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.
Learn About Weight Watchers Freestyle - 2018 Program Changes
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story Part 2 of 3
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story: Part 1
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story: Part 3
Video Transcription:
Martha: "So I high-tailed it back to California where I knew nobody really, and I checked the Yellow Pages - it would have been the Yellow Pages back then - and found a Weight Watchers location and immediately went and signed up. And that was my first experience.
And it was a good experience for me. It was an eye-opening experience for me. Back then, at that time, Weight Watchers was not on points. Weight Watchers was a selection program, which meant you got so many portions of protein, so many portions of dairy, so many portions of fruits and vegetables a day. And then you got some bonus calories for treats and things like that.
I learned a tremendous amount in a really short time about nutrition, about portion control, about the fact that I was just way eating too much. As much as I'd like to deny it. And so many of us are in the world because the portions have gotten so big.
I did Weight Watchers vigilantly. I showed up to meetings week after week. I slowly and steadily lost the weight which is what Weight Watchers suggests. And after about 9 months I lost 30 pounds. I was at a goal weight that I felt really incredible about. I felt good about myself. I felt confident.
At that time Weight Watchers has a great option for once you've lost your weight. Once you lose the weight and then you maintain your weight loss for 6 weeks, then they tell you that you're now a Lifetime Member.
And that's really cool because as a lifetime member, you can continue to go to meetings, forever, for free. Your obligation is to weigh in at least once-a-month, at or no more than 2 pounds over goal. And if you do that then you don't have to pay. But if you're over your weight, then you have to pay in until you're no more than 2 pounds over.
It's great because it's really setting you up for a lifestyle to maintain your weight. Because now, 20+ years later, I can attest to the fact that while losing weight is hard, I am gonna say that keeping the weight off is even harder. So I achieved this lifetime status, and I should have kept going to meetings.
If I could go back, if I had one piece of advice that my 51-year-old self could tell my 28-year-old self, it would be to keep going to the meetings. Keep checking in. Keep weighing in. Because life is difficult. And it's better to just nip it in the bud. But I didn't. I was cocky. I thought, I got this. I can check weight loss off my list. I'll never have this struggle again.
So I stopped attending the meetings. I slowly reverted over time to my old behaviors - I think a lot of people who have lost weight and gained it back again can share this experience. I put the weight back on, slowly and steadily and not all of it.
Again, I don't know why I didn't think well just go back to Weight Watchers. I continued to play with different diets. So I can't tell you how many diets I've been on in my lifetime. If you name a diet, I've tried it - Atkins, Pritkin, Somersize, Slimfast - you know I've tried them all. I've read a lot of the diet books.
I think maybe part of me was embarrassed to cross the threshold into Weight Watchers
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story: Part 1
Martha McKinnon's Weight Watchers Story: Part 3
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Kathy Wyckoff
Dear Martha, I have a seizure disorder and do not drive.. the weight watchers program is way over on the other side of town and I can't walk to it... I want to buy your books if it has the "complete program" in it and all the tips you give to help me.. I tried to buy the books and then something went wrong..Please let me know about the plan and the advice and if it has all the points of the food and how to get the points that I need per day in your books..
Martha McKinnon
Hi Kathy, No, my books don't have the complete WW Program! The only way to get all the WW Program information that I am aware of is directly from them. Have you considered WW online? ~Martha
Jeanne
I also achieved a Life Member at WW . And like you stopped going to meetings. WW was a wonderful teacher, unfortunately, as they say, “Life happens”.
I have tried several different diets. Couldn’t stick to them for long.
I even went back to WW recently , but points just did not work for me. I chose the wrong foods and was not content.
After reading your article, I’m convinced that the old WW way is the healthier way to live.
Thank you.
Janice
I too became a life time member and worked as a receptionist
Since then I have tried the different new programs but nothing worked
I liked the weekly books that told u exactly how much to eat for each day in the week
Never had a problem staying on track and lost seventy pounds in about six Months
Can u pls put me in contact with where I can get these
Martha McKinnon
I found my book on Amazon. Ebay probably has them too. Here's more about the old program: https://simple-nourished-living.com/why-i-think-the-old-weight-watchers-food-exchange-program-quick-success-was-better-than-points/
Kim Buckley
I just posted on here and had a computer glitch...my age is 69 not 9........
Martha McKinnon
Hi Kim, I fixed your age in your original comment. ~Martha