Health & Fitness
How This MPLS WW (Formerly Weight Watchers) Coach Lost 85 Pounds‡
"I want to encourage others to not only be active and healthy, but I want them to feel empowered in doing so!"
Losing weight — and keeping it off — is a lot easier when you have expert guidance from the leader in weight loss and its supportive community. WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers) just rolled out its most customized program ever, and it’s poised to continue to help millions of members around the world accomplish their weight-loss and wellness goals in 2020. With myWW™, each new member takes a personal assessment which matches them with a customized program that can make losing weight easier.
While many members follow and succeed on the WW program using the WW app, those who would like a little extra expert guidance and consistent support swear by the weekly WW Workshops to keep them accountable and help them stay on track. WW Coaches host weekly 30-minute Workshops at over 800 studios nationwide.
Lacy Lydia Sis is a Coach at the Roseville WW Studio and the Maple Grove WW Studio. (WW Coaches are all previous members who have lost weight with WW and now share their knowledge and support with WW members at weekly Workshops.) Learn more about her weight-loss journey and get inspired!
Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
How did you get started with WW?
Lacy: I joined WW in February of 2018 at 325 pounds. Since then, I have lost a total of 85 pounds with the program and have never felt healthier or happier!
Since losing 85 pounds with WW, my life has changed drastically. I went from being nearly incapable of any physical activity to doing intense physical workouts weekly (and loving them)! Not only did my physical activity increase significantly, but I also went from "not being able to cook" (or so I thought) to recreating recipes to make them healthier and more Point-friendly. (WW's proprietary SmartPoints™ system simplifies complex nutritional information into a simple number to easily guide your eating decisions to support weight loss.)
My doctor took me off of high blood pressure medication and told me that I was no longer classified as being morbidly obese. And one of my favorite NSVs (non-scale victories) has been going from having a severe fear of public speaking to now facilitating workshops as a WW Coach. I get to help others on their journeys, just as the WW community helped me! I'm also organizing WW meetups, both social and activity based. I want to encourage others to not only be active and healthy, but I want them to feel empowered as well!
What do you enjoy most about the WW community?
Lacy: The WW community IS love! They have taught me that this journey is so much more than just healthy foods and exercise. It's about support, determination, inspiration, overcoming challenges, encouragement, humor, success, celebrations and, most importantly, self-love.
What is your favorite thing about the new customized myWW program?
Lacy: I love having the freedom and flexibility to follow the program according to whatever works best for me! WW understands that everyone is different and a plan that may feel freeing and easier to stick to for one person may be the opposite for another. With the new myWW program, you take this really interesting personal assessment for WW to learn more about your eating habits and behaviors so that their smart science can match you with your own proven weight-loss plan. Some may find freedom and flexibility in having a large list of ZeroPoint foods. (ZeroPoint foods form the foundation of a healthy eating pattern, and are foods you don't have to track! Depending on your customized plan, they can include foods like chicken breast, fat-free Greek yogurt, all vegetables and more). While others may prefer to have more SmartPoints to work with throughout their day.
How would you describe your local WW Studio to someone who’s never visited?
Lacy: It's a community! We are all on this journey together, and in our WW Workshops, we have the opportunity to give advice, share struggles and, most importantly, support each other to the fullest.
Can you share some of the topics that are discussed in a WW Workshop?
Lacy: We discuss everything from "how to get a workout in during a blizzard" to "favorite brands of wines." And every Workshop discussion is based on either the topic of activity, nutrition, mindset or all of the above! For me, attending a Workshop is the accountability that I need and a fresh start to the week.
Do you have any tips for people trying to eat healthfully during the holidays?
Lacy: My biggest advice is to give yourself grace. It’s important to eat mindfully and enjoy those special things you may only get once a year, but to remember that these festivities really aren't just about the food. It's about the people we are with, the activities we participate in and the memories we make in the process.
If you feel like you may have overindulged or begin to feel guilty, here’s something that has helped me: Accept that what happened, happened. Learn from the experience and ask yourself how can you can avoid a recurrence next time. Then forgive yourself so you can move on and start strong. "Progress, not perfection" is a great reminder.
What's your advice for people who have a New Year’s resolution to lose weight?
Lacy: Making yourself and your health a priority is key. One of the greatest things that I’ve learned on this journey is that it’s OK to tell people no — especially when it comes to planning things that are important to my health.
And when it comes to New Year's resolutions, remember to take time to celebrate the “little” things leading up to your bigger goals. The scale may not always give you the results that you want, but you should celebrate those little victories along the way. Climbing the highest mountain still takes one step at a time. Make sure to celebrate those steps.
What does the Studio already have planned for the months of January/February to help people stick to their New Year's resolutions?
Lacy: Well only THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR — Oprah's 2020 Vision Tour! We are so honored and excited that St. Paul, Minnesota, is on the tour list! And we, of course, will continue to have all of our WW Workshops to help support all new and current members along the way. We also have WW meetups every other month as well as our bimonthly Lifetime Member Circles. (Lifetime members are members who have reached their goal weight and therefore unlock free WW for life.) In addition, we have weekly App Academy Workshops to help members learn about all of the amazing tools in their WW app!
Why is it important to focus on your health and wellness year-round?
Lacy: Whether it comes to meal prepping for the week or giving it my all in a workout class, I try to remember to do everything as if my life depended on it — because it does! Once you let that sink in, it makes all other decisions just a little more simple. This is the only life we are given, and whether we want to acknowledge it or not, the decisions we make have the power to improve it or impair it. You decide.
How do you stay motivated?
Lacy: I like to stay positive and am always looking for the bright side in any given situation. I also like to go on to Connect (WW’s members-only digital community) to stay motivated. Seeing people on similar journeys giving it their all fuels me and rejuvenates my motivation. And again, always taking time to celebrate those NSVs (non-scale victories). This gives me a whole new level of motivation because I’m finding the inspiration within myself.
What is your advice for someone who wants to become healthier but doesn't know where to start?
Lacy: I think the best thing that you can do is give yourself grace and know that it’s OK to ask for help. It all seems so overwhelming when you don’t know how to start or what to do, and the scariest part is feeling like you have to do it alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The best thing I ever did for my health was sign up for WW. With self-determination, support from others and the tools provided by WW, it IS possible!
What motivates you as a WW Coach?
Lacy: I'm motivated by my members every day! Their determination is so inspirational! And their energy and positivity is infectious. We definitely vibe off of each other during the Workshops. The members’ support and encouragement mean the world to me.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about the WW program or your Studio in particular?
Lacy: I just want to emphasize how important community has been throughout my journey. I would not be where I am today without fellow members, family and friends supporting me through it all. The power of platforms like Connect and the WW Instagram world is irreplaceable. This community is nothing short of AMAZING.
For more from Lacy, follow her on Instagram at @ilovelacy.ww
How WW Can Help You Find Success
WW is a weight-loss program that takes a people-focused, science-backed approach to promoting weight loss and healthy living. Its new program, myWW, is fully customized to make losing weight easier for you.
When you join myWW, you'll start with a personal assessment that asks a range of questions about your unique food preferences, activity level, lifestyle and approach to weight loss. Based on your responses, WW will scientifically match you with a customized, proven weight-loss plan that can make losing weight easier.
Get Started Losing Weight With WW Today!
Why Visit a WW Studio?
Every person in the WW Studio is on your side! The friendly guides and expert Coaches will quickly become your greatest motivators and sources of support to make 2020 the year you reach your weight loss goals!
Workshops held at WW Studio locations cover topics that are relevant to weight loss, health and wellness. You can participate as much or as little as you want. There are WW Workshops during the morning, afternoon and evening, seven days a week. This gives you flexibility to attend the Workshop time/day/location that works for during any particular week and ensure your accountability network is always accessible.
Based on years of research, the WW Workshop curriculum is always evolving to bring the best science-backed techniques to help you lose weight and build healthy habits for life.
Find Your Nearest Minneapolis-Area Studio!
‡ People following the WW plan can expect to lose 1-2 lbs/wk.
