Hi, Everyone!
I joined JC almost a month ago and was doing OK -- at first. Then, my health started to take a serious nose-dive. Recovering from cancer this year, my weight suddenly sky-rocketed up to 24 pounds over my ideal weight, due to some of the med's I had to take (chemo). So, I joined Jenny.

Things were going along OK and I did manage to lose some weight, but the food just didn't agree with my system any longer. My energy levels plummeted (I walk and work out a lot!) and there just wasn't enough protein or ??? in the food to meet my current needs. I had such bad dietary upsets that I couldn't or wouldn't eat all of the JC food allowed each week. So, after two talks with the Dieticians at their headquarters, it was determined that I should stop eating JC food and just diet 'on my own.' That, plus I am having my three month check up with my oncologist next week and will run all of this by him.

I do not want to leave, and my JCC said that was OK. So, I am going to have to rely on cooking my own meals and to learn how to stick to a healthy 1200 cal diet. That is why I don't want to leave Jenny! I need the emtional support as well as the help in picking/choosing the right foods. She said I could still come for my weekly weigh-ins, and purchase cookbooks and other products, excluding the food.

These message boards are wonderful! They contain so much good info and so much support that I can't imagine dieting all by myself. It just won't work -- I've 'been there' before, and know that it takes combined effort as well as cutting calories and working out!

If anyone has any good (diet) food suggestions, please let me know. I'm trying to copy as much of the JC stuff with exchanges, such as Lean Cuision and Smart Ones, as I can. Help is needed with things such as breakfast and lunch meals, and snack foods.

Wishing you all a good week ahead!

Rie

For me, I started doing MOMO after 2 weeks of JC food. I loved their food but knew I couldn't afford it more than 2 weeks. If I hadn't had my friend, who had been doing JC for 16 months and lost almost 100 pounds, I couldn't have done it. Now I do almost everything on my own and I've lost 16 pounds in 6 weeks. Since your JC decided with you that you shouldn't do there food they should really work with you on putting together MOMO and give you the books and information to aid with that. Usually they won't give it to you till you've reached half way, but I would ask for them. The first week on my own I did almost all Lean Cuisine to match it up w/ JC and to make it easier. The second week I had written a lists of dif. items I could make and wrote out a schedule of snacks and so on. Let me know if I can help you in any way!

Valerie

Also you can look up alot of foods nutricianal information and compare at www.calorie-count.com

Valerie

sorry to hear this, Rie.
Ok, I know protein drinks are not good for you but what if you add one to your daily plan and see if this helps? maybe you just need more fat servings. Rie, are you exercising too much / too quickly? did you always do this amount of exercise? if not, you probably should gradually increase exercise. actually, you could be exercising hard enuf that your blood sugar levels drop quickly! that will make you sick quickly. or pass out quickly. or throw up quickly. or etc. etc. it also can make your personality cranky. LOL. do you have a glucose meter to check your counts?

OK, (again), I don't understand --- you were put on a 1200 cal Jenny plan at the beginning?? !! wow. that is the lowest number of cals that they believe in.... I thought they always started one out on a higher cal plan. which would probably be 1500 for you since you don't have tons to lose like me. 1500 cals would add more protein. you eat more yogurt, milk, veggies, fruit.

ok, (lastly), let me get this right, you are going to still eat 1200 cals.. but some other brand? what do you 'gain' by that? I'm just curious. And it sounds like you still like your veggies. We all know that jenny follows the recommended dietary choices.... so, if you eat 1200, you'd be changing what? seems like you should just add to the 1200 cal plan. I have those days where I eat a candy bar -- give me chocolate!!! but then I feel guilty and dont eat my dinner so I can keep to 1200 cal. whats wrong with that picture? haha! I dont want to know. I just elliminated veggies, fruit, protein, starch, milk so I could stay to 1200 cals with that 500 cal choc. bar.

sorry to hear about your situation
Jo

Rie

You will not be alone we hope you keep us posted on your progress, I sent you a message about another program you might want to check out.

Please know that we all wish you much success.

Claudia

Rie, I'm so sorry to hear you are having troubles. As Jomamad already said, I was also wondering why you are sticking with the 1200 calories if that isn't enough. It is very low for someone with your activity level.


Truly, talking to your oncologist is the best place to start. If s/he doesn't know what would be a good dietary plan for you, you should be able to get a referral to someone who specializes in cases like yours. I'm sure that your dietary needs are not the same as most of us on the plan. Do let us know what happens after your appointment. You do have a lot of friends here!


Hugs to you while you are finding your way to be the best, healthiest you!

Dear Friends Here,
Thank you to all of you for your wonderful responses! Believe it or not, I 'Lost-ed" this thread and just now re-found it, so I'm sorry for not getting back to you all much sooner.

At my appointment this week with my oncologist, he said it was OK to follow the diet, but he also would like to see me go up to 1500 cal a day. So, I added one more starch, one more protein and I am increasing that protein to 4 oz. a serving on his suggestion. Incredibly, and with the amount of exercise I get each week (which is a lot), I am losing a minimum of 2 pounds a week. In fact, my dr's appt. was Tuesday and my last WI at JC was last Thursday. Already I had lost 2 pounds going by his scale, and my next WI is today, Friday.

My system can't tolerate all of the soy in the JC foods, which is why I had to go "MOMO." Without a major organ, the large intestine, soy is very difficult to process. My colon went 'bye bye' back in 1995, so for me I have to watch very carefully what foods I eat. Fruits are almost forbidden for me as they cause immediate diarrhea (even fruit juice!). So, I do yogurt instead, or Quaker Oats bars, which are very healthy to eat.

So far, so good! At least, for now, that is. One nice thing I've noticed in me is this 'change of viewpoint' on dieting that I am experiencing. That is, sweet treats and junk foods no longer interest me as I find it easier each day to turn a blind eye toward them. They were my bane of existence before! Now, I just think, 'No...that is not good for you," and simply move on.

How is everyone else here doing? I hope you all are having success and would love to hear about it!

Have a great Friday, all....

Rie