Two years and counting: My wonderful and life-changing experience being on Jenny Craig

I got inspired to write a blog post about my experience on Jenny Craig after I saw Mom’s great post (great before and after pics Mom!)  It has been two years since Mom and I first walked into the Jenny Craig center to register.  It was a couple of months after I completed my collegiate eligibility at USC, and decided that it was time to change my eating habits and increase my overall fitness level.  I knew in track that I had to be a certain size because we had to be really strong to throw the shot put, and I knew that after I was done, I would have to lose the weight.

I tried to lose weight on my own, but the problem that I was having was that I was still eating with athletes at USC, and they would have three plates of food, and I would have only one– so I thought I was doing good!  Hmmm.  Here are some blast-from-the-past pictures of me:
 

Left:  High School Senior Picture (2001)

Middle:  At the 2004 Olympic Trials (finished 9th)

Right:  Competing at a powerlifting meet in Napa (1999)

Ah, what can I say, wow! 🙂  I have changed a lot since these pictures were taken! 🙂  At my absolute heaviest in high school, I weighed about 348 lbs.  In my high school senior picture, I was about 300-310 and in the powerlifting picture I was about 310.  In college, my weight ranged from about 270-290 lbs.  But as this shows, I had to be a certain size for track to be successful.  I had to be able to lift heavy weights and throw that little iron ball really far! 🙂 However, I always knew that some day the chapter of my life that had track in it would be finished, and that I would have to lose the weight.

So Mom and I walked into the Jenny Craig center in SLO when I was up visiting from USC, and I remember walking up and weighing myself. I weighed in at 285, and this was AFTER I tried to lose weight!  I was like, okay– it’s time to get serious and lose this weight!  I set a first goal to lose about 75 lbs, because I had no idea how I would feel after that because it was since I was in 6th grade that I weighed anything close to that! So, the adventure began, and the first week on the diet I lost 15 lbs!!!  I was totally shocked, but estactic at the same time! 🙂

After Mom and I joined the Jenny Craig program, Dad came on board, and then Kristin joined a few weeks later.  As a family, we have lost over 250 lbs!  That is just amazing!!!  Mom and Dad have done great– both are walking every day and look amazing!  Kris has maintained her weight thanks to Jenny and has really enjoyed the various meals that they offer.  Me– I thank JC every day because it has given me so much in return, like:

• Giving me the energy to climb the Great Wall in China, and actually still have energy left over to do some more walking!
• Making me actually like running.  I know, totally and completely shocking– I thought a lap around the track was long distance when I was a thrower, but now I really like it!  I have been running about 4-5 miles and competed in a 5k race this past April.
• Allowing me to wear a size 4 pencil business skirt.  That’s right– size 4.  Not 24, not even 14, but yes– FOUR!!!!  When I started on Jenny Craig, I wore a size 22W
• Increasing my overall fitness level so I can do three exercise classes (I have done this several times here at Tennessee already!)
• I have more energy and feel healthy and fabulous!
• Getting into clothe sizes that I thought would never be possible for a former thrower!
• Teaching me food portion control and that a 20 oz steak is not a single serving size (bummer!)
• Having people mistake me for a basketball / volleyball player instead of a former shot putter
• In public relations, image is everything– this means what you wear, how you look, etc.  You are basically managing your own personal brand and reputation. JC has helped me transform from an athlete to a professional working in PR.

These are just some of the things that Jenny Craig has done for me.  There have been times where it has been tough to pass up fabulous food (like Dad’s beef stroganoff or Mom’s cinnamon rolls), but it is so worth the effort because the rewards have been amazing!  So far, I have lost about 85 lbs, and have gone from a size 22W to about a size 6-8 (depends on the designer).  I feel healthier, more energetic, and it’s fun to see people’s reaction when they haven’t seen me in a while, and they are like– Karen??!! 😀  That’s fun!

Left:  at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships (we got second!)

Right:  August 2008, and here I am wearing my old pair of pants! Nothing but air there! 😀
So, if you are thinking about ways to lose weight– definitely join JC.  The consultants are amazing, the food is great, and the results really are fantastic!  Losing weight may be hard at times, but it is definitely possible and worth the effort in the long run! What’s up for me now?  Well, I have a new weight goal– lose another 15-20 lbs so I can say that I have lost 100 lbs on Jenny Craig! 🙂  I’ll definitely keep you all posted! 🙂