Jenny Craig offers a three-part approach to weight loss -- food, body and mind. Since 1983, the Jenny Craig program has offered low-calorie pre-packaged foods with one-on-one counseling to help people lose weight, learn portion control and develop healthy lifestyle habits that can be sustained for long-term weight loss. The Jenny Craig plan uses the glycemic index to help plan meals that have little effect on blood sugar levels.
Jenny Craig
Jenny Craig is a full-service weight-management system that aims to teach you how to develop a healthy eating style that incorporates many of your favorites foods. The Jenny Craig system offers packaged meals that you supplement with fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products. In addition to these portion-controlled meals, you're supposed to learn to be mindful of your eating habits and pick up cues about emotional and stress eating by keeping a journal. There are audiotapes and DVDs for working out and techniques to increase physical activity in daily life. Once you've reached your goal weight, Jenny Craig offers ways to help you transition to planning your own meals and maintaining your weight.
Diet
The Jenny Craig diet averages between 1,200 and 1,300 calories daily for women; but it is a tailored approach and your calorie allotment is based on your individual needs. Jenny Craig provides breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert; you are allowed to supplement the packaged meals with fresh fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy. You are allowed unlimited amounts of low-glycemic vegetables; you must eat other foods in moderation. Low-glycemic vegetables have a minimal impact on blood sugar and are usually low in calories and high in fiber.
Glycemic Index
The glycemic index measures how quickly a carbohydrate will impact your blood sugar level. The lower a food scores on the GI, the less effect it has on your blood sugar. Foods are ranked on a scale of 1 to 100; foods that score 55 or less are low-GI foods. Most nonstarchy vegetables, many fruits, beans and whole grains are low on the GI. A low-GI score does not mean low in calories -- Jenny Craig allows unlimited low-GI vegetables, but not whole grains, fruits or legumes, which can be much higher in sugar and calories.
Pros and Cons
The Jenny Craig diet may help you lose weight and change your relationship with food; it's emphasis on physical activity and long-term health goals make it a realistic weight loss program. It can be expensive -- according to a 2011 report in "U.S. News health" one year of the program costs about $3,000, and you will need to buy additional items. It can be difficult to transition from using prepared meals to making your own, but Jenny Craig offers counseling and support to help with the transition.
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