For those in the younger generation wondering, "What is the Jenny Craig diet?" it is actually a diet plan that has been around for more than 25 years. This diet program has its roots in Australia dating back 1983 before reaching the US market two years later. No sooner did it become a highly popular diet fad in America, with even famous celebrities swearing by the diet. Up to now, the program still uses celebrity endorsers to keep the program's popularity afloat, to positive results.

What is the Jenny Craig Program: A Background

The Jenny Craig method is a program that involves three levels: food, mind, and body. As with other plans, it aims to aid people in losing weight. It goes a step further by actually suggesting ideas to keep the weight off, thus helping the person under the program to maintain a healthy weight.

The first level of the program is food. The main idea of this element is to educated participants on how to eat right by consuming the right portions, planning menus that are healthy menus, and avoiding mistakes usually committed when eating with company or when entitling oneself to a splurge on occasions.

Body is the second level of the Jenny Craig program. In this stage, dieters are taught ways to be physically active for their weight loss to have more lasting effect. Clients are advised if their current level of physical activity is insufficient to maintain their weight loss and will positively affect their long-term plans. In developing strategies in this area, factors like schedules and usual habits are looked into.

The third element in this program is the mind. Promoters of the Jenny Craig program believe that a huge help in losing weight will come from being filled with support and having a positive frame of mind. This leg of the program makes sure that clients keep grounded in their goals and are supported in every step they take. Program implementers believe that the client should remain motivated and focused, and support from other clients is also essential. They must realize in this stage that food is not the only source of nutrition for them, as emotional needs can be taken elsewhere.

The Pros and Cons of the Jenny Craig Program

Now that you know what is the Jenny Craig program, let's look into the advantages that it brings. First would be the wide range if support it provides clients undergoing the program. A telephone line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in order for clients to get all the guidance and information whenever they need it. If the client is more comfortable online, there are various online support channels, including groups and counselors. The food prescribed by the program can be ordered through the phone or online. There are also a good number of written materials for clients to read.

Clients can also choose between the two ways of getting the program, and they can choose which is more convenient for them. One would be by going directly to one of the over 650 physical centers of Jenny Craig found in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Puerto Rico. The second way is through mail and telephone, for those who are situated far from a Jenny Craig center.

The prepackaged foods that are the main component of the 2nd level is portion controlled, making the client disciplined in eating, which in turn, will most likely result in weight loss. Moreover, these meals are delivered right to the client's doorstep. These meals can be eaten right away after being put in a microwave for a few minutes.

The plan has gotten good reviews because it is tailored to every client, making each of them feel that they have a personalized approach to losing and maintaining a healthy weight. The usual steps found in other fad diets like starving or skipping meals are discouraged. The result is a slow but steady weight loss of at most, three pounds for every week.

However, since the foods are prepackaged, some clients who didn't like the food in the first place may have trouble sticking with the program. Those with food allergies may also find the diet part of the program hard to follow because ingredients such as peanuts, dairy, eggs, wheat and sugar are present in some of the prepackaged meals.

The foods are mostly frozen, so you would need to invest on a freezer to keep them, unless you buy food directly from a center. The diet plan and the meals can be expensive for some, especially if it means having to cook separately for other members of the family. People who enjoy eating out and are constantly travelling will have a difficult time following the meal plan. Lastly, clients who decide to stop with the program may have difficulties with transitioning to eating in the 'real world' once again.