WW Success Stories

[PJB]

After having my first baby 10 months ago and being over weight most of my life, I decided to give Weight Watchers another shot. I am determined to be healthy and to be able to keep up with my son. I have lost 45 pounds so far and I have about 15 left to go but am really having a hard time keeping my motivation up. I find that when I hear other success stories, it motivates me so I was hoping you could share your successes and tips for getting this last 15 pounds off for good!

[Jessica]

I am not on WW but I can share something that is helping my husband and I. We both were thin teens who gained weight right after college and spent the past five years in that zone where you are not at the healthiest or most attractive weight (15 lbs or so over) but not at a point where you are ready to do anything serious. We started a new plan about six weeks ago and have each lost about three or four pounds. All we are doing is adding more vegetables and fruit to our diet. We have a salad or fruit salad with every supper. That's it. We eat the same food (I've always cooked light) and still have ice cream. We just have room for less of the caloric stuff.
Good luck.

[Tally]

PJB - Congratulations on losing 45 pounds!

I'm a current WW member. Although I'm not near my goal weight yet, I know what you mean about losing motivation. It's hard to keep the same enthusiasm and dedication, even if you're having success.

I've enjoyed the new Winning Points plan - I know WW is just tweaking the 123 system, but it's been fun getting new materials every week. If you're not still a member and are doing WW at home, it might be worth it to rejoin to get the new materials and go for the meetings, if only for awhile.

Have you seen Dotti's Weight Loss Zone (http://www.dottisweightlosszone.com)? The site features several WW success stories, as well as tons of WW information, recipes, Restaurant Points, and a bulletin board.

Hope these suggestions help, and keep up the good work!

[kwormann]

Good for you PJB

I lost 10 lbs on WW and have 12 to go, but have lost my UUmph. I shouldve been done long ago, but like I said, motivation.........

Kim

[JanetB]

Well, I'll tell you a sucess story first - about five years ago - I lost 26lbs on Weight Watchers. My motivation came from some really lovely "Fat" pictures from a cousin's wedding. I swore that I wouldn't look the same way at the next cousin's wedding which was about 6 months away. My brother bet me $100 that I couldn't do it. I weighed in the morning of the wedding with only losing 24 1/2 lbs, just shy of my 26lb goal. I had to give him the $100 - although the WW ladies encouraged me to basically go in a back room to be weighed practically naked or go the bathroom or something to make it. It didn't matter to me at that point.
I dropped 4 dress sizes (from a 14 to a 6)in that time. I also didn't see a lot of my extended family during that time. At the wedding - the bride got out of limo and immediately said - holy S***! You look fantastic! I count that as one of the best moments of my life!
I kept it off for about three years until I met my boyfriend. He loves to eat and to take me out to really nice dinners! This fact has made it difficult for me - and sadly I've gained back most of my weight - although it has found new resting places now that I have been working in an office for five years.
So, the battle is on again. I'm back to weight watchers. Have all the points stuff loaded on my Palm - and I'm forcing the man to do it with me. We plan on being together for a long time - and I refuse to be called a fat couple. We have both gained weight since we met. My goal this time is 20lbs. I figure sometime around March or April - I might just fit in those size 8 jeans again!!

[JJeannette]

Congrat's PJB! I just finally got my baby weight off---after 30 years! That was one pound for every year. You've come so far--you know you can do it---you've already lost 3/4 of the weight so that only leaves 1/4 to go! If that seems like too much just now--aim for those little goals---another 5 lbs; then another. Maybe you need to shake up your menu--find something new to try. Learning to cook lite is really my key--I am really enjoying experimenting, trying to lower calories and fat and adding fiber(my poor guys--). If I come up with something they like, it's a bonus.

Right now, my motivation is the fact that I am wearing a clothes size that I never dreamed I would ever wear---and I want to continue to do this for a while--I just bought new clothes!

[tobykitty]

Tally,
What is the difference between 123 and the new Winning Points plan? And I checked out that link to Dotti's and it was great. Thanks for sharing that.

PJB,
I lost over 30 pounds with the 123 plan about a year and a half ago. We moved and were staying with family while waiting for our house to sell and I wasn't able to cook the low fat foods like I was used to and put most of the weight back on. So now that its just me and my husband again I am back on my points. I feel better and I love to cook which makes it easy. So you are not alone.

[NydiaC]

Winning Points allows you to lose weight a little faster than before. The point ranges have changed a little. You start earning points for exercising after week 4 instead of when you reach 10%. And on the PointsFinder slide rule thingy, fiber only goes up to 4 grams.

The leader of the meeting I go to (who has been a goal for 22 years) said she's been using the new program since November and the ONLY thing she did differently was to calculate her points using the new slide rule and she lost 2.5 pounds the first week. I guess that shows how many more calories the high-fiber foods have.

[joannes]

I was on WW years ago when you still counted breads, veggies, etc and have not tried the new points thing. Has anyone tried both? Which one is better? I have a nagging 10 pounds that I would love to lose fast!

[NydiaC]

I have tried both. I lost 50 pounds on the old plan (counting # of bread, veggies, proteins, etc.) I like the winning points system much better. It's much more flexable. It's easier to have a hamberger occasionally and still be within the program.

[JenS]

I lost 32 lbs. in 1999 on WW, with 65 more to go. I then fooled myself into thinking I could do it on my own....wrong!

After an entire year with no loss, I rejoined on 1-2-01, and in my first week have lost 4.8 lbs. For me, it's the support of the meetings, and most importantly, the accountability of being weighed in each week. You can fool yourself, but not others!

Good luck!

[tobykitty]

The 123 is sooooo much easier. You just keep a total of points for the day not a total of different categories. And I never could totally figure out the old system. I was hesitant to try this new system until a family member really explained it to me and I gave it a try and I am so glad.

NydiaC,
So basically if I just use my old scale and only count Fiber up to 4 I will be able to calculate the new points?

[HARRYET]

tobykitty,

yes, i still use my old scale even though i was given the new material (i'm a lifetime member but attend meeting regularly, cuz i need to be accountable and motivated) the difference is that people were eating high fiber foods and the old scale was calculating "0" points, but we all know that if you consume it you need to count something! so now with the new scale high fiber foods will calculate some points, even if it's only "1"

they also changed the point range, instead of a "7" point difference from the bottom of a range to the top it's now "5" (ie: old was 18-25 points per day, new 18-23 points per day) and you add extra points for exercising.

hope this helps Ann

[almiter]

Does anyone know if WW has an electronic calculator to help you keep track of points? If anyone has used one, I'm interested to hear if it is easier/harder than just using paper logs. Thanks!

[PJB]

Thanks to all for your responses and support. I lost 2.5 pounds this week so I am that much closer to losing my last 15 pounds. I will keep you posted.

[JanetB]

I actually downloaded unofficial WW stuff onto my Palm Pilot. To be honest it is one of the things that motivated me to get back into it. Being just a generally busy person - I hated figuring out points and stuff like that (I tried doing the 123 WW when I was on my way back up to my current weight - but I got frustrated learning the plan and tracking so stopped.) The software program helps- it includes a points calc - and I downloaded food lists too. I've lost about 4lbs so far. Here is the link.
http://akasha.twu.net/ww/pilot/

[Tally]

Tobykitty - sorry for the delayed response, I've been away from the computer. As mentioned by other members, Winning Points modifies some elements of the 123 Points system (such as lowering the points range but allowing you to earn points by exercising, and making a few veggies count as one point - one cup of carrots, one cup of onions, etc.). However, for the most part the system is the same as the old one. Glad you like Dotti's site.

PJB - congrats on the loss this week!

almiter - in addition to the Palm Pilot programs, WW does sell a points calculator. The price depends on where your meeting location is - I've heard it range from $20 to $30.

...and, here's another Palm Pilot WW journal site: http://www.whiteoaks.com/wwjournal/

[jrlpking]

I definitely can relate the lack of motivation... here's my story, hope it helps: Christmas 1997 I recieved a picture of myself at a holiday party wearing my favorite red blazer and was horrified that I looked like Santa without the beard! So I joined WW and vowed to not only lose weight, but adapt a healthy life style.
Fast foward to January 2001: I am a lifetime member of WW (although back to weekly meetings as I still need that motivation boost to lose a few holiday pounds!) and have come a long way in adapting a healthy life style.
My husband helps as he is active and encourages me by doing things together... In 1999, he signed up with Leukemia Society to train for a marathon in Alaska. I signed up to walk it and ended up run/walking it. We then spent a week vacationing in Alaska. After that, we continue to run together - and I have built up to where I can complete 5-7 miles without walking. A big accomplishment for a couch potato like me.
This year, we are going snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies for 5 days in March. I have never been on snowshoes, and hear that it uses different leg muscles than running... So I am doing some strength training to build up my leg muscles and taking a weekly spin class.
I find that I keep motivated when I have a definite goal with a timeframe. My husband and I enjoy traveling, so we try to plan some "active" get aways... it could be as small as a weekend where we throw our bikes on the roof, or as big as the snowshoe trip. I find that eating healthy helps as well. I don't count points on the trip, but since I know I will need to carry that extra helping or dessert up the hill the next day, I can usually pass on it.

Hope this helps you with your goals- Good luck!

Linda

[kimmyann]

Originally posted by JanetB:
I actually downloaded unofficial WW stuff onto my Palm Pilot. To be honest it is one of the things that motivated me to get back into it. Being just a generally busy person - I hated figuring out points and stuff like that (I tried doing the 123 WW when I was on my way back up to my current weight - but I got frustrated learning the plan and tracking so stopped.) The software program helps- it includes a points calc - and I downloaded food lists too. I've lost about 4lbs so far. Here is the link.
http://akasha.twu.net/ww/pilot/

[TamiK]

My local WW location sells the electronic point calculator for $35. A little pricey, I thought. Just weighed in at the end of my first week and lost 6 1/2 pounds. Bought a fizzy ball at Bailiwick's for my bath to celebrate!

[dbt]

Gosh, it is so great to read so many success stories. I am happy to say I am one too. I became a life member at 17 and have fallen off too many times to keep track. I think I have been on every version of the plan except for the pink book from the early 70's.

I returned in May 2000 and vowed it would be the last time I ever rejoin. I was at the heaviest I had ever been since I gave birth. I lost 25 lbs. and became a receptionist. My goal is to be a leader and even someday start my own business building women's self-esteem. I have totally changed the way I cook, eat and shop. I think the 123 is the best program because it is so normal. My husband has also rejoined and is doing very well, he needs to lose 50 lbs. I love my lecturer and think that is the key to my weight loss and the program working. Needing to lose weight is not a shame thing with her, we just laugh the entire meeting.

I found in addition to Dottie's weight loss zone, www.healthyexchanges.com (http://www.healthyexchanges.com) to be very good. I have two of the cookbooks, "Dessert Every Night" and "Make a Joyful Table" are very good. The dessets are excellent and very low in points with large servings.

Hope this helps and I wish everyone, Good Luck! Diane

[SusanL]

Tally, thank you for the website! I went there and downloaded 10 Quick menus. Going shopping in a few minutes with new menus. Yesterday I was telling my friend about the website and and she convinced me to join WW with her, she is a lifetime member. I need to lose 10 lbs. I am not overweight, eating whatever I want but feel uncomfortable with my clothing. She would like to lose 15 lbs. So this week I will try the menus and start WW whenever she finds us a location on Wednesday nights. Wanted to thank you because you were kind enough to share the website!! It is great!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif