We've got something a little different today. Peter and I are beginning to experiment with video.
Sometimes it feels easier for me to talk about a topic than to write about it. That was the case a while ago when he suggested I share my Weight Watchers Story with you. Because it's kinda long, he's broken it down into 3 separate videos and included transcription for those who prefer reading to watching.
While my story might not be as dramatic as some, I think it's representative of what a lot of us struggle with as we work to resolve our issues with food and weight. And it helps to illustrate why I'm forever a fan of Weight Watchers.
I hope you find it helpful.
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story Part 1 of 3
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story: Part 2
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story: Part 3
Weight Watchers Freestyle Program
Video Transcription:
Martha McKinnon: "Hi, I'm Martha and I have a blog, simple-nourished-living.com, where I share easy, healthy recipes that are all Weight Watchers friendly and have all the nutritional information you need and the PointsPlus values already calculated for you. And the reason I love to do that is because I'm a Weight Watchers Lifetime Member myself.
I first did Weight Watchers, oh gosh, it's over 20 years ago and I like to say that when it comes to weight loss, when it comes to Weight Watchers, I am a slow learner. But slow and steady sometimes wins the race, as I am living proof of.
Essentially, I'd like to take a few minutes today to share my Weight Watchers story with you because I think it can be helpful just to know that… to learn what people's true experiences are. Sometimes you see the commercials on TV and they make it all look so easy and effortless and that's not always the case at all. And my experience goes a little bit like this…
I have struggled with my weight forever, you know some people didn't have that experience. But I started to gain weight when I was a kid and by the time I was 10 or 11 I was chubby. Well that was the term back in the day, back in the 70s. I was chubby. I was husky. My dad liked to call me his husky little girl. And it's a term that still kind of upsets me when I think about it this many years later.
So my struggle started pretty young. Being big. Being over-sized. Being super-sized. Not being able to fit into the clothes of the 70s which were hip-huggers and stuff like that.
And I was forced to wear chubby clothes, women's clothes, polyester, pants with elastic waistband - it was a real fashion statement. My struggles were real and I felt alienated in a lot of ways. And I started to hate myself pretty young.
I went on my first diet at 14. It was a self-imposed diet. I took a summer and essentially lived on fruit and cottage cheese. I had some success and I lost some weight, but it didn't last. That kind up-and-down yo-yo'ing continued all through high school. All through college. Into my 20s.
You name a diet, I've probably tried it. Food is everywhere in our world and I'm a food lover. I was raised in a family that loved food. I was raised by my mom who's an emotional eater and has her own weight loss struggles. I was just caught in a vicious cycle.
Everyone who's done Weight Watchers talks about their a-ha moment. And that's the moment when you first realize that you're ready to take the step and to sign-up for Weight Watchers.
My a-ha moment came in the early 1990's. I was living in California with my husband at the time. And I was newly moved there, all my family was back east. I had a job that I really didn't like. I was living in California where food is awesome and a great escape. And I ate a lot. And I drank a lot. And we went to the wine country a lot. And the weight really started to pack itself on.
I came home for the holidays and got together with a group of friends for New Year's Eve and caught up with an old friend who I hadn't seen for years. Peter, my cameraman, is going to find this kind of interesting, because the friend who had that impact on me was Kathy Palmieri.
She had been to Weight Watchers and she lost a bunch of weight. She looked great. We were all together and I asked her oh my gosh, what did you do? She said Weight Watchers. And that was the first time I had heard the term Weight Watchers since my mom. My mom and grandmother did Weight Watchers way back in the early 70s and I remember her experience with Weight Watchers.
But Kathy looked amazing. So, we had a great New Year's Eve and photos were taken and that's before digital cameras. So, a couple days later, we get the photos back - I'm still in Connecticut - and the New Year's photos arrive and I'm like…
A lot of times the a-ha moment comes in a photo and I was just this moon-faced blob, in this big horizontal-striped moomoo and I looked horrendous.
I knew it was bad before that. My clothes were bursting at the seams, but I think I was in denial until that picture hit me square in the face. And I knew that something had to change. I just didn't want to end up down a path like this."
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story: Part 2
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story: Part 3
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sue bond
Hi Martha im e mailing from England i belong to weight watchers and have lost 35lb so far week 28 and like you it was a omg moment with a photo, but i stated at 17st 3lb am diabetic, had sleep apnia C.O.P.D high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, all sorts but after loosing the 35lb so far i have got rid of my night sleeping mask( ugh) horrible. and am down to only two metformin for my diabetes and am feeling a lot better they are also thinking of taking me off the blood pressure tablet so as i sat watching you video it gave me a since of help to carry on so thank you keep the recipes coming best wishes sue uk
Martha McKinnon
Hi Sue, Thanks for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment! Congratulations on your weight loss! It's so powerful when we begin to restore our health and feel better! I wish you much success 🙂
Pat Spindler
I have lost 196 pounds on the Weight Watcher program. For the first 160 pounds I used the Simply Filling method so I did not need to track. I decided when the SmartPoints came out, I would track my food and use the 30 points a day. I enjoy a challenge and have tracked now for over 4 months on a daily basis. I have lost 100 pounds ten times, only to regain it each time. All the other programs were diets. Weight Watchers teaches a way of life, and I am no longer afraid of regaining the weight. I have about 10 more pounds to lose, but now I'm dealing with all of the extra skin that has stretched beyond repair because of the yo-yo gaining and losing I put my body through. My daughter works for WW and that is my goal too. I love the new program and I thoroughly enjoy cooking healthy, satisfying food.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Pat, Thanks and Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you 🙂
Jean
I'm going to dig out my original Weight Watcher's diet plan in the quick start version. Back to basics for me, because too many choices starts me thinking and thinking starts me overeating.
Shirle Johnston
The original diet was the best they had, the present stuff is too loosey goosey for me. Did you manage to find the original one. would really appreciate a copy of it.
Thanks for helping if you can.
Shirle
Sheryl
Yes original International WW Plan/programme was really successful for me and I too would like the basic plan details. I remember the dry WW Milk was an important and the weighing of food but I dont have record of amounts per day. Think banana as a fruit was only allowed once a week. Hopeful of receiving a copy of original plan.
Sheryl
Yes original programme was the best ever. Easy to calculate and weight just went away.
Annie ross
I agree! I like the original with the squares on FAT,DAIRY,FRIUT,PROTEIN,VEGGIES,BREAD, and OPTIONAL CALORIES. ... think this was calculated on current weight and goal weight.
The point system with ZERO POINTS for especially fruits and skinless chicken breasts, is a bust for me bc I am a compulsive eater.
If anyone finds this on the net, PLEASE FORWARD HERE!
thanks!
Annie
Susan
Hi Martha, I was a twenty something WW member in the 80’s and became lifetime. Life happened and I’m now needing to lose 70 lbs. I always liked the original program best because it worked for me. I am wondering if a slowed metabolism now that I am a fifty something will be a big obstacle. Any thoughts?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Susan, I don't have any medical training so I can't t really comment on a slowed metabolism. If they original program worked and you liked it, it's worth a try! I'm 50 something and weigh less and am in better shape than I was in my 20s or 30s. It's never too late 🙂 ~Martha
Diana
Hi, I used to do Weight watchers, and I started back in January 2015. I still have some of my papers, but I can not figure out what it was called back when I started and then what program came next. The new ones give you to many options and will not work for me. I also still have a calculator that says just points on it. But I don't know how to use it. Can someone help me so i can get back on the program.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Diana, In 2015 WW program was based on PointsPlus. They launched SmartPoints with their Beyond the Scale Program in January 2016. It can be really hard to follow an old version of WW unless you have the materials and are pretty well versed in it. There is an APP available called itrackbites that allows you to use old points versions for tracking. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Melanie Hall
Does anybody remember the UK version of the plan before the points. Was potatoes only allowed on week 3 and cottage cheese was double the weight, 1oz you could have 2 for 1 protein. And optional weekly calories what was they per week thanks