How WW (Formerly Weight Watchers) Helped A Bride Lose 100 Pounds

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.

Kerri Seales is a WW member at the WW Studio in Carle Place, New York. Learn more about her weight-loss journey and get inspired!

Answers have been edited f or clarity and length.

What made you start the WW program?

Kerri: Four years ago, I was newly engaged and absolutely terrified of getting married at 318 pounds. I had been obese my entire life and, sadly, never before had found a good enough reason to finally take control of my life. My upcoming wedding served as my anchor to stay consistent and never give up. I joined WW and have lost 100 pounds.

What is your favorite thing about WW?

Kerri: My favorite thing about WW is that whatever season you are in in life, what ever reason you joined WW, they will meet you there. My WW family at Workshops is always there to provide me with guidance and support through my most rewarding and challenging times. I have never felt alone, never feared failing — because there is always someone to lift me back up and remind me how far I have come. This program has brought so many amazing people into my life — from my WW Coaches to my fellow members. There's endless amounts of inspiration and motivation.

What excites you the most about the new customized myWW program?

Kerri: The myWW program fits my personal life style. People change and evolve, and we have different needs at different points in life. With myWW, the plans are customized and can change with us. The myWW plan provides structure without telling us how we have to implement that structure. I am on the Green Plan which means that I have 100 ZeroPoint food options of any food I choose without sacrificing my favorite things. (WW's proprietary SmartPoints™ system simplifies complex nutritional information into a simple number to easily guide your eating decisions to support weight loss. 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.) I love it!

How has your local WW Studio helped you in your weight-loss and wellness journey?

Kerri: My WW family at my local studio in Carle Place, New York, is what I owe a majority of my success to. It's wonde rful to have support from family, friends, your spouse — but having a family of like-minded people surrounding you who just "get it" is absolutely everything. I owe it to both my fellow members in the Workshops, and the amazing members I have met on the internet — specifically on Instagram and Connect (WW's community within the WW app) — for befriending me, supporting me and lifting me up.

Follow Kerri on Instagram at @fashionfitfoodie__

Do you have any favorite WW Workshops or Coaches?

Kerri: Elyse Silver — I owe me walking into that first Workshop and coming back each week to her. Her bright, bubbly personality — and her little "Elyse-isms," as I call them — always made me think. The weeks I didn't believe in myself, she did. And when I did well, it was as if she did, too. She is the ultimate cheer squad, and I am forever grateful for everything she has done to help me reach my true potential.

What do you look forward to at your weekly Workshop?

Kerri: I love hearing about the obstacles people faced during the week — and the excitement in their voices when they share how they overcame them. I love hearing about low-SmartPoint food finds, too! Sharing recipes and information makes this journey that much easier!

What are the best nutrition and/or fitness tips you've picked up on?

Kerri: Nothing is off limits when it comes to food, whether you enjoy what you want in moderation or make slight modifications to make it more SmartPoint-friendly. I also love 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.) A few of my favorites are skinless chicken breast, salmon and corn. This allows me to indulge in foods that I love.

What is something about WW that surprises your friends or loved ones most when they hear you are on it?

Kerri: I enjoy waffles with powdered sugar and syrup at least three days a week. My family and friends who are not on WW are typically shocked and probably assume I am "off plan" when they see those things on my Facebook. But the reason myWW works for me is that I can get creative in the kitchen, and I've learned how to adapt any food I love into a healthy, SmartPoint-friendly alternative.

For my waffles, I use one egg, two tablespoons of flapjack mix, one teaspoon of vanilla extract and one mashed banana. Mix it well, pour into my waffle iron and voila! I enjoy it with a quarter-cup of sugar-free maple syrup and a dusting of confectioners sugar replacement. That waffle is only one SmartPoint on the Blue and Purple plan and 3 on the Green plan.

What is your favorite ZeroPoint food and favorite treat?

Kerri: Oddly enough, my favorite ZeroPoint food is apples. Before WW, I never kept fruit on hand, but now I buy a bag of apples every week and really enjoy them — especially with some peanut butter!

My favorite treat is ice cream. I have always had a sweet tooth, and now they have so many lower-calorie ice creams on the market. My favorite are the Greek yogurt bars and pints by Yasso and Enlightened.

What is your favorite local hot spot for a healthy meal? Or to indulge?

Kerri: Growing up on Long Island, diners were always my go-to. I used to go every weekend with my family, and now I'll go after a busy work day with my husband. The Hicksville Diner just feels like home, the staff is great and they alw ays remember us. They have the best menu, and the best thing about a diner is you can have it your way! I usually order the chargrilled chicken breast and ask them to hold the mozzarella. The meal comes with veggies and a sweet potato.

I also treat myself to fast food once a week. Staying on plan while eating from my favorite fast-food chain is easy because right in the WW app, there is a restaurant guide which gives you all the SmartPoints for places like Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Panera, Wendy's, etc.

What is your advice to others who want to lose weight but don't know how to get started?

Kerri: Don't wait. All you have to do is get started, sign up online — walk into a Workshop and you will be welcomed with open arms. And don't worry about how long it will take to lose the weight. Every day you wait is another day of your life passing you by. Just take it one day at a time. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Small changes over time add up to big results.

< p>The food you choose to fuel your body is what is most important. Make yourself proud. That's what kept me going, each week seeing progress — each week, I strived to do better than myself the week before. I was my only competition.

Beyond the weight loss, how has WW affected your lifestyle and your approach to wellness?

Kerri: My confidence. You should see my closet, I mean — I liked to shop before losing the weight, but it is so much more fun now. My closet is packed with bright colors, out-of-the-box styles, dresses and, dare I say, crop tops! My confidence has driven me in the path of so many wonderful opportunities I never saw for myself.

As far as wellness goes, I now choose foods that make me feel good — not because I have to but because I want to. I pick zucchini noodles over traditional pasta because after eating a full bowl of zoodles, I still have plenty of pep in my step and don't get that overly "full" feeling! Taking care of me — mind body and so ul — is now what is most important to me.

What is your New Year's resolution?

Kerri: I want to grow. On a personal level, I have become more myself these last four years than I ever was before. I am hopeful, focused and unbelievably driven. Even though my weight loss has been a winding road lately, I am still on the road, and I am so proud of that. I'm still here.

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 New York City-Area Studio!