Established in 1983, Jenny Craig’s program focuses on calorie counting, controlled portions and meals delivered with one-on-one coaching, with menus offering breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks and desserts.
As we now know, this methodology is defunct. Science has revealed that losing weight goes way beyond counting calories and we need to look at the underlying metabolic dysfunction, of which weight gain is merely a symptom.
With science constantly evolving, it’s important to keep improving and adapting to these findings as ‘when we know better, we can do better’. We can’t use findings from 40 years ago and expect it to still be relevant! We now know that calories are irrelevant, as each nutrient (e.g.: carbohydrates, proteins and fats) all have a different metabolic impact. Something can be ‘low calorie’, but can be highly refined, cause an inflammatory cascade and drive our insulin levels through the roof. Unfortunately, for many who have been down this road, any progress made is, at best, temporary.
There are so many conflicting nutrition opinions, that it’s important to know that the advice is given by professionals qualified to give nutritional advice. Here at AstonRx we believe in using science to remove any guesswork. Programs are designed with our clients’ individual health requirements at the forefront. Our Metabolic program begins with a customised blood test, to identify key biological markers to create a personalised health profile. We provide you with the tools and knowledge to empower you to make healthy choices, that last well beyond 28-days.
Whilst a meal delivery service is convenient and efficient, what happens when you choose to finish your subscription? What happens if you go out for dinner? Or go on a holiday? You’re left feeling overwhelmed, confused, and disheartened and will often resort back to the old habits you started with. The saying goes, ‘give a man a fish and you feed him for the day. If you teach him how to fish, you will feed him for a lifetime’. Our goal is to always leave you feeling empowered to take your new-found knowledge into any aspect of your life.
Whilst a calorie deficit can cause an initial loss on the scales, it is not addressing the underlying cause of weight gain. We too often want a magic solution, a quick fix, however, if nothing changes, nothing will change. We can’t expect to eat the same foods in smaller portions that have caused our metabolic dysfunction and expect changes. As Albert Einstein once said ‘the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’.
Health needs to be approached holistically. We need to stop focusing on one aspect (weight) and realise that what we eat and when we eat is only one part of the bigger picture. We need to move our bodies regularly, incorporate strength training to build metabolically active muscle tissue, manage our stress levels and prioritise sleep. Supporting human behaviour changes and managing mindsets is equally important in fostering long-term change. We need to stop thinking of ‘weight loss’ and shift our focus to the importance and understanding of our overall health.
