I decided to try JC even though I was very successful on South Beach years ago. On SB, I had teamed up with a friend who was on her way towards her goal weight. Together we supported our way to our goals. I gained back the weight years later out of stress eating...and an extended trip to Central America. (a little too much fun) I wanted someone to touch base with and receive support as I was no longer in touch with my original weight loss partner. JC promised support and structure. My goal was to lose 20 lbs total, 10 in 10 weeks before embarking on a long distance backpacking trip (less weight to haul over mountain passes) and whatever was left post-trip. I was not looking at bikinis or rappid weight loss. I was looking at being a healthy Long distance hiker on a very tough, 93 mile trail. This was not my first LD trail either, so I knew what I needed to set off properly.
Unfortunately, I was not impressed with Jenny Craig. I think it is carb loaded...particularly if you are vegetarian and there are fewer meal choices as a vegetarian. The food was good...though costly. I did not feel deprived, though lots of thin friends felt the portions seemed small. I was less concerned with portions than I was with the lack of protein, given weekend practice hikes. Again, I think that JC is simply not set up for vegetarians...including accounting for protein. The people at the center I attended were VERY nice...but when I was not losing weight, gave me 3 different reasons why that might be. I also received conflicting nutritional info as a vegetarian. I never received any support calls during the week as was agreed, but only an appointment reminder.
I absolutely did not "cheat". I am very goal oriented and generally very focused on anything I commit myself to. I committed myself to JC. I lost .5 the first week, 1.5 the second week, gained 1.5 back the following week, and .5 the 4th week. I did nothing different...other than upping my hiking. At week 4 I was back to ground zero. I was also not councelled on exercise at all. I saw a step counter on a display shelf and thought it would be fun to use. It was/is, and that was a very worthwhile 20 bucks... but no one ever suggeted it to me. I hiked 3 weekends in a row, 17 very, very tough wilderness backpacking miles the 4th weekend. I felt protein depleated on each hike. My legs were "bonking out". It is possible that given my hike goal, they didn't feel it was necessary to talk to me about exercise...it's just that no one said anything about working out 5 days a week...that I read in the above review.
Since the goal was specific to my upcoming long distance hike, and time was wasting (and I had spent about 500 $ in 4 weeks...mainly on food), I went back to South Beach week 5. It is better for my body, and far cheaper. I believe that there is no perfect diet...but several [healthy] ones to match different people. Unfortunately I paid a high price to learn to stick with the one that is right for me. 
I decided to try JC even though I was very successful on South Beach years ago. On SB, I had teamed up with a friend who was on her way towards her goal weight. Together we supported our way to our goals. I gained back the weight years later out of stress eating...and an extended trip to Central America. (a little too much fun) I wanted someone to touch base with and receive support as I was no longer in touch with my original weight loss partner. JC promised support and structure. My goal was to lose 20 lbs total, 10 in 10 weeks before embarking on a long distance backpacking trip (less weight to haul over mountain passes) and whatever was left post-trip. I was not looking at bikinis or rappid weight loss. I was looking at being a healthy Long distance hiker on a very tough, 93 mile trail. This was not my first LD trail either, so I knew what I needed to set off properly.
Unfortunately, I was not impressed with Jenny Craig. I think it is carb loaded...particularly if you are vegetarian and there are fewer meal choices as a vegetarian. The food was good...though costly. I did not feel deprived, though lots of thin friends felt the portions seemed small. I was less concerned with portions than I was with the lack of protein, given weekend practice hikes. Again, I think that JC is simply not set up for vegetarians...including accounting for protein. The people at the center I attended were VERY nice...but when I was not losing weight, gave me 3 different reasons why that might be. I also received conflicting nutritional info as a vegetarian. I never received any support calls during the week as was agreed, but only an appointment reminder.
I absolutely did not "cheat". I am very goal oriented and generally very focused on anything I commit myself to. I committed myself to JC. I lost .5 the first week, 1.5 the second week, gained 1.5 back the following week, and .5 the 4th week. I did nothing different...other than upping my hiking. At week 4 I was back to ground zero. I was also not councelled on exercise at all. I saw a step counter on a display shelf and thought it would be fun to use. It was/is, and that was a very worthwhile 20 bucks... but no one ever suggeted it to me. I hiked 3 weekends in a row, 17 very, very tough wilderness backpacking miles the 4th weekend. I felt protein depleated on each hike. My legs were "bonking out". It is possible that given my hike goal, they didn't feel it was necessary to talk to me about exercise...it's just that no one said anything about working out 5 days a week...that I read in the above review.
Since the goal was specific to my upcoming long distance hike, and time was wasting (and I had spent about 500 $ in 4 weeks...mainly on food), I went back to South Beach week 5. It is better for my body, and far cheaper. I believe that there is no perfect diet...but several [healthy] ones to match different people. Unfortunately I paid a high price to learn to stick with the one that is right for me.