09/02/2025
I talk with Millie Snyder about her mission of helping people reach better health. She shares how the Mediterranean lifestyle focuses on eating fresh food from the land, the same way people have done for centuries. Millie explains that this way of eating helps people live longer with less disease and medication. She stresses that while it can be more challenging in Appalachia where food traditions often rely on lard or bacon grease, it is possible to seek out healthier options.
Millie talks about how she teaches this lifestyle through group support sessions held at Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church in Charleston. She says the community aspect helps people stay motivated, just like in her early experiences with Weight Watchers. Her story begins with her own struggle with obesity starting at age seven and a long history of failed diets. She recalls joining Weight Watchers in 1966 after being pushed into it by a boyfriend, feeling angry and skeptical at first. But when she began to see results, her attitude shifted and she found hope.
She became a leader in Maryland and Virginia, eventually qualifying to apply for a franchise with Weight Watchers International, which led her to West Virginia. Today she continues to focus on health through the Mediterranean lifestyle, emphasizing that people come for health and lose weight as a result. She says itâs about taking one step at a time and feeling good enough to keep going. To learn more, she directs people to the Mediterranean Mindset page or her weekly meetings, noting that the support and modest fees are worth the long-term changes.
Millieâs journey shows how persistence, support, and a focus on health can transform lives, and she invites anyone interested to connect and take the next step.
