Jenny Craig is a weight management service that combines dieting, nutritional counseling and personal support to help you reach your weight loss goals. The Jenny Craig program is safe for most people; there are several different programs available, including ones designed specifically for men, women, seniors and people with diabetes. The diet is low in calories and some people may experience hunger, headaches or fatigue -- all signs of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
Safety
Jenny Craig encourages you to make sustainable lifestyle changes -- learning healthy eating and portion control, incorporating exercise into your everyday routine and changing your emotional relationship to food. "U.S. News Health" reports that there are no health risks associated with the Jenny Craig diet and in 2011 ranked it No. 2 overall for "Best Weight Loss Diet" and "Best Commercial Diet Plan" -- second only to Weight Watchers.
Food
The Jenny Craig diet follows most of the 2010 U.S. dietary guidelines. Two notable exceptions -- it's lower in calories and fat. The USDA recommends that 25 to 35 percent of your calories come from fat; the Jenny Craig program averages between 20 and 25 percent. Protein and carbohydrate consumption is on target, as is sodium intake. The RDA for most vitamins and minerals are met on the Jenny Craig program. But, it's still recommended that you take a daily multivitamin.
Calories
To lose weight, you must consume fewer calories than you burn, which will force your body to convert stored body fat into energy -- resulting in weight loss. Many of the Jenny Craig programs provide between 1,200 and 1,300 calories daily -- much less than government guidelines -- because the program is designed to help you lose weight. It takes a 3,500 calorie deficit to lose 1 lb. If you cut 500 to 1,000 calories from your current daily diet, you should expect to lose between 1 and 2 lbs. weekly.
Hypoglycemia
When you eat 1,000 calories less than your normal diet, you may experience low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia occurs when your body has less glucose -- your primary source of energy. Hunger, headaches, mood swings, dizziness and shakiness are all signs of low blood sugar. Eating, especially simple carbs that your body can easily convert to glucose, will raise blood sugar and make your symptoms go away. Your body will soon adapt to the lower food intake and you won't experience hypoglycemia; but make sure to space your calories evenly throughout the day and eat at least every four hours to keep a steady supply of glucose in your bloodstream.
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