Is it just me? I don’t consider myself anti-social, but I don't want to talk to a consultant every week. I just want to go in, get weighed, buy the food, and go home.
I don't want someone asking me what I did for exercise, what I ate from the buffet table, and what I ordered in the restaurant.
I can do it myself, just give me the food!!!!
Is it just me? Or does anyone else feel this way?
The consultants in my office are young and don't come across as being knowledgeable about nutrition. They seem to recite the company line.
One told me that I can't claim to be truly on the program because I use my own salad dressing and don't buy their 2 TBS packets. Give me a break.
Can’t I just buy the food? Do I really have to sit in their office and go through the same nonsense every week?
Just sell me the food!!!!!!!

i used to feel that way too, but my second go around (about 2 years ago) i found an awesome consultant, so now our meetings are chat sessions, we barely talk about how the week went. we talk about our new babies, houses, hubbies.
maybe talk to the director and see if they can accomodate just a weigh/pick up. ya'never know!
gl

SoCalSue,
You are not the only one. I had a bad experience with a replacement consultant as my consultant's son was sick and obviously that can't be helped and i get this woman all the time. she used to be my former consultant but got a promotion and moved on but i get her when my consultant isn't around and that's why i no longer wish to count on a consultant. Maybe my opinion will change after I see my regular consultant again. But no you are not the only one who feels that way.

I think you should look for a new consultant, one that is more supportive for you. But I don't think you should just weigh-in and leave. Part of the program that helps me is being held accountable for the choices I make! And if I know I'll have to talk about that extra piece of cake at the end of the week, maybe I'll think twice about eating it!

Hi Socal Sue, I am guessing you are from southern california, I am too. I really didnt want to do the,consultant meeting at a centre. So I opted to do the online Jenny Direct, I love my consultant, she calls me at home on Friday nite. My food is shipped to me and I couldnt be happier.

sw 235
cw 225
gw 135

You are not the only one. This is why I do jenny direct. Yes, I still talk to them but its on the phone. The conversation is usually pretty quick and now after 10 weeks on the program I actually don't mind talking to my consultant. After all the terrible stuff I have read about the centers I am glad I am on the direct plan. There is no waiting. I get my calls on time and my food comes in on time. One time it did not and I got a replacement shipment free.
Kelley

I have a question for you - two actually.
If you don't like the consultations, why do the JC program? Why not something like e-diets where you can use pre-portioned and premade meals from the grocery store following the calorie level set by JC?
Can you work it out so that you go in every other week and get 2 weeks of food? The only issue with that is that each visit /food purchase counts towards your rewards...if you are at 20+ visits, you are fine (no more need to rack up the visits).
I go in about 1x per month now to get my one JC food I still get: the graham pretzel twists. I have one every night, lol.
I didn't like my consultant at first. First off, consultants are not nutritionists and honestly, I knew more about nutrition than she did (I've lost 100 lbs in the past and maintained for years; I spend a few years in therapy for eating / food issues and know myself and the strategies I need very well)...But, you know what - we talked about whatever. I don't need a new friend, so to speak, but it was nice to go in, get a "you go girl, you are doing great," and then sharing a story or two...My consultant is pregnant and we'd talk about kids for a few minutes...no big long indepth thing...
I needed the structure of JC - going in and being accountable...and having a cheerleader in my corner is just nice. I enjoy going in now and saying hey ladies.

I like having the accountability actually. My consultant is a cute little thing who's young enough to be my daughter, but we still find some things to talk about, like jenrdn.
For me it's mainly just touching base, making sure I'm on track, getting a question or two answered, that kind of thing. I don't and never will see my consultant as anyone more than just someone who gives me verbal strokes and cheerleader-like.

Well, for me its about the structure of the program and not a person. If I could do it on my own I would have. I have personal trainers for my workouts and that is really what I need. The beauty of this program is that it is flexable. If you don't want to go to a center they have jenny direct, which is the program that I do. As I am in the program I am asking for advise more and more but it is not the main reason why I joined. I also suffer from anxiety. The feelings of people judging me is a strong anxiety trigger for me. So even generalized statements like "why are you even on the program if you don't want the consultants. There are cheaper ways" are very "stinging". To get back to the origanal question, do I have to get a consult or can I just get the food to be on the program. I can totally understand where she is coming from. I think if you welcome this change will come and maybe in time she to will want to talk to a counselor.
I have been on the program for almost 3 months now and have lost 24 pounds now. My goal weight was 190 and then from there I was going to start doing dinners on my own to get down to 175. From there look at the whole picture and start doing more meals on my own to get to my ultimate goal of 150. Small goals has been a key factor for me. Another factor has been finding a workout that I love to do (kickboxing) and finding a hobby that I love (sewing). I also have a new dog that has really added a lot of joy and happiness to my days. His name is cosmo and he is a shih tzu. He just loves learning new tricks and he keeps me company all day. So bottom line for me is there have been lots of changes for the positive in my life and if I did not join jenny just because I "could have done it cheaper on my own without a counselor" I would NOT be where I am today.
I feel free from the food trap!
Kelley

I apologize if my comments came off as "stinging" - that was certainly not my intent - I was trying to make a point without going into a lot of background - I had a very good friend who got me started on Jenny - which has been a life-altering experience for me - and I certainly am not trying to encourage anyone to do anything but Jenny as it has been such a positive in my life - but my friend has had another experience - the program didn't suit her - she was not into the consultations and just wanted the food - finally she realized that she could do the program on her own and do the Lean Cuisines, etc., and not have the consultations - which ended up being more cost effective for her - her weight loss hasn't been as great as mine - (of course she didn't have as much to lose either) but it was an option that has worked for her - I was just trying to share her experience with the boards - I was definitely not trying to hurt anyone or cause any added anxiety - please take my comments in the spirit they were intended - which was to be helpful -

Thank you for your post. That took the sting out.

I also have a hard time talking with someone about my week and want to get in and out quickly. The center I go to understands what a private person I am and works with me on this. There are weeks we will talk and others that I go in and get my stuff. They have been very supported and works with me. It has actually gotten me out of my shell a bit.

kelleymac - I'm so glad my post helped clarify my position - best of luck to you!!!!!

SoCalSue -
I am with you.
My consultant is fine, but on the weeks when I don't lose weight it's a little awkward and she tries to come up with reasons why I gained weight or didn't lose. Then she'll encourage me to weigh myself without my shoes on or try to justify not losing by asking me if I've been lifting weights as part of my exercise or if I'm PMSing or whatever. Whatever, if I don't lose weight for a week I'm fine with it and it annoys me that she's not. I am eating 1200 calories a day and working out 5 days a week so I'm not sure what else I can do but it seems healthy so I'm fine with it, not to mention I have lost inches.
Anyway, sorry to babble, but yes, most of the time I would rather just go in to get the food, weigh myself, and then go home and get all the cheerleading I need from the message board!!

I'm with you, Sue!
I want the accountability of going to a center and being weighed every week, but I could live without the rest. I mean really. It's just not my cup of tea.
I also have trouble taking direction from anybody (esp. a 20-something girl)who has no special qualifications in nutrition or counseling. I'm 37 years old, for goodness sake. It's almost insulting.
I told my counselor, nicely of course, that I came to JC becasue I know what's best for me and that when I need help or direction, I'll ask for it. Until then, she can feel free to spend that time with others who come into the center for help. My visits take no time at all now.

Frankly, I could do without the consultations. Not my thing. I don't need someone else for accountability, on this particular journey, I am accountable to no one by myself.
That being said, this was the reason I went with Jenny Direct. I pay an extra $80 a month so I can talk to someone on the phone rather than go to the center. The center in my city gives me the heebie-jeebies. Just don't like the atmosphere. Think used car lot.
I'm glad that so many of you need the consultants and like that part of the program and that it helps you. It's just not a big thing for me. I get my motivation from within (as we all do) but outside individuals really don't have any sway with me unless they are family or close friends. If I wasn't 100% committed to the plan, no JC could make me so.

My consultant is inspiring and knowledgable. She keeps me focused and on course. I would not want to do the program, without this support right now. I look forward to seeing her each week, and she calls me at home in between at least once a week. If I want to talk I take the call, if I don't she leaves an encouraging message.
I would say, my JCC has made all the difference for me on this journey.
Having said that she is probably close to me in age, has family, dh and children, so can relate to my life and challenges. I guess this is a good fit for me.

I am sort of like SoCalSue...
I know I NEED the accountability of attending a weekly weigh in with someone outside of my circle of family and friends. But this is not the kind of person that I wish to discuss the emotional stuff with. I like all of you on the board for that.
I agree that we need emotional support...who better to get it from than fellow JC members who are going thru the same thing? I dunno... maybe it's because I've been through 3 consultants that have never even been overweight. Not so motivating when you know they can't relate to how you are feeling.
Sure, they can hit the agenda per JC and ask all the right questions....but there is no way they could understand the mind of a yo yo dieter, if they have never been there.
At least I know it's not just me.

yes i agree with you i would like to just buy the food as well because i dont believe that there is real concern or support on the part of the consultants.

quote:

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Originally posted by 7sknyrdr:
I like having the accountability actually. My consultant is a cute little thing who's young enough to be my daughter, but we still find some things to talk about, like jenrdn.

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I asked for a consultant near my own age--it has been nice to have someone who understands what phases of life I'm going through.

You can do that, if you paid for the program, they cant force you to do the consultations, but if you could do it on your own, wouldnt you have done it already? Dont find blame, assume that they have been trained well and know more than you are giving them credit for, just ask for a diff. consultant, the meetings really do make the difference.

I am glad to hear that I am not alone in feeling that my consultant is a little young and less knowledgable than I am about dieting. A lot of them are also not trained or experienced enough to know what they are doing, unfortunately. I have a graduate degree in Counseling Psychology so I am admittedly a "tough room" but come on, the stuff some of them come at you with is not very helpful and quite amateurish, in my opinion.

That said, I had a very nice young woman half my age for a counselor until recently when she moved out of the area (horrible, I know!). She saw her role more as a facilitator than a leader, which was fine by me because I didn't need much direction, just some support and validation. I think it is important to find someone whose style meshes with your personal needs. If you like structure and direction there are counselors that are good at that. If you just need someone to hold your hand and listen to your frustrations, there are counselors that are good for that. If you need "tough love", there are counselors that are good for that. If you don't need any direction at all, I am sure you can ask to come in only for a weigh in and to buy food - I don't see why they should have a problem with that. I didn't think the counseling part of it was mandatory. Of course, if you don't show much progress or reach a plateau, I am sure that they would start suggesting that you stay for the sessions.

I am on maintenance now and only come in every other week so I have not gotten to know my new counselor that well yet. She seems nice but again she is very young and I have the feeling that I could teach her how to do her job, LOL. I am not unhappy with that because I just need to be accountable to someone regularly and to mention any issues that are on my mind regarding staying on track. I don't need more than a few minutes of that, either.