OMG... I just tried one of the LC Paninis (Club) it was really good and a nice new alternative with lots of flavor...gonna try the beef and cheddar next. I really am not fond of that many JC Dinners (they are just okay and for the expense I prefer finding a LC with similar nutritional stats).I usually find a JC Lunch to sub for dinner on most nights but get board. Anyway, these are about 300-320 calories, but if you end up with a lower calorie lunch one day these make a great fill in. This is my third time on the program and as long as I watch the labels, I have had equal sucess substituting LC for JC. BTW, for anyone that does not know, Nestle owns both LC and JC.

You say you were off the JC wagon in your stats yet you are playing (in my opinion) Russian roulette with the rules. I think if we could all go to the grocery and sub lc or ww for jc we would not need the program. In my opinion, JC food does more than to me taste better. It is part of a holistic approach to losing weight. Good luch with your program . AS for me, I will stay with the program until I am ready, (like half way) to play with it and then I prefer real food that I cook myself so I can learn how to portion control for myself and that is why I am on JC

Gypsy One Good Luck to you. Different Strokes......

Didn't mean to sound harsh. I am obsessed with Jenny Craig right now and sticking to it perfectly. Just my anal side. You sound like you are doing great. So keep up the good work, whatever works for you

Hi,
I have been subbing food from almost day one. It hasn't made a difference in my weight loss and it's helped with boredom from the same food over and over.
I also know that someday, I won't be eating any JC food, and I want to be sure that I can make correct food choices.
Whatever works!

Hi Y'all!
I sub all the time, too! I've never tried the Pannini's, sounds great!
I know that subbing is not the strict JC way, but I look at JC as more than just the food. I eat mostly on plan, but I switch up meals/snacks ALL the time. If the plan calls for Sour Dough Bites but I'm having a sweet/chewy craving, I'll substitute a chocolate chip snack bar. I estimate that 95% of my meals are JC. I don't eat them in the prescribed order, though.
I keep strict track of my calories. (1200) As I said before, food is just one aspect of the Jenny Craig Program. There's the weekly consultation/WI, the emphasis on an active lifestyle, and (very important to me) access to these message boards. For every issue I have, there seems to be a thread about it. Keeps me focused.
Just thought I'd add my two cents worth! Do whatever works for you!!
Cathy

I'm at halfway now and have been enjoying the heck out of some of these other frozen foods. I wasn't that thrilled with the idea of doing entire days on my own but I wanted the variety.
I can highly recommend the LC panini with spinach and other veggies. So good! LC also makes a chicken fried rice bowl and a dish called salmon with basil. Yum! I also give a major thumbs up for WW Smart Ones Florentine Lasagna.

I am glad others are subbing it is working out for them. The one thing I noticed is that JC frozen foods seem to have a lot less sodium than LC or WW. So I tend to stick with the JC food....but I don't get sick of food easily, so for me it is easy. In fact when I reach GW I plan on still buying the lunches because I don't want to cook - LOL

As I just said on another post, I am a compulsive person and stick to the program perfectly or not at all. This is my character flaw and I want to change but I will try subbing when I hit half way. and try all the recommended Lc and WW foods.since they are portion controlled.

I do stick with mostly JC foods for a variety of reasons. They taste good, they usually have fewer calories than the other brands, and also less sodium.
I think it's all about knowing ourselves and what works for us. Knowing I have the ability to sub if I want to makes me feel less trapped. It's like playing a mind game w/ myself. Before I started JC, I was hooked on the single sized version of Coberg Chocolate Milk. (400 cal.) I LOVED it and no other brand nor version would do. So, when I started JC, I was able to go a few days without one. Then one day I was on a trip and did not have any JC food. I was hungry and was about an hour from home. Stopped at a gas station and got my fix. I just added those 400 calories to my day and skipped dinner. Still stayed right at 1200 for the day. Anyway, I had one of those treats every few days instead of something else. However, I haven't yearned for one in about a month! I think my brain just needed to know that I COULD have one w/o sabatoging JC. I don't think I would have be as successful if I had tried to force myself to cold-turkey something that I wanted so much.
For the most part, I stick with JC, but hardly ever go by the daily diet we make at my consultations. I usually buy 5 breakfasts, 14 meals, and 7 snack/desserts. I eat them during the week in the order I decide on any given day. Maybe I would have bigger losses if I went by the plan to the letter. I might try it when school gets out. However, it's working for me now, and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!".
Good Luck to all, however you work it!
Cathy

quote:

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Originally posted by FootGal:
Hi,
I have been subbing food from almost day one. It hasn't made a difference in my weight loss and it's helped with boredom from the same food over and over.
I also know that someday, I won't be eating any JC food, and I want to be sure that I can make correct food choices.
Whatever works!

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AMEN to that!

quote:

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Originally posted by gypsyone:
As I just said on another post, I am a compulsive person and stick to the program perfectly or not at all. This is my character flaw and I want to change but I will try subbing when I hit half way. and try all the recommended Lc and WW foods.since they are portion controlled.

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I am glad that works for you. Please just remember that we all have DIFFERENT things that work for us. Some binge, some have emotional eating issues, some have different monetary circumstances. I say, whatever works and keeps us HEALTHY
WE CAN DO IT

Cathy i didn't understand your post where you said you sub a choc chip bar snack for the sourdough bites? don't you plan your own menus?? or is this not a JC product you are speaking of? I plan all my own menus so if i want something sweet that night i can either have the salty snack or the dessert that i have .?? you can have whatever bfast lunch dinner or snack you want for the day that's not subbing as long as it's JC??
maybe i misunderstood?

I started substituting three months ago, and I have not lost a pound since. I lost 35 pounds just eatting JC food, so I thought It would be o.k.to do, but I was wrong. For some reason when I do throw some LC in the mix...I do not stay on the program, so I went back to just eatting JC food last week, so If I start losing again....Im sticking to the JC program, and save LC for after I have gotten to my goal.

I just tried the Chicken Club pannini from LC as a MOMO - hated it!

I've also been subbing, primarily to save on the expense of the food.
One week, I did my own breakfasts and salad dressings.
The next week, I added doing my own dinners.
Now I'm only purchasing 4 lunches and 3 desserts.
You can substitute if you adhere strictly to the guidelines and nutritional content. Saving JC labels from the items I liked in the early weeks serves as a basis of comparison for the items I purchase.
Basically, you are all correct. Whatever works for you as an individual is the best approach.

Yes whatever works for you is the key. For me I have been subbing and love to mix up the menu...LC panini's are good-I had the steak one for dinner last night!

Ah, so Lean Cuisine makes JC meals? I wondered who they were hooked up with. I like both.