Thank you Jenny Craig for sponsoring this post. — Get serious about losing weight with Jenny Craig!
Ladies and gentlemen, I’m about to get real for a minute. Weight control after 30 is hard. No idea why, but there it is. I’ve never really had issues with my weight before, and even though I didn’t really work at it, it just wasn’t something that has ever been a problem for me. But after 30? I feel like all of a sudden life changed the rules and obliterated every comfortable thing there was about my body and the way I take care of it. Seriously, I feel like I can’t lose weight to save my life right now. I will admit that I don’t get quite as much activity as I did a few years ago, but I definitely don’t think it is a big enough difference for the amount of weight I have gained since the big 3-0. So there it is. This is me, and I’m about to get to work.
I have done health initiatives before and gained and lost pounds here and there, but for most of my adult life my body has been a steady 125 pounds give or take. And I’m not very tall, so that is about average. But now? I feel like I keep looking in the mirror and I don’t recognize myself anymore. Where did this flab come from? Where did this belly come from? For the first time in my life, I feel like my body is a different body, and I don’t like it. I have become overweight, and I didn’t even know it was happening. Sure, my jeans have become tighter, and my shirts don’t fall quite as low on my waist as I’m used to, but I chalked that up to subtle fluctuations in a regularly changing body. It wasn’t until I saw a snapshot of myself on my husband’s Instagram that I really saw just how much bigger I looked than normal.
I cried, and immediately went and ate my feelings to the tune of a pint of ice cream, but then I got motivated, and discovered Jenny Craig. What is Jenny Craig? It is a great system for anyone struggling with leading a healthy lifestyle, losing weight, and those who need support in that journey. The program takes a holistic approach to weight loss and weight management, focusing on food, body, and mind. It is a well-rounded approach that focuses on long lasting choices and results rather than a quick fix. I know we we tend to want to see immediate results and get frustrated when the pounds don’t melt off, but those methods seldom last. Jenny Craig offers two ways to participate: In person at a center, or via Jenny Craig Anywhere which offers one-on-one support through consultations over the phone or video chat. So, if you can’t make it to a center or don’t have time to fit in a trip, you can have your consultations anywhere you have a phone or device! *Results not typical. Members following the Jenny Craig program, on average, lose 1-2 lbs. per week. I received promotional consideration.
Upon signing up for the program, I was connected with my consultant. His name is Javier and he is amazing! We speak on the phone weekly about menus, challenges, and plans for the week ahead. He also helps me keep track of success with weekly weigh-ins and taught me how to self monitor. From our first conversation he shared that he had personally been through the program, and let me know that he would be there to support me through my own journey. Since Jenny Craig is a food based program, we went through their menu options and selected 3 weeks worth of food based on my needs, goals, and preferences. I will get into more on menu specifics in my next post, but I will say that the food is pretty fabulous! It features more than 100 premium menu items in a variety of amazing flavors, created by 40 professional chefs.
The breakfasts are my favorite (like the amazing waffles below) but they also have an amazing line of snacks that are perfect for anytime. One thing I really like about their meal program is that while I eat a lot of their pre-portioned foods throughout the day, they also leave room for my own food and recipes. Like for lunch, I can choose one of their meals, and add a side of my own homemade salad. Or for the baked potatoes, they have topping suggestions on the box so you can dress it up and make it original. They also have foods that are “always free” foods that I can eat as much of at any time I want. These foods are mostly vegetables, which you know I love, so it is perfect for me!
Like any weight loss program there are ups and downs, and starting is the biggest step you are going to take. The first day of eating the foods was definitely different from what I have grown accustomed to, but if I follow the program there isn’t much room in it to feel hungry because they suggest small, frequent meals throughout the day. I have been on the program for two weeks now, and I definitely feel like I am doing something better for myself than before. I am measuring my progress, and slowly but surely getting back to the body I remember.
Want to follow along with my journey? Check back next week for more Jenny Craig updates, and find out more about the program by visiting their website!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
