Jenny Craig Metabolic Max Program

[Anonymous]

I'm considering going onto Jenny Craig. Would appreciate any first hand experience with the program - how long you were on it, highs and lows, how much you wanted to loose (and how much you did loose over how long), what was it like to go back to "real" food, etc. I need to loose about 50 pounds and hope to do it over six months (a lot, I know). Open to any other feedback as well. I know diet and exercise are the key, so no need to reiterate that. I'm looking for a very regimented program to specifically help with portion control. I know people love Weight Watchers, but (at least for the first half of my diet) I need something simpler and prepackaged foods are pretty attractive in theory. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I was on JC for...6 months I think? With a goal of losing about 30 pounds.

For me, the food got old. I wasn't a huge fan of it. While some things were good, I'm just not crazy about food that is processed to that extent. (and I do eat lean cuisines and that type of food sometimes)

I didn't stick to the diet as much as I should have, and I didn't exercise enough either. So I lost about 20 pounds, an unfortunately have gained some of it back.

You'd probably be better off (and spend less money) by eating lean cuisines, healthy choice, and the like for all 3 of your meals. Only use veggies and fruit as snacks.

[Anonymous]

If you're just looking for help from the prepackaged food then go for it. Don't get sucked into their lifelong plans - take the shortest term they offer. The food is fine. Lean Cuisine basically. You quickly find what you like and don't like (I personally wouldn't eat any of the canned/non-frozen foods). I quit after losing only 15 lbs. My motivation for going was I wanted the 1 on 1 consultant relationship and someone to hold me accountable. They stink at that. Every week they'd shuffle me to a different consultant, most of whom were just starting out. They basically were there to take my food order and that was it. Oh, and make sure you have plenty of freezer space!

[Anonymous]

I liked that they made it easy to control. I also didn't really stick to the menu and started substituting lean cuisine because they stopped carrying my fav. food and the food was expensive.
I also didn't exercise enough and of you like to drink, weight loss will be quite slow.
The metabolic system is really cool though. You can see exactly when and how many calories you burn and can make your menu to fit your burned calorie average. If you wear it at night, you can see how long you slept and how often you woke up and for how long.
Just remember to take it off when you're going to have relations, as it will show on the chart and you were very active at night...might be uncomfortable since your consultant will look over your chart with you.
I also had great consultants and always had my appointments at the same time with the same person.