Jenny Craig Review and $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

*** I was given the opportunity in September to try out Jenny Craig for four weeks, including food, free of charge.  Over the next couple of weeks there will be three posts that walk you through the experience.  All of them will have a fun giveaway included, so I hope you follow along!***


Have you ever noticed that there are ZERO pictures of me on this blog?  If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter you know there aren't any there either.  I am a picture avoider.  You know why?  Because I really have no desire to see what I really look like.  I like the eighteen year old image of myself I keep safely tucked in my head.

Last January I attended Blissdom.  I talked myself into going, even though it is picture taking central, because there were a TON of amazing bloggers that I wanted to meet.  I would be okay with the pictures.  Then I got home and people started posting those pictures and this is what I saw:

You know when you read all of those inspirational weight loss stories and they always start with THAT picture.  You know, the picture where the person saw themselves for the first time and it motivated her to change her life.  I thought this picture was going to do that for me.  I was pretty mortified at what I saw.  Granted, it isn't the most flattering angle, but there comes a time when you really can't blame it on the angle any more.

It didn't turn out to be as motivational as I had hoped.  Winter changed to spring and spring changed to  summer and I didn't change any of my habits.  And then I got an email.  It was an opportunity to work with Jenny Craig for four weeks.  I would work with one of their consultants, receive four weeks of free food, and share my experience with you guys along the way.

A few things you should know.

The idea of talking about being fat, with a consultant or on my blog, sends me into a tizzy.  In my perfect world I would lose weight without anyone noticing.  Because when people ask if I have lost weight, what I actually hear is: "You used to be fatter, but I didn't want to say anything."

I have never ever EVER tried a structured diet plan before.  Never taken diet pills or gotten shots or gone to meetings or counted points.  I believe that eating right and exercising is the only way to lose weight and keep it off and I figured if I could do it at all then I would be able to do it by myself.  Control freak much?

When it comes to dieting I am all or nothing.  I get all gung-ho about exercising and watching what I eat, and when it starts to fall apart in a couple of weeks I just sort of give up and figure I have to start over.

So basically I couldn't believe I said yes.  I had a little 'How's that working for you?' moment with myself and figured I had to at least give it a shot.  So off to Jenny Craig I went.

The first meeting wasn't painful at all.  It helps that all of the women that work in my center have struggled with their weight.  They all have before pictures of themselves in their office.  After introductions there was a lot of information about the program and conversation about my goals.  My consultant went over the plan with me and talked about how it encompasses more than just your body and the food you eat, but your mind and how you think about food and dieting.  I even got homework.

After the intro they packed up all of my food for the week and I was all set up to start on Tuesday morning.

A couple days later they called to check up on me and make sure I didn't have any questions that needed to be answered, and getting started was as easy as that.

I will let you know how the next four weeks go.  The average Jenny Craig client loses 1-2 pounds each week, which is what I know is a normal and healthy rate, so at the end of this four week stretch I should have at least lost the weight I gained on our two week family RV trip.  But let's talk about you!  I want to know how you are doing and what you are doing.  Leave a comment letting me know what you do to try to live a healthy life and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa Gift Card.

The sweepstakes will run from 10/10/2011 - 11/6/2011.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: 
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post 
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post 
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post 
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. 

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older 
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. 
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. 
See the Official Rules HERE.

For more chances to win, check out the BlogHer Prizes and Promotions section and you can find out more about Jenny Craig on Facebook and Twitter.

***This promotion has ended and a winner has been selected***