If your two new best friends in quarantine are ice cream and potato chips — you’re not alone. But here’s the thing: Staying healthy now is more important than ever. Especially because eating nutritious foods and maintaining a healthy weight can help boost your immune system.¹

How can you stay healthy at home? We chatted with five real Jenny Craig members to get their best tips to stay healthy and motivated during this time. 

Q: How have you been staying healthy at home?

Ally C.

I have been staying healthy by sticking with the Jenny Craig program, having weekly check-ins with my coach Gwen and cycling.

Amanda F.

Meal prep has been a huge part of staying healthy while in quarantine. I have been preparing meals for the week on Mondays! It also helps me with portion control. I visually use the Jenny Craig meals I used to eat as a guide for how much food I eat now.

Erin A.

I keep my pantry stocked with my favorite Jenny foods! I try to eat Jenny Craig meals for breakfast, lunch and snacks and then eat a reasonable dinner (whatever I prepare for the family).

Another tip: I keep a water bottle at my desk all day. I try to fill it up at least five times per day. I work from home, so this is something I’ve done for a while, but I’ve been especially mindful of it during quarantine.

Mike M.

Home improvement! I’ve been working in the yard and taking care of small projects around the house. It's a great way to stay active and avoid snacking. Mowing the lawn, planting a vegetable garden and fixing a screen door are all ways to stay busy. I find these tasks enjoyable because they help me feel productive and create a sense of pride in my home. 

Shiella K.

Honestly, the first few weeks were rough. It took a series of tweaks to finally get into a routine. In the beginning, I took advantage of the stress excuse and may have overdone it on portions and extra snacks since my new office is my kitchen island. I used to be a 6 a.m. workout gal until becoming a chef and teacher to my kids. When I missed my morning workout I would just give up and be done with the day and try again tomorrow.  It was a mindset change that I needed. I downloaded an exercise app and now workout in the evening and love it! It’s a great way to end my day, hop in the shower and call it a night. I also started the Jenny maintenance plan for a few days a week.  

Q: How has Jenny Craig helped you stay on track/lose weight at home?  

 Ally C.

Jenny Craig and my coach have kept me on track through this crazy time! I check in with my coach on Wednesdays and she messages me on Saturdays to help me stay on track!

Amanda F.

I have been doing weekly weigh-ins at home and logging them on my phone. I use the Jenny Craig maintenance guide to help with my mindset and keep myself from endlessly snacking while at home.

Erin A.

Having Jenny Craig food at home has been essential. I lost my weight about 18 months ago, and I refuse to gain it back. Having staples at my house has been key. When I get a craving, I reach for a Jenny Craig meal or snack because they are readily available. Even if I fall off the wagon one night for dinner, I know I have my meals for the following day.

Mike M.

Jenny Craig helps me stay on track at home by providing a weekly menu to plan all my meals. It's easy to follow and takes all the guesswork out of wondering what I'm going to eat. I avoid the temptation of snacking or making unhealthy food choices because I know I'll eat several times a day and still maintain my weight loss. It's such a useful part of the program (especially when you’re stuck in the house).   

Shiella K.

With Jenny Craig, I don’t have to think about what I’m going to eat. The plan helps me avoid the endless snacking I found myself doing at the beginning of quarantine. 

Q: Have you been checking in with your weight loss coach? How have they helped you during this time?

Ally C.

I’ve been checking in twice a week. I know I have to weigh in every Wednesday and that keeps me on track and holds me accountable.

Amanda F.

I’ve texted several times with my coach, Veronica. She helps keep me motivated and connected to my health and wellness goals. The further away I get from the Jenny Craig program the closer I get to unhealthy choices. It's nice to have someone help hold me accountable during this time. I also am keeping in touch with my Jenny Craig family. I have built some great relationships with other moms. We check-in and support each other all the time! 

Erin A.

My consultant checks in with me every Friday. I’ve done curbside pickups for my favorite foods. Just knowing she’ll call has helped keep me accountable.

Mike M.

I continue checking in with my coach for monthly maintenance and we do our consultations over the phone now instead of in the office. It's convenient calling from home and it's wonderful talking to my coach about the program. The accountability, support and encouragement I receive from Jenny Craig helps me sustain my weight loss.

Shiella K.

Yes, I love phone consultations. We’ve been checking in once a week for the last 3-4 weeks and it’s nice to have someone hold me accountable! The curbside pickup is also so very easy. 

Q: What’s your favorite Jenny Craig meal or snack to eat during quarantine and why? 

Ally C.

In quarantine, I am at home with my two crazy boys and all they want to do is snack! So when they have chips or crackers in the afternoon, I grab my Jenny Craig snacks. I am loving the Ranch Snaps right now! Also when the boys have dessert (it’s my only way to get them to eat dinner right now!) I go to my favorite S’mores Bar. It’s a good way to stay on track and not divert from the plan!

Erin A.

I LOVE having hamburgers for lunch. They are easy to cook and go great with a salad. I always have mustard and pickles handy even if I don’t have anything else to top my burger with. The burgers satisfy my savory tooth and are very filling! A must-have for lunch at my house.

Mike M.

My favorite Jenny Craig snack is the Triple Chocolate Cheesecake. It is so rich and delicious that I never get tired of it. I can have the pleasure and satisfaction of eating a fabulous dessert while staying at home and not feeling like I'm depriving myself.

Shiella K.

So many to list! The Blue Corn Tortilla Chips are definitely high up there because I love that hot sauce is a Fresh & Free Addition to dip them in! Of course, all the sweets, Kettle Corn for family movie nights (which is every other night these days!) and the Chocolate Lava Cake has always been my number one.   

Q: Could you share some advice for others who need a little motivation? How are you staying inspired right now?

Ally C.

I am staying motivated right now by trying to spend 30 minutes to an hour each day focusing on myself. Between work, becoming a teacher to a 5-year-old and daycare provider to my 2-year-old, a chef, and a house cleaner, it’s important to find time for yourself to stay sane. I take a cycle class every day or go for a run to get myself reenergized. It helps me clear my mind and focus on my mental health and well-being! I used to turn to food for comfort through stressful times. Now I turn to fitness!

Amanda F.

My biggest advice for others is to not give up. If you have a bad food day (and we all do) just get up the next day and try again. Give yourself some grace during this time. If maintaining is all you can do, do that! If weight loss is part of your story right now, keep working on it! None of us are perfect and the scale is just a number. Jenny Craig has taught me to be healthy and happy with my weight and body. Get outside! Moving my body makes me feel 1000 times better and keeps my spirits up. It's also a great way to set an example of healthy living for my kiddos. 

The first month of quarantine was very hard for me. The fear of getting sick was preventing me from doing what I know and love. Now I am back to meal prepping, exercising outside and spending quality time with my family. Self-care is a top priority for me now and it is working! I feel so much better. 

Erin A.

We are not all in the same boat, but we are all in the same ocean right now. The seas are rough and times are challenging for everyone but in many different ways. I refuse to let the current crisis undo all that I’ve worked so hard to accomplish and maintain for the past 18 months. There is a quote that says, “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.” I think of that quote often and remind myself that I have the willpower to stay on track. I won’t lie … working out by myself has been tough … I am a group workout class junkie and I miss my gym friends so much. Turning down a glass of wine or a bowl of ice cream is tough for me, too. So when I’ve had a rough day and choose not to turn it down, I don’t beat myself up over it. I just start the next day fresh and do my best again. I really try to focus on portion sizes and eating every 3-4 hours so I don’t become overly hungry and overeat.

Mike M.

Now is a great opportunity to look inward and to reflect during this period of isolation. Take one day at a time and use this opportunity to set goals for yourself. And if for some reason today didn't turn out the way you planned, then tomorrow is a new opportunity to try again. Never give up and always keep trying. It may be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel but you just have to keep going until you get there.

I've gone from a 44" waist down to a 32" waist and have maintained my weight loss for many years thanks to Jenny Craig. It's this non-scale victory that keeps me inspired and keeps me going. It feels amazing every time I put on my clothes and some days I still can't believe it. I hope all the Jenny Craig members can feel the way I do because it's so worth it!            

Shiella K.

Speak kindly to yourself. We are all going through a lot of change, experiencing fear and anxiety but we are resilient. If there’s a day where I reach for something unhealthy or I had absolutely no time to exercise, I just move forward and start fresh at the next meal or the next day and try again. Always look ahead and remember that it’s a journey and progress towards the right health track. 

And put your jeans on! It was scary at first for me. Sometimes the scale can trick you into thinking extra water is a ton of weight gain but also my stretchy pants were fooling me into thinking I wasn’t gaining any weight too! Jeans don’t lie. It’s tough to backtrack and requires a lot of patience, but so much easier to get back on track when you’ve got the support and accountability from Jenny Craig. 

We hope these tips have been helpful. If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our blog for more stories and tips!

Need help with meal planning and prep? Let Jenny Craig do the work for you! Meal plans start at just $12.99. View plans now.
 

Sources:

[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system