I was doing everything right—exercising daily and eating well, but the number on the scale kept climbing. I felt like I was losing control of my own body. What I didn’t know was that the medication I had been prescribed had a side effect my doctor never warned me about: weight gain. It was so frustrating, and for quite some time, I became depressed and felt lost. No matter what I tried, I kept gaining weight.
My Wake-Up Call
My family went to visit my girlfriend at her lake house, and although she was once heavier, this visit she was in a bikini. I knew right then and there—that is what I wanted! This was the first step in my journey: accepting that I needed a new approach. She used WW (formerly Weight Watchers) and lost twenty pounds. For the first time in a long time, I felt inspired that maybe this could work for me, too. I literally signed up for the program in the car on the way home. I realized that with their technology, tracking, and accountability, I could regain control of my weight and health.
Why WW Worked for Me
The WW app was a game-changer in my journey. Unlike traditional calorie counting, WW uses a points system that assigns SmartPoints values to foods based on calories, protein, sugar, and saturated fat. You are assigned a daily point allotment based on your weight loss goals. This system helped me make better food choices without feeling deprived. The best part? There are so many zero-point (which means unlimited) and one-point foods that are delicious, making this journey easy. Everything is tracked on their app, right on your phone.
My Favorite Low-Point Foods
- Shrimp, smoked salmon, and veggies are zero points. Mentally, this made me feel good because I would eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and feel like I had a big win—not having to deduct my points that day. This allowed me to save up for my wine on the weekends.
- Best snack on WW – Popcorn! One of my absolute favorites. Eating one cup of Bud & Elsie’s Sea Salt popcorn is only one point, so I enjoyed that every day.
Key Features of the WW App That Helped Me
- Barcode Scanner – This was a lifesaver while grocery shopping. I could scan items to instantly see their SmartPoints value and decide if they fit into my daily plan. Biggest shock for me? Cauliflower crust pizza. I thought it was a healthy way to eat pizza, but one scan showed otherwise—and I never ate it again.
- Personalized Plans – The program customized my daily points based on my weight loss goals and lifestyle, making it easier to stay on track. I loved this because I could load up on zero-point foods and let the app track what I had left at the end of the week for a fun night out with my husband enjoying a few glasses of wine.
- Recipe Database – WW provided a vast selection of recipes on their app with SmartPoints already calculated, saving me time and effort. Funny story—I fed my kids WW recipes, and they loved them! But as growing teens who needed more calories, they laughed at me and said, “Mom, why do you have us on a ‘diet?’”
- Restaurant Guide – Eating out was less stressful because I could look up menu items from popular restaurants and track them easily.
- Activity Tracker – The app connected with my Apple Watch to sync my steps and workouts, encouraging me to move more and earn FitPoints (WW’s way of tracking exercise and earning points).
- Biggest tip: I did not let my FitPoints count against my SmartPoints. I stuck to my SmartPoints budget every day. In the back of my mind, I knew I had FitPoints as a cushion, but I treated them as my own personal bonus.
- Community Support – Having access to a supportive online WW community kept me motivated on tough days. I called WW many times at the beginning, asking, “Why isn’t this working?” They were always great, walking me in off the ledge until I started seeing results. And then, wow—it just fell off!
Tracking & Portion Control: The Game Changers
One of the most eye-opening moments was realizing how easy it was to underestimate portion sizes. Enter the digital food scale—a small, simple device that became my best friend. Measuring my portions accurately made all the difference in staying within my points budget. I also used Portion Control Containers – These helped me visualize proper serving sizes for different food groups.
Movement: The Apple Watch Advantage
Exercise was always a part of my life, but I needed an extra push to stay consistent. My Apple Watch became my personal accountability partner. The ability to track my steps, workouts, and calories burned gave me tangible proof of my progress. Closing my rings every day became a powerful motivator.
Lessons Learned
With the help of WW and other tech tools, I gradually lost almost 40 pounds. It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but the combination of tracking, portion control, and movement made it possible.
My biggest takeaways:
- Tracking is empowering, not restrictive – The WW app made logging food effortless and educational.
- Portion sizes matter more than we think – Using a food scale and portion-control tools helped me avoid overeating.
- Technology makes accountability easier – From my Apple Watch nudging me to move to WW keeping me mindful of my points, I always had a support system.
- You don’t have to do it alone – The WW community and other digital support groups made my journey feel more achievable.
Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling with weight gain—whether from medication, lifestyle changes, or anything else—I highly recommend leveraging WW, their app, and digital tools to make the process easier. From tracking food to staying active and keeping yourself accountable, the right apps and gadgets can make a world of difference.
Have you used WW or other technology to support your health journey? I’d love to hear what worked for you!