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Jenny Craig Review (UPDATED 2024): Don't Buy Before You Read This!

Name: Jenny Craig Review (UPDATED 2024): Don't Buy Before You Read This!
Item: Jenny Craig Review (UPDATED 2024): Don't Buy Before You Read This!
Rating: 95
Author: admin

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What is it?

Jenny Craig is a weight loss program that offers consultations, prepacked foods, and motivation to support users. It’s claimed to be an all-encompassing weight loss solution that can promote real change.

It’s made to reduce up to 16 pounds of weight loss in 12 weeks. A standard diet plan will limit calories from 1,200 to 2,300 calories depending on height, gender, and weight loss goals. There’s also a version for people with type 2 diabetes. In reviewing weight loss diets our experts found this diet is a cost-effective and reliable solution. It offers appetite suppression, great variety, and low-calorie meals for lasting weight loss. If you’d like to get good savings on Jenny Craig and also learn about what it has to offer, we suggest clicking on this link.

EDITOR’S TIP: Click here to sign up with Jenny Craig.

Jenny Craig Ingredients and Side Effects

Here are some select ingredients used in the prepackaged foods:

Enriched Flour	Corn Syrup	Soybean Oil	Dextrose	Guar Gum
Carrageenan	Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein	Caramel Color	Sugar	Modified Food Starch
Pea Protein	Oat Fiber	Milk Protein Concentrate	Whole Grain Oats	Textured Wheat Protein

Corn Syrup: This extracted food syrup is taken from corn and is used as sweetener in foods. This is a cost effective sweetener which is able to provide a pleasant taste without being too expensive to produce.

Carrageenan: Thickener and binder which is extracted from red edible seaweed. This helps provide a stabilizing effect to make surrounding ingredients easier to control.

Guar Gum: This fiber extract is taken from the guar plant. It’s often added as a thickener and binder which also can aid appetite suppression. It’s typically easy to absorb and may help with digestion. This can aid weight loss since it can fill the stomach up, making a person less likely to want to continue eating.

Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein: This gluten source is added to foods to provide a unique taste as well as protein. It also provides a pleasant flavor profile, making foods more palatable. There is often some glutamic acid present, which is an important amino acid that can help improve metabolism.

Modified Food Starch: This form of starch is often added to increase viscosity and to create a certain texture.

Our experts have concluded that Jenny Craig can offer effective weight loss support; learn more about it by clicking here.

The full Jenny Craig package has over 100 different kinds of low calorie foods, consultations available in person, on the internet or on the phone, and personal consultations.

It’s advised to choose 5 different menu items and to select a snack of one’s choosing. This is intended to make it easy to eat foods without worrying about calorie counting as each meal is delivered.

It’s claimed that this is a way to lose weight up to 3 times more than if one were to do it on their own. A clinical study into weight loss diets reviewed Jenny Craig and found it:

“Resulted in at least 4.9% greater weight loss at 12 months than control/education and counseling”

So a person weighing 200 pounds would lose on average of 9.8 pounds in a year. This is compared to a plan that would educate a person about weight loss, while also helping guide them in their results. What this shows is that with Jenny Craig there’s even better counseling, weight loss tools, and variety of foods to help users gain noticeable results.

This is also of course an older study which may only show what minimal results are possible, as even more weight loss progress can result if the user follows the plan directly.

Jenny Craig Quality of Ingredients

There are many ingredients we didn’t mention in the above section due to the fact it’s all known ingredients that don’t require much of an explanation. For example in their turkey burgers they add a mixture of vegetables, real turkey, seasoning, and added vitamins and minerals. All of this is wholesome and good enough to satisfy as a full meal.

Their chicken fettuccine is low in calories, high in protein, and it’s made with real Romano cheese, seasoning, milk, macaroni, and of course natural chicken.

There is also additional support offered by this plan through counseling, which is a great way to optimize your overall commitment to the plan.

Here’s a great promotion being offered on Jenny Craig as well as more useful information you can read about.

The Price and Quality of Jenny Craig

It’s offered at an initial $50 enrollment fee and a $19.99 charge for 3 consultations. For weeklong consultations it’s $39.99 a month without the enrollment fee. This can vary depending on the current promotion, or depending on what kind of things you mix and match.

For the full experience there is a charge for pre-packaged foods which can average $15 to $23

Considering the fact that the whole system is shown to have great weight loss potential that rivals other forms of consultations, this may be a great way for people to see significant weight loss progress. The benefit of having ready to go pre-packaged meals limits the possibility of seeking junk food, and the company offers a great meal plan which has enough variety to prevent boredom.

The additional counseling by the support staff also can keep a person motivated to continue with their weight loss goals. There’s also the customization offered which allows you to take advantage of the parts of the plan which most benefit you. With support offered all over the US Canada and Australia, there are enough locations to help support potential dieters.

Learn about Jenny Craig and what it can offer for weight loss by clicking on this provided link.

Business of Jenny Craig

The name of the company is Jenny Craig, Inc. and their contact information is listed as:

Address: 5770 Fleet Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

Phone Number: (866) 706-4042

Email: [email protected]

They currently have a great A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, meaning that they haven’t had any outstanding customer related problems. They have only closed complaints which mean that they took care of any customers who had things that needed to be corrected. It highlights that the company has taken the time to reach out to customers and help solve any pending issues.

The company has been around since 1983 and they have over 700 different facilities which all aim to serve those looking to lose weight.

Research what Jenny Craig has to offer and take advantage of their current promotional offer to get even deeper discounts.

EDITOR’S TIP: Click here to sign up with Jenny Craig.

Customer Opinions of Jenny Craig

Here are some reviews from users of the Jenny Craig system:

“Good assortment for the kinds of foods offered, this was enough to satisfy my appetite”

“Jenny Craig offered me great results and I think it will work for you as long as you stick with it”

“I liked the food even the frozen stuff doesn’t actually taste like it’s frozen”

“Variety was good and I enjoyed the fact that I wasn’t hungry after each meal”

People often said that the foods offered were of a good enough variety, that it was pleasant to eat, and that it helped support their weight loss results. There was also praise for the actual support offered by the counselors, and people felt that they were given dedicated support as well as details about how to carry their new lifestyle goals into practice.

All together people frequently said that they not just were better able to keep the weight off, but that they learned practical advice to help them make better decisions in the future.

Some stories people shared showed how they lost a lot of weight by simply following the plan as described, which many felt didn’t require any difficult effort.

You can take advantage of the great discount offer provided by Jenny Craig when you visit the link here.

Conclusion - Does Jenny Craig Work?

Jenny Craig offers low calorie prepackaged foods as well as counseling for people looking to lose weight. While reducing calories will help with weight loss, it’s important to consider cost. People often had the same praise for it, stating that the variety of foods was good enough and that the results and tips were good enough to pay the asking price. Many had a noticeable improvement in their weight loss, and people commented on how the counseling made it easy to keep off. There is also the great wide availability which allows people to find centers all over the US, Canada, and Australia.

Our review experts have analyzed many kinds of diets, and they found that Jenny Craig offered great reliable support. It offers many easy to make pre-packaged meals which reduce the chance of overeating, and the dedicated counseling offers useful suggestions on how to continue with your weight loss goals. The suggestions it has for weight loss are practical and don’t rely on crash dieting or fads, its all science based without having to starve customers. If you’d like to take advantage if the current promotion offered by Jenny Craig, then we suggest clicking on this link.

User Reviews Archieved

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User Feedback

(Page 6 of 8, 141 total comments)

anne bartee

No ,, don't join Jenny craig,, it is expensive.. that is why she is rich,, eat Lean cusines ,, stay at 1,200 cals a day or 1,500 and you will lose weight as long as you don't have a thyroid problem.. get with it fatty,, get thin...

posted May 26th, 2008 1:03 pm

The pre-prepared food is convenient and very tasty considering that it is diet food, as is the one-on-one counseling and the website offers some valuable tools to help you along. I basically had no issue with Jenny Craig program except for one thing: The CO$T! The reality is that you will spend anywhere between $120-$130 per WEEK on food alone, and that does not include the additional fresh produce and dairy foods you have to buy on your own. And then there is the up-front registration fee. Even if you join during one of their specials there is a hook at the end that prompts you to join at the regular rate which can range from $200 on up depending on which level of membership you choose. I was on the program for 4 weeks and lost about 4 pounds, which is considered the norm according to my counselor. Plus, I exercise regularly which helps and is encouraged by Jenny Craig. Will power is a must if you go on Jenny Craig since the portions are really tiny, and I found myself hungry all the time. Fresh veggies are considered all-you-can-eat freebies and I ate more raw carrots in 4 weeks than I ever had in my entire lifetime. Nonetheless, I did lose a little bit of weight. The ONLY reason I discontinued JC was the price. I figured that for the almost $600 I spent in those four weeks I could have stocked up on a freezer full of Healthy Choice meals AND joined a really nice fitness center for several months. I hold a BBA from a top-rated school and I swear I was not sleeping during Economics class so I should have known better! Bottom line: If you absolutely have NO time to prepare real meals, and have plenty of money to burn, Jenny Craig is a really good program.

posted May 15th, 2008 4:44 pm

mari

I just started JC 3 WEEKS AGO AND SO FAR I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE RESULTS AND I DO CERTAINLY LOVE THE FOOD..... I JUST THINK JC IS TO GOOD 2 BE TRUE. WISH ME LUK PPL IM GOING ON MY 3RD APPT.

posted Apr 28th, 2008 8:31 am

anne bartee

I figured it out .eat 1,200 calories a day and you will lose weight,, try oatmeal in the morning ,a Lean cuisine meal with in 300 calories , snack, trader joes cookies .. the 100 cal bags and lunch another lean cuisine .. a fruit.. go to mcDonalds and have their fruit and nut salad,, dinner is lean cusine and a no sugar jello.. if you can't get the lean cusine anything within 300 calories in each meal.. stay within 1,200 cals a day and guess what.. its cheaper and you got the secret

posted Apr 28th, 2008 8:31 am

Emily

A few weeks ago I joined Jenny Craig and spent over $300 in my first week. The plan was easy and the food tasted great. I started at 139 lbs. I started losing weight right away. But the thought of spending over $100.00 a week for the next few weeks killed my hopes of staying on the diet for very long. What?s the point of being skinny if I can?t afford the skinny clothes? My frustrations lead me to the grocery store where I discovered plenty of prepackaged foods with approximatly the same fat and calories as Jenny Craig food! I just switched these foods for Jenny?s foods. I wish I had this information before I paid the high membership fees. Now I'm selling my Jenny want-to-be diet on ebay. Instead of paying $12-18/day on prepacked foods, I spend $3.00!

posted Apr 20th, 2008 9:55 am

leslie

I have been on JC for 5 weeks and have lost 13 pounds. The food is okay and you can substitute a food you do not like for another meal. I like this program because all my food is ready to go. I still have a tough time when I have to cook "real" food for my family while I have a JC meal. I have about 25lbs more to lose and I am confident I will actually lose it if I stay on the JC program. I have never been pressured to buy anything from my center. I like the one on one counciling as opposed to WW where I have never really connected with the councellors.

posted Mar 22nd, 2008 7:13 pm

megan

I started Jenny two weeks ago and am down 5.8 pounds. I like it even though it is expensive. I would recommend it to anyone!

posted Mar 21st, 2008 3:13 pm

maria northey

I highlt recommend jenny craig

posted Mar 18th, 2008 9:01 am

maria

I only just started the jenny craig diiet and find the food is very nice .The snacks are great as well . would recommend this to anyone who have a weight problem.I

posted Mar 17th, 2008 11:04 pm

Linda

I started JC 2 weeks ago-have lost 9 lbs! I think the food so far has been really good and a great variety. The snacks are great!

posted Mar 7th, 2008 9:05 am

Amanda

I have been on Jenny for about 3 months now and am happy with the results. I have let myself indulge outside of Jenny, but found the plan the rest of the week is enough to continue to lose each week. I have lost 25 pounds and am happy with the food choices. I am a picky eater, and was happy that many things that came with sauces, etc. were seperate. Plus, you can pull off items if you don't like them. I would recommend this to ANYONE! I am finally at the point that people notice the weight loss. I have tried many other things and having the meals already prepared and portioned is the best for me. I have a long road ahead, but feel confident I will stick with this plan. This is the first time in my life, that I have EVER felt that way.

posted Mar 7th, 2008 9:05 am

sarar

I get Medifast delivered to my apt right now and find it much easier then going to the store and buying jenny craig. Does jenny craig offer a home delivery or is it just nutrisystem and medifast? has anyone tried any of the other ones. The food is good at medifast for home delivery etc

posted Mar 2nd, 2008 6:39 am

Doug Thomas

Started Jenny Craig 2 weeks ago and have already lost 10 lbs. The food is great, much better than nutrisystem!

posted Mar 2nd, 2008 6:35 am

Anonymous

I have been on J.C. for 14 months. I've lost 41 pounds, but now I have been plateauing for 2-1/2 months. I can't understand it, and nobody has any answers for me!

Anonymous

I've been on JC for a month now and have not lost any weight,but sure have payed alot for nothing. How much longer does it take to lose the weight?

Anonymous

this is the worst diet in the world all the food taste horrible

Nancy B.

I am looking to interview someone who has had success with Jenny Craig for a weight loss book I am writing. E-mail me at [email protected] if you want to hear more about it. Thanks for considering this.

Shawn

As a women who works two jobs, I find the Jenny Craig system really works for me. On other diet programs I obsessed over my food, weighing and measuring to make sure that I got every last ounce. On JC I just don't worry about it. I'm learning to eat to live instead of live to eat. I declined to purchase the vitamens and other non-food products and my counselor has not pressured me about it.

Anonymous

1st time 75lbs and anything that I liked food wise tked off the roster. 2 counselor's that time. I hit long "roadblocks" but worked through. And by the way kept it off for almost 10yrs. 2nd time 55lbs. The food gets old, somethings don't taste too great, find what you do like. I took control each time. Hey we got this way, don't whine tke control we can, that is what they teach. Years ago there were classes 2xwk you had to show up for and books of "homework lessons" people did not like that system JC changed to they way it is today due to that. To make the price better after you get some weight off drop to 5 days or only do self stable foods they are less costly. Then the few things that are frozen you like won't break the bank. My bills ran $75-85 week. The the market. Eat your veggies and such. It works not every part is perfect and wonderful my counselors shake their heads at me I would still eat candy ,ice cream and eat out sushi. But I also told on myself, I never felt badly, and I either stayed the same or lost weight. Be honest. It is what you make it! Take control. (And BTW I have tried WW NS JC foods and system is better. I am more honest and eat better with this than the others.)

Virginia

Are you kidding me? I started out going to the local center. I was pushed from the beginning to buy their food which, I knew was part of the program so in the beginning I understood. However I was also pushed to buy capsules and anti-oxidents and my counselor, over and over suggested I buy the cookbook which I had already bought. So much for remembering "me"! I kept a menu journal vigilantly and yet it was never looked at once. I was kept waiting at the center while the office manager (mycounselor for that day) unloaded a truck of food!!!! each time I went they were at least 20 minutes late with my appt. I lost 17 lbs and then hit a roadblock -- I couldn't stomach any more of their food. Most of their food is more of what I call "West Coast" recipes. Nothing that resembles anything that I grew up with from Philadelphia. Everything tasted over-spiced or heavily "herbed". And have you checked out the list of ingredients on the back of the packages???? Are you telling me that's healthier than a plain meal that I cook at home? What is all that stuff anyway? Then I switched to Jenny Direct -- only to find that my counselor didn't call me for 4 weeks over the holidays! Isn't that her responsibility in an effort to keep me on track?? Also I called in the other day to talk to the counselor in an effort to get back on track. The first question I was asked is what food I wanted to order!!! No pressure there - not!!!! I told the counselor I had plenty of food and needed to get back in the game. But there a few things I needed to replace to make complete meals. placed an order the other day in an effort to get back on track only to find that the cost of my food was around $40 - (only a few items that I needed) while the cost of shipping was $70!!!!!! Are you kidding me???? This is a big rip-off just like any other fad diet. Oh and did I mention that the first representative I talked to when I switched to Direct automatically increased my membership without telling me? And the shipping on that order was $85!!!! Unbelievable! My suggestion is make an appointment with a real, certified nutritionist. Learn how many fat grams and carbohydrates a day you should consume. Then learn to cut your portions. Oh! And, really -- Valerie Bertinelli?? I would like to know how much she was paid -- and she was PAID -- to lose weight. Hmmm would that make a difference? If Jenny paid me instead of me getting rocked???

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QUICK FACTS Start the Diet Now Advertisement

Established: 1983
Founder: Jenny and Sid Craig
Headquarters: Carlsbad, California
Stock Symbol: NESN
Accessibility: Online, Centers
Diet Type: Prepackaged Meals, Portion Control, Low-Calorie, Low-Fat
Gender: Male and Female
Celebrity Endorsements: Valerie Bertinelli, Jason Alexander, Sarah Rue, Carrie Fisher

Do You Know the Best Diet Pills of 2024?

BACKGROUND

With more than 600 centers around the globe and thousands of female followers, Jenny Craig has established itself as a leader in the weight-loss industry since 1983.

The Jenny Craig approach is built on three tenets: food, body and mind. The food element focuses on healthy eating and portion control and also teaches you how to eat the foods you love in moderation, the body element focuses on exercise and overcoming barriers to being physically active. The mind element focuses on positive thinking and getting the support you need to reach your weight loss goals.

The program is most known for its pre-packaged and portion-controlled meals. But Jenny Craig sets itself apart from other meal-delivery diets because as you reach your goal weight, you work closely with Jenny Craig counselors to learn about portion control, healthy cooking and eating at home or while dining out.

With over 2,500 consultants, you have access to one-on-one support in person, online or over the phone to help you eat right, exercise, change habits and overcome obstacles that keep you from your goals.

After an in-depth interview with a Jenny Craig representative, you are given a personalized meal and fitness plan. The two basic programs are the In-Person Support and Jenny Direct programs. With the former, you attend weekly meetings, consultations and food pick-up at your local Jenny Craig center and the latter gives you the same support over the phone and delivers food to your door.

In addition, there are five Jenny Craig plans under the Standard program: Jenny Craig for Women, Jenny Craig for Men, Jenny Craig for Teens, Jenny Craig for Spouses and Jenny Craig for Seniors.

Famous Jenny Craig Spokeswomen include Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli, Phylicia Rashad, Queen Latifah, Nicole Sullivan and Sara Rue.

Other Jenny Craig plans include:

Jenny Craig at Home: A plan that allows you to complete the Jenny Craig plan from the privacy of your own home.

Jenny Direct: The Jenny Craig program delivered straight to your door.

Jenny Craig for Men: The Jenny Craig plan specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of men who want to lose weight.

Jenny Craig Silver: The Jenny Craig plan for older adults who want to improve their health.

JENNY CRAIG VIDEOS

Jenny Craig YouTube Channel

Consumer Reports Jenny Craig vs. NutriSystem Taste Test

Flashmob Surprises Jenny Craig Celebrities

PRO

Features a one-on-one relationship with counselor
Menu includes a wide-variety of foods
Program has a long history and is a trusted brand in weight loss programs
Prepackaged foods offer convenience
No food groups are off limits
Named #2 in the Best Commercial Diets by US News, 2011

CON

May be a challenge to transition from the company's prepackaged meals to "real" food
Low-calorie diet may be too strict
Weekly in-person meetings can sometimes be inconvenient
Financial responsibility of prepacked meals may not be a long-term healthy eating solution

USER REVIEWS

A sampling of feedback and experiences shared by our community.

The food is great! Ediets is disgusting. Portions are small but your stomach does shrink so you don't really need more. Not all foods were wonderful but some I would eat even when not dieting. The food seems expensive but at the end of 6 weeks, I had actually saved money. I ate less, enjoyed my meals, and lost weight. - Katrina 1/9/11

I tried the program for a few weeks and was disappointed in the lack of support from the counselors. They didnt seem to have any "real" training. They said I could tell them things I dont like and they would make sure they werent included in the foods I bought (I hate raisins and mushrooms). They assured me nothing I bought had those 2 things in them, but lots actually did. They obviously didnt know their product. Way too expensive also. - Sandy 11/29/10

I've maintained my weight loss, fluctuating about 7 pounds, but still well below my goal weight for a year today! Great program, great food and awesome consultants. - Nina 7/12/10

Easiest diet I ever followed. Where I have always fallen off the wagon before is when I get stressed and am too busy to cook or just don't feel like it. With Jenny when I am stressed I just make a point of following the plan even better at those times. I don't do meals on my own, I just eat the Jenny food and know that way I am on track. - Carol Ann 1/17/10

I lost about 40 pounds on Jenny Craig and, with the exception of playing with 5 pounds here and there, have kept it off. I like that they first teach you portion control through their meals and then gradually reintroduce store-bought food into your diet. The one-on-one interaction with a counselor also helped keep me on track and did not allow me to hide in the back of a meeting. - A.C. 12/29/09

DIET and NUTRITION

The program's success is in the Jenny Craig food, which offers convenience with portioned and calorie-controlled pre-packaged meals. The Jenny Craig plan has a daily caloric intake of 1,200-1,300 and contains 50% to 60% carbohydrate, 20% to 25% protein, and 20% to 25% fat.

Dieters eat 6 times a day, which includes 3 meals and 3 snacks.

Meals are either picked up at Jenny Craig centers or delivered straight to your door. There are four different menu options with Jenny Craig. You can customize your own meals, order pre-planned meals, enjoy an all-vegetarian menu or select a menu specifically designed for adolescents.

Eating on the Jenny Craig program can be easy because most of your meal is provided for you. Jenny Craig foods are paired with your own grocery foods like fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains and heart-healthy fats. Low glycemic veggies can eaten in limitless portions. Although the meals are prepackaged, the makeup of the foods you eat will set you up for how you should eat to maintain a balanced diet.

Jenny Craig uses the Volumetrics® approach which encourages consuming low-calorie, nutrient dense foods high in water, fiber and protein to help dieters feel fuller longer.

A dining out guide is also included so that you can eat out without sabotaging your weight loss goals. No foods are off limits on the Jenny Craig program. You work with a counselor to learn how to safely incorporate your favorite foods into your healthy eating plan.

In 2015, Jenny Craig's packaging was redesigned to help members make more informed nutrition decisions and encourage members to get creative with their meals and make their own unique recipes.

EXERCISE

On Jenny Craig you are given a personalized activity and motivational plan to get you moving more. When you meet with your consultant in the Jenny Craig office, they will help you personalize your fitness plan. This can also be done online for those that are doing the at-home delivery program. You will work to develop an approach to fitness that starts where you are now and builds on that. You will also be identifying personal barriers to your physical activity so that you can work to remove those and stay focused on the benefits of exercise.

Consultants work with members to achieve 10,000 steps a day through habit change and intentional exercise.

The Jenny Craig activity plan centers around three kinds of activities. The first are natural activities like house cleaning, shopping and gardening. Next are planned activities such as doing cardio at the gym or taking a yoga or aerobics class. Last are playful activities like taking a dance class or playing football with your kids.

Over time you gradually increase your activity through these three elements and you learn how to incorporate more movement into your day.

Your planned exercises will include a combination of cardio, resistance and stretching activities. The Jenny Craig program strongly recommends exercise while on the program so that you can have an established habit to maintain your weight loss after you’ve reached your goal weight. Some of the outlined planned exercise options as well as the playful options are listed below:

Weightlifting
Walking
Yoga
Kickboxing
Aerobic Dance
Dancing
Bicycling
Playing Basketball
Playing Tag with the Kids

JENNY CRAIG FAQ

Common questions asked about the Jenny Craig program by our community. Click to see the full answer.

Is the Jenny Craig food frozen or freeze-dried? - Celia 6/18/11

CONCLUSION

With its focus on food, body and mind, Jenny Craig is a well-rounded weight loss program that offers the training and support you need to achieve your weight loss goals. Its varied programs and pre-packaged meals and snacks offers the convenience of healthy eating in combination with a personalized plan that fits your lifestyle.

While most pre-packaged meal weight loss programs don't provide you with any information on how to prepare and eat healthy meals on your own, Jenny Craig offers support that educates you on healthy cooking and eating.

See the Official Jenny Craig Web Site

JENNY CRAIG SLIDESHOWS