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This article highlights my journey with Jenny Craig for the week of March 1-7
Buckle up, because over the next 12 weeks, I will be taking you all along on a journey I never expected to publicly share with so many people. Before I go into all the details about what’s about to go down, I’m going to share a little bit more about me and what brings me to this place.
I’m Melissa, a 35 year old woman living in Basehor, Kansas with my husband and 4 year old daughter. I work full time during the day as the manager of volunteer services for a local not-for-profit, and I publish this lovely website and newsletter for you fine people each week. My day starts early, getting myself and my daughter (and my husband, if we’re being honest here) ready, fed, and out the door. I drop my daughter at preschool, and then proceed to spend the next 8 hours managing 5 employees and 500 volunteers, in 7 buildings and countless homes across the KC Metro. After that, I pick up my little sweetheart from preschool, and either run her to one of her activities, or we go home and spend some quality time together. Dinner happens in there somewhere, either on the go or at the kitchen table. And then, of course, there’s bath time and bedtime, then finally, a chance for me to consume a glass of wine while I work on Macaroni Kid, while half-watching whichever season of housewives that’s currently running. Then sleep, and repeat.
Your day might look like mine, or might be very different, but if you’re a parent I know you can relate to the feeling of not having time for yourself. For me, that translates into making poor choices about food. I’ve created some pretty bad habits over the past several years, and while they weren’t created intentionally, they’ve become part of my routine. I often skip breakfast, grab a fast food lunch, and overdo it with dinner, eating the heavy meal I cooked for my husband, and eating way too much of it because I starved myself early in the day. When I’m home on the weekends, I’m a big grazer, opening the fridge and pantry numerous times throughout the day and eating whatever and whenever. Enter, the reason I’m sharing all this background with you.
I am about to take a huge leap and start a program many of you have probably heard of, called Jenny Craig. For the next 12 weeks, I will be participating in their most personalized plan, called My Rapid Results. My Rapid Results is a science-backed program, where the belief is that a customized weight loss program based on my individual body, lifestyle and goals will lead to the strongest result.
Why am I doing this? Well, there are several reasons that are all about me, for starters. I want to look better, feel better, fit in clothes that help me feel confident, and I want to get a better handle on my general well being. My daughter, though, is the main reason. She’s 4 and I’m 35. That means when she’s 14 I’ll be 45, and when she’s 24 I’ll be 55. 10 and 20 years from now, I want to have my weight and health under control so I can be active with her and present for all the wonderful events life brings for a young woman. I also want to teach her how to be successful in business and life, but most importantly, how to be successful in caring for herself first. These are the most impactful years of her life, and right now I’m modeling habits and behaviors I would never want her to learn. My hope is that the Jenny Craig program can help me get to a place where I can be active with my daughter, and teach her that you can have a family and a career, and still love yourself enough to put yourself first. At work, I preach all the time that we are all better for others when we take care of ourselves first. It’s time for me to start living the words I preach.
Since you’ll be along for the journey, here are a few details about how My Rapid Results will work:
First, I get a weight loss coach dedicated to helping me reach my goals. I will meet with her weekly for weight-loss guidance, feedback and custom meal planning. I’m someone who needs to be held accountable, and I know I’ll be much more successful having a weight loss coach than going it on my own.
The next best thing is that My Rapid Results will leverage my DNA profile, making weight loss easier. To create the best weight loss plan for me, my DNA will be analyzed according to 15 specific genetic markers that may influence my ability to lose weight. For example, how my body likely processes carbs, fats and proteins, how my body likely responds to cardio or strength training, how my sleep quality is, or my tendency to overeat or crave high-calorie foods or sweets. It even analyzes my metabolism, overweight risk and tendency to regain weight, among other things.
The part about Jenny Craig that appeals most to me personally is that with my program I get a personalized menu plan based on my weight loss profile. This includes a custom menu powered by your DNA insights, that tells me what to eat and when. My daily menu includes 3 fully prepared meals and 2 healthy snacks! This is huge for me because I would love to eat well all day every day, but I’m bad about planning meals for myself, and especially terrible about following through and actually cooking meals for myself. This menu takes out all the guesswork, planning and cooking. It’s all right there customized for my body and lifestyle, completely setting me up for success. And, My Rapid Results incorporates intermittent fasting to help you lose up to 16 lbs. in your first 4 weeks* Avg. weight lost in study was 11.6 lbs./4 wks. for those who completed the program. Say what?! I cannot wait to start seeing those kinds of results for myself.
So, over the next 12 weeks, I’ll be sharing my Jenny Craig journey with you. I’ll be giving you glimpses along the way of my successes and challenges, as I follow the My Rapid Results program. My commitment to you is that I will continue to be authentic and real with you, as I share about this program and my journey in the coming weeks. There will be ups and downs, no doubt, but Jenny Craig is setting me up for great success with all the tools they’re providing, and I know things can only improve from here.
Ready, set, here I go!
This post was sponsored by Jenny Craig but the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
