Review: Jenny Craig Weight Loss Plan - Weigh in #1

For the last week I’ve been on the Jenny Craig diet*. Jenny Craig is a plan that delivers diet food to your door. Every week you’re provided with 21 meals and 7 snacks, which are also supplemented with fruit and veg (and some other bits, too) that you buy yourself.

Along with your food you’re sent a folder of all the info you’ll need for your time on the plan. You’re also assigned a consultant who you speak with on a weekly basis (or more if you need it!) to help you with the plan.

My Experience

The week has had its ups and downs. The diet itself is relatively simple and easy to follow. Broken down into three meals and three snacks, there’s plenty of food for you to eat from day to day.

The food itself is all pretty tasty, although the JC portions in my opinion are particularly small. I don’t think they look very appetising but like I said they’re quite nice to eat.

The first day was bad. I had a massive headache all day and although I was eating often, I wasn’t feeling full and found myself counting down until the next time I was going to eat.

So for the second day I decided to put my meals and snacks together, so I was having 3 largish meals a day. I realise that if you look at the list above that sounds like a lot of food, but if you have a look at most of the pictures they were fairly regular sized meals. My consultant was on the fence about my doing this, but it has worked for me so I’ll probably continue doing it next week too.

The major down of the week was the appearance of Auntie Rose after two days on the diet – if you catch my drift, ladies. I was really disappointed. Mainly because I always gain weight around this time – in fact I bloat up like a puffer fish and in the past have gained up to 7lbs! I thought that my efforts of the week would be completely destroyed – especially because I always crave evil carbs and may have indulged in a few things I shouldn’t have …

The Weight Loss

I’m sure this is the part you’ve all been waiting for. This week I lost a total of 1.2lbs, which obviously very modest. However considering I usually gain around this time, and my puffer fish body hasn’t felt up to any exercise at all I don’t think 1.2lbs is too shabby.

I also measured my body before starting, and I’m really pleased with the inches I’ve lost.

Hips: 0

Waist: -2"

Bust: -1"

Thigh: 0

Arm: -½"

Three and a half inches lost, 1.2lbs down, lots of food eaten, and no exercise done?
Don’t mind if I do, ta.

My goals for this week are to stick to the diet and get some exercise done. I’ve just downloaded the Nike+ app and ordered some Neoprone Workout Shorts so it’s all systems go this week!

For more information about the plan then check out the Jenny Craig website.
If you'd like to any me any questions about the plan then feel free to catch me on Twitter - @iamLolaStar

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Last week in Instagrams #2

I realise I’m now a tad late with this post (uni deadlines! :/ ), but here’s last weeks Instagrams.

Sunday night. Sat and watched a movie with The Boy. Don’t really drink so I had a shandy haha.

I’m perhaps a little addicted to chocolate philly …

#PhotoADayApril 9. – Younger you. And a very shady looking Santa …

Two of The Boy’s friends stayed with us for a few days.

One had just gotten back from Norway and brought us some Norwegian chocolate.

#PhotoADayApril 10. – Cold. Dilute Vimto & lemonade. If they sold this in clubs, I'd be out every Saturday night!

#PhotoADayApril 11. – Where you ate breakfast. It was more like brunch, but just sat people watching out of the window.

Baked a cake for everyone. Fresh cream and fruit. Didn’t last long …

Miserable day. Stayed inside with a blanket in front of the tv.

Half melted chocolate fudge Easter egg.

Played racing games with the boys.

Raided the penny jar. Hello £17 in 20p’s.

Love sending mail. Sending something to a BBS’er.

All-nighter. Watched the sunrise with The Boy.

On my way back from the supermarket. My apartment building is on the right.

#PhotoADayApril 12. – Stairs. Leading down to the dreaded rubbish room.

#PhotoADayApril 13. – Something you found. The Boy and I found this when we went away for our 2year anniversary and we’ve kept it ever since.

I love anything lemony!

First time having purple broccoli – looks like flowers!

Breakfast in bed. Egg & bacon bagel. Lazy day.

What did you get up to last week?

How to: Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownie Recipe

Happy Easter everyone!

Hope you’re all full to the brim with chocolate!

If anyone is crazy enough to have any chocolate left over then I’ve got a really simple peanut butter chocolate brownie recipe for you. I love peanut butter and it’s really good in this recipe. However if you’re not a fan then you can just leave it out.

INGREDIENTS:

(I forgot to put the cocoa and peanut butter in the photo...)

      ♥ 100g Plain Flour 

♥ 100g Unsalted Butter

♥ 125g Light Muscovado Sugar

♥ 125g Caster Sugar

♥ 150g Chocolate, plus a few extra pieces (I used milk chocolate, but plain is fine)

♥ 3tbsp Cocoa Powder

♥ 3tsp Golden Syrup (Can substitute with honey)

♥ 2 Eggs

♥ ½tsp Baking Powder

♥ 1tsp Vanilla Flavouring (Optional)

♥ Peanut butter

DIRECTIONS:

It’s easier to measure out all of your ingredients first so you can add them quickly, otherwise things may start to burn. Beat the eggs together until they’re slightly frothy.

♥ Add the sugar, butter, chocolate and honey to a saucepan and melt together over a medium heat. Feel free to reduce the sugar, as the brownies are quite sweet. Also, if you’re going to add peanut butter then reduce the amount of butter in the recipe – only about 30g.

(I know, it looks so gross!)

♥ Don’t let it cook; otherwise you end up with a slurry that’ll start to separate – like mine did! Don’t worry if this happens though, you can rescue it! Once it’s all melted together take it off of the heat.

♥ Add the cocoa powder, flour, eggs, baking powder and vanilla.

♥ Stir until smooth.

♥ Empty into a baking tin, I used my silicone heart, as it doesn’t stick. If you’re not using a silicon or Teflon tin then grease/line it with butter or parchment paper.

♥ Once in the tin, press in a few pieces of chocolate, they’ll melt into gooey chocolate pockets. If you have time then freeze the chocolate before hand so it takes a little longer to melt in the oven.

♥ If you’re not adding peanut butter then it’s ready to go straight in.

♥ BUT if you are adding peanut butter …

♥ I use extra crunchy because I like the chunks of peanuts, but feel free to use any kind. Drop pieces of PB on top of the brownie and swirl it in.

♥ It’s now ready to go into the oven. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4, and cook for 30-35 minutes.

(Excuse my burnt edge!)

♥ Remove from the oven and leave it cool. Enjoy!