After
| Name |
Rob |
| Age |
30 |
| Height |
5'9" |
| Was |
267 lbs |
| Lost |
71 lbs* |
| Weight |
196 lbs |
| As of |
7/7/2012 |
Before
“ Weight Watchers Online is perfect for men — it lets guys eat like guys. ”
*People following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week.
Coming from an Italian family, Rob always found big feasts and heaping portions to be a part of life. He didn't think that he had unhealthy eating habits — it was just the way he was brought up. He never paid attention to his waistline either until a visit to the doctor revealed that he was at his heaviest weight ever and consequently at increased risk for diabetes, heart disease and other ailments associated with excess weight.
After some helpful nudging from his girlfriend, Rob decided to try Weight Watchers Online for Men. Six months later, Rob is looking and feeling better than ever. The lighter, leaner New Englander started the party by running his first 5K race, not to mention proposing to his girlfriend.
WeightWatchers.com: What made you decide to start losing weight?
Rob: I had been overweight my entire life. During a routine doctor’s visit, I stepped on a scale for the first time in years. I was shocked to see that I was 267 pounds. I was a bit scared at that point, being only 27 at the time. My mother had been doing Weight Watchers with great success and, inspired by her and encouraged by my girlfriend (now fiancée), I decided I needed to take control of my weight.
WeightWatchers.com: What was it like getting started?
Rob: Like most guys, I love food and I love to eat, so I was reluctant to join Weight Watchers at first. I didn't want to go to meetings. I didn't want to weigh in. I loathed the idea of having to say, “No thanks, I'm on a diet,” when offered dessert. My fiancée finally pushed me to try Weight Watchers, so I committed to doing Weight Watchers Online for two weeks via my mobile phone. I would give it two weeks of honest effort and, if I didn't see any results, I would give up. The first week, I lost almost 5 pounds, and by week two, I was down nearly 10!
WeightWatchers.com: How important was the help you received from your family?
Rob: My fiancée and my family are essential to the process. They see my dedication and my success and support me 100 percent by cooking Weight Watchers recipes and being very tolerant as I tap away on my iPhone tracking PointsPlus® values at the dinner table.
WeightWatchers.com: What advice would you give other guys who are trying to lose weight?
Rob: Weight Watchers Online is perfect for men—it lets guys eat like guys. Following the Plan online kept me focused on eating better and exercising. I tell everyone this: Weight Watchers has never made me feel like I was on a diet; I’ve never gone to bed hungry, and I’ve never felt deprived of anything. I eat more often than ever before, and I'm still losing weight. If I want something, I’ll eat it, but instead of three beers, I'll have one. Instead of a bacon-cheeseburger with fries, I'll have turkey and a side of veggies. The bottom line is that Weight Watchers Online lets you figure out the better choices for yourself. I feel a great sense of accomplishment because I feel like I did this on my own.
WeightWatchers.com: What were some of the eating habits that caused you to gain weight in the first place?
Rob: I never realized how unhealthy my habits were. If you had asked me at the time, I would’ve told you I was eating healthily, just too much. It wasn’t until I started tracking what I was eating every day that I learned a few things: I wasn’t eating nearly enough fruits and vegetables, and I was eating far too much of the fatty and greasy stuff. I come from an Italian family, so food is a big part of everything that we do. Every holiday is a big feast, and every time we come to visit, there's just a huge amount of food, and a lot of it is pretty rich and unhealthy. Right away when I started Weight Watchers, I realized I had to change some of these things. I started eating more frequently, but smaller meals. I still have a big appetite, but I realize that just making smarter choices throughout the day like eating more fruits and vegetables allows me to feel full and stay within my budget.
WeightWatchers.com: What role did fitness play in your weight loss?
Rob: I went from not working out at all to going to the gym five to seven days a week, so fitness played an integral part. I began running about a year ago. Now I can run 5 miles without stopping. In my first 5K race, I placed 70th out of 800 people, which is something I never could have done before.
WeightWatchers.com: Having just celebrated your 30th birthday, how does the year ahead look?
Rob: Thirty is looking great! It's going to be a really exciting year for me. I’m marrying the woman of my dreams and I feel more confident at work and in my personal life. I feel more physically fit. I sleep better. I feel better. The sky’s the limit at this point.