WeightWatchers App 101: A Personal Journey to Wellness
One of our team members signed up for the WeightWatchers app to kick off the New Year. Come along on her journey as she dives into the world of points, progress and small wins that add up to big changes.
By Lisa Connors
During one of my weekend morning runs with my running buddies, the topic of nutrition came up. We talked about ways to eat better, how to best fuel our runs and maybe even drop a few pounds in the process. Then my friend Michelle chimed in, “I think I am going to join Weight Watchers,” she said, sharing her goal to shed 10 to 15 pounds. “But it only works if you put in the work,” she added.
I stay pretty active, run and strength train regularly, but still haven’t been able to lose those extra 5 to 10 pounds. I try to make good food choices, but I snack a lot during the day and eat a lot of processed foods — and probably sit too much at work!
When an employee email about joining WeightWatchers (WW) landed in my inbox earlier this month, I decided to give it a try. I downloaded the app, entered my employee ID and created my profile. Within a few minutes, I was exploring the app and learning about the points system, Zero Point foods, and easy-to-follow recipes. The best part? The app is $10.25 per month and benefits-eligible CCHC employees can get their WW fees reimbursed through the Employee Health Plan.
Although it can be challenging to remember to log your meals and snacks on the app throughout the day, WW says if you’re overwhelmed, don’t stress about tracking “every.single.ingredient.” If you’re tracking most meals, you’re “on track.” A game-changer for me was the barcode scanner. Instead of entering each item manually, all I had to do was scan a package, and the app did all the work for me — giving it a point value and logging it instantly.
After using the app for more than a week, I realized the points add up quickly! I start with 23 points a day, which is about 1,200 calories. But WW also gives you “weeklies,” which gives you an additional set of points to use for special occasions, indulgences or days you need a bit more. On a typical day, I have a chocolate peanut butter shake for breakfast, a soup or salad for lunch, a protein bar for a snack and chicken, potatoes and veggies for dinner. I also have strawberries or carrots on hand when hunger strikes. I am looking forward to trying the app's delicious recipes, including the chicken burrito bowl and peanut butter, banana and chocolate chip protein cookies.
Overall, the WW app has raised my awareness of how much I eat during the day. I have learned to rely more on ZeroPoint foods such as veggies, fruits, eggs and lean proteins.
I now think twice now about reaching into my desk drawer for snack-size Peppermint Patties (my favorite!) and digging into Ben and Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream at night. The app is not only helping me lose weight but also helping me to build better habits. I’m still at the beginning of my journey, but now I feel like I have a roadmap — and changing my habits doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The words of my friend certainly ring true: It only works if you put in the work!
