The Big Game!

Hola Amigos!

WOW- can you say SNOW... I mean BLIZZARD? I drove back from Provo at noon today (Monday) and truly almost cried. Without exaggeration, between Spanish Fork and Payson was virtually a white out. I sure hope you all are home safe and warm and can just hunker down for a while. UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Anyway- on to the exciting meeting topic this week- THE BIG GAME! Are you all ready and excited? This week we will be discussing the many different Offensive and Defensive strategies we need to WIN the big games (parties and celebrations) as we attend the Super Bowl and throughout the year. Come with your pens in hand and ideas ready to share.

The results of this weeks Blog survey are:
How much of your Weekly Points Allowance do you eat?
16% eat 0
8% eat 1-15
16% eat 16-25
58% eat 26-35

Short and sweet this week, and I'll leave you with this:

"You will never be the person you can be, if pressure, tension, and discipline are taken out of your life."

Dr. James G. Bilkey

Caught in the Act!

You know in meeting, I was sharing my really bad habit of BLT-ing myself to DEATH! Well, I just had to show you the picture of me being "caught in the act" of stealing super yummy brisket from my Dad's dinner plate on Christmas Eve! It is shameful I know, and I am getting a lot better... just watch out if you sit next to me at a meal! (FYI- My 91 year old grandmother, Marion, is next to me, my husband, David is across from me, my sister Aly and her husband, Darrin are next to David and my Mom is at the end)

Activity Poll Results

Alright here are the poll results from last week.

37% earn 1-10 Activity Points each week
31% earn 11-20 Activity Points each week
18% earn 21-30 Activity Points each week
12% earn 30+ Activity Points each week

Very interesting results. Remember that Weight Watchers recommends that you add 2 activity points a week until you reach 28. Go slow and BE KIND to yourself! But hey- get out there and give yourself something that no one else can- a healthier body!

Let go...

I just realized that it is Monday and I need to drop you all a note! I hope you are having a great long weekend. I am. We cleaned out the laundry room! The kids LOVED that one! hee hee :)

Anyway- this week we are going to talk about the wonderful and not-so-wonderful habits that we have acquired in our lives! Yes- we a going to delve into our week three materials and the 8 helpful habits. We will be examining the habits that we could maybe live without and some that we NEED to acquire! Come and have a great time.

Also, I believe that the Santaquin "At Work" meeting will be beginning this Tuesday. Yippee! Please contact the Santaquin City Offices for more information. We will sure miss you, Wednesday nights in Payson, but you will have the greatest time, and being close to home, will be a big bonus for many of you! Remember that you are always welcome in Payson. :)

Be sure to check out the recipes below and please keep sending them!

In closing remember,
"Your biggest break can come from never quitting. Being at the right place at the right time can only happen when you keep moving toward the next opportunity."
-Arthur Pine

Friday AM Payson Meeting

If any of you are interested in attending WW at ParkView Elementary in Payson, 7:30 am on Friday mornings, please contact Keri Glazier at ParkView 465-6010 or email Keri ( keri.glazier@nebo.edu ) with your name and phone number. You'll have to prepay for 12 weeks ($96 for $9 members) If you are new (or know someone who would be) it is $135 for the 12 week program. (if you are in your first 8 weeks of the program, we would pro-rate it) It would be a great asset to our community!

January Blues

In talking to a ton of members and lifetime members, there seems to be a disheartening trend. While the holidays were a challenge, January seems to be kicking our collective bums- for some. I have heard it over and over, "I am being so 'good,' and the scale is not cooperating!" I don't know if there is any science behind my theory, but our bodies just seem to be reacting to the change in our eating from the holidays. Maybe they are stubbornly holding on to the little "extra" we gained. Maybe it likes "treat" fat. :) I don't know if that is the "real" reason- but it FEELS true.

Just hang in there. Please be patient with yourself. You can bring this around, by following the plan and getting active. Your body will respond. You can do this. We all can!

DON'T FORGET:
BLT's add up and sabotage our efforts
Measure, measure, measure!
Tracking really WORKS!
Good Health Guidelines- pick your most challenging one and conquer it THIS MONTH! :)

Please ask for help! Find a goose you like and buddy up :)

To DIE For Cherry Brownies... PPV Updated

My sister in law, Barbara, inspired this rendition of Kaleen's original Black Bean Brownies. Can I just say- WOW! I may just eat ONLY brownies today! These truly are DROP DEAD delicious! (unless you hate them, and then I apologize :)

2 pkg, Hershey’s Kisses Brownie Mix (2 - 1 lbs 4 oz mixes) Costco has a 6 pack
1 - 15 oz can black beans w/ liquid, pureed in the blender
4 egg whites
¼ C water
12 oz frozen cherries, cut in half (about 2 ½ C)
Puree beans in the blender with their juice, and the ¼ C water. Once pureed, add the egg whites and blend to incorporate. Pour blender contents into a bowl with the brownie mix. Mix until just moistened. Fold in Cherries. Do not over mix. Mix all ingredients together, until just mixed, do not over mix. Bake in a large glass 9x13 (mine is actually 10-1/4 x 15-1/4), greased baking dish, for 40 min, 375 degrees, and 10 min with the oven off. Cut into 42 squares . 2 PPV per brownie. You can leave out the cherries for the same POINT value.

Ready, Set, LOSE!!!

Hi Everyone!

What a great meeting last week! I hope you all found inspiration by our "Goose" discussion. Those geese are really cool and a great parallel for what happens for us in our Weight Watchers meetings. Let's band together and give each other the lift we all need to make it to our ultimate goal of a healthy weight and lifestyle. Dave, from Payson, sent me a great picture and poem(he wrote) that goes beautifully along with our Geese meeting. I posted it to my blog. Be sure to check it out.

Also, if you remember John, from Payson, told us about some great photos he found online. He sent them to me and I have posted them to the blog as well. They are well worth the look!

This week we are delving into our new "Kick Start" materials and program. There are a ton of great aspects about this new booklet, that will not only get our new members off to a great start, but jump start the rest of us too. Please don't miss this fun discussion that will enable you to rekindle your losses and motivation! Also, there are some yummy looking recipes in the materials.

OK- confession time- the only recipe I can think of is so NOT WW friendly. I think I am having holiday junk food withdrawal! So- if you have any great recipes to start off the New Year with- please send them to me! I NEED THEM!! I pulled my hamstring about 10 days ago and have had to lay off of the activity points- hence, I need to lay off of the FOOD points!! (You know- you shouldn't EAT activity points that you DON'T actually earn!) We'd all love to have some new fresh dishes! Send in your favorites ASAP!! I will post them to my blog as I get them!

Have a great day and remember:
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
Thomas A. Edison

Birds of a Feather...

Dave, from Payson, sent me this beautiful picture and a poem he wrote. Thank you Dave!! You inspire us all!!

John, from Payson sent me these images! They really say it all. Do we ever feel like this? I just love them!!

7 Ways to Dump the Diet Mindset

This is a great article I read on Weight Watchers.com It was very motivational!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?art_id=45811&tabnum=1&sc=45811&subnav=Health

Smart Ones Recipe Contest

Hi Marion-

I wanted to let you know that Weight Watchers (Smart Ones) is starting a new product line with fruit in their entrees. In fact, they have a recipe contest going on right now that I thought you would like to know about. The grand prize is $5000 to the winner and the person's name and city/state will go on the box of Smart Ones. I just entered. It was really easy to do. You must include at least one fruit in the recipe, and also you have to write an essay with a maximum of 300 words. Anyway, I will send you a link in case you are interested!

http://www.eatyourbest.com/recipecontest/index.aspx#'

Erica

1 Week Down- 51 to GO!!

Hell-oooooooo! (you know, like Tigger)

So how was your first week of the New Year? Mine ROCKED!!!!
I hit LIFETIME on Friday!
I am a little excited- as you can tell! I just had to share!!!

Now on to business! WOW did we have a lot of new folks join us last week- and we are expecting more through the rest of the month. Just to let you know, we are offering free registration for a limited time, if you prepay for 10 weeks. So spread the word! Remember new members or rejoining members (in Payson or Spanish Fork) need to come at 6:30-6:45pm to sign up. The Getting Started Meeting begins at 7pm. Provo has many Getting Started meetings and they are listed at http://weightwatchersofsaltlakecityinc.com/ Please check it out.

This weeks meeting addresses the very crux of what makes Weight Watchers so unique- our meetings and FABULOUS members. We will be discussing the reasons that meetings make all of the difference. You know- I missed about 2 meetings as a member! Seriously, they make all the difference in the world!! So carve out some time in your busy life and come and see us!

And to our Payson Early Birds , please don't forget to let our "Week Two" members cut in line (in Payson) so they can make it to their special 5:10 meeting! You know, your dedication to the program and YOURSELF is an inspiration and we are always so glad to see you there with bells on each week!

I am starting a blog. I am not sure how it is going to go quite yet- but we'll see. The address is meltingmarion.blogspot.com I will try to post the weekly message and recipes. Let me know if you have any ideas.

Have a great week and take a few minutes each day to take care of yourself!

Happy Birthday 2008!

Hi Friends!!
I sure hope you all have had a FANTASTIC Christmas and New Years (tonight :)! What a great time of year!! I hope you all have had the opportunity to enjoy spending time with your friends and family.
I know that I said I was going to send out the top ten recipes for last year, but I frankly could not decide!! So I attached them ALL!! I also attached two Core Plan Cookbooks for some more great ideas. Please send me any new holiday favorites you have discovered!
And... we are BACK this week on Wednesday, the 2nd of January 2008! YIPPEE!! This weeks meeting is fantastic! We will relax, recuperate and refocus! We will be helping each other shake off our holiday mishaps. This is a huge meeting, as everyone makes mistakes and we need to recognize that one, two, three, and even 74 milkshakes do not mean failure! We'll review the NEW 8 Helpful Habits and set ourselves on our 2008 path of success!!!
Please join us for a grand ol' time!!! Please take care of yourself and have a very safe and Happy New Year's Eve!!! See you in meeting!!!
Hey Payson Members- remember that NEW members come at 6:30-6:45 in Payson on Wednesdays- their Getting Started meeting begins at 7pm. Regular members come after 5:10. Please remember that there is a special meeting at 5:10 for new members second week. They need to be able to weigh-in from 5-5:10 in order to make it to that meeting. The new year brings MANY new members and we ask for your patiences as we have them "cut" in line to be able to make it to their meeting in a timely manner. Thank you for your understanding in advance!
You all are just the BEST and we are going to have such a GREAT new year!!!