Feel like you’ve been having a harder time staying healthy or losing weight since becoming a mom? You’re not imagining it: Some parts of parenthood make sticking to a healthier routine even more of a struggle, despite your best intentions. When you’re juggling busy schedules and picky eaters at your table, finding a weight-loss strategy that works with your life instead of against it can be tough.
Which is why the all-new WW PersonalPoints™ Program is so unique. The flexibility and personalization make it easier than ever for moms to jump-start a healthier lifestyle—and actually stick with it—no matter what their day-to-day is like.
Here’s a closer look at why it’s so hard in the first place—and how WW can help:
Ever-shifting schedules.
Even if we try to stick to a predictable routine and eat at regular intervals, a long work Zoom here, a teacher’s conference day there, plus the usual onslaught of to-do’s will somehow inevitably throw a wrench into our best-laid plans. It’s what makes flexibility an important quality in any mom-friendly weight-loss plan.
Why WW: For Erin, a mom of two who recently went back to school, having an easy-going plan that works with her (erratic!) schedule is key. As a WW member, she’s lost 65 pounds*. “The PersonalPoints™ Program has just really elevated WW for me. It’s made it part of my life to have days where I do well and I eat well and I add a little exercise,” she explains, even though there are inevitable days “where I have to study, I’m behind my desk, I want a few more snacks when I’m studying, and I don’t get the exercise I need.”
WW gives Erin the wiggle room to have both, because on the days when she’s working out and piling on the veggies, she adds more points to her Budget. That helps cushion the days when she’s not able to get out for a walk or workout—without making her feel like she’s derailed her efforts or gone off-plan. “It’s made it very manageable, very easy to follow, and very easy to stick to,” she says.
★People following the WW program can expect to lose 1-2lbs per week.
Lots of events and activities (with lots of food and drinks!).
While last-minute schedule changes aren’t exactly the most fun parts of motherhood, celebrating and spending quality time with your kids definitely are—whether that’s going on a much-needed family vacation, hosting birthday parties, or commemorating your little one’s first lost tooth with a special meal. And where there’s family gatherings, there’s usually all the food and treats you love to eat.
Why WW: WW’s PersonalPoints™ Program leaves plenty of room in your Budget for doing the things you love with the people you love. No foods are banned or off-limits on this plan—everything’s on the menu! So you’ll never feel anxious about getting off-track when there’s a special event on the calendar.
“I’m able to go out and celebrate with my family,” says Erin. Going on road trips, she says she can enjoy the trip and the snacks, while being mindful of how what she eats fits into her points for the day. And even if she occasionally goes over those points and knows she’ll need to re-focus, she says, “it’s allowed me to live my life, enjoy foods that I love, but also to continue a downward trend on my weight.”
And perhaps best of all? The impact the Program has had on her body and mind. In her words, “through the tools that I’ve used and learned through WW, I’ve changed what goes into my body and changed the energy I put out. I feel healthier, not only just in my body, but mentally I feel open and clear and just have more energy and am enjoying everything that comes my way.”
Not-so-great-for-you daily habits.
From not getting enough water throughout the day to procrastinating sleep just to cross off that one last thing from your to-do list, sometimes it’s the little things that can throw off our whole-body health overtime. (Did you know research shows that skimping on sleep can mess with your hormones, which may lead to weight gain?).
Why WW: One way to stop the cycle? Get rewarded for incorporating healthy habits, like staying hydrated, into your routine—which is one of the highlights of the new PersonalPoints™ Program from WW. With it, you actually earn points for making smart wellness decisions—from drinking water to getting active—boosting your motivation and helping you stay on track at the same time.
“I was not good at getting enough water before the PersonalPoints™ program,” admits Erin. “It just wasn’t on my priority list. But now, it’s so convenient and easy to track on the new app that I can just go, ‘Oh, yeah, I had some water,’ and earn points.” And sleep procrastinators, you can even log your sleep patterns in the WW app to help you improve your sleep hygiene, too.
Extracurricular-loaded evenings.
You know how it goes: Ballet for your second grader starts at 4:45pm. Tennis for the middle schooler ends at 6pm. You split pick-ups with your partner, but by the time everyone is home, just the idea of figuring out what to make for dinner — and then actually, you know, making it — sounds as appealing as a cross-country road trip with cranky kids. Another pizza night, it is.
Why WW: Wouldn’t it be ideal for a healthy-ish dinner suggestion using what’s already in your fridge—along with a full recipe and how long it’ll take—to just appear in hand? That’s where the new “What’s in Your Fridge” recipe suggester in the WW app comes into play—and makes going with the better-for-you option that much more attainable. For Erin, the trend these days is more home-cooked meals. “Now, I say yes to fresh food that I didn’t try before. I say yes to experimenting in the kitchen. That was something that I didn’t do because I always said I was a bad cook. But with the recipes that WW has, I’ve gotten to experiment and make some of the recipes my own.”
Plug in what you have—chicken, rice, an about-to-go-bad eggplant—along with info like how many points you want to use, and boom! recipe idea. Week of playoffs and performances? The Meal Plan feature, also in the app, lets you pick from pre-made meal plans, including those with a family-friendly focus.
Getting the whole family on board.
While you may be up for trying a healthier eating program, everyone else in your house might be a little hesitant to switch up what they eat. And no one’s got time to deal with all the extra rallying.
Why WW: Unlike programs that are one-size-fits-all, WW’s PersonalPoints™ Program is completely tailored to you, with your own personalized ZeroPoint™ Foods list based on your favorites—foods like potatoes, avocado, whole wheat pasta, and oatmeal—and what you like to serve your family.
As Erin says, “I’m able to enjoy my avocados, my black beans, and make my fajita night festive and still feel like comfort food.” And even if you’ve made sure to include some family must-haves on your ZPF list (your ZeroPoint™ foods), don’t be surprised if your kids want in on some of the new stuff, too. “I love that I get to show my kids healthy habits and cooking tricks I’ve picked up. I love that they’re now involved in the kitchen and that they enjoy being part of this.”
