25 replies to this topic

[momma fish]

Hello ladies!

I just signed up yesterday and did the 20 for 20 plan.

My total bill was $175.00 - how much is food each week? I don't think I can afford $150 a week.

is there any JC food that you can supplement and it is cheaper?

also, I noticed that anytime bars are not good for nursing mothers? is that true? I am nursing and they gave me the bars yesterday.

also, is there a cost difference between the planned and non-planned menus (food)?

[candy girl]

Hi- welcome and congrats on new baby!

you should check with your doctor about the anytime bars-they are a vitamin bar.. usually when you sign up- you can choose the anytime bars OR a vitamin and extra milk serving each day. you may need more specialized vitamins if you are still nursing. ( make sure you are getting everything you need, but not getting too much of anything either.

as far as $$- its unlikely you'd spend $175 every week. you won't have to pay the $20 again right?

my first couple of weeks were over $100 but then I'd end up having some leftover meals and personally I stopped buying the anytime bars, but only because I didn't like them. So with a mix of shelf stable ( less expensive) and frozen its been more like $80-$90.

I've read some good suggestions here and I'm sure you can find more- like you could buy your own salad dressings and breakfast syrup ( compare to jc ones and then measure out yours).

I'm actually surprised that you spent $155 on food. maybe your tax is higher where you are.
i've bought 7 of each meal and 7 snacks for a week and it has not been that much. also- i tend to like the frozen entrees better ( more expensive).

Does your consultant know you are nursing? I'd imagine you would be on higher calories than what most start at- but again check with your doctor!!

welcome momma fish and congrats!!
candy girl

[momma fish]

candy girl - thank you for the response!

so the frozen entrees and the most expensive?

also, can you go without the soups?

[mariefnp]

I don't buy the soups or the salad dressings. I have never used the soupitizers, don't / never felt the need. And I buy FF dsg in the supermarket and use that, it's only 30 cal. I also don't buy the anytime bars, and my order comes to about 125, but I'm on the rewards, so I get 10% off of that right at the moment. It'll go up to 20% at week 20 I believe.
150.00 sounds like a lot.

[MoMo1611]

Hi I joined today! My food plus the $20 came out to $163 - I thought it was a lot at first but I was reassured that the first week is the most expensive plus I use to eat out a lot so it is actually cheaper! Glad to hear I can use FF dressings instead of theirs I'm hesitant about the Ranch - lol!

[emerald_green]

If you are exchanging the JC salad dressing with store bought, be sure to get LOW FAT, and not fat free. The JC salad dressing is a fat serving. Or you can use fat free if you add a different fat serving, i.e. a few nuts or 1/8 avacado.

[JaimeG]

I average about $120 a week, and after 5 successful weeks, I went ahead and joined the Rewards program for one year. So now with getting 10% off for the first 10 weeks, I will probably only spend about $108 or so. Then 20% off 10 weeks after that, and 30% off ten more weeks out.

To cut back, I am trying to order some of the shelf stable items I like each week, and also I only order breakfast for about 3-4 days. I buy comparable cereals for the other days.

[LRPsmom]

Hi,
You can use Progresso Light soups for the soupitizers. Just split the can into two servings. That will help you save some $.

[Christine2264]

Hi, The Anytime Bars are Gross,you aren't missing a thing....The frozen foods are the best like for dinners: Chicken Fajitas,Chicken Fettichinni,Chicken Carbernero,Turkey,stuffing and Mashed potatoes,Salisbury steak.Mac N' Cheese
Lunches: Stuffed Chicken Sandwich,Broccoli& Cheese Potato,Beef Chow Mein,Chili(good on salad)
Breakfast: Breakfast Stuffed Sandwich,French Toast,Breakfast Scrambler,
Desserts: Chocolate Cake, Lemon Cake,Pumpkin Spice Cake
I don't like: the Tuna or Chicken Salad Kits,souptizers,swedish meatballs(most shelf foods do not taste good to me)
I am on the rewards program where you save 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% on your food. That was $400.00 + food (4 week supply)$500.00 including shipping....
I have my own multi-vitamin so I don't pay for JC....As you go along, you will learn how to subsitute JC food with other brands, and how to add volume to all your meals.....
I hope this was helpful... Much Success on your Jenny Craig weight loss journey!!!!

[Myla]

candy girl - thank you for the response!

so the frozen entrees and the most expensive?

also, can you go without the soups?

Yes the frozen do cost a little more. and the soups are part of our volumetrics menu and no u do not have to purchase them to stick to the menu.

[iluvmydpo]

candy girl - thank you for the response!

so the frozen entrees and the most expensive?

also, can you go without the soups?

It was probably the soupitizers driving up your cost so much. I have never bought them. When you have one it counts as 2 of your 3 limited food items. So you could just have carrots or something instead of the soupitizers. Unless you like them and think they're worth the money. Also, those anytime bars are $9.99 per box and I think they're DISGUSTING. I'm getting the vitamins instead for $3.49/week now.

[new_mommy08]

I am on a 1500 calorie/per day program, and average app. $ 130 / week. That is with no bars, no soupitizers.. I do a half bagel with peanut butter instead of the bars.

[loungebaby]

Wait...you can choose not to buy items off the menu?

[Blondecatty]

Hi, I am only 3 wks into the program, so there are many others here more knowledgeable.

However, I did buy comparable salad dressing at Walmart and I no longer buy the inividual salad dressings. I researched some of the "baked" products which can be purchased at Walmart individually. They are actually less calories than some of the snacks. I bought the baked Cheetos and will not be buying the snacks from now on.

It has been quite pricey, but well worth my sanity and weight loss thus far!

Best of luck!
Cm

[newmommy08]

[/size][size="4"] Hi JC mommys!

I just joined this week and not a huge fan of the anytime bars....at all. I was kind of surprised to spend the same amount my first week...keep the tips coming because with my 5 month old gulping his formula I don't know how long I can pay for this....what's the rewards program about?

[italiamom]

Hi newmommy,

I'm in Arlington and have been doing JC for ony about 3 weeks now. I don't like the anytime bars either and had no idea that I have been spending so much money on them! I'm doing the Jenny Direct and when the shipment arrives I notice that they don't include the prices on anything on the statement...very smart on their part . Think I will start back on my own vitamins and forget the bars, soupitizers, salad dressing (Newman's Lights are SO MUCh better anyway!), and start looking for a low calorie syrup....

Good luck to you! Have to say, this is pricey but it's really worth it in the long run. JC really does work and I needed the extra push to take off the last of my baby weight finally (my "baby" is 2 yrs. old, lol!).

[/size][size="4"] Hi JC mommys!

I just joined this week and not a huge fan of the anytime bars....at all. I was kind of surprised to spend the same amount my first week...keep the tips coming because with my 5 month old gulping his formula I don't know how long I can pay for this....what's the rewards program about?

[over40mom]

I love your half bagel with peanut butter idea. yummy.

[lanicali95112]

I've been to JC 3 times, once when I was 20 years old which was in 1990, second when I got married in 2007,
third after the birth of my daughter last year. What I didn't know back in 1990 is that you can plan your own menu... they didn't tell me that back then... So I ate food that I disliked and was totally miserable, left the program and gained back the 30 lbs I lost.

So today, I plan my own menu and I only buy Breakfast and Dinner because I don't like their lunches, plus I usually grab a Subway sandwich for lunch. I had alot of success before I was married and lost about 20lbs and reached my goal.. now I'm back for a third time to lose baby weight. I only buy the frozen meals, I'm a picky eater and those taste the best to me... and the dessers are pretty good as well.

All I have to say to you newbies, don't feel pressure to buy all 3 meals.. I've had some consultants that were really pushy, ofcourse they're trying to make you buy more, but if you're on a budget, buy what you can afford. All centres have price sheets so you can tally up your food before you pay.

[Melynne50]

MommaFish,

I've been on the program for 5 wks now and spending about $115 after tax. I went in to sign up for the 12 lbs for $12 special they had at Christmas but ended up buying into a local program that was $50 to lose an unlimited amount of weight for the entire 2010 year. I do not buy the anytime bars or soupitizers. I prefer to make my own soup using the unlimited veggies and low sodium chicken broth. I normally sub. the anytime bar for a mini luna bar (they can be found in the protein bar aisle) and one of those small yogurts that come in a six pack. I don't get the salad dressings either and use FF dressings and will add a fat to my lunch.

Finally, I specifically told my consoltant that I was on a budget and asked for a listing of the prices. You would be surprised that the frozen lunches/dinners are either only $1 more or the same price as the shelf meals. When looking at the breakfasts and deserts, however, the frozen meals are twice the price as the shelf meals.

I save money by getting the oatmeal bars, muffins, and cereals from breakfast. For the deserts I get one or two chocolate brownies and the rest either pretzels or toffee cookies...the cheesecakes are expensive.

I've been tempted to sub some meals for lean cuisine of healthy choice but the sodium, fat, and calories are higher. I also realized that I won't be buying Jenny Craig meals through the entire program because one you reach your half way point you start making your own meals. I have 50 lbs to lose and hoping the reach the 1/2 point in 4 mths.

[joan719]

I spend an average of $75-85 weekly. I just completed my 5th week. Like many, I don't do the JC breakfasts unless I really feel like a Breakfast Scramble or an Oatmeal Raisen Square. I have 1 cup of Cheerios, mix it with a yoghurt and add berries for a one bowl breakfast meal. Or maybe, a WW muffin. I do most JC lunches but occasionally will do a WW or LC entree, once I go online and match the nutrition stats as close as possible to both products. I don't recommend doing this often, yet for me, I continue to lose weight each week. As for dinners, I choose all JC entrees that I really like, since they are really satisfying and good. As for snacks, I use the 100 calorie packs of Cheeto's, or Cheez-its. For cookies, I also use 100 calorie packs. Once in awhile, I will buy the JC cheesecake. No anytime bars, I prefer using that for my one cup of milk for my coffee throughout the day. And, no need for soupitizers or JC salad dressings. I use my own low fat dressing varieties from the grocery store. I take a personal bunch of my favorite vitamins daily. As long as I continue to lose weight weekly as I have been, I will continue my routine. Should I stall, then I will do JC 100%. What is working for me, doesn't necessarily work for everyone, that is why I don't recommend what I am doing. But, my budget sure looks good, and this old body of mine is starting to look good, too! LOL! Best good wishes and success to everyone on their weight loss journey!