Health & Fitness
WW (Formerly Weight Watchers) Helps FL Woman Lose 97 Pounds‡
"This journey will shock you, humble you and open up doors you never imagined you'd be so eager to walk through."
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.
Bethany Maki is a WW member at the WW Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida. Learn more about her weight-loss journey and get inspired!
Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Why did you start WW?
Bethany: In November 2017, my husband and I were sitting at a celebratory dinner after one of his doctor's appointments. We had gotten the good news that his immune system was looking stronger, and his prognosis wasn't as grave as it had been. But we were gorging on this "celebratory" meal, and I snapped. We had a lot to live for now, and at the very least, I needed to be a healthy caregiver for my husband. We had to start treating our bodies better. Two days later, we were at a WW Studio to sign up. Since then, I've lost 97 pounds, and my husband has lost around 90 pounds.
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What excites you the most about the new customized myWW program?
Bethany: I lost all of my weight on WW, which was wonderful and absolutely what I needed. But as I transitioned to weight maintenance, I found that another SmartPoints™-based plan suited my needs better. (WW's proprietary SmartPoints system simplifies complex nutritional information into a simple number to easily guide your eating decisions to support weight loss.) That flexibility at the different stages of this journey is such a source of comfort — the program will go where I need it to over my lifetime.
How has your local WW Studio helped you in your weight-loss and wellness journey?
Bethany: The 7:45 a.m. Saturday WW Workshop is a sacred time for both my husband and me. We have made amazing friends there, and that support and sense of community has made such a difference in the health journey. What started as a half-hour meeting on Saturdays is now also a Tuesday night walking group, monthly social events like dinners out and trips to the theater, special events like St. Pete’s Unofficial Turkey Trot and an amazingly active Facebook group. These fellow members are our family. We cheer each other on, pick each other up and hold each other accountable in living well.
If you had to describe your local Studio in five words, what would they be?
Bethany: Fun, safe, honest, irreverent and happy.
Do you have any favorite Workshops or Coaches?
Bethany: We’ve been faithful to Lynette McMillan's 7:45 a.m. Saturday WW Workshop since we joined. That was our original choice just because of schedule, but now we can’t imagine not being a part of this particular Workshop. The members are a tight-knit community, and the WW staff are there for us every step!
What do you look forward to at your weekly WW Workshop?
Bethany: Seeing how everyone is doing with their journey. Yes, we talk about food, but we talk so much more about life and where food should fit and what holistic wellness looks like uniquely for each of us.
What are the best nutrition and/or fitness tips you’ve picked up from WW?
Bethany: I think the best nutrition tip is that food isn't good or bad. Nutrition and weight loss is just math, and it doesn’t require assigning an emotion. In terms of fitness, the best piece of advice I've gotten is you have to figure out how it fits into your wellness "recipe." I had a few months where I over-exercised and actually stopped losing weight. It really is a balance. Fitness for me has become a celebration of what my body can do now.
What is something your friends or loved ones are most surprised about WW when they hear you are on it?
Bethany: "But you eat out!" "But you cook good stuff all the time!" Those are the two most common reactions. WW is real life. We go out, we eat any type of food we want. But I've learned a couple of pieces of pizza and a salad do it for me. I don't need an entire pizza anymore.
What is your favorite ZeroPoint food? Favorite food/treat?
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 such as chicken breast, fat-free Greek yogurt, all vegetables and more.
Bethany: That's a tough one! It's a toss-up for me between chickpeas, nonfat Greek yogurt and air-popped popcorn. Chickpeas are my go-to for when I'm running around and need a quick, filling snack. Nonfat Greek yogurt is so versatile, I use it to make muesli or throw it on some chili instead of sour cream. Air-popped popcorn is my afternoon get-through-the-rest-of-the-workday snack.
What is your favorite local hot spot for a healthy meal? Or to indulge?
Bethany: St. Petersburg is a foodie paradise for healthy eating and indulging! Some of my favorite places for a healthy meal are Brass Bowl, Simple Greek, Craft Kafe and Sake 23. And any of the local independent restaurants are usually more than happy to make modifications for you to up the healthy factor on their menu items. To indulge, we hit Il Ritorno for out-of-this-world Italian, Beans and Barlour for boozy ice cream, Blush Tea and Coffee for lattes or Valhalla Bakery for the most amazing doughnuts and pastries you've ever tasted.
What is your advice to others who want to lose weight but don't know how to get started?
Bethany: Someone once said to me, "You would never not brush your teeth every day, because you know your teeth would get rotten and fall out. Why don’t you apply that logic to the rest of your body?" It sounds so simple. But we know it's not. Losing weight is rarely about not knowing how to eat right. It's about solving for why you are willing to treat your body badly. So my advice is to start before you're ready because there is never a perfect time, get under the hood and figure out why you aren't treating yourself like a precious one-of-a-kind gift.
Beyond the weight loss, how has WW affected your lifestyle and your approach to wellness?
Bethany: Losing 102 pounds is the smallest change on this journey for me. As I started losing the weight, the limits on my life started losing their grip. At first it was the very literal limits that went away, like being able to fit in an airline seat. But then it was the bigger things, like my career track that kept me living a pretty unhealthy road warrior life. I had felt stuck in it, but as I lost the weight, I realized I didn’t have to be. So WW has unlocked having a limitless mindset for me.
How would you describe yourself in three words before WW? After?
Bethany: Before WW, I was uncomfortable, dragging and scared. Now I'm evolving, grounded and happy.
What is your New Year's resolution?
Bethany: My resolution is to stay true to this journey and keep redefining my limits. Great example: I ran my first 5K with my WW crew this past Thanksgiving, and I told them today I want to do four races this year.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Bethany: I have been overweight my entire life. It is never too late to prioritize your health. This journey will shock you, humble you and open up doors you never imagined you’d be so eager to walk through.
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 Tampa-Area Studio!
‡ People following the WW plan can expect to lose 1-2 lbs/wk.
