Weight Watchers | Table for Five

Read Farredeh Baughcum’s inspiring weight loss story in this month’s Good Housekeeping

June 8, 2010 By Elizabeth

When an assault left her mother paralyzed from the chest down, Farredeh Baughcum turned to food for comfort. She had two daughters, and her weight reached 187 pounds by January 2008. Her best friend invited her to attend Weight Watchers, and Farredeh threw herself into the program as well as a gym membership, losing 43 pounds in eight months!

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran a story about Baughcum’s success in March of 2009, and Good Housekeeping was so inspired by her story that they put her on the cover of the June 2010 issue!

With the help of her Weight Watchers meeting leader, Farredeh was able to incorporate a healthy new diet along with adding in physical activity to reshape her lifestyle. Her renewed way of living has also positively impacted her family and friends, making her a role model for her daughters – one of whom shares the magazine cover with her! Lately, instead of watching TV together, she and her husband take their daughters out for hikes and exercise together at home with dance music. Read Farredeh Baughcum’s inspiring weight loss story in this month’s Good Housekeeping!

disclosure: while the information in this post came from a press release, I received no compensation for posting it.

FINE. I’ll WALK. But only because Weight Watchers is making it so dang easy.

May 5, 2009 By Elizabeth

Weight Watchers, you win. If anyone is going to get me off the couch and moving, it’s you.

Weight Watchers announced the launch of The Momentum Walk-It Challenge, encouraging members to take a major step towards integrating more physical activity into their lives. Between April 12 and June 6 Weight Watchers members and Online subscribers will be able to join The Momentum Walk-It Challenge. Once a member joins or creates a walking team or signs up for a 5K event, they will get access to a free eight-week online training program â€“ to help reach an activity goal of walking a 5K.

The goal of The Momentum Walk-it Challenge is to show members how
worthwhile it is to get moving towards better health and will help
connect people into mini-social networks to walk together and train
towards an attainable goal. Walking is a great way to get moving, burn
calories and tone muscles.

I couldn’t find a walking group already formed in my area, so I just skipped that part and “ordered” the 8 week walking program. It asked me for my Weight Watchers online username and then up came my Monthly/Weekly/Daily training log powered by Active Trainer. Today’s walk? 15 minutes at intermediate intensity. I think I can handle that.

â€œActivity and group support are two of Weight Watchers four pillars of healthy weight loss,â€ said David Kirchhoff, President and CEO of Weight Watchers International, Inc. â€œOur program teaches members how to make activity part of their daily routine and stay active throughout their lives.â€

According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, adults can gain substantial health benefits from physical activity, including two and one half hours a week of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity like brisk walking, coupled with strength training activities.1 For those focusing on weight management, research has shown that 90% of people who have kept weight off successfully include regular activity in their lives.

So who’s with me? I have about 70 pounds to lose (no kidding) and I predict it will take me at least ten months to get all the way there. 8 weeks is just the beginning. Let’s get healthy together!