Rocking Retirement the Right Way

“ We have three children and five grandchildren. They’re all very proud of us. My grandchildren love the new me. ”

*People following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week.

A Newfound Passion for Life

Though he’s been retired for several years, you can forget that rocking-chair cliché. You’re much more likely to find Bruce in the saddle of his bike, at the gym, playing with his grandchildren or traveling the world with his weight-loss partner.

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From Denial to Success

Though he was in denial about his weight, Bruce’s wife, Rhonda, saw the need for change. After agreeing to attend Weight Watchers meetings with her, Bruce is now an active senior, 31 pounds lighter.

Staying on Track

Following the Weight Watchers plan, Bruce lost 31 pounds in about five months. He credits the program’s emphasis on portion control, tracking, and exercise for his success. “The biggest change was portion control,” he says. “Tracking and weighing food help me with that.”

A Lifetime of Health

Bruce and his wife have become Lifetime members of Weight Watchers. They continue to attend meetings weekly and weigh in every week. “If I weighed in just once a month, I’d be worried about getting off track,” Bruce says. “Now, if I gain one week, I know then and can adjust to where I need to be at the following week.”

Exercise and Healthy Living

Bruce and his wife exercise a lot, probably four to five times a week. They do spinning, yoga, self-defense, conditioning, and lift weights. They also like to do biking trips, having completed four trips ranging from 150 to 170 miles.

Tracking and Accountability

Bruce credits tracking and accountability for his success. He uses the Weight Watchers mobile app to track his food and exercise, and weighs in every week. “Tracking is one of the most important strategies,” he says. “If you don’t track, you don’t know what you’ve done.”

Favorite Foods

Bruce’s favorite foods include whole-wheat macaroni, fish, turkey meat, and chicken and turkey sausage. He also enjoys tapioca pudding, which he found at a supermarket and was only 1 PointsPlus value per serving.

Dining Out

Bruce and his wife do go out to eat on weekends. They’re careful about what they order, dividing large portions in half and only eating part of it. They also get one appetizer and one entrée to share.

Conclusion

Bruce’s story is a testament to the power of the Weight Watchers plan. With its emphasis on portion control, tracking, and exercise, it’s a program that can be successful for anyone, regardless of age or gender. By making healthy lifestyle changes, Bruce has not only lost weight, but has also gained a newfound passion for life.

FAQs

Q: What drove your decision to lose weight?

A: My wife and I travel a lot. When we returned from a cruise in the beginning of 2011, she suggested that we both lose 10 pounds before our planned biking trip in the Italian Alps. I told her I didn’t need to lose weight. Knowing I really did, she dragged me kicking and screaming to my first Weight Watchers meeting. I’m glad she did.

Q: How easy was this Plan to pick up and sustain?

A: It was mostly a cinch. The biggest change was portion control. Tracking and weighing food help me with that. We still go to meetings every week. I find them to be very important. They reinforce everything you’ve learned.

Q: How did your weight-loss partnership work?

A: We cook together. We shop together. I weigh the food with a Weight Watchers scale so we know exactly how it’s going to fit into our program. She cooks. I bake. We downloaded a bunch of recipes from WeightWatchers.com and put them in a loose-leaf folder.

Q: Is this a Plan that men can thrive on?

A: It’s not a diet. That’s the first thing. I’ve never dieted in my life. This is just a change of the way you view things — the way you think, the way you live. Anyone can be successful if he follows this program. It works. The keys are to be accountable, portion control and exercise.