Thank you Jenny Craig for sponsoring this post. Tried other Diets? Now it's time for Jenny Craig!
Confession time. I need to lose weight. There, I said it. I’m about to get very real with you all over the next 12 weeks, so I figured I should put it right out there. Muffin top and all.
It's not that I don't know what to do get control of my weight. Eating right and exercising sounds easy enough. But somehow I seem to always have excuses about why it's just too hard to make this a priority in my life.
My biggest excuse is that I just don’t have TIME to focus on my weight. I’m a busy mom, after all. I also work full-time, and I publish East Tucson Macaroni Kid on top of that. It feels like I’m either at my desk or in the car shuttling the kids around about 90% of the time. Who has time to plan meals or to work out? Not this Mama.
My other main excuse is STRESS. The whole busy mom thing is stressful! Everyone needs a vice, and Eegee’s French fries are mine. Well, and chips with guacamole. And chocolate. Always chocolate.
Another pitfall? MINDLESS SNACKING. You know, nibbling on crusts cut off of kids’ sandwiches while I’m packing their lunches (otherwise it's wasteful), sampling dinner as I make it (because how will I know how it tastes?), or having a bowl of dark chocolate granola at midnight when I’m loading events into the Macaroni Kid calendar because the crunching (and the chocolate) help me stay awake.
And did I mention my AGE? If we're really getting real, I have to admit I'm over 40. Isn't weight loss supposed to be tough after a certain age? I carried around these extra pounds as I made that trek over the hill, maybe they are just here to stay.
Excuses, excuses! I really need to stop right there. Honestly, I'm not buying them anymore, and they are certainly not doing me any good. Every time I step on the scale I notice the number inching up. I’ve started to cringe at myself in photos more and more lately. I find myself gravitating toward loose-fitting dresses and (gasp!) elastic-waste pants because nothing else fits right. Plus, I don’t feel great. I’m stiff and achy and oh-so-tired all the time. It seems to me that it's time to let go of the excuses and take some steps toward better health.
Flashback to a couple of weeks ago. I was literally thinking about this very issue when I was offered the opportunity to take part in a 12-week Jenny Craig weight loss program. Jenny Craig's meal plan combined with one-on-one support from a Jenny Craig consultant is a scientifically proven program that helps members lose weight and learn to keep it off. The program breaks down each and every one of my excuses with some great solutions: Quick, satisfying meals that take very little time, support and accountability from a personal consultant, and plenty of chocolate (it's true). No more excuses!
Which brings me to this article, and why I am sharing these weight-loss struggles (and some very unflattering photos) with you. It's definitely uncomfortable to be this candid, but it is another way for me to be accountable during this experience. I will need to be accountable to myself and my Jenny Craig consultant, but I also humbly ask YOU to hold me accountable. Each week in the newsletter, on Facebook, and on Instagram, I’ll share the ins and outs of the Jenny Craig program, including the dish on all of the great food, the personal consultations, and any changes I see in my health. I’ll share my struggles, successes, and eventually I hope to share an “after” photo of a confident new me...a photo that doesn't make me cringe! I would be honored if you would follow along, and if you are considering checking out the Jenny Craig program yourself, I'd be thrilled to do this together. If you’re so inclined, click here for the latest Jenny Craig offer.
And so it begins. I am excited to stop making excuses and start taking charge of my weight, my health, and myself, with a little help from Jenny Craig.
This article was sponsored by Jenny Craig, but the content, opinions, and excuses expressed here are all my own.
