Jenny Craig & Redbook Wedding Dress Challenge

Since we are already 3 months into the new year, I wonder how many people have stuck with their resolutions for weight loss? I have to admit that I have been a total slacker! I am so upset about it too. I can jus kick myself for not continuing with my weight loss. I've actually gained a few of those pounds back. I am happy to say that I am teaming up with Jenny Craig & will be starting a new weight loss challenge with them. I'm looking forward to it and hoping to have success in the upcoming months. I will keep you posted but for now Jenny Craig & Redbook Magazine have collaborated on their annual Wedding Dress Challenge. It seems like a great motivator as well. Wish you luck!

 

 Have you ever dreamed about slipping on your wedding dress again? Did you get married 20, 10, 5 or even one year ago and want to get your bride body back? Jenny Craig is happy to announce that it is sponsoring REDBOOK magazine’s annual Wedding Dress Challenge. Click here to get more information on how you can sign up for this exciting 12 week challenge and join others who are on a mission to get back into their wedding dresses.

 

To get you into the spirit of the challenge, Jenny Craig is offering five simple weight loss tips along with a healthy dinner recipe to incorporate into your menu:

 

1.       Practice portion control: An easy way to be sure you’re eating proper portions is by using the plate method: 1/4 of your plate will have one serving of a starch, 1/4 will have a protein and 1/2 will have vegetables (non-starchy vegetables steamed or raw), which can be added in abundance. Remember that creamy salad dressings can add extra calories and fat, so choose a lower calorie option like balsamic vinaigrette.

 

2.       Load up on colorful fruits and veggies: It’s important to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into every meal because these foods lower the calorie density of meals. This principle, known as the Volumetrics® approach, is exclusively featured in the Jenny Craig program and allows you to eat bigger portions that have the same calories and nutritional value as less-filling meals. Also, selecting lean meats over higher-fat meats help to lower the calorie density of a meal because there is less fat and more protein in the lean cuts, which leads to fewer calories for an equal portion size.

 

3.       Be smart when dining out: Restaurants typically serve much larger portions than necessary. A good tip is to ask your server for a to-go box when you order so you can put half of your entrée into the box and take it home for another meal. By doing this, you’ll be satisfied and save yourself some calories, as well as have leftovers for later!

 

4.       Be active: Physical activity is a key component to weight loss success and increasing activity levels will not only help to burn calories, but it will also reduce stress. In order to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume (a pound equals about 3,500 calories). Remember the weight loss rule, 80/20. Weight loss is 80 percent about nutrition and 20 percent about exercise. An easy way to get in extra activity each day is to park your car far from your destination or take the stairs instead of an elevator.

 

5.       Get support: Grab a friend to exercise with because having someone there for support will help you keep up the momentum. On the Jenny Craig program, each client is paired with a consultant who teaches them how to build a healthy relationship with food, motivational techniques for stressful situations like social gatherings and dining out and works with their busy lifestyle to help easily add activity into their daily routine. It’s all about having someone in your corner to cheer on your successes!

 

An easy way to incorporate the Volumetrics® Approach into the meal below is by serving the fish along with some steamed veggies like asparagus, zucchini or broccoli.

 

 

Ingredients

1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise

2 tbsp. bottled, sun-dried tomato vinaigrette salad dressing

1 ½ tbsp. finely chopped fresh basil

1 tbsp. lemon juice  

1 tbsp. vegetable cooking spray

1 ½ lbs. swordfish, halibut, shark, tuna or salmon steaks

 

Directions

1.       Combine the first four ingredients into a small bowl; mix well.

1.       Set aside 4 teaspoons mayonnaise mixture.

2.       Brush remaining mixture on both sides of swordfish steaks; set aside.

3.       Coat a grill rack with vegetable cooking spray.

4.       Place steaks on grill 4 to 5 inches from medium-hot coals.

5.       Grill, turning once, until fish begins to flake when tested with a fork, allowing 6 to 8 minutes on each side.

6.       To serve, transfer steaks to serving plates. Top each steak with 1 teaspoon reserved mayonnaise mixture.

 

For more information on Jenny Craig, visit: http://www.jennycraig.com/. And, don’t forget to visit http://www.jennycraig.com/heart-walk to learn about how Jenny is supporting the American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life.™ initiative. To sign up for a Heart Walk, taking place in more than 300 cities across the U.S. in 2013, please visit www.heartwalk.org. 

 

 Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post.