Thank you Jenny Craig for sponsoring this post. Tried other diets like me? It’s time for Jenny Craig!
I always say that it’s good to do something that scares you every once in a while, and I’m following my own advice. If you’ve been reading NRV Macaroni Kid a while, you know I rarely post photos of myself. Sharing these very unflattering images is way outside my comfort zone. But I’m starting a program to lose weight and improve my health, and I’m going to share the process with you. The thought of writing about something as personal as my size and health is intimidating, and something I thought about long and hard. I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life, but there have been times when I’ve been in great physical shape and eating well even if I weighed more than BMI charts said I should. Right now is not one of those times. I'm heavy and out of shape- but that is about to change! Over the next 12 weeks, I’m working with Jenny Craig to launch myself into a healthier, more active lifestyle.
So why now? I’ll offer a bit of background so you can understand some of my motivation to lose weight.
There’s the annoying fact that I no longer fit any of any of my clothes. I’m not looking to be a supermodel. I’m a curvy gal who feels great as a size 10/12. Right now, all the Spanx in the world could not get me into a size 12. I'm wearing a size 16 these days, and I miss my old jeans. The fall weather is calling!
I need to get in better physical shape and weight loss will assist that. I’m less limber than Yoda- and he’s 600! I have scoliosis which causes a number of skeletal issues. When I was younger, I stayed fit with aerobics, kickboxing and dance classes, but I can’t do high-impact activities anymore. 2 years ago I had a hip replacement and leg lengthening surgery, which has been a long, slow recovery. It’s painful to stretch and exercise, and frankly, I’ve been lazy and largely inactive. It feels better to sit than it does to exercise and I have not done the physical therapy I should have to recover. Unfortunately, no one is going to get me into shape except me, so I need to get going! Did you know that for every pound of excess weight we carry, 4 pounds of extra pressure is exerted on our knees? If I can lose just 20 pounds, that’s 80 pounds of extra pressure off my knees!
Most of all, I want to be active with my family. A family joke we share is that if we ever see a bear, everyone can outrun me, so no one need worry. I don’t expect to win any races, but I do need to get to a fitness level where I can keep up with my kids. We hiked the Cascades this summer, and I swear they made it longer and steeper than past visits. I had to rest numerous times while my kids skipped ahead. This really embarrassed me and I was so sore after, you’d have thought I’d ran up Mount Everest. I want to hike those 4 miles with ease, or at least not feeling like I need to call the paramedics. Not carrying this excess weight will certainly help. While we are at it, I want to ski again, too. I think my hips and legs are ready to ski, but I need to fit into my ski pants.
It's time to make my health a priority, and take care of Mama Bear! I spend hours each week driving my kids to activities, cooking for my family, and making sure everyone has what they need. I need to put the same effort into self-care. I’ve tried losing weight on my own and I’ve been unsuccessful. I had some success losing weight years ago with Weight Watchers, but I did not maintain the loss. I want a program that provides accountability, fits into my busy life and won't take a ton of meal preparation. So I’m doing something very different. I’ve committed to a 3-month program with Jenny Craig, and I’ll be working 1:1 weekly with my consultant Anne, as she helps me learn portion control, examine my behavior, and start me on the path of a healthier lifestyle. My meals over the next 12 weeks will include Jenny Craig’s premium entrees, snacks, and desserts that I’ll supplement with fresh veggies, fruit and dairy products. I still eat like an active person and I’m looking forward to learning to eat for what my body needs today. I like the idea of Jenny Craig's 1:1 personal support and having someone to help me navigate challenges such my frequent travel schedule, and cooking for my family. And I want something easy that I don’t have do a huge amount of planning for.
Anne and I will plan my meals together with 3 meals and 3 snacks daily, eliminating much of the daily preparation and decisions of what to eat. And I'll follow it! This is unlike other weight loss program I’ve tried in the past, and I’m excited to get started. I’m also more than a bit terrified to share this publically because my size and health is such a personal challenge. What if I fail?
Here's to seeing less of me! If you want to learn more the Jenny Craig program you can click here.
This article is sponsored by Jenny Craig. All content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
