So … I’ve heard through the grapevine that our Jenny program will come to an end at the end of the month. I’ve not heard anything official yet … this is just talk among us girls. Now I’m faced with a decision – do I continue with Jenny Craig or do I attempt to do this on my own.

Pros for Jenny Craig – it’s pre-packaged, pre-portioned, convienant food! I can’t mess up my calories unless I stray from the program. It’s dummy proof – and I don’t really have to think about what I’m doing. Best of all – there’s really no clean up of all those pots and pans. Cooking for 1 person is a breeze!

Cons for Jenny Craig – the food almost all has soy in them – and since I’m taking synthroid this could be screwing around with my medication. Those on synthroid are supposed to avoid soy. Also, since to food is pre-packaged there are alot of preservatives and sodium in the food. I’m not really learning how to cook in a healthy manner.

Pros for cooking myself – well … basically all the cons for Jenny. No soy, no preservatives and less sodium, and I’m learning to cook in a healthy manner. I can control what I want to eat and am not stuck on the same fixed menus. I can even chose to eat out every once in awhile without feeling guilty of breaking free from program.

Cons for cooking myself – I”ll be cooking for just myself – and my son when he’s home from college. The mess of the pots and pans. It’s easier to stray away from the 1500 calories a day, so I’d have to be diligent in writing down everything I put in my mouth. Basically, cooking for myself creates more work for me. The lazy gene is resistant to this.

Though I’ve lost 40 pounds on Jenny Craig – it’s been 5 months really since I’ve lost anything – and I can’t help but wonder if I were eating on my own would I cheat less? I’m very thankful for them jump starting my weight loss – and reminding me tha tI am important! Showing me that I can lose weight by cutting calories and exercising. But I don’t think there’s much more I can learn from the program. Once I start working again it will be difficult for me to get to a center and purchase food.

I guess my decision really is made for me .. bu then I get an overwhelming feeling of guilt for even considering dropping out of the program. Because Jenny Craig has been so good to me – am I obligated to see it through for them? I’ve got this romantic notion in my head that I could be the next Jared – and I think that notion is just so very unrealistic. Do I prove to the world that you don’t have to be a celebrity to have success on the Jenny Craig program? Can I prove to the world that it is possible to lose 145 pounds while on Jenny Craig? And then really .. would I be losing the weight for me at that point – or would I be doing it out of a sense of obligation? What would be the greater motivation?

So what do you all think? DO I stick with Jenny because it’s easier and I have a better chance of sticking to program, or do I try and do this on my own – learning as much as I can about healthier eating – and really make that lifestyle change? Would I be successful doing it on my own? Right now I have serious doubts that I can succeed either way.