Valerie did it!

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Sep 20th 2007 1:24PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

Well, after much scrutiny and a little doubt, Valerie Bertinelli has reached her goal and lost the 30 pounds she set out to lose, with a little help from co-spokesperson Kirstie Alley and a lot of help from Jenny Craig. Good for her! She's done what so many are struggling to do -- she's revamped her life, become healthier and lost a lot of weight in the process. Now the question is: Will she be going on Oprah in her bikini too?

I've known a few people who've done Jenny Craig with no success, but this is proof that it can work. Have you done Jenny Craig? Did it work for you? Or is her success down to the pressure of TV, paparazzi and a lucrative contract?

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Comments (73)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

allornothin13 9-21-2007 @ 11:05AM

This is definitely not proof that Jenny Craig works. This lady is a celebrity who most likely had outside help that normal people like us cannot afford. Hence the reason normal people have reported failure with this diet. It is unrealistic to think that because something works for a celebrity that it will work for us also. Didnt we learn not to believe commercials when we were very young? Be smart and don't "believe what you see" because if you do, you will be disappointed many times.

Hel 9-23-2007 @ 8:21PM

I tried Jenny Craig years ago. The plan works, to a degree. But you don't really learn how to ever be 'off' the plan, or to eat in a restaurant, or integrate it into a family affair (at least not when I tried it)
Congrats to Valerie for accomplishing her goal. She probably had additional help (and a lucrative contract doesn't hurt as far as motivation goes!), but I still admire that she accomplished what she set out to. It's never easy.

puzzler 9-24-2007 @ 11:43AM

At the rate of $3oo + per month for one person, I would be a little lighter too.

cathy 9-25-2007 @ 12:06PM

Maybe Valerie had a personal trainer to help her along the way BUT remember 30 pounds is alot no matter how you lose it. I think it's great that it worked for her and if it inspires 1 young person to get off the couch and go for a walk and lose 5 pounds it's a start!
Thanks Cathy

anglhart 9-23-2007 @ 8:24PM

I did Jenny Craig and I gained not losss weight. When I tried to talk to my Jenny Craig Rep. she just kept telling me that I must not be following the plan. Now this is not a cheap plan to be on, it actually is expensive, and I stuck to it religiously.
But my Rep had never needed to lose more than 5 lbs in her wholel ife. How can someone give advise about something they never need

Judi Spooner 9-23-2007 @ 8:34PM

I've been on Jenny Craig for about six weeks and have lost 15.8 pounds so far. It sure does work for me without paparazzi or movie moguls putting pressure on me. In fact there's no pressure, just good food and consistent weight loss.

Kitty 9-23-2007 @ 8:43PM

My mom and dad started Jenny Craig a year ago. My mom has lost 30 pounds and my dad has lost weight, but I don't know how much. They have learned to eat healthier and exercise almost every day. They do buy the meals still (my mom gets a discount because she has reached her goal) which are pretty good (I have tried some of the meals). Plus, they do buy food from the store... they have learned what types of food to buy.

Margaret 9-23-2007 @ 8:43PM

Now if only those on adverts would learn to say 'Craig' correctly.
Creg (as in leg) is how it is being pronounced (wrongly).
Craig is a Scottish name pronounced with the 'a' sounding the same as in 'made'
Over the years I have listened to the name Craig get more 'Cregged' and it just keeps (the pronunciation) going from bad to worse!

susan 9-23-2007 @ 8:48PM

To all you skeptics: Jenny Craig worked for me. I didn't have a personal trainer, but did work out regularly. I lost 50+ pounds in 4 months.
Now for the bad news: I've gained it all back plus another 20 because like Hel's comment above, you really don't learn how to eat normally. I could have kept it up forever if I'd kept eating their food. It does cost about $300 per month for food, but remember, it's not being spent for the grocery store, fast food and pizza, either. I thought JC food tasted great.

Judy 9-23-2007 @ 9:01PM

I did Jenny Craig and managed to lose weight every single week. The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the frozen food the most which, of course, is the most expensive. The problem? The cost. I couldn't afford to do seven days so I did five. Some weeks four of their meals and ate Lean Cuisine the other days. Lean Cuisine was much cheaper but the selection with J.C. was great. If they'd lower the prices I'd go back because I did gain it all back again.....unfortunately.

Liza 9-23-2007 @ 10:08PM

For most of a lifetime, I've had trouble keeping weight off. I've never been superlatively "fat", or even obese, but still am always watching my weight.
After having tried every diet (including TOPS, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig and even Atkins), the single diet that works in a healthy way and even after the diet is over is the South Beach Diet. It is so easily incorporated into daily life. You can live on this good food forever. Congrats to Valerie!

babszee27 9-24-2007 @ 1:01AM

WELL VALERIE HAS PERSONAL TRAINERS AND PEOPLE HELPING HER. IF I HAD THE MONEY SHE HAD IT WOULD WORK FOR ME TOO..............THEY NEED TO GET REGULAR FAT/OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE FOR THEIR PRODUCTS.

Betty Bennett 9-23-2007 @ 9:17PM

I did lose on JC and have kept it off for 7 years. The only reason I stopped with 30 more to go was the price of their foods. However, they did teach me how to eat--mostly about portion control and regular, balanced meals, and not skipping meals. It's a great plan, but I do think your consultant has a lot to do with your success. I had exceptional ones. I still eat well enough to maintain, but just don't have the drive to lose the rest on my own. That's the second key. You have to really want it. Then probably any plan would work.

chrissy 9-23-2007 @ 9:17PM

IVE NEVER TRIED IT... BUT BUYING ALREADY PREPARED FOODS ARE NEVER GOOD TO DO! IVE ALWAYS RELIED ON WEIGHT WATCHERS THERE PROGRAM IS CHEAPER AND YOU HAVE MEETINGS WERE THEY TEACH YOU HOW TO KEEP IT OFF. HOW TO PREPARE THE RIGHT MEALS..WHAT TO EAT!! ETC.. OF COURSE IVE GAINED IT ALL BACK CAUSE I CHOSE TO EAT POORLY... BUT ITS A GREAT PROGRAM...

ron 9-23-2007 @ 9:27PM

I think the best diet is Nutri System, I lost 100lbs in 6 months not particularly on Nutri system, alow me to explain rather than spend $300.00 a month on there food I ordered I time.. I analized there program and followed my own system..the bottom line to any diet is calories..take in no more than 1200-1500 a day with 8 bottles of water and you will melt away..trust me I did..i went from 48 waist to 34..and I went to Italy during the time go figure..

lisa 9-23-2007 @ 9:27PM

To those that can't afford the jenny craig plan , you can make your own version of it from the lean cuisines ( or similar ) found in supermarkets - SO MANY ITEMS TO CHOOSE FROM THESE DAYS! When you eat out - just modify your portion ( eat half ). It works for me - I know the last thing I want to do after a long day is have to start measuring this and that and that's the key portion control in a healthy balanced diet

Tammy 9-23-2007 @ 9:51PM

I used the Jenny Craig diet to lose 15 lbs. It worked wonderfully, and the food tasted just as good as anything I would have prepared. I did it withOUT exercise, and was very very happy with the results. I went BACK about 5 years later when I had slowly allowed about 10 lbs. to creep back on, and THIS TIME, I was a vegetarian. They had a plan for me that I could used, and I also learned that they have special plans if you are diabetic (which I am not). As far as Jenny Craig "teaching" me how to eat properly, it is my belief that you automatically learn the portion sizes by using the program. In addition, over time, you are expected to take nights off to "eat out" (they even have a small booklet you can take with you to the restaurant to measure portion sizes, and some of the caloric values of certain "popular" restaurant chains). All-in-all, the program works IF you follow it, and the information is available to learn how to "keep it off" if your interested in really knowing. You know what they say..... "it works if you work it..."

Gladys 9-23-2007 @ 9:51PM

About 10 years ago, I lost 50 lbs by following the Jenny Craig diet. It cost me about $2,000.00 plus to lose this weight. It does work. Of course once I accomplished my goal, I stopped eating the JC foods and I gained the weight back plus more. What they don't tell you is that in order to stay small you must exercise at least 5 days a tweek and continue to eat very small meals. I now have lost 40 lbs of my weight gained on my own. The whole key is the amount of food one consumes and the amount of excercise. I'm happy for Valerie but beware, it may come back to get her.

Marie 9-23-2007 @ 9:50PM

I DO BELIEVE SHE LOST THE WEIGHT, BUT YOU CANNOT COMPARE A CELEB TO A REGULAR PERSON LIKE ME. I CANNOT AFFORD TO GO ON JENNY CRAIG OR LIPOSUCTION FOR THAT MATTER, I BELIEVE MOST OF THESE CELEBS GET A LITTLE HELP FROM LIPOSUCTION.