Inside the WeightWatchers Workshop helping women embrace their menopause bodies

Three times a week, anywhere from 50-80 women log onto their Zoom accounts to talk about something that, up until recently, wasn’t really discussed. Night sweats. Wiry chin hairs. Brain fog. In a word — menopause.

These specialty WeightWatchers Menopause Workshops, started in 2024, give members the opportunity to talk freely about midlife and its effects on their bodies. Research shows that, on average, women gain about a pound each year during menopause. And 20% of women put on 10 pounds or more.

“Women kept bringing up [in their regular WeightWatchers Workshops] how their bodies felt different and their weight loss or maintenance got harder after hitting menopause,” says Alicia Sissac, a WeightWatchers Coach who leads one of the three Menopause Workshops and is going through menopause herself. “We wanted to create a space where they could discuss these topics and support each other.”

Although weight tends to be the main topic — unsurprising for any WeightWatchers Workshop — it’s far from the only one. “Much of the workshop is simply about life during this stage,” says Sissac. That naturally includes some grievances of getting older, but it also includes plenty of celebrations. “Members have said that they do not want to spend these years focusing on the difficulties of menopause. They want to work with their changing bodies and enjoy life right now.”

Here, a handful of the learnings these members have shared with each other that’s helping them do just that.

1. Your usual routine may no longer cut it.

“For years, I was losing weight. But then I started gaining weight, especially in my belly. What I did was add exercise. I’m doing an hour and a half of exercise each week, and it’s made a big difference in my body shape. I still fight gravity, but that’s what I need to maintain my weight and body shape.” –member Gilda M.

2. It’s important to give yourself extra grace.

“Even though I’m not where I want to be with my weight goal, I have to give myself credit. These past years, I’ve been through a lot. I’m struggling with sleep because of menopause, I’m taking care of my mother, and I’m facing a mastectomy. I’m just proud that I haven’t gained the 60-plus pounds I lost back. My mindset is that I’m going to take it one day at a time.” –member Helen S.

3. You don’t have to white-knuckle your symptoms.

“I used to sleep like a baby, and now I wake up at all times of night and stare at the ceiling. When I don’t get the sleep I need, I snack more. I was thinking to myself that I’m not going to just white-knuckle menopause. I need to approach it like I do other things in life — with a plan. I’m going to do the things that will help me get through this stage of life. For example, I bought a cooling pillow — I’m also going to add another activity day to my week.” –Coach Alicia S.

4. You may need to shift expectations.

“I’ve been on WeightWatchers for 40 years, and my goal weight was 141 pounds. After menopause, I gained five pounds. My doctor says that going through menopause changes the body, and suggested that I make my goal weight 146 pounds instead. I’ve accepted that my weight has changed. I don’t aim to get back to where I once was — that’s too much unnecessary pressure. I play tennis and do yoga every day, and I’m healthy.” –member Cristina C.

5. It’s okay to slow down.

“In the past, I was very active with boxing and HIIT training. But I was struggling to maintain my weight. One of my friends said, ‘What if you tried something different and just slowed down?’ There’s something beautiful in that because I’m so rushed in many facets of life, like work and family obligations. So, I started walking regularly, and that’s my goal.” –member Sonia K.

6. Success may look different.

“I’ve been at my goal for four years straight – except for last month. It devastated me, because I had worked so hard and thought I had figured it out. But I decided that my new goal is to feel proud of myself. I’ve walked five times a week and gone to Silver Sneakers classes, and I never gave myself credit for that. I’m going to pay more attention to tracking and feel proud of my efforts at the end of the year.” —member Kathleen O.

7. Menopause isn’t always to blame.

“After I made my goal, I went through menopause and started gaining back five pounds each year. Finally, I sat down and made a list of everything that changed. It forced me to examine what had shifted in my life — and it wasn’t only menopause. I realized I wasn’t as active as I once was. I used to run around and go to the beach with friends. But now, my walks are with my elderly mom at 1 mile per hour. My lifestyle has changed.” –member Georgia B.

8. Weight loss (and maintenance) after menopause is possible.

“I actually joined WeightWatchers after menopause. I didn’t think that I would be able to lose the weight, because it was easier for me to lose weight when I was younger. But those pounds would always come back. With WeightWatchers, it’s the only time I’ve been able to keep a substantial amount of weight off. Goes to show that the Program will work after menopause.” –member Helen S.

9. Finding a support system makes a world of difference.

“In this phase of life, it can feel like my body will never be the same. But talking to these women who are going through the same thing normalizes all of these feelings. It’s helped with a mindset shift that there’s nothing wrong with me. I just need to make a few changes and recognize that my body’s going to respond differently now.” – Coach Alicia S.