We always look at how well women do on Weight Watchers but men can do great as well. Here is a story of Dan, who lost 100 pounds in a year by changing his habits and getting more exercise. I know it does seem obvious but those two changes will change your life
Seventeen months after joining Weight Watchers meetings, this father of two is nearly 100 pounds lighter* and teaching his kids the essentials of healthy living.
When my wife and I saw the pictures from my son's first birthday party [we realized that] we were overweight. At that moment, we said, "We have to make a choice." The party was on a Sunday, and we went to a Weight Watchers meeting the following week.
It was difficult for me to feel comfortable in the beginning, because the meeting room was 95% female. Having my wife with me really helped out. As time progressed, and I started to lose some weight, I realized this wasn't just a diet for women.
New Habits, New Foods
I was used to eating steak once a week and also having second and third helpings. When I began following the POINTS® Weight-Loss System, I started eating a lot more seafood and vegetables. Our fridge at home is full of produce; red meat is not very common in our diet anymore.
We make our own choices in order to make the most of our daily POINTS allowance. We'd rather have a full skewer of shrimp as opposed to a small piece of steak.
Getting Physical
About five years ago, I had to go to a benefit on Wall Street. I remember getting off the train and starting to walk across town. I had to stop and stand against the wall because my back hurt so much; I was shocked at how much agony I was in. I was only 34.
When I started the plan, I measured the distance from my front door to the train station, which is about a mile. [Getting there] was my first [fitness] challenge. Eventually, the mile walk became one block of walking and one block of running; then two blocks of running; then three. Soon I was running two miles a day.
It's difficult to find time to exercise when you have two kids. They both want your time, but it's important to take some time for yourself. I always set aside some exercise time in the morning, when the kids are sleeping. On Sunday, we go to the gym right after our morning Weight Watchers meeting. The local gym has a daycare center, which the kids love. We do our cardio and play racquetball for about 45 minutes. By the time the kids are tired from playing, so are we.
Raising Healthy Kids
The food we fed our kids changed dramatically. The kids eat salmon, shrimp, tilapia, asparagus and baked potatoes. They eat everything that we eat, and they love it. We want to instill healthy-eating habits in them. I don't want them to have the struggles that my wife and I had.
We always try to get our kids to be physically active. We'll tell them, "It's a nice day out. Don't stay in front of the TV. Go out and play. Go ride your bike." If you get them involved now, it will be easier for them down the road.
Managing Maintenance
Maintenance is difficult. You can't let yourself get cocky. I still keep a mental log of everything I eat and do. I stick with a good workout program. Even when you're on maintenance, you still have to monitor your weight.
More Tips
* Stick to the plan, even when you're struggling. Even if you gain a few, it's okay. Dust yourself off and get right back in there.
* [If you're on the Flex Plan,] it's very important to take five minutes out of your morning and calculate how you're going to use your daily POINTS Target, so that when it's time for dinner, you're ready for it.
* Do something physical every day. After dinner, go for a walk around the block to get a little exercise. Starting out is a struggle and everything hurts, but you feel fantastic at the end.
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