Jenny Craig Celebrity Client Carrie Fisher Achieves 30 Pound Weight Loss and Challenges Herself To Set New Weight Loss Goal

CARLSBAD, Calif., May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Jenny Craig, Inc., one of the nation's leading authorities on weight management, announced celebrity spokesperson Carrie Fisher achieved the "miracle" of accomplishing her initial weight loss goal of losing 30 pounds in 18 weeks* on the Jenny Craig Program, and has challenged herself to lose even more. The actress, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy and her award-winning Wishful Drinking show, started Jenny Craig in November 2010, and told the world, "If I lose 10 pounds, it'll be a miracle. If I lose 30, my outside would match my inside."  

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(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110512/LA00794-b)

Now 30 pounds lighter* thanks to Jenny Craig's clinically proven weight management program and her personal consultant Kathy, Fisher said she has a new outlook on life, and is excited to show off her new physique during her summer tour of her award-winning Wishful Drinking show, which starts in Toronto on July 21, 2011. Fisher has reset her goal for even more weight loss.

"Before Jenny Craig, I had tried and failed with so many diets, so losing any amount of weight seemed crazy to me. Now I'm 30 pounds lighter,* and I didn't have to starve or deprive myself of my favorite foods. Plus, I have my personal consultant Kathy with me every step along the way. With this weight loss, it's like a whole new Carrie has emerged," said Fisher. "I no longer want to hide in the house."

Fisher, known for keeping a low profile in the media, has been seen publicly more than ever, including appearances on the red carpet and professional basketball games with friend Penny Marshall.  

"I used to feel like I had to apologize for the way I looked whenever I stepped out of the house," said Fisher. "I spent so much energy coming up with reasons why I was overweight. Now, whenever someone compliments me, I smile and say, 'well, thank you.' It's a great feeling to feel like myself again, and that I am truly worthy of those compliments."

Patti Larchet, CEO of Jenny Craig, Inc., is thrilled for Fisher's success. "When Carrie first came to Jenny Craig, she was apprehensive about any weight loss program, but through our clinically proven approach to weight loss and with the help of her personal consultant Kathy, Carrie achieved her initial weight loss goal of 30 pounds. In fact, she is so confident in our program that she wants to lose even more weight with us," said Larchet. "Her story is truly inspirational because so many people want to give up after yo-yo dieting for years, but Carrie's persistence helped her achieve her goal, and even set new goals."

*Jenny Craig clients, on average, lose 1-2 pounds per week.

About Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig offers a comprehensive Food-Body-Mind program designed to help clients manage their weight by creating a healthy relationship with food, building an active lifestyle and developing a balanced approach to living.

With its tailored YourStyle® program, Jenny Craig is committed to a personalized approach to weight loss by offering each client a one-on-one weekly consultation and a customized weight management plan designed to optimize individual success. With more than 80 delicious Jenny's Cuisine™ menu items, Jenny Craig's program is available in-centre and our at-home program, Jenny Craig At Home.

Jenny Craig, Inc., based in Carlsbad, CA, is one of the world's largest weight management companies, with more than 700 company-owned and franchised Centres in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.

About Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher has been a compelling force in the film industry since her feature film debut opposite Warren Beatty in the 1975 hit Shampoo. The daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, she became a cultural icon when she played Princes Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. Her star-studded career includes roles in countless films such as The Blues Brothers, The 'Burbs, Austin Powers, Garbo Talks, Hannah and Her Sisters, The Man with One Red Show, and When Harry Met Sally.

In 1987, Fisher's book, Postcards from the Edge, leapt onto the New York Times' bestseller list, and netted her the Los Angeles Pen Award for Best First Novel. Four more bestsellers have followed: Delusions of Grandma, Surrender the Pink, The Best Awful, and Wishful Drinking. Fisher turned Postcards into a screenplay for the hit film starring Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep, and is currently adapting The Best Awful for Lifetime and Sony Television with producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks.

Her writing has also appeared in Details, Harper's Bazaar, The New York Times, Travel and Leisure, Vogue, and many other major publications. Her television credits range all the way from "Laverne and Shirley" to "Sex and the City," with an Emmy nomination for her appearance on the popular NBC comedy, "30 Rock."

Most recently, Fisher has received a number of awards and nominations for her work on Wishful Drinking. Her fifth novel, Wishful Drinking, is a New York Times best-seller and is the subject behind the HBO Documentary "Wishful Drinking." In 2009, she received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Spoken Word Album category. In 2009/2010, she was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance, and the Drama League's Distinguished Performance Award. She won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Solo Performance. Carrie and Wishful Drinking plan on a tour for 2011/2012.

Her experiences with addiction and bipolar disorder – and her willingness to speak honestly and candidly about them – have made her a sought-after speaker and respected advocate for these communities. She appeared on the California Senate floor urging state legislators to increase government funding on medication for people living with mental health issues, and has received dozens of various awards for her courage and commitment to fighting mental illness and the stigmas that are associated with it.

SOURCE Jenny Craig, Inc.