weight loss option advertised by Jenny Craig. Some examples are 6 weeks for $36 or Twenty Pounds for $20. These will include consultations for the specified period of time, certain manuals, and other program materials. Weekly food costs will range from $110-$130.

Jenny Rewards Program- This is a one year program that offers weight loss and maintenance consultations, graduating food disocunts, and product discounts. For the first ten visits, clients save 10% off their food each week, for the next ten visits they save 20%, for the rest of the year (or until they reach their goal weight) they receive 30% off their food. At goal these clients get 35% off of their food. This program also offers unlimited annual renewals for $39. This program is $359 when paid in full, a payment option costs $399 and is spread over three months. Food savings will pay off the program cost in approximately 17-19 visits.