After joining WW (formally Weight Watchers) over
15 years ago, the opportunity I have been waiting for has finally arrived.
I am the newest employee of my WW franchise, Weight Watchers of Salt Lake City, also known as UWIN.
Let’s Rewind…
I
lost 130 pounds, I re-gained 80 pounds, and I’ve been able to lose 60.
When I originally lost 130 pounds, I was not able
to become an employee with WW. At that
time, WW followed the Body Mass Index (BMI) range for employee requirements,
which meant I needed to be 155-135 pounds.
I reached goal with a note from my doctor thus I only had to get down to
175 pounds to obtain my Lifetime membership with WW. Without being 155 pounds, I was not able to
become an employee because I had to also “look the part.” Throughout the years as the program has
evolved into more of a wellness program vs. just a weight loss program, WW has
relaxed a on the strict BMI requirement for employment and now accepts a doctor’s
note. While this was amazing news to
hear a few years ago, I was really far
from reaching the doctor’s weight.
Eventually I had to make the decision for myself
that I might never reach 175 pounds and spoke to my doctor about obtaining a
new note with a higher goal weight. We
both agreed that I’d like to be under 200 pounds and that I’d like to have
lost/kept off over 100 pounds. With this
seeming like a good fit, I put my new doctor’s note of 190 pounds on record
with WW.
Prior to the COVID-19 shut down, the territory
manager, as well as my own WW Coach Cindie, continued to encourage me to lost
the excess gain by reminding me that WW had their eye on me and wanted me to
join them as an employee. I came really
close to reaching that back in June when I was in the 192-pound range. Now that more studio locations are opening
for in-person workshops again, there is a need for employees.
On August 9, I received a very exciting email
from our WW franchise owner asking if I would be interested in employment with
WW. I knew this would be a little bit of
a scheduling difficulty as the need for WW Guides and Coaches is mostly Saturday
mornings between 0900-1100 and I get off work at 2am Saturday morning having to
be back to work at 4pm Saturday afternoon.
While not ideal, it was still an opportunity that I didn’t want to pass
up.
I sent back the employment interest application
and had and zoom meeting with the franchise manager. I received even more exciting news on
September 2;
“Hi Lindsay!
Though I’m still working out where
we’ll have you- WE WANT YOU!!
Welcome aboard!!”
My opportunity to work for WW has finally arrived and I
could not be more ecstatic and nervous at the same time. I start training on Monday at an
in-person studio where I will learn the ropes and get skilled in checking in
members, signing up new members, and answering the questions that go along with
being a WW Guide. I don’t know what the
future holds and where I will be for my actual studio assignment. I am staying as open and flexible as I can be
and taking on the challenges as they come.
I want to thank all the WW Guides (receptionists) and
Coaches (leaders) that have shaped my WW journey by being a tremendous support throughout
the years. There are so many wonderful
WW employees, both past and present, which are always there when you need
them. I can’t wait to be one of those people
and hope to provide a positive impact on current and future WW members.
