Health & Fitness
WW (Formerly Weight Watchers) Helped A Teacher Lose 116 Pounds‡
"WW has saved my life. It makes little things like tying my shoes and walking up stairs so much easier."
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.
Geoffrey Ponticelli is a WW member at the WW Studio Newington. Learn more about his weight-loss journey and get inspired!
Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
What made you start the WW program?
Geoffrey: I’m a teacher, and 22 months ago, I had an asthma attack at my school. It was very scary. Some of my students saw me. I was also dealing with sleep apnea and had terrible acid reflux. Enough was enough. I joined WW, and I've lost 116 pounds.
What excites you the most about the new customized myWW program?
Geoffrey: With the new myWW program, you take a personal assessment that asks you questions about your eating habits and behaviors to scientifically match you with a customized weight loss plan, tailored to you.
I'm on the Green plan, which means I have a smaller list of foods that form the basis of my diet, but I have a bigger SmartPoints™ budget to spend on other foods I love. (WW’s proprietary SmartPoints system simplifies complex nutritional information into a simple number to easily guide your eating decisions to support weight loss.) I love it!
How has your local WW Studio helped you in your weight-loss and wellness journey?
Geoffrey: When I joined WW, I was a 5X in my shirt and a size 65 waist, so I had to buy 4X stretchy elastic pants. Not one person made me feel badly about where I was or who I was. They are the most helpful, welcoming, kind, friendly, nurturing and giving people in the world. They celebrate every non-scale victory, every pound lost and every milestone. I could not and would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for these people. These people are so supportive, kind, caring, and have made this very difficult journey so much easier.
If you had to describe your local Studio in five words, what would they be?
Geoffrey: Friendly, caring, life-savers, dedicated and fun!
What do you look forward to at your weekly WW Workshop?
Geoffrey: Being with the other members and hearing about their successes from the week. It’s incredible how being on this very challenging journey brings you closer to strangers. I look forward to seeing these people every single week.
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.
Geoffrey: My favorite ZeroPoint food now is, surprisingly, Brussels sprouts. My favorite treat is Halo Top ice cream.
My new thing now is I make milkshakes for myself with Halo Top ice cream, peanut butter powder and unsweetened almond milk. When I need a quick meal, I get the McDonald’s salads. I also make my own salmon burgers now and have found a way to make fajitas that are low in SmartPoints.
What is your advice to others who want to lose weight but don’t know how to get started?
Geoffrey: JUST COME TO A WW STUDIO! Do not get bogged down in how far you have to go. Then find what works for you to keep you on track. I made a sheet with 150 boxes in it, and I just color one in each time I lose a pound. Then I also have a calendar I check off one day at a time. It is one day at a time, one meal at a time.
Beyond the weight loss, how has WW affected your lifestyle and your approach to wellness?
Geoffrey: WW has saved my life. It makes little things like tying my shoes and walking up stairs so much easier. I go for walks now, and before, I never walked more than I had to. I get up on the weekends and go for a walk around my neighborhood. I NEVER walked before. In fact at school, I would sit on my rolling chair, and I would roll to pick up my students' papers. I also would stop along the school at different benches to take breaks. My students are amazed at how much smaller and faster I am now. I have two students who will say, "Mr. P., why don’t we stop at your benches anymore?"
What is your New Year's resolution?
Geoffrey: In 2020, I'm excited to lose the next 16.2 pounds. This will get me to a magical number in my weight-loss transformation.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Geoffrey: WW has changed my life for the better. This is a never-ending journey, so it is important to always see what you can now do that you couldn’t do before. I can fit in an airplane seat now, and buy clothes in the regular men’s section (not big and tall). I can go on a 4-mile walk and don’t have to take stops along the way. I sleep better, I feel better and am just living my best life. No matter how much weight you have to lose, WW works.
Many people have told me that I inspire them. I’m a regular person who has a regular job, regular car and regular house. I just realized this is my time to shine. I hope people can see that it is never too late to get their life back. I am so proud of me.
(For more from Geoffrey, follow him on Instagram at @ww_geoffpont)
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 Hartford-Area Studio!
‡ People following the WW plan can expect to lose 1-2 lbs/wk.
