How to Avoid Regaining Weight After the Jenny Craig Program Ends

The Jenny Craig diet's purpose is not just to help you drop pounds, but to help you change your entire lifestyle. Since your weight is related to how you live, the choices you make, and your attitude towards yourself, part of the real test of the program is how well you can maintain those lifestyle choices.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Your consultant should start weaning you off of the prepared meals as you start to reach your weight reduction goal. He should suggest that you start preparing at least one meal on your own each day. This will help you get used to cooking your own smaller, healthier portions.
2. If your consultant has not suggested that you start cooking for yourself, do it on your own. One of the biggest problems for people going off of the prepared meals is that they fall back on their old cooking habits. This usually means that your portions will be too large, you will use less healthy ingredients, and you may simply not know what foods to choose and how to prepare them.
3. You can buy the Jenny Craig Cookbook for examples of smaller, healthier meals. Or you can visit the Web sites for people who share recipes that fit the Jenny Craig guidelines.
4. Continue to plan your meals one week at a time. Many people who have achieved their target weight will still have access to Jenny Craig's online menu planners, or you can use your own. The point is not to wait until you are hungry to choose what to cook. It is also important to follow the suggestions for the number of servings in each food group.
5. Only go shopping when you have a list based on your weekly meal plan. This will lessen the desire for those impulse snacks that always set us back.
6. Keep exercising. Exercise is not just good for losing weight but for keeping it off. It will also make you healthier and happier.

Tips & Warnings

• It may be easiest to start by simply trying to cook your own versions of the prepared meals.
• Don't be alarmed if your weight fluctuates after the program. It may take some time to get used to cooking for yourself again and finding a balance of foods that work for you.
• Never get discouraged.