Amanda lost 87 lbs*
*At 6 months, participants in a clinical trial of the WW weight-loss program lost an average of 9.7 lbs (5% of body weight). And, people who track their food more often lose more weight. When actual WW members track their food at least two times a week for 6 months they lose on average 16.6 lbs. (7.9% body weight). Amanda lost weight on a prior program and is continuing on WeightWatchers. Watch her journey of sticking to her journey no matter the challenges she faced in the video below.
In Amanda’s words:
I realized I was different from my friends towards the end of elementary school. I was a little bigger than the other girls, and when we went to the mall, I had to shop in the plus-size section. Why couldn’t I shop at the cool, little teen stores like my friends? I first joined WW when I was in high school. I had success, but then I stopped attending the WW Workshops. Years later, in my 20’s, I decided to join the program again. That’s when everything changed.
Finding support wherever you are
Just give it a try
When I walked into my first Workshop more than six years ago (this time around), I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make it all the way to my goal. But I realized I’d never know what I was capable of until I tried. I decided to focus on making small improvements. I started looking at the things I was eating. Growing up, we were eating pizza, pasta, fried chicken, bread. When I calculated the points values of these items, I realized I was eating triple the amount of what I was supposed to intake each day. So, my first step: track my food.
A family affair
When I joined the program, I was living with my parents. My mom had joined WW with me, which made things easier. I had a partner facing the same challenges, and she helped me make better choices each day. I started getting creative in the kitchen, cooking healthier meals for all of us. I started using the slow cooker, and now one of my favorite meals is chicken teriyaki in the slow cooker. Making lighter, tasty dishes benefited all of us. Chicken is one of my favorite foods, so my mom told me about a chicken cordon bleu recipe she found online. It’s delicious — it feels like you’re indulging in something unhealthy, but you’re not! My little brother also ate all these healthy meals I cooked. Now that I live on my own, he’ll come over to go for a walk with our dogs.
A furry reminder
Sadie Marie, my dog, is my best friend. If I’m sitting on the couch for too long, she’ll start running around. When she does that, I know it’s time to go for a walk in the neighborhood. I also like taking Sadie Marie to the dog park. I used to go and sit on a bench while she played, but now I’ll do laps around the dog park so I’m moving more, too. I’ve realized that it’s very important to get your exercise in whenever you can since life can get busy.
How Amanda’s success with WW has Improved her life
Setting the example
Life as a teacher can be challenging. In my school, food is always around, whether it’s doughnuts in the faculty room or potlucks throughout the year. But once you make the decision to change, you’ll be strong enough to stick to your goals. I also like being a role model for my students. One day, I opened my lunch box and pulled out a salad, a clementine, a banana, and a fork. One of my students said to me, “Are you Mary Poppins? You have all that food in that little lunch box!” I’m happy to set a good example for these kids.
Push yourself
Adjusting my fitness routine was a game changer for me. I met my fitness buddy, Jessica, through my Zumba class. We had similar stories so we both decided to work out together outside of Zumba. We do challenges together, and we push each other to the next level with fitness. Now, I do interval training and weights, and I can even hold a plank for 3 minutes 30 seconds!
A whole new me
There were so many times in my journey where I asked myself, “Why do I want to keep going?” And I’d answer, “Because I’m worth it.” I feel like a different person now, and I feel better than ever. Sometimes, students will pass me in the hallway and they’ll do a double-take. “Ms. Fischer, is that you? I didn’t even recognize you. You’re a whole new person.” I love stuff like that.