Every 12 weeks, a new NSU’s Weight Watchers session, open to students, faculty and staff, begins. The first session of this year began on Jan. 19, but interested participants are welcome to join at any time.
Kathy Shaffer, human resources analyst II in the Office of Human Resources, said it costs $156 for 12 weeks. Each Thursday, from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m., a Weight Watchers leader talks to participants about different topics, like how to eat out at a restaurant. They also have a weigh in.
“Weight Watchers is on a point system. They teach you how to calculate points with everything you eat. You only get so many points per day depending on your weight, height and age. You also get an additional 49 points for the week, which you can use however you want,” Shaffer said.
However, Weight Watchers is more than just a point-system. Shaffer said it teaches you how to eat food that is not prepackaged. You also learn how to make the right choices, like when you are eating at a restaurant.
Caitlin Ballback, manager of clinical services at NSU, said, “With Weight Watchers they leave it up to you. You get to set a balance for the day and the goal is don’t overdraft. You make the decisions.”
Participants get a book that has most of the food groups and explains how the program works, how you keep track of your points. The book also shows comparisons between different food choices and lists healthy recipes.
Shaffer said, “It’s not a diet, a pill or surgery. It’s a lifestyle change. That’s the key.”
Anyone interested in joining Weight Watchers can email Kathy Shaffer at kathbart@nova.edu.
