As someone who plans her entire life around meals – and makes money from doing so – I have found it incredibly difficult to balance my work and my weight. The fatter my wallet, the fatter my – well, you know. I’ve never kept my struggles with my weight a secret, though I’ve tried to talk about it less here (and more on social media) because no one goes to read a food blog and wants to be reminded of all the calories involved or the fat in that delicious short rib dish.
I’ve been running this blog for over 10 years, and my weight stayed mostly the same with minor increases over the years, right up until 2011, when it dropped drastically (through a weight-loss ‘regimen’ that I do not recommend anyone try, so I will not share it). I maintained that weight happily up until roughly 2 years ago, when I gained 20 lbs and haven’t looked back.
I need to look back.
Which is why when I was approached for a sneak peek at a new collaboration between Jenny Craig & Walmart, I jumped at the chance, not fully understanding what it was exactly. I quickly learned that Walmart is exclusively offering a cool Jenny Craig starter kit that comes with it 23 Jenny Craig food items, $50 in savings on future food purchases, and a free initial consultation either one-on-one in person at a Jenny Craig center, or anywhere via Jenny Anywhere (which I understand to be via telephone).
I was very intrigued by the concept.
When my box arrived, I went through all the items and was pleased to see a nice variety – pasta dishes, chicken salad, a soup, shakes, bars, cookies, and crunchy salty snacks (my downfall)!
Of course, given my workflow and personal life, I found it hard to prioritize the time to eat only Jenny Craig for 3 days straight. I finally picked out days very close to publication date, and immediately hit a roadblock – a last minute assignment.
I briefly considered skipping the paid assignment, but Jenny Craig isn’t about losing your job, so I skipped eating Jenny Craig. I would make it up the next day.
The next day found me with my usual salad – you’re encouraged to supplement with fresh fruits and veggies, so I had my usual lunchtime salad (Romaine topped with vegetarian bean salad from my local Mediterranean shop, roasted root veggies, I think I skipped tomatoes this week) in addition to the chicken salad. As someone who’s been on and off so many diets, I know that “thoughtful eating” is encouraged, and “interactive eating” – meals that force you to stop doing other things and focus on what you’re eating – is considered good. Focusing on what you’re eating makes you acknowledge how much of it you’re eating, and reduces what is called ‘mindless eating’ – instead of dipping your hand repeatedly into the chip bag, you’re looking at what you’re eating while you, in this case, scoop chicken salad onto the whole wheat crackers. It is a good habit to have – thoughtful eating.
But that night, I went out with friends and had a movable feast – we ate multiple dishes from multiple restaurants, changing locations frequently and snacking, drinking, having a good time.
My lifestyle is structured such that socializing centers around eating and drinking.
Determined to get back on track, the next day I returned to my salad lunch and brought another Jenny Craig lunch to work. You know what’s cool about these microwave meals? They’re not frozen – they’re shelf-stable, so you can keep them in your desk drawer away from thieving coworkers. I don’t personally have any of those, but I have in the distant past so this is perfect.
But again, that night duty called and I attended a press event, where I proceeded to eat Too Much Pizza – to try more things, you understand!
Honestly, I feel that the Jenny Craig starter kit available exclusively at Walmart is a great value. You get so much from the box and you get a really good idea of what the program is about and how the food tastes, how it all comes together. Personally, it doesn’t work for my lifestyle needs, but it would work well for someone who can be stricter about their meals, who doesn’t eat for a living, and who can structure their life around eating these meals. It’s great for those who need a little help in learning how to use portion control to your advantage – because that’s what it’s really about. You don’t have to cut out all of the fun foods from your life, you need to balance them with better choices, and not overeat.
What I do to stay somewhat on track — and this won’t work for everyone, as I said, everyone has different goals —
- drink 2 liters of water a day; I keep a 1L refillable bottle on my desk at work. I make sure it’s full in the morning, but empty by lunch; full after lunch, and empty before I leave for the day.
- I walk as much as possible; I have a FitBit (a wristband pedometer) and set a goal of 10,000 steps a day. This holds me accountable for days when I’m really lazy and couchsurf a little too much; it’s embarrassing to clock a 2,000 step day when just going to work and back should get me to 5,000 (NYC is a very walk-friendly city). It also helps me recognize patterns of when I’m laziest (Mondays) and when I’m most active (Thursdays). I haven’t figured out yet why Thursdays are my most active day of the week, but I’m trying to find the trigger so I can introduce that to the other days of the week.
- Since I’m aware that dinners tend to be indulgent and high calorie, I tend to make a big salad on Sundays and portion it into 4 containers (gotta leave a little wiggle room for a fun lunch one day each week!). In the mornings, when I’m rushing out the door to get to work on time, I just grab a container and go. To cut calories in my salads, I skip the meat and add meatless proteins – beans, sometimes eggs, edamame, whatever I am in the mood to eat – and I skip the dressing but pack wet ingredients so the salad doesn’t taste ‘dry’. Juicy, ripe tomatoes can be enough to dress your entire salad, and a pinch of salt gives it a little zip. If you’re not ready to go completely naked, I know some who use a squeeze of (real!) lemon juice, salt and pepper, and that’s enough for them. Try out different combinations to see what works for you!
- I don’t have time to go to the gym regularly – well, the truth is, I don’t prioritize gym time. If you do, you are more likely to go. Make it an appointment in your calendar that you are not allowed to skip. Prioritize yourself and your health!
- Since I don’t go to the gym, I try to take the stairs more often – always down from my apartment on the 4th floor, and sometimes up (my dog is a little older now and doesn’t like going up the stairs, so I try to be respectful of her joints when she’s with me). It’s a small thing but it gets the heart pumping a little and eventually, you’ll be pro-level at doing it. Little things add up!!
- In terms of food, I have all sorts of tips and tricks – like breadcrumbs instead of grated cheese on top of some foods – that save calories. But really the biggest trick is portion control… which Jenny Craig makes super easy for you.
These are just some of the things to help me maintain my weight. Do you have any tips to share?
Again, I definitely recommend this kit to anyone who’s curious about the program and its food – it’s such a great overview as to what you’ll be signing up for, and offers discounts to boot. You’re almost being paid to try it! Even though Jenny Craig and I can’t be more than casual acquaintances, you may find your fit here.
Things I really liked about the meals:
- proper portion sizes
- meals that didn’t require refrigeration, so can keep in desk drawer
- large variety of foods from which to choose
- salty crunchy snacks that aren’t just pretzels (the universal salty crunchy diet food)
- you are encouraged to supplement with fruits and vegetables to balance out your diet
I look forward to hearing thoughts from everyone who’s tried or looking to try Jenny Craig. Good luck!!!
Though I was compensated for this campaign and was sent a kit to try for free, all opinions are my own. I am not a doctor and none of the above should be considered medical advice.