Weight Watchers Is Lifeline for Macomb Residents

For two Macomb County Weight Watchers members, losing weight meant more than celebrating a smaller dress size.

Macomb Township resident Judy Bricker no longer had the option whether or not to shed the pounds. 

“I knew I had to do it,” the 64-year-old grandmother said. “I had to make a change or I would just die.”

Bricker said that she has struggled with her weight all of her adult life, but this time she was not backing down. 

After being encouraged by Health Alliance Plan of Michigan (HAP), she joined Weight Watchers in 2007 and has lost 167 pounds with hopes to lose 33 more to reach her goal weight. 

“I am not giving up,” Bricker said. “I lost weight slowly but at a steady rate and I am determined to get where I want to be and stay there.”

Weight Watchers helped Bricker go from a size 6X to a size large in the four years she has been a member. She now can go to stores and shop instead of ordering everything from a catalogue. Along with a new wardrobe, Bricker said she feels like a whole new person.

“I caught myself in the mirror at a store and I almost said excuse me,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it was me.” 

Exercise plays a big role in Bricker’s weight loss. She said she works out every day for about 45 to 60 minutes. But the number on the scale wasn’t the most rewarding outcome of her weight loss.

“I now take one quarter of the medication I used to take,” Bricker said. “I couldn’t even tie my shoes before. I overall feel so much healthier and like I was born again.”

Weight Watchers Group President and CEO Florine Mark is proud of Bricker’s accomplishments.

“It is very difficult to change your lifestyle and to lose weight, but it can be done,” Mark said. “I did it. Judy did it. We have Weight Watchers members doing it every day in meeting rooms around the world.”

Chesterfield resident Danielle Bergen also did it by losing 50 pounds after starting the program in January of 2010. Although Weight Watchers was a lifeline to her own health, she said she also joined in order to help take care of others.

In addition to taking care of her three kids, the 41-year-old mom has also taken on the role of caring for her ill mother. Bergen said she needed to start taking better care of herself in order to be there for them.

“I can’t control if they will be okay, but I can make myself feel better about me and that helps me to help the ones I love,” she said. 

She first joined Weight Watchers to lose 25 pounds before her 40th birthday. After seeing fairly quick results, Bergen said she has now lost 50 pounds and is maintaining her weight.

Now a lifetime member, Bergen said she attends the Weight Watchers meetings a few times a month. She attributes these meetings to her weight loss. 

“The meetings definitely were what kept me on track,” Bergen said. “The leaders would provide recipes, exercises and other ideas that were extremely motivating.”

Bergen said the meetings could be done online, in person or both, but she highly recommends going to them in person regularly.

“I felt like I was more accountable when I went in for a self check and it felt good when I maintained my weight,” she said.

She added that the point system was without a doubt the reason she lost the weight. By learning the values of different food items, she could plan what she would eat whether she was at home or at a restaurant.

“I just love the program,” Bergen said. “It’s not a diet, it’s a new lifestyle. It’s about healthy meals and portion control.”

The active mom is now able to play more with her children and do different things without feeling self-conscious. Bergen said she is now more confident, energetic and overall feels better.

'Celebration of Success' Honors Participants, Benefits Food Bank 

To honor Bricker and Bergen along with other members who have collectively lost 10,000 pounds since joining the program, the Weight Watchers Celebration of Success is coming to Macomb County on June 6.

What has been running in Oakland and Wayne counties for years is now giving 174 Macomb county residents their time to shine. Only members who have lost a minimum of 50 pounds will be honored in front of the 700 people expected to fill The ConCorde Inn at 44315 Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township. 

The free and open-to-the-public event will also benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank, Mark said. Attendees are asked to donate what they can to the trucks parked outside the banquet room doors.

“There are 149,519 meals missed each day in Macomb County, according to Gleaners Community Food Bank,” she said. “Who better than a Weight Watchers member to give a little bit of help? We know the importance of having healthy food choices every day,” she said. 

Registration begins at 6 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m.

The night’s events will include the ceremony to honor members, health and beauty gift baskets raffles and free makeovers, Mark said.  

“Losing weight is not always easy but at Weight Watchers, we show members that they are not alone on their journey,” Mark said. “Every one of our staff understands the challenges and the people we are celebrating June 6 definitely understood those challenges.”