This year I've decided to take a summer vacation to Jamaica. Going to a
strange place doesn't scare me as much as the thought of wearing a bathing suit on the beach. If you are like me, you have had the same New Year's resolution for the past several years, losing weight.
I've tried almost every diet known to man, including weight loss centers. Trying to lose weight makes me feel like I have no control over this one portion of my life. Once I try diet and exercise, I feel
like a failure if I don't notice any type of change or weight loss. Weight loss is important for health, self-esteem, body image and confidence issues. Centers like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers
can be an effective way to accomplish weight loss goals, yet you must be aware of the pros and cons of each before you decide whether a professional weight loss plan is right for you.
I was on a Jenny Craig weight
loss plan for nearly nine months. I did lose about 20 pounds here and there at different times when my weight would fluctuate between loss and gain. I went to Jenny Craig from the advice of a close friend
who had lost approximately 40 pounds on the plan and 20 pounds on her own with the techniques she learned. What she didn't tell me was that someone else was paying for her weight management.
When I finally
decided to join Jenny Craig, my stepmother and I had a bet to see who could lose the most weight in a year. I saw an advertisement on TV that said I could lose all the weight I wanted for an initial fee of $19 and
the weekly cost of food. I thought that wouldn't cost me that much because I was already spending a good amount on junk food. Besides it was something I had wanted to do for a long time.
I thought I did
all the right things. I went for a free consultation without any cash and I left my checkbook in the car to allow me to "weigh" all my options. Beware of the fees that are not mentioned in the
commercials. There was a yearly $80 maintenance fee once you reach your goal weight, additional tapes and vitamins that were needed and the ever-increasing weekly food bill. I was informed that the
special price was ending soon, so I should act now. After I signed up I realized like everything else, this is a business and, in my opinion, the salesperson was out to make money more than help me with my
problem.
Don't get me wrong. The group sessions and counseling were helpful in making me realize certain suppressed issues that were leading to my overly healthy appetite, but for a struggling college
student who can barely afford tuition and bills, the costs outweighed the good aspects of the program, for me. My sessions included a $100-150 weekly food bill. If you are passionate about losing weight
and you can afford these fees then Jenny Craig might be the way to go for you. It was effective in moderate weight loss, but many people lose money trying to make a weight loss program work for them and then quit
when it doesn't seem to be working for them. Weight loss can be a lifelong struggle for some people. Don't ever take the easy way out. You will just be wasting time and money when trying a quick fix.
If you don't have much money and you want to try changing your lifestyle instead of dieting, you might want to try Weight Watchers. The point system method allows you to eat your own food within a daily
point value. For example, you may be given a daily point value of 40 points (not actual case, example only). You will be given a guide that illustrates how many points are assigned to different foods.
You can eat two hamburgers at 20 points each or grilled vegetables, salad, baked chicken and a dessert for a total of 40 points. This allows you to make choices about what you eat and helps you determine what is
healthy for you to eat. Choices allow you to change your eating habits and create a healthy lifestyle even after you finish the program. There are fees for counseling sessions, but the freedom to
choose what and how you eat is a great advantage of the program.
You must also consider exercise when choosing a weight loss program. Choosing a program that promotes a healthy exercise regime can
significantly aid in the weight loss process.
If you are seeking a weight loss program, research and contact one of the centers mentioned above and determine which is right for you. E-mail us with any of
your weight loss center experiences and be sure to check this site next week for information on herbal weight loss remedies.
