[mcmama]

Well, I have almost beat Valerie Bertinelli. But I think I have a bit more to shed than she did.

Last April I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Lots of lovely things showing up in the blood tests - enzymes, liver, all showing up out of wack. Follow up tests showed the sugar and cholesterol were WAY out there.

So much for my self assurance that chocolate is a food group, that beer is made from wholesome grains, and wine is so rich with antioxidants. Well, actually that's true (except the chocolate) but they are also full of sugar, and calories.

So I went to the dietician, and bear in mind, I was in the midst of selling my house and packing up to move, and getting ready to celebrate my older son's wedding and my younger son's graduation. And the thing is, dieticians have lots of great information, but it can get complicated real fast. All the record keeping, all the checking - diabetes is a really inconvenient illness. And an expensive one.

So I was really watching myself, afraid to eat any junk at all, which is good - that started the weight coming off. I gave up my twice a month beer drinking with a group of friends. I stopped drinking wine with dinner. Pounds started coming off. Slowly. Tediously. I began to feel like those guys who tell women "just cut out bread and booze". We know it is more complicated than that.

The sugar was all over the place. So I was moaning about this to a friend of mine whose ex husband was a diabetic. She used to be so careful in preparing his food, shopping for it, measuring it. (Then he'd mess it up by drinking, which didn't help their marriage)

I said "Gee, I sure wish I had someone like you around to do the shopping, the cooking, and tell me what to do". Then it hit me. Her ex husband had a wife. I don't have one of those. I WAS a wife once - but I've never had one!!!!

So I decided to take Jenny for 10 weeks to be my "kitchen wife". I was having a lot of difficulty doing the planning for meals with all the upheaval.

Well, it has worked. I have lost a total of 33 pounds. I'd like to lose 30 more. I said I would stick with Jenny for 10 weeks, and we've got about another month. And my blood sugar is doing great. They did not start sending me food until they had written approval from my doctor.

It's expensive. That's what I don't like about it. But I was pretty desperate. And really, the idea of binging and noshing the way I did is now not my idea of having fun. So it really helps re educate you. I took one week off for the wedding and picnics and stuff, and was really really good - and enjoyed myself.

I weigh less now than I have for the past 10 years. And I still have a way to go.

Anyone else tried Jenny, or nutrasystem, with any success? Pros and cons?
Check out these articles:
http://weight-loss.families.com/blog...o-shed-a-pound
http://weight-loss.families.com/blog...in-jenny-craig
http://weight-loss.families.com/blog/jenny-craig