As Kirstie Alley leaves the fold of Jenny Craig spokescelebreties to start her own diet plan brand, her space is taken by two women. We’ve already talked about Queen Latifah. Now it’s time to talk about Temptress Brown.
She’s a linebacker on her high school football team. She was a contestant on American Idol. She’s a 280lb seventeen year old. Now she’s going on the Jenny Craig diet plan. Under the newly-lightened arm of former plus-sized model and fellow former AI contestant Kimberley Locke, she’s decided to lose weight and get healthy.
But how healthy is she going to get on the Jenny Craig plan? After all, that’s what Queen Latifah is trying to sell us on, and that’s what Temptress has been convinced is true.
Epicurious.com has done a comparison of five of the most popular diet plans based on pre-fab food as well as the frozen diet meals available at your local supermarket. Their review of Jenny Craig frankly gives me little hope for Temptress’ improved health on this program.
It’s not just that the food is expensive ($36.00 six-week membership fee at the time of the investigation plus nearly $1,300.oo for three months worth of food). It’s not just that the dieter has to supplement that food with nearly one-third of the calories on the diet by themselves (which drives the cost of the plan even higher). It’s these comments from the nutritionist’s assessment that make me seriously question the liklihood that anyone is going to get healthy on Jenny Craig:
- The sample menu ordered derived nearly one quarter of its calories from sugar.
- The meals provided roughly eight grams of fiber in a day’s meals, as opposed to the medically-recommended minimum twenty-five grams per day that regulate our systems and keep us from feeling hungry between meals.
- The ingredient lists showed a high proportion of additives, artificial ingredients, added sugars, and trans fats.
On top of all of that, Jenny Craig is a plan that depends heavily on the dieter relying on lots of one-on-one attention and hand-holding. Weekly consultations will help you stick to the plan while you’re on it, but are all too easy to rely on too much. And considering how much money is involved, what motivation is there for a consultant to teach her pupil how to let go?
After all, in a clip available at You Tube, Kimberley Locke plays up the idea that Temptress doesn’t want to end up like her wheelchair-bound mother. This is pure emotional manipulation of the worst sort.
Temptress, if you want to be healthy, the way to get there is not by eating sugary, nearly fiber-free, additive-addled microwave meals. The key is to eat from a wide variety of foods, be thoughtful about how much of what sort of fats you eat, get plenty of exercise (which a football player already probably has under control), and keep up your self-esteem. Don’t be duped. The scale is not the only measure – or even the best one – of your overall health. Put down the microwave tray and love yourself just as you are.
temptress is being paid… and getting publicity…. i guess thats the bottom line
Comment by pam — February 23, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
amen, twistie!
Comment by count sassy — February 23, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
I was taken in by Jenny Craig a few years ago. Yes, I lost weight but I spent THOUSANDS of dollars, felt manipulated and shamed by my “consultant” who was actually paid by commission on everything I bought and ended up in debt, feeling crappy and gaining everything back once I could no longer afford the outrageous food prices and tried to do it on my own.
I feel so sorry for Temptress. The way she’s been manipulated on TV at such a young age is really disgusting.
Comment by Kimocean — February 23, 2008 @ 9:30 pm
To make matters worse, fiber is vitally important to prevent colon cancer– one of the very many reasons the common sense solution of eating real food, not too much, mostly plants, to paraphrase Michael Pollan, is much healthier than relying on “health” foods out of a box. Thanks for the great info, Twistie!
Comment by bossy lawyer — February 23, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
I had once, very briefly, considered Jenny Craig. I’m so, so, so glad I’ve read the articles here on manolobig and discovered what goes on behind the scenes.
I feel bad for Temptress, between the money, learning an unhealthy lifestyle, and getting emotionally manipulated.
Comment by Olivia — February 24, 2008 @ 1:00 am
hmmm..
maybe i didnt get this… i thought shes part of a publicity stunt and probably isnt actually paying for the plan. if she isnt then too bad
Comment by pam — February 24, 2008 @ 9:45 am
She’s 17!
This is the time of life when your metabolism still works pretty good, and where extra exercise and eating nice healthy things actually makes a difference without counting calories and feeling like crap. I would have felt better, if there are medical reasons for her needing to lose weight (and as we know, there aren’t always), if they would have set her up with a nice, sensible nutritionist, and a gentle, “atta girl, good workout” trainer. And of course, nice clothes that fit RIGHT THIS MINUTE.
Comment by dowdydiva — February 24, 2008 @ 11:03 am