This post was created as part of a relationship in which I was sponsored by Weight Watchers and given a free three month subscription to try their new Personal Coaching product and write about my experience. Though I was compensated for my time and commitment, all views, positive and negative, are my own. #WeightWatchers #WWsponsored
I've been working with a Weight Watchers Personal Coach for about three weeks now and I have to tell you guys, this program is making dieting so much more manageable for me! One of my biggest obstacles when it comes to dieting is that I have a really hard time forgoing the sweets. Sure, I can give them up for a little while...and then I binge, give up on the diet and we're right back to square one.
If you haven't tried Weight Watchers, I'll explain why this program is just so incredibly different from every other weight loss program I've tried (and I've tried quite a few!). On the Weight Watchers diet, you can eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Fried food, soda, candy, cake, muffins, cookies, toffee, conch fritters...you can literally eat whatever you want! The catch? Of course there's a catch, I won't lie to you.
You have to track what you eat and not go over your daily (and weekly) allotment of Weight Watchers PointsPlus. The biggest difference between Weight Watchers and other diet programs I've done over the years is that Weight Watchers teaches you how to eat well. There's no starvation, no denying yourself the things you love; it's all about moderation. Once you learn how to eat the right way, losing weight is easier and it's easier to keep that weight off for the rest of your life!
While I was in the Bahamas last week, I was served conch fritters at every meal. I LOVE conch fritters and wanted to eat them - so I did. ONE. At each lunch and dinner that offered conch fritters, I ate a single one, which satisfied my taste buds, and then I moved on to my salad.
Every time I was presented with something that I really wanted to eat but would risk using up all of my PointsPlus, I opened up the Weight Watchers app and looked at my motivation from my Weight Watchers Personal Coach...
You see, with the new Weight Watchers Personal Coaching program, you have access to support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! You can chat with someone, send a message to your Weight Watchers Personal Coach, call in; they are there to help you every step of the way. If you are having an "I really want to eat an entire batch of brownies" moment, you can chat with a trained coach via the mobile app or online chat to get the support you need!
It's pretty awesome! Having my own personal cheerleader is such a huge help, and knowing that there is someone to hold me accountable for my success or failure really helps keep me on track. Instead of being stressed out about sticking to my diet in the Bahamas, I ate what I wanted - in moderation - and stuck to my diet!
One of my action plan items for last week was to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. I have a really hard time finding motivation to exercise, and I was honest with my Weight Watchers Personal Coach and told her that I am lazy and hate to exercise. I needed to find a way to get creative and WANT to exercise. She suggested that I walk my dogs or find some type of outdoor activity as my form of exercise. She said that anything that gets you up and moving is exercise; we don't have to spend all day running on a treadmill or lifting weights to exercise, we just need to move our bodies! This advice was invaluable because I've always felt that if I didn't do a typical exercise routine, I might as well not do anything. Now I am finding ways to fit in activity that I can have fun with!
While in the Bahamas, I spent my exercise time in really fun ways. I woke up before the sunrise and took long walks along the beach...
I took the resort kayak out to a nearby rock formation, which was about a mile out. Kayaking in the ocean is a great way to get your exercise in, as fighting against the waves really works your upper body. I only kayak every so often, so I didn't realize how much it works your muscles! Even my underarms were sore the next day!
I also did a lot of swimming, which is a great full-body workout.
I was really fortunate during my trip in that our resort provided a really healthy, nutritious breakfast full of fresh fruits, low fat yogurt, hard boiled eggs, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
I just threw the pastries out to the hermit crabs and ate fruit and a boiled egg for breakfast, and snacked on the fruit and the other boiled egg and yogurt during the day. I also gave the hermit crabs the delicious chocolate chip cookies that housekeeping left during turn-down service. I took one bite and out they went!
They also had bowls full of oranges and apples all over the resort, so I had plenty of healthy snacks - which count as zero PointsPlus! When it came time for lunch and dinners, I filled up on salad and ate just a little bit of the protein and starches. Bahamaians are really big on shellfish, and I happen to be allergic, so it was actually pretty easy to skip the fattening fried lobster and cracked conch.
I found a really great feature to the Weight Watchers app during my trip that I just have to tell you about! We didn't have WiFi on the island, but I was able to track my food and exercise without connecting to the internet! The app pulls the PointsPlus value from the databank of food items and records them, then you just sync once you have an internet or cellular connection. Make sure to remember to sync once you're back online so that those PointsPlus are deducted from your daily balance.
As helpful as the Weight Watchers app is, my favorite part of the program is having my own coach! Mary P is awesome and I always request her when it comes time to schedule a new session. Sessions occur weekly, and you can even reschedule or create appointments online or through the Weight Watchers app.
My trip to the Bahamas was last-minute and I had to use the app to reschedule my appointment last week. It was SO convenient because I use my phone for just about everything!
The Weight Watchers Personal Coaching program has been an incredible benefit to me, and it can help you too! As a member of Weight Watchers Personal Coaching program, you'll have all of the help you need in your weight loss journey, and be armed with the tools you need to keep that weight off once you lose it!
You can find out more about the Weight Watchers Personal Coaching program here. If you do sign up, please let me know what you think!
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Kait
Weight watchers is so user friendly now. I love how they make it accessible and easy for anyone to lose or maintain weight.
Colleen
Looks like a great way to keep you in check even when in paradise 🙂
Raijean
I'm loving this, I've been thinking about trying Weight Watchers again.. this would be perfect.
Jenn
If you sign up, I'd love to hear what you think!
Robin (Masshole Mommy)
It's so awesome that you can stay on track while on vacation. Going away is always hard for me because I love to eat.
Catherine S
That is so great that you stayed on track while on vacation. I always say that I am going to, but I never do. I need to look into Weight Watchers.
Jaime
I signed up for a 3-month eTools subscription late last month. I'm loving many of the new features, but haven't tried the personal coaching yet. I need to get on board with it!
Krystal
I really love Weight Watchers. They combine a common sense approach to weight loss with the personal coaching. It's a winning combo, for sure.
Amanda @ Mommity
Great Job Jenn! I did WW before my babies in 2006 and lost 75 lbs and started again this past October, now down 21 lbs. It's a wonderful program and it's very easy to follow. I've been wondering about the personal coaching and if the extra money for that plan was worth it. Most days I'm motivated, but there are times like travel and during that lovely time of month when it's really hard. So glad to see you have success with it!
Jenn
I have one free month as part of this blogger program and I am going to continue on my own after it's over. It really does make a huge difference for me! You can even message your coach in between appointments if you need help!
Pam
It can be so hard to resist all that food while on vacation. It's great that the Weight Watchers app gives you that extra motivation.
Mary O'Malley
Weight Watchers has changed quite a bit since I was on it. These sound like really good tools to keep you going and moving. I like that you can meet with a coach at anytime. That's really cool. Good luck with your goals.
Crystal
First of all, I'm so glad you had a blast in the Bahamas! I know being mindful of what you're eating can be tricky on vacation. I love that you didn't miss out on the foods you love. Eating just one is a great life skill.
Liz Mays
What an incredible trip to the Bahamas. I'd love to go kayaking there!
Christie
The app sounds so user friendly! Glad you're able to track your points easily
Veronica
It is great that you can stay disciplined even on vacation. I still don't really get WW since there is so much emphasis on calorie count instead of actual healthy foods and nutrient filled calories, but you seem to be doing very well with it
Jenn
I think that you have Weight Watchers confused with something else - did you actually read the post? You don't count calories AT ALL with Weight Watchers, you count PointsPlus, which are calculated based on fat, sugar, protein and fiber. If you read my post thoroughly, you would have seen that fruits are zero points, which means that Weight Watchers encourages you to eat them. Perhaps you should check out the Weight Watchers website to see what the diet is all about, because it's nothing like what you've mentioned in your comment.
Lisa Bristol
Staying on track while on vacation would be so hard. This looks like a great app to keep you on track.
Shop with Me Mama (Kim)
Oh, I love that they have a personal coach to help you every step of the way! So nice when you are feeling like you need someone to talk you out of eating that indulgent something!
Jenni E. {Sweet Pennies from Heaven}
Such an awesome trip, first of all. WOW! Second, don'tcha just love Weight Watchers!! They have such an awesome program.
Theresa
I like that app feature that lets you keep track, even without internet connection. Glad you were able to stay on track on vacation. It really is difficult to do sometimes!
Beth@FrugalFroggie
So impressed with your discipline. I need to take notes!!
Jenn
It really helps that I love fruit, and they're zero PointsPlus! 🙂
Debbie Denny
You did great,. Sticking to your plan is fantastic.
Rosey
I love that you could track without the app. Everything looks so nice (especially the island 😉 ).
Jeanine
This is great! Good for you for to staying on top even in the Bahamas. I'm sure I would be cheating left and right!
Chrystal @ YUM eating
I am a Lifetime member who has gained their weight back. Meetings are too far away or are at a time I can't really attend here. I tried the online program but the app was sketchy and it was too easy to just not log for the day. Looking at your photos, looks like they made some improvements. I am loving this coaching program. That might be just what I need to get my goals back in order.
Amy Desrosiers
That is some awesome will power you have there! I have been toying with the idea of joining WW myself!
Ann Bacciaglia
I always have a hard time sticking to my diet when i go away on vacation. I will have to check out this app.
Shell
That's impressive that you stayed on track while on vacation! I have the hardest time when I'm away!
Chrysa
I'm impressed that you were able to keep up while you were away. I guess when you travel a lot you HAVE to do that, or the program would go down the drain. I like that Weight Watchers doesn't put any foods "off limits".
Megan @ C'mon Get Crafty
Just started WW - 5lbs lost n the first week, but every day presents new issues. Newly off of breastfeeding, and reluctant to give up wine...again. :/ Also, WW seems to hate cheese, which I LOVE. I need all the help I can get!!!!
Amanda O.
Wow - that's great that you were able to stay on track. Don't know that I could have!
Debbie L.
Weight Watchers is such a great way to lose weight. I am really thinking about joining.
April Decheine
That is awesome, my husband and I were talking about a trip and the challenges eating healthy, Weight Watchers is a great program!
Anne - Mommy Has to Work
I loved having the app on hand whenever I needed it.
vanessa: thequeenofswag
I really need to get on weight watchers again. I'd love to work with them to share my experience too.
Penelope
Well, you look great, but I love that you can mix it up and enjoy what you love as long as you stay on track overall...it's a good way to still enjoy food and life!