Welcome! I tried Jenny Craig a few years ago...got within 10 pounds of my goal. My daughter went on it with me and was a poster child for Jenny's program. We ended up quiting because: 1. The price of the food. It was just too much after a while and when we got close to our goal weights, we thought we could do it on our own. 2. The consultants. Be sure, since you are the one PAYING, that you get a really enthusiastic consultant. Remember, the consultants at Jenny Craig are salespeople FIRST, and coaches second. If your consultant isn't HIGHLY motivating, then the program will stop working for you. My consultant, week after week, got bored with me and I with her. Switch consultants every month or so and change it up! 3. No support group to go to or talk with. Jenny Craig does not let their clients connect with each other. So successes and failures are not easy to track. You can join the "SS" group here on this forum and they will provide ALL the emotional diet support you need. But Jenny Craig is good for: 1. The jump start! It's really motivating to get those first pounds falling off fast and jenny Craig will do that for you. 2. Stick to the food they give you. I LOVED the taste of the food and the fact that I didn't have to think about fixing meals, counting calories, and the pounds just kept coming off. 3. I liked having someone else track my progress, measurements, and weight. Having to account ot someone every week was a VERY GOOD THING! Good luck on the program. PS: Both my daughter and I gained ALL the weight back, and more. Now we are both going to the gym and trying to be realistic about weight loss and maintnance. The key: You have to MOVE YOUR BODY (exercise) to be successful. And eat natural, whole foods. But Jenny Craig is an EXCELLENT way to get started on your weight loss journey!

I feel like I am here whining about my schedule and stress. I know we ALL have both. I know it is a matter of changing my patterns and most importantly, making time to get to the store. I have grown to abhor the grocery store and I argue with myself as I pass the store on my way home--"you really need to stop at the store" "noooo, I can't take it today-- I'll make do with what I have" "you have nothing fresh" "I'll get a pizza" I am glad you mentioned fats. I definitely find it helps to combine fats with carbs-- and I try to make sure that i always have fruit and bread products with a protein or a fat-- preferably both. I add a small dollop of butter and nuts to my oatmeal-- toast with peanut butter or cheese-- fruit with cheese. As I say that, though, i am sitting here eating a clementine with nothing else-- and it is the first thing I have eaten all day. :( Baby steps though. When I can take a little longer break, I will make a can of soup. Anele, I definitely know that my poor sleep habits and the stress work against me... as does my age. My metabolism was always slow and I made it worse by fasting in my teens and twenties-- I am also much less active than i was. Again, I won't sit here and tell you that I never overeat or never indulge in high caloric foods-- but that is the exception. I am one of those people who HAS to constantly work at sparking my metabolism. I won't argue with those who insist it is all about calories in and calories burned because there is a lot of validity in it-- but it is not the only factor. It isnt simple math. This is why I am trying to break my lazy patterns. When I eat 5 times a day I not only spark my metabolism, I don't need to worry about portion control. It takes care of itself. My sister is still going to do the nutrisystem plan. It worked for her before and she doesnt have as much to lose. She needs a kick start-- I need to change patterns. Thanks again-- and I am going to pull out my can of coconut milk! I love thai food but I have never made a thai soup-- I think it is about time I try one!

Sounds good! Recently had rosemary pork tenderloin, sliced, served cold. Really good.

" ... and ran through 2 pair of running shoes (no embedded commercial message included here)". o j