*At 6 months, participants in a clinical trial of the 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).
As told to Sara Green
As a teacher, you prioritize everyone but yourself. I was getting to work at seven in the morning and not leaving until seven at night. It’s a very demanding and stressful lifestyle, and I was also getting my doctorate in education at the same time. I would not eat much during the school day, only to have large meals at night when I got home. My weight slowly started to creep up.
Then, in November of 2016, my doctor told me I had prediabetes and hypertension. If I didn’t get it under control, I’d have to take blood pressure medication and could go on to develop type 2 diabetes. I had never had health problems before, but my weight was the tipping point. That diagnosis was the red flag that finally made me put myself first.
Finding Support
In January of 2017, I noticed a WW at Work flyer up in the school where I taught. It felt like it was a sign from the universe. I joined the small Workshop group with my colleagues and genuinely loved the whole experience. It was refreshing to be around people who understood the weight-loss journey, and hearing their stories gave me motivation to make it through the week. In addition to helping me reach my goals, I created lasting friendships thanks to that Workshop.
Dining Made Easy
I love that WW works with my life, not against it. I'm incredibly social and there's no way I could follow a plan that doesn’t allow me to eat out all the time. But on WW I can go to my favorite restaurants or grab fast food and still lose weight. WW teaches me how to choose nutritious options that fit into my Budget, pointing me toward meals that are high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats. But sweets can still fit in, and that’s a good thing because I love doughnuts! And if I go over Budget, I can always get back on track the next day.
Beyond the Scale
In the beginning, all I cared about was losing weight. Now, I understand that this journey is really all about wellness: I’m no longer prediabetic and my blood pressure and blood glucose are back within a normal range—which was the best news to receive. I even started running and completed my first half marathon!
The PersonalPoints™ program has given me extra incentive to focus on healthy habits. Now that I’m earning Points® as a reward for drinking water and eating non-starchy veggies, I’ve seen my intake of both go way up. And when I’m feeling like I need a dose of motivation or am having a bad or stressful day, I turn to Connect. That community is amazing. I see what other members are cooking or how they’re working out, and it bumps up my own energy and excitement. I love that I’m on this journey with a million-plus people and we’re all working toward a similar goal. For me, that goal is to live a fun, purposeful life—and I'm not missing a beat!
Getting Personal with Zackory
My favorite ZeroPoint food: | “Avocado. I treat it like some would a baked potato. I’ll sprinkle Everything But the Bagel seasoning on there or top it with pico de gallo.” | |
Kitchen confession: | “I don’t cook—like, at all. But what I do do is look up salad recipes on the app for inspo and go to Whole Foods and recreate them at the salad bar.” | |
A fast-food fave: | “KFC grilled chicken. I get it with their coleslaw, which is phenomenal and amazingly low in Points.” | |
Restaurant go-to:
| “Salmon. I load it up with a ton of vegetables like sauteed spinach.”
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