Take this with a grain of salt, ya'll. We all have to do what works for us. I get comments every day about this, so I thought I would address it.

I think programs like WW and Noom are good for educating your choices, but shouldn't be allowed to dictate your life. Once you know about caloric density and which foods make you feel healthy, you don't need the Points guardrails. For someone like you who didn't grow up eating a lot of veggies, the program helped you adjust your habits and tastes. It served its purpose. As always, thank you for your thoughtful, gentle manner of addressing the subject!

Aaaaannnd again...knocked it outta the park, Girlie. You just make so MUCH sense!

I'm 70 years old, healthy, and I NEVER eat breakfast! I just have my coffee and I'm good. My feeling is if you are hungry in the morning go ahead and have something but don't force yourself to eat if you don't really want it.

Good on you girl! Listening to those hunger cues and respecting your body's intuitive way of eating 🙌🙌

I love your thoughts sooo so much. I appreciate your thoughts and perspective. Thank you for sharing!

I did figure you were moving away from WW since you weren't posting WW content. I'm sorry to see it go because you were one of the only (if not the only) WW content creator who seemed to have similar values to mine in terms of natural foods. Fitting that whole milk dairy in is hard! lol I'll miss the WW content, but I thank you for it. You're such a pleasure to watch that I'll continue to stick around!

When I was a child/teen my mother was one to food shame and weight shame me. I remember "dieting" by eating one sourdough pretzel for lunch, that was it, dinner was a salad. I swore then I would NEVER do that to my kids. Despite the fact that I have never said anything to my kids, my middle daughter (15 yrs old) has it in her head that she's "fat." She is no where near heavy. It's worse to be a kid now, with all this social media telling the kids how to look and act. And yes, they hear everything that is said. You may not think they're listening but they are! Lol Thank you for your honesty in this video. I love your videos and subbed a few weeks ago. I'm getting caught up on back videos now. Thanks for sharing!

As a board certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC) your message with this video is SPOT ON! And why so many, for lack of better words, relapse with their dietary changes is because it is ultimately a lot of work. I love the laid back approach that put emphasis on enjoying life first while still making conscious and mindful decisions! Excellent work and video.

You are on the mark in your thinking. Enjoy your kids. This is an extremely important time of life. Don't miss out! You know the plan, don't stress if you slip up occasionally. There are several of my WW friends that are leaving. WW immediately fired some of our longtime receptionists when covid started. Zooms have been stressful for many. Now our leader has "retired", so everything is different. Although this is a mind game I really miss the healthier program from the past. Not sure if I'll continue or fly alone.

You are so right! As the mother of 27, 30 and 32 year olds, you will not look back and have feels about your weight. You will cherish the baseball and recital memories. You are right in the middle of the best times of being a mom. Soak it in!

Mindy, you're so right, life is short and it will pass you by! The worst thing we can do is obsess about everything! We need to give our worries /cares to the Lord daily! Yes, we should take care of ourselves but we don't need to obsess about it. I know this is easier said than done because I struggle as well with this.The real question I asked myself sometimes is what legacy will I leave behind for those that love/ know me? The best lesson in life is to love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul and love others! We're so obsessed in this culture with beauty and we fall prey to it and we feel like we have to fit in some how!! We need to be more concerned about the eternal things instead of the temporary things in this life! I am a 45 year old Christian woman and sometimes I don't even think people realize that I have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I think I should be more concerned about where people spend eternity than what size pants I wear!

Kids are going through so much right now they don’t need the pressure of looking this way or that way. I totally agree with your thinking. Good for you !❤️

When I watch your videos I feel like you are able to put into words what I am feeling/thinking so much better than I could. Wow! Yes to a lot of what you said.

I have reached the age (thankfully!) that I do what is right for me, even if it isn't popular. Thank you for being honest.

I love this!!! Diet culture is TOXIC. So glad you are being reasonable and wise. Very wise.

What a thoughtful video this is. You have such good perspective. Sadly I have never really developed this mindful approach - i am very much all or nothing, and either I am eating healthfully and tracking OR I am not tracking and I am selecting garbage food all day long - the tool keeps me on the rails. Somehow I can’t quite get it wired in my brain yet. I don’t know why it is this way! But I am hopeful that as I go, I can become more peaceful with my choices like you have.

Hi Mindy! Just discovered you 😍. I’ve been a WW devotee for over 30 years (1985). I’m 57, started very young and don’t regret it one bit. I’m separating for many of the same reasons. And should have long ago for the remainder of your reasons. I’m not better than the program. It has taught me so much about nutrition and emotions. However, in this chapter, I will eat avocado and not be reprimanded with a points deficit. I will use olive oil, avocado oil, whole fatted grass fed milk and yogurt, grass fed butter, homemade desserts over chemical bombs. My weight should be 146. I normally weigh comfortably at 140. I’m 153 currently, More so than ever, I’ve been struggling with food RULES that don’t currently apply to me. I’m left defeated and watching that stupid scale graph bar shooting straight up in the air. Not today. No more. WW meetings left me with a huge void. I won’t mention why here, I feel somewhat guarded with my candor. Today I am empowered to act on my own. After all these years, I will always calculate the risks my food choices will leave on my frame. But I don’t have to run to my phone, a meeting, or pass on a lemon cello martini (1) with my hubby on a dinner date 😉 Thank you for telling your true feelings You encouraged me to recognize my true feelings. Now let’s live large and in charge! Metaphorically 😅

I like your honesty with it Mindy. Honestly I’ve been slowly getting into the habit of just choosing healthier options. Counting and weighing was kind of messing with my mind and not really bettering my habits. I like hearing that you are also doing so for the sake of your kids and not pushing the diet mentality.

Years after you made this video, and it's still relevant! I joined WW after years of debating it, but for all the reasons you mentioned, I've decided to stop. ❤

Hi Mindy, WW or not I enjoy your videos. I am a WLS patient and because of the stay at home order I can't make the zoom meeting as the are on my work hours but WW has them on the weekends. I am a few weeks short on one year and have lost over 80 lbs. Keep up the good work and like you say "see you in the next video"

Love this,

Great video

Good insights! Love the neighborhood walks...fun to see all of the different houses.

Loved this video. Totally agree about tracking. I have done WW several times and love the program but yes tired of tracking then I have tracked with My Fitness Pal and Loose it. All good tools but I eat well and yes have some bad habits so I made the same decision about a week ago. Keep moving and eat well. Life is good and as my hubby says.....you women are too hard on yourselves lol.

Good Morning Mindy, I'm right there with you. I hit maintenance almost 3 years ago and just have been making good decisions for myself and my family. I got rid of the app immediately and took everything that I learned and went from there. I really love your channel and what's its grown into I have unsubscribed from so many channels that I was following when I was on WW just because it kind of stresses me out to hear about the struggles, the ups and downs and the frustrations. So your channel is a breath of fresh air and I feel like I get so much from you. I too have a family and just want content that I can incorporate into my every day life. And you must be doing something right, your channel has really grown so much over this past year, yay. So keep doing what you do, I appreciate it

It seems like I blinked and my 2 children grew up and now they have children. It goes by so fast so enjoy every moment. I’m so tired of dieting and WW. I’ve been off and on and then up and down with my weight( up now) I know it’s my fault not the program. So I’m hoping that I can learn to just make good choices. I’m definitely an emotional eater so I need to take care of that. Thanks for this video

Good for you! Thank you for realizing the possible negative impact it can have on your kids. This is why I hated my kids wrestling. So much emphasis on weight and dieting and getting screamed at if their weight wasn’t low enough. I think the sport is great except for that aspect of it.

Amen to this !!♡♡

You seem so much happier! Enjoy your food life unapologetically 😊! it looks great.

WW is a great way to learn and practice new habits so you can be more successful when you're not on a formal program. I've learned a lot from you, Mindy! I've made room in my WW plan for regular treats and things like real butter. Since I'm only about 8 pounds from my goal I've started thinking a lot about how I will set and adhere to my own boundaries after WW. I think my best boundaries will be sticking to the standard serving size for anything that would have costs points on WW and relying on fruits and vegetables to fill me up (a huge side of steamed broccoli with my one grilled cheese sandwich), act as a treat (unsweetened applesauce after dinner), or make up a low point/zero point meal to balance out a planned meal higher in calories (giant pot of turkey chile or chicken & veggies soup). I've never been a huge desert person, but I've always been a second helping person...applesauce has been helping me curb that itch!

This was probably my favorite video from you. A lot of things I just needed to hear right now ❤️ Thanks, Mindy :)

Mindy I really appreciate your honesty, and completely agree with you on what we can show our children with our own food obsession. Thank you for taking the time to share!

I learned a lot from WW but honestly do not plan to count anything for life. I've learned healthy habits and reduced fast foods and convenience foods. Shopping is easier and family meal planning is easier, as I realized I was allowing WW food rules to dictate how and what my family ate, and not for the good. I'm watching portions, eating veggies and still lots of zero point foods (because WW doesn't own those!) and eat when hungry. Down 6 lbs this month.

I just discovered your channel! It's so refreshing to finally find an intelligent, interesting channel.they seem to be few and far between..blessings ☺

This was such a lovely video Mindy! It really hit home about addressing the issues with food and understanding WHY we want to eat certain things. Every holiday season I always have a gain come the first of the year, and I typically beat myself up over it. But I’ve come to realize it’s just a cyclical thing and happens because I’m merely enjoying that season each year with family and friends and the treats that come along with it. Treats that I and others have prepared with love to share. And I’m going to embrace that from now on instead of looking back on it as a negative thing. Thanks so much for your honesty at this stage of your life! I enjoyed hearing your perspective today 😊

This is an amazing video! 🙌🏻Proud of your thinking! Little habit changes is key. Love your mindset.

your channel and frugal fit mom are my favorites- I admire both women who prioritize family and live a balanced common sense life and of course share their rock star meals! Much thanks Mindy and Christine if you're watching!

Thank you for your honesty! I did find your channel bc of WW, but I just enjoy your presence. The fact you’re not doing WW anymore doesn’t matter to me!

Good topic today! I needed to hear this. Thank you Mindy 😊

Thanks for keeping it real!! I will be watching this video over and over. I really needed this, thank you so much 😊🌈🌷

Good morning Mindy from the west coast. Once again you bring realness, authenticity and honesty to your channel. I find you a breath of fresh air in a sometimes very toxic digital world. Thank you for reiterating that as your children get older they pick up on more than we realize so exchanging "diet" for "nutrition" is one of the lessons we as parents/guardians/grandparents need to impart. Congratulations on altering your health journey, may it be filled with adventure.

I adore you friend! You’re someone I look up to very very much! You’re so real and when you share what works for you and what doesn’t you say it in such a loving and peaceful way!

Good for you girl! We must all keep our boundaries in tact.My oldest is 37 yrs old time sure does fly.Enjoy every minute of your lives.Dinner looks yummy!

You are so right about this journey being a lot of work. I know I wouldn’t have had time to do all this when my kids were busy at home. Family first and I’m sure you know how to stay in balance. Great attitude!

I love this. While I don't have kids, I have many friends and family members that have kids. I'm always weary of mentioning anything about calories or dieting or body image around them, even if the parents do. I grew up being told that I should look a certain way, even though my body shape was not conducive to that image. I think that what you're doing will help your kids be aware of nutrition in a healthy way and adopt good habits at a young age. I love love love your approach. Thanks for the share!!

I totally hear you in this video, Mindy. I've chilled out a lot on all this dieting stuff for all the reasons you are talking about here. We only get so long with our kids, for sure, and they really do hear us talking about it. You are so right!

I get you girl! I’ve been on and off Weight Watchers about 4 times in the course of my 56 years. I use it as a reset and that is how it works for me. The education I get when I rejoin is very helpful but I am not a meetings person and don’t like going each week. I actually dread it. I use a lot of the tips and tricks and am very motivated to lose weight while on the program but I also live with someone who likes gourmet food and so it’s all about moderation. Alcohol, sweets and snacks....it’s my battle too and one I have to actively try to conquer and plan for each day. I love your honesty.

I love your videos. You have such a great attitude and presence. My kids are grown so I know how fast that time goes by. Enjoy them!

I love your channel. I started watching because I was on weight watchers and wanted ideas on what to eat but I have learned your channel is more than that. I love your grocery hauls and what you make with those groceries. I’m not on weight watchers anymore for much of the same reason. Keep making videos you like to make. I’ll be watching.

Thank you for your transparency. It is refreshing.

I so understand your thought on this! Very good reasoning about thinking about what our kids take in from us! Love your videos!

These are excellent tips, thank you!

Oh I cannot wait until I lose enough weight that I can take on your mindset! I absolutely adore you, and your way of thinking and doing for your family is spot on!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I appreciate it! I believe we all need to focus on what works for us as individuals. Keep doing whatever makes you feel good!

Great video Mindy, I really respect you making this decision, and like you noted you had no medical need to be dieting. Quality time with your family is all that matters, realizing that you may be influential in possibly creating food cautions with your children was very wise, and a sign of your great parenting. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.

Good for you! So much healthier for kids! Being active and eating a balance of foods so much better for kids! I love it!

Thank you SO much for this video! I literally woke up thinking about the on/off of dieting. There is no cheating when you are just dealing with a healthy lifestyle. I absolutely feel the same way you do and it’s really nice to hear someone else voice it.

Good for you! This is amazing and I love this reasoning.

Love your and love your wisdom! It always comes at a perfect time, like you're speaking straight to something I've been concluding myself ❤️

What a refreshing video , thank you ,we as women always beat ourselves up over our weight and what we are eating , and you are right we waste so much time absorbed in this with life passing us by . I’ve gotten to the age where I don’t care about the scale anymore and just do the best I can , just like you seem to be doing . Kudos !❤️

This is such a great video! I have had the same thoughts with kiddos! Thanks for your honesty, as always! 💕

Best video you’ve done! Thank you for your honesty. I’ve got a few habits that need to be addressed too (grazing/snacking).

I love how “real” you are! I will continue to follow you...you do you!

Fantastic Video! I’m 64 years old and I went on my first diet at 11 yrs. old, following in my mom’s footsteps. I’ve spent my life on and off every diet & “eating lifestyle” out there. Wish I had your mindset years ago. I missed so much of my life being focused on calories, carbs, points. Eat this not that, watch the number on the scale, get that 30 min of exercise in. Ugh!!!! What a waste! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Hold on to your current mindset! You rock Mindy! Way to go! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

When Weight Watchers decided to change their name to 'WW', I lost a lot of respect for their executives. Especially since post-'name-change' all articles print it like: WW (f/k/a Weight Watchers) so WHAT WAS THE POINT? It's like 'New Coke' -- SMH.

I had to stop in the middle of this to type this comment because I was so overwhelmed by your gratitude and self-awareness and general respectfulness for the gift of life and I’m so happy for you 🥰 it seems like you have thought a lot about your impact on your world and the impact of the world on you and I’m tearing up with joy for you and wish you all the best in these next few crazy years. Thank you for spreading thoughtfulness and gratitude on your channel every week. I’ll be right here waiting for it 😊

Thank you for sharing!! I am currently trying to address my habits. I am 100% a grazer being a sahm. 😬

Bless you mama! You are so real 🥰

Love this video! My thoughts exactly, but hard not to refer to points. 😕. I live in BA. It is fun to recognize some of the buildings in the distance while you are walking. Keep the videos coming!

Great video! I agree with your point about addressing habits. I have used WW with success several times over the years. However, I have noticed that it is possible to eat in a very unhealthy way and still lose weight. I appreciated your videos because they did focus on healthy cooking and eating while using the WW program. I completely understand your need to shift away. My family needs to focus on more plant-based, Whole Food options for a variety of reasons. Skipping the counting and just getting the right food on our plates can be so freeing.

Thank you for pointing out the part of those programs that are supposed to help you change bad habits. There are so many WW (and other programs) followers out there that swindle any zero point food. The thing that has helped me the most is turning away from those franken-foods and eating a diet focused on whole food wherever possible. Love your videos and appreciate the meal ideas 😊.

Thank you for this honesty. I was very successful with WW a few years ago and like you said I was finding so many artificial substitutes and not addressing my habits. I stopped WW and gained all of the weight back. My doctor and I discussed making healthy choices and changes without a strict plan and so far it is working. She wants me to focus on how I feel rather than a number on the scale which I love because how I feel is what drives all of my habits.

Great video- you and your family are what is important so you need to do what is best and I applaud your decision. You are an excellent role model for your family.

Great video Mindy ! I did WW for a year and I learned a lot about my mistakes in food choices that I consistently made that caused my weight gain. I did WW for one year and I got really tired of tracking everything I ate. I also was buying more and more of the artificial sweetened treats which is horrible for you. I am allowing myself to have real sugar in my coffee and real desserts; just small portions ! One thing I can’t give up is an occasional diet soda and I am so excited to see Cherry Coke Zero back on the shelves ! Got a case this week !

I agree that , for me, substituting fat free or sugar free things in large quantities does not address needing those particular foods in my life.

Oh my gosh- I needed this in way I didn’t realize I needed. Thank you for this. My kids are also in a fun age and despite my constant searches for easy meal prep- I feel I overcomplicate food so much that I’m missing meal time with the kids! Love your channel.

SO well said!! "I feel like I'm living the years right now that down the road I'll wish I could live over again." YESSSS!!! If only I were as wise as you are when I was in my 30s. 'Hind sight' really is 20/20. Good for you!!!!

👊🏼🙌🏼. This. Is. Me. Right. Now. No diet talk in my house. Ever. Don’t want my kids to hear that.

😀Great attitude! Thanks for your honesty and I know how freeing this can be since I've been dieting on & off in some form my whole adult life 😐with those 10-15 lbs. Looks like you are still eating very healthy too! 💞

Fantastic video.So many great points. Thank you.

You are a lovely lady! Enjoy your kids & family life! I loved this video!

I am tired of counting points, weighing and measuring. When I am through with my subscription in June with WW I am going to follow my instincts and things I’ve learned.... I need a break and with the world so crazy I can’t count food anymore! Thanks for your insight and for your blogs. I so enjoy your site.

Hi Mindy, love your channel and your honesty. I totally agree with your thoughts around dieting. Thanks for sharing.

I totally agree with what you said at the end about changing your habits! I feel like that's one of the big problems with diet culture today. There are so many zero-calorie or zero-point options that can just replace the junk food we were eating before starting a diet, instead of giving us the opportunity to evaluate and change our habits. I think it's much healthier to eat the full calorie/sugar foods that we love in moderation than to replace them with foods that often have even more additives and mystery ingredients.

Enjoyed this blog& what you have to say- the habits are a great point thanks

You are in what I call the WW Zone. You have learned healthy eating and now you are intuitively eating better without having to track. That's what I tend to do. Yes, my weight fluctuates but I get back to watching it when I need to.

I agree with you on the “diet culture” stuff. My husband and I are both overweight and working at losing it. However, we NEVER use the term fat in our house to describe someone or ourselves. We are making better choices FOR US to be healthy but no food is inherently “bad”. It’s just you have to eat certain things in moderation. It’s helped to teach my kids what healthy foods are that are nourishing their bodies, but also that they can have treats and not feel guilt over it.

It is sad to see you go from WW as you gave good, realistic choices that were also family meals, not where you made separate for yourself. I would say if you are concerned about the impact of 'diet' talk on your family, I might also add that being part of social media may take a toll on them. It is fabulous to take more time with them as they are starting up in all activities, but if I could caution the videos and 'talking to your phone', as opposed to being in the NOW for them. I understand this channel is now an income stream for you and you will make the necessary decisions, just want you to be truthful about your needs and connect more with the family and maybe a little less on line. You have a nice channel and I want you to remain relevant and true. All the best to you and the family.

I understand how you feel. Since leaving WW I am less pressured about points. I count calories sometimes but I’m eating healthy. I enjoy your videos. Others I follow have also left WW. Enjoy your kids. It goes by so fast.

You have this follower’s support! Thanks!

I freaking LOVED this video! You are right on! I think of the same things with my little one and find that I am watching what I say around him now. I also don’t want to keep sweets and treats out of our diet/lifestyle but they take so many points, even when you make them from scratch and as clean as possible. It’s become so hard to “eat all things in moderation” and still lose/maintain. For the most part we eat healthy but I’ve gained. I’m uncomfortable but not unhealthy. The last two times I was on WW, I completely dropped the program and gained all the weight back and then some. I’ve been lamenting over the fact that it feels like you either have to be all in or gain weight. And, being all in means hardly any treats which is not realistic. I too don’t want to “make do” with zero point cheesecakes or other dupes, mostly because of the ingredients. I don’t like FF or SF or quick fixes, bars, or mixes. For me it isn’t real food. WW for me has started to feel like deprivation with the food and guilt with the scale. I think this could be with any program? What do you all think? All I know is that I don’t want to be this weight but I can’t live happily, for very long, as a person or a mother within the confines of the points. How is everyone else handling it?

You’re very wise and your family is blessed to have you.

hi Mindy , I have not been watching your videos lately, just because I don't know if you were still on ww and some days I see you are just not following a plan . I enjoy watching you at times so I am still a fan Lol

Have you tried Dannon's Triple Zero Greek yogurt? It's my hands-down favorite because of the macros -- 17g protein, 8g net carbs, 3g fiber, 0 added sugar. (vanilla flavor is so good with granola/cereal!)

Hello check out Weight loss apocalypse with Robin she talks about breaking free from the diet culture

I loooove this much! Good for you for following your instincts!

I hear you in the joy of having older kids. Mine are 12 and almost 15, and they are so much fun! I kind of wish I could hit pause right here for a while. I'm trying to find some balance in my life regarding food too. My 12 yo daughter does not need to be hearing and internalizing my food and body issues. I think about that a lot.

I love your videos and to be honest I never liked those diet programs. To me while yes it's helping people it's very hard to stick to and I'm a very fluent person when it comes to what I eat or if I eat at all these days. So yes taking your eating habits into your own hands is the best advice you can give anyone 🖤👍🏾

There’s a time to diet and a time not to diet. You’re a smart lady, enjoy this season. 🤗