Special thanks to Jenny Craig for their sponsorship of this post.
I met Norma for the first time in September of 2018, and to say I showed up as a broken version of myself is a complete understatement.
I had just spent the first 6 months of the year “counting points” and had lost exactly 6 pounds during that period. From there, I spiraled into weeks of “last meals.”
If you’ve ever been on a diet in your life (I’m guessing most of us here have), there is this super unhealthy thought process that you should eat your “last meal” before you start up a new program and begin again. When you string together weeks of last meals, it becomes a decadent summertime food festival. If you’re me, it also becomes cloaked in weeks of disappointment for never having gotten back on track with the healthy lifestyle I’d promised myself after every splurge.
With that, I finally called Jenny Craig at the end of August. I was getting ready to head off to a vacation at Montelucia but I wanted to return home to a freezer full of healthy options. My summer-long eating spree would officially come to an end, and order would be re-established within the chaos I’d created.
My contact at Jenny Craig encouraged me to try something new this time, that working with the corporate consulting team might be a good fit. My food would be shipped to me directly, and I would have a consultant that I could work with flexibly via phone. I was relieved. The idea of an over-the-phone style consultation was perfect, and something I could easily fit into my busy life.
Thrilled with this new support system, I went on my desert vacation, drank all the drinks, ate all the appetizers… and returned home hopeful about my return to Jenny.
On Wednesday afternoon, I received a call from Norma. It was the first of over 100 consultations we would share in the two years that followed. Not only was she friendly and positive, but it was also evident that Norma knew her stuff. While I had been on the Jenny Craig program before, I listened with new ears, jotting down all the tips Norma threw my way.
We established a weekly 2:30pm appointment time, and off I went! I dove into the new program, asking questions along the way, and cheerily reporting back my weight weekly during our calls. As the extra weight disappeared, Norma and I celebrated the wins and navigated what it would take to achieve my goal.
Norma also gently pushed me when I made excuses. Yes, I make excuses, just like anyone else. When I couldn’t possibly eat my planned meal before a customer meeting, Norma challenged me to reconsider. When I couldn’t dream of not having cocktails at a networking event, Norma suggested I incorporate a wine spritzer into my repertoire. While I didn’t always realize it in the moment, her advice was on point and certainly always had my best interest in mind.
Norma not only became my trusted advisor, but also my constant support during a crazy 24 months. When my grandfather passed away, Norma was amongst the first to hear the news. When the pandemic began, Norma was there, experiencing it right along side of me. When my job was eliminated in April, you’ve guessed it….Norma supported me (and supported the roller coaster that has been my life ever since.)
While I’ve only been writing about my weight loss experience here for the past ten years, my story of ups and downs, programs, consultants, and experiences is lengthy. Through all the years, I can honestly say I have never worked with a consultant like Norma. Her depth of experience, her never-ending positivity (even on the weeks where I’d gained!), and her intuitive ability to support me how I needed each week made this process much easier than I’d ever expected. I am incredibly grateful that we got matched through this process, and that we’ve become friends through it all.
Norma’s last day with Jenny Craig was Friday. Our final consultation was last Wednesday.
Yes, I love the food on this program. Yes, I love the ease of executing and losing weight on this program. Yes, I’m one of Jenny Craig’s biggest fans, but it’s not the products that make your customers keep coming back. I wholeheartedly believe it’s the people that make the program’s support model invaluable and help us succeed. It’s people like Norma – who listen when you’re challenged, encourage you to stand up again, and inevitably help you to become the best version of yourself. These are the true brand ambassadors of your business.
This upcoming week, I start with a new consultant, who no doubt will be lovely, but I couldn’t let Norma leave without a sincere thank you and a hero’s sendoff.
My very best to you in your new adventures, Norma. xo
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Jenny Craig; however, all of the opinions and comments about the program are exclusively my own and do not necessarily represent that of the brand.