Jenny Craig vs Nurtisystem vs Eating normal (counting calori

I would personally just buy normal food and eat smaller portions. I found it hard at first until I decided to take one day and cook meals, made 5x the normal pancake recipe added protein and froze them into serving sizes, made big batches of soup, lasagna cupcakes etc. With MFP's recipe adder it helped me figure out how many calories were in one pancake and how many I would need to make a serving,then I would package and freeze single servings.This has worked for me and I find it more cost effective as well as efficient. It isn't easy and at first I thought about Jenny Craig, but truth is I won't be on that food forever and it is high in Sodium.

Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem basically just take the counting and measuring part out for you. They are measured out, pre-packaged, low calorie, small portion foods that you don't have to worry about preparing.... it takes the counting calories idea to a new level because they basically do it all for you.
I've never done any of those programs but I imagine if you follow the eating plan and exercise you would loose weight just fine.

However, counting calories on your own educates you more on food. It gives you real work knowledge to make better food choices outside of your home. As you go through the grocery store you look at food label and food label, comparing different foods. Subconsciously are storing that information so when you are out to dinner you can make educated guesses on how many calories are in your food. In looking at labels, and counting calories you learn how to create well balanced, healthy meals in the stuff in your refrigerator and pantry.

If you just get pre-packaged, pre-portioned foods mailed to your door, you would not be able to put together a healthy, well rounded meal on your own just because you never got that "food knowledge" that others did by searching.

i tried nutrisystem because a friend bought it and didnt like it so she gave it to me lol but otherwise i never would have. $300 a month just for their food, plus dairy, fruits and veggies on your own... my family food budget is about that much and i couldnt justify spending that much on just me. the food wasnt all that good either.
your best bet is going to be home made, store bought foods and smaller portions.

Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem basically just take the counting and measuring part out for you. They are measured out, pre-packaged, low calorie, small portion foods that you don't have to worry about preparing.... it takes the counting calories idea to a new level because they basically do it all for you.
I've never done any of those programs but I imagine if you follow the eating plan and exercise you would loose weight just fine.

However, counting calories on your own educates you more on food. It gives you real work knowledge to make better food choices outside of your home. As you go through the grocery store you look at food label and food label, comparing different foods. Subconsciously are storing that information so when you are out to dinner you can make educated guesses on how many calories are in your food. In looking at labels, and counting calories you learn how to create well balanced, healthy meals in the stuff in your refrigerator and pantry.

If you just get pre-packaged, pre-portioned foods mailed to your door, you would not be able to put together a healthy, well rounded meal on your own just because you never got that "food knowledge" that others did by searching.

I agree with the above. What I have done is purchase some Lean Cuisine for an emergency. They have less sodium and no preservatives. So they say. Otherwise I tend to measure and weigh everything. I've only lost 3 #'s but then I just started and Monday will be my second time on the scale.
Good Luck, You can do it. Just takes a little planning.:bigsmile:

I was looking at start Jenny Craig (because I get a discount through my insurance) and was wanting to know if anybody has tried it before? If not have you tried nuritsystem or would you just recommend buying my everyday normal foods and just eating smaller portions?

Did Nutrisystem for a couple of months and lost some weight. However, IMO unless you stick with there concisely measured meals, the transition to regular eating may be a little tougher. That's why many end up going back to them.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I was looking at start Jenny Craig (because I get a discount through my insurance) and was wanting to know if anybody has tried it before? If not have you tried nuritsystem or would you just recommend buying my everyday normal foods and just eating smaller portions?

Did Nutrisystem for a couple of months and lost some weight. However, IMO unless you stick with there concisely measured meals, the transition to regular eating may be a little tougher. That's why many end up going back to them.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I second Joe.

My first year of NS I lost 82 pounds. I've gained most of it back due to going back into my horrible habits. The food wasn't all that bad. I mostly stuck to it. I went back to the program a second time and just couldn't stomach the food again.

Here I am.

So much better to rock it on your own! Good for you Diana!

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

i haven't personally tried either of those but i've talked to many people who have...the inital weight loss was awesome but they couldn't keep it off over a long-term period of time.
you are likely the best buying your own groceries, finding some healthy recipes that you like and focussing on portion control. make sure that whatever you end up deciding to do, it's something that you can consistently commit to because that's the most important thing!

You will lose weight on JC and NS because it costs much so people tend to stick to diet.
When you do on your own, you don't have the same motivation.

I started my new eating habits by using Jenny Craig... the main reasons:

1) Teaches you what portions should look like (SMALL)
2) Teaches how to put a daily menu together (by observing their suggested plans)
3) Convenience (I was working a high stress project, and was eating take-outs 3 meals a day, so I just replaced high calorie take-out foods with JC)
4) Taught me how to shop for the add-ons (lots of vegetables, salads etc)

So I think it is a great way to kick start your new eating habits - BUT - I would not sign up for more than 6 weeks (they will try and get you into all sorts of plans with pay- back when you reach your goal weight (and keep it off..... don't do it!!)

JC and I parted ways (not too amicabily) when I wanted to start "living a normal life" - and only use their foods when it suited my needs - it is either "buy our food" or not....

After 4 months I was ready to start living a normal life - and take control of how I ate - but JC really helped me getting my head in the right place and getting started...

My thoughts when I left JC - and found MFP - for which I will be eternally gratefull!!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Elleinnz/view/losing-my-comfort-blanket-i-am-now-a-big-girl-95145

Yeah I know it's not going to be easy. I have back in august of last year I was losing weight (i lost 10lbs in like three months) and when I went to see my doctor about some other weight lose plans that might help me along the way she was suprised I had even lost that, reason being is because I have a medical condition that makes it hard for me to lose weight.

I would say none of the above. I don't know the medical condition you have that makes it hard to lose weight, but I learned that for over 50% of the population, calories in/calories out diets just doesn't work. Weight gain is caused by the fat gain hormone, insulin, and when you get that under control, you will lose weight.

I have insulin resistance and am type 2 and have lost 40 pounds of FAT since May 2011. I use MFP to track but it isn't necessary. ( I joined MFP in July which is why it only shows I've lost 23 pounds) I follow the Metabolism Miracle (by Diane Kress) where you learn to “rest, reset, and retrain” your body to react normally to changes in blood glucose while decreasing insulin resistance. I prepare fresh, real food, not pre-packaged food. Some foods are off limits for a short period and then you are able to add them back in, while you continue to lose weight. I have also been able to totally eliminate my cholesterol and BP medication and decrease my oral diabetes medication by 50%.

I have been wondering about these two programs for a long time now. I have done Curves and Weight Watchers, but I have found that by just logging every day on MFP, it has been teaching me about what types of food causes what type of gain. The biggest thing I have learned however, is that I don't eat enough!! Which for me makes sense because I have a fear of eating and gaining and yet here I am, one major surgery under my belt almost a year later, and I am "just" starting to figure out what is what and what works for me.

I wasn't aware that JC and NS were sodium holders. Is there anything else that one should be aware of when it comes to pre-packaged meals? I have to watch my cholesterol intake which is where MFP has been a huge learning curve for me.