Stacey lost 51 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). Stacey lost weight on a prior program and is continuing on WeightWatchers.
In Stacey’s words:
I’ve had a weight issue since I was in the second grade. I always felt like I was bigger than all the other girls, and that affected my self-esteem. I always put on a happy face — always the happy big girl. But I had this yearning, deep down, to fit in like everyone else. I never put a stop to what I wanted to do, but I always felt like I could be that much better if I was skinnier.
Stacey found her “why”
The mind shift
I’d been on and off WW over the years, but it wasn’t until I had my son, Clark, in 2013 that I discovered this new motivation to get healthy. It was no longer about vanity; it was about creating a foundation for a healthy family. I wanted to be there for my son, always. I never knew how to eat healthy, so I wanted to instill those kinds of values in him. So I joined WW.
Learning how to cook
As I started making baby food from scratch for my son, I realized that I wanted to cook fresh, whole foods for my husband and me, too. I started searching WW cookbooks and the app for healthy recipes. And I’ve received so much inspiration from Connect. I learned how to make cauliflower rice and zoodles from there — and my family loves them!
Inspiration all week long
The WW Workshops are wonderful since they keep me accountable, but I love that I have inspiration and guidance throughout the week with the Connect feature on the WW app. I don’t always post myself, but just reading through my feed really keeps me motivated. If I have a bad day, simply going into Connect brings me back to reality. You realize, your day isn’t that bad, you always have tomorrow, and you can start over.
How Stacey’s success with WW has improved her life
The challenges of a stay-at-home-mom
Since I’m a stay-at-home-mom, I had to re-train my brain to think about what I need to do instead of eating. If I went to the pantry aimlessly during my son’s naptime, I had to say to myself, “Am I hungry? Or am I bored?” I had to tell myself, “Naptime for baby doesn’t mean snack time for Mom!” I messed up along the way, but I still stuck to it, and now I have my food under control.
Staying the course
When I walked through the door of my first Workshop, I told myself, “Never give up.” I don’t pressure myself. If I slip up, I learn from it. Throughout this process, I realized that putting myself first was important. Each morning, I take 15 minutes to read a devotion and meditate before my day starts. This short time helps me gather my thoughts before the day begins, and that makes me a better mom. I’m healthier than ever, both mentally and physically — sometimes I have to pinch myself just to remember it’s real.