Challenge Tip #6

Hello Friends! How goes the CHALLENGE? I am loving this!!

Tip #6
Do you like dessert? I do! My tip for you is to share the LOVE ! We all have our favorites, no need to call them by name, anything with chocolate will do, OK- anything with sugar will do, ALRIGHT- anything that fits into my mouth will do! So what can we do? Here's the tip- if you are having dessert tonight, invite enough people over to eat the whole thing, your kids friends, family or neighbors, so long as they will eat, they will work. This will do two things for you, #1- you get some of what you have been craving, #2 you can have fun with your loved ones. If you are too shy to invite people over, pack up the leftovers and take them to a neighbor or someone you don't even know, you can even door-bell-ditch it If all else fails, just TOSS it in the trash after you have had your tasty morsel!

*** WARNING WARNING WARNING- if having a dessert around is just way too much for you- SKIP THIS CHALLENGE! If you will eat the whole thing before you even know what happened, then save this one for a time in the future, when you are ready :) There is NO SHAME in that at all, not one little speck! ***

Challenge Tip #5

Are you ready for #5- (ready or not...)
I want you to "move it". Yep- get out there and get going. Turn on the radio and shake it for a few songs. Put on the roller blades and cruise the neighborhood. Dust off that bike and feel the wind in your hair (that is under a helmet :). Pull weeds for 20 minutes (or 20 hours if it is my garden). I don't care what you do- just do something a little out of the ordinary, a smidge out of your comfort zone maybe. "I like to MOVE IT MOVE IT, I like to MOVE IT MOVE IT!" You know the words- lets get MOVING!!!

Anna's Favorite Jello Salad

POINTS® Value: 2
16 - 1/2 Cup servings
Ingredients:
1 small pkg dry, powder Jell-O Sugar Free any flavor
2 cup Crushed Pineapple In Its Own Juice, drained WELL!
1 cup canned unsweetened mandarin oranges, drained well
24 oz fat-free cottage cheese
8 oz Cool Whip Free Whipped Topping
Mix all ingredients together well, except cool whip. Fold in Cool Whip last. Refrigerate. Ooo La La!

Challenge Tip #4

Tip #4 Know BEFORE you go!!
If you are headed out to dinner this weekend- have a game plan IN ADVANCE! Go to your Dining Out Companion, E-tools, or the restaurants website. Make a plan and stick to it. Restaurants are FINE and a great place to eat, but they can be VERY tricky. Knowing the POINT values before you go will help you stay on track. Knowing the POINT values before you go will let you feel comfortable and able to enjoy your meal, worry and guilt free.

*** Don't be afraid to ask for a doggie bag when your food comes- the serving sizes are HUGE and most can be split in half and saved for lunch (or dinner) the next day ***

Challenge Tip #3

I am hearing from some of you - please let me know how you are doing? Feeling good?

Ready for tip #3?
BANISH the BLT's! And I am not talking about the sandwiches! I am addressing those nasty little "bites, licks, and tastes!" EVERYTHING we put into our mouths has a POINTS value. EVERYTHING!!!! So here is the challenge- mark one POINT for EVERY blt you take. I mean it- one little bite of your sons PB & J, one nibble of a cookie or taste of tonight's dinner. Mark 1 POINT gone forever :) This is the only way to combat this habit- If you BITE it you WRITE it! No justifications, no pretending that it was so small it has zero POINTS (even if it is).

***exception to the rule- if your rabbit will eat it, you can too- no POINTS :) ***

Challenge Tip #2

Alright- how is it going? Are you feeing Better, Stronger, Faster than before? Are you ready for Tip #2? Here goes.

Tip #2 Shake up those POINT values!
If you always eat 4 POINTS for breakfast, eat 6. If you always have 8 POINTS for dinner, have 6. If you eat a 6 POINT snack at night, make it a 2 POINTer. If you have a one POINT snack at 10 AM, make it a 2 POINTer. If you already vary your POINT values from meal to meal and from day to day, then try dividing your Daily POINTS Target by five. Have five meals, spaced evenly throughout your day. Do ya get my drift? This is just one more way to throw a curve ball at ourselves. This not only keeps our bodies guessing, but it really brings some life back into our sometimes monotonous routine.

Challenge Tip #1

For those participating in the challenge-
Tip #1 EAT SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT!
We become very complacent and routine in what we eat. By eating something new or different we will measure this new thing. We will calculate the points. We will also give our body the challenge of eating something different and new. Our bodies are very clever and conservative. They really get good at dealing with the "norm". Shake things up a bit. If you always have oatmeal for breakfast, have an egg on whole wheat toast or a smoothie.
Try something new TODAY!! :)

Challenge June 2008!

I'm sending out a challenge that another WW leader sent me! This is for you and for me, because I want to stay on track this summer as much as you do.

Your Challenge, should you chose to accept it is: Let's (you and me) follow the plan perfectly for the next seven days. I mean it - perfectly. AND, lets do some sort of movement/activity/
exercise for six out of the next seven days. Let's stay within our points budget, drink enough water,
have two healthy oils and and two servings of milk every day, and have 5 servings of fruits
or veggies every day. Do you think it's possible? Can we do it?! How many of you are
willing to take this challenge? Starting tomorrow, June 3, let's see how much this newsletter
group can lose in 7 days.

So, if you come to my meeting on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, try to come to my scale and tell
me how it's going. If you have to come on anther day, email me and tell me how it's going and how much you've lost. There are ~150 people on my mailing list right now, so do you think we can lose 150 pounds by next Tuesday/Wednesday? I've got the paper clips, do you have the guts?
What do you say???

Chicken Salad

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 6
Ingredients
3/4 pound cooked chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1/3 cup dill pickle(s), or sweet gherkins, finely diced
1/4 cup reduced-calorie mayonnaise
2 Tbsp reduced-fat sour cream
2 Tbsp parsley, fresh, chopped
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a large bowl; mix until blended. Yields about 2/3 cup per serving.

Tex-Mex Bean Salad With Creamy Salsa Dressing

8 POINTS® Value, 4 Servings
Think of this ingredient-packed salad as bean nachos with the works. Serve the chips on the side or crumble them on top for crunch. You can also serve the bean mixture on its own as a dip.
Ingredients
1/3 cup salsa, medium or spicy
3 Tbsp reduced-fat sour cream
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
3 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed (about two 15.5 oz cans)
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup canned yellow corn, or fresh, cooked kernels
1/2 cup avocado, diced
1/2 cup scallion(s), sliced
1/2 cup cilantro, fresh, chopped, or less to taste
6 cup romaine lettuce, shredded
2 oz Cabot Pepper Jack, or other brand, cubed or shredded
24 items baked low-fat tortilla chips
Instructions
In a large bowl, stir together salsa, sour cream and vinegar until blended. Add beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado, scallions and cilantro; toss to mix and coat.
Place 1 1/2 cups of lettuce on each of 4 serving plates; top each with 1 1/2 cups of bean mixture. Sprinkle each serving with 2 tablespoons of cheese; arrange 6 chips around edge of each plate. Yields 1 salad per serving.

Sustaining Motivation

Hello Friends!

It really feels like the nice weather is here to stay! Yeah!! My watch tan line is even returning :)

This week in meeting we will be looking at many great ways to keep our motivation alive during our relaxing summer festivities. We all know (by doing our homework last week) exactly what we want to have happen by Labor Day in September. We have developed our Winning Outcome and have come up with the steps we need to take to get there. This week we are looking at one of our Helpful Habits and one of our Tools for Living that will help us to keep our motivation where it needs to be to fulfill our Wining Outcome.

I hope to see you all in the meetings this week and have a great first week of June :) I leave you with my favorite quote about motivation :)

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing-that's why we recommend it daily."
~Zig Ziglar

Loosen Up, Lighten Up... and Lose!

Hello Everyone!

What a great day today is. I have to admit, I really liked last week too. I love the rain! I hope you all have a safe and great Memorial Day!

Have you ever wondered how you can have a relaxing vacation without relaxing your weigh-loss efforts? Come this week to meeting and learn some great tools for clarifying your goals and finding ways to keep on track throughout our leisurely summer!

Have a great holiday and see you in the meeting! I leave you with this great anonymous quote:
"A diamond is a lump of coal that stuck with it."

Mar-a-Lago Turkey Burger

Lynne Christy saw this recipe on Oprah and said it is DIVINE! Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
1 T canola oil
4 pounds ground turkey breast, extra lean
2 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. black pepper
2 tsp. chipotle Tabasco™
1 lemon, juice and grated zest
1/2 bunch parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup Major Grey's Chutney, pureed
Sauté the scallions, celery and apples in the canola oil until tender. Let cool. Place the ground turkey in a large mixing bowl. Add sautéed items and the remaining ingredients. Shape into eight 8-ounce burgers. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Season the turkey burgers with salt and pepper. Place on a preheated, lightly oiled grill. Grill each side for 7 minutes until meat is thoroughly cooked. Let sit for 5 minutes. Serve with a side of Major Grey Chutney and your favorite toasted bread, pita or hamburger roll.
Makes 16 burgers, 3 POINTS per burger.

Summer Grilling Ideas

Here is a great page from WeightWatchers.com that has many links to many great articles for grilling this summer! Please bring your favorites to the meetings to share! Enjoy!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=3&art_id=53211

Families, Friends and Holiday Eating

Alright- now, I know I whined all winter about the cold temps- so now here comes the praise! Yippee and woo-hoo! The sun is out and I am one happy camper! I even mowed the lawns (ours and the neighbors) yesterday just out be outside! Yeah yeah- you think it's gonna stay?

Any-who, this week we are hitting right into the crux of many of our weight-loss trauma- the family parties! Ba na! We love to get together with our friends and families all summer long and just munch and crunch and whittle these beautiful days away! Now just because we are getting together, we don't have to toss all of our newly formed (and forming) Helpful Habits. {subliminal message coming... take the Habit Profile in your week three materials :} Our food related get togethers are fun and an important part of our lives. Come to meeting this week to really focus on some things we can do TODAY to help us manage these little bumps on our journey to a healthier self!!!

Oh, and don't forget- all of your leaders (especially me :), want to hear about your most creative ways to get in that little bit of "moving more" this week!

Remember the following quote when you don't think that your insight and comments in meetings make a difference! You never know when the things you share may be the answer to another members problems!!

"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito."
~ author unknown

See you soon!!!!

Mandarin Asian Salad

Grilled Chicken, sliced and cooled (3 POINTS per BS breast or thigh)
romaine lettuce, ripped or cut bite size
Mandarin oranges, unsweetened and drained (1 C is 1 POINT)
1 can sliced water chestnuts
1 T sesame seeds
green onions, chopped
red bell peppers, sliced
sugar snap peas or snow peas (3/4 C- 0 POINTS)
Dressing:
1 C fresh mango peach salsa (2.5 POINTS)
2-4 T balsamic vinegar
1/2 t sesame seed oil (.5 POINTS)
2 t soy sauce
Blend in blender to mix. (I used this much dressing to serve 8 adults - 0 POINTS )Pour over salad ingredients, feel free to swap ingredients. The point value will change depending on how much chicken and mandarin oranges you use. This can be very low points and SUPER yum! My teenagers rated it as a 8 or 9 on a scale of 10. We ate it ALL!!!

I just love this poem!

Mother Teresa hung a copy of this poem on a wall of the orphanage she founded in Calcutta. Its source is unknown.

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be Kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It is never between you and them anyway.

At my sister-in-law's mothers funeral last fall, David Bednar quoted Neil A Maxwell's lesson he had learned from fighting cancer, he stated. "It is more important to not shrink, than it is to survive."

Many times in our lives we will only do things if we are assured that the outcome will be exactly what we want it to be. If something seems hard or there is a possibility that we won't succeed, we wont even try. Our character is not based on our successes, but on our valiant attempts! Our character is based on our integrity and the choices we make each day.

I realize that this is a blog for weight loss and motivation- I realize that your weight loss journey, like mine, is probably different than you might have planned. But here is the deal, by continuing to plug along, making the best choices you can each day (and of course attending your meetings :) you will make progress. Your life will improve in quality EVERY DAY!

We can't always see the outcome of our daily choices, but we can rest assured that every good choice we make is a success in and of itself. Every day we work toward a positive goal is a day well spent.

Hang in there and have a GREAT day!!

Actunities

Hello!

I am so excited to be back to an "almost" normal week with almost normal weather!

And what a great meeting we have going this week. I hate to give the topic away... so I won't ;) But be sure to come this week and see how you can increase your activity levels in little ways all throughout you day!

Be sure to check out the blog for recipes. I have been posting them straight to the blog to save a little time :) There are some great substitution ideas for your favorite recipes.

Have a great week! I am off to celebrate my Hubbies 40th birthday!! See you in the meeting!!!

Ingredient Swap

Here are a few ingredients that you can swap for a lower POINT value one. There is virtually no difference when using the light versions of these favorites. The Fat Free versions are nigh undetectable in many recipes. A little experimentation is really useful. You will find that some ingredients are not worth changing, while others don't make the least bit of a difference.

Sour Cream:
Regular 14 POINTS per cup
Light 7.5 POINTS per cup
Fat free 3.5 POINTS per cup

Cream of "Whatever" Soup:
Regular 8 POINTS per can
98% Fat Free 3.5 POINTS per can

Cream Cheese:
Regular 22.5 POINTS per 8 oz pkg
Light 12.5 POINTS per 8 oz pkg
Fat Free 4.5 POINTS per 8 oz pkg

Cheddar Cheese:
1 Cup 12 POINTS
1 C low fat 8 POINTS
1 C fat free 3.5 POINTS

Mayonnaise (Best Food's or Hellman's):
Regular 42 POINTS per cup
Light 19 POINTS per cup
Reduced Fat 9 POINTS per cup
Fat free 3.5 POINTS per cup

Funeral Potatoes
Regular 9 POINTS per serving
Using the light substitutions 5 POINTS per serving
Using the fat free substitutions 4 POINTS per serving

Thank You Thank You Thank You

I just had to say thank you, to all of those who have expressed their sympathies to me and my family this past month. With the passing of my Grandmother and my dear friend, Tammy, in the past few weeks, your love and concern has really buoyed me up.

You know, with each tough situation we face in our lives, we are able to see many of our strengths and some of our weaknesses. These times of trials can be great blessings and opportunities to grow.

Thank you again, so much for your love and concern!

Here is my new favorite quote by Thomas Alva Edison:
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

Baked Apple Oatmeal

1/2 cup of your favorite hot cereal (oatmeal, 6 grain, etc) 2 POINTS
1 fresh apple, cored and diced (peeling is optional) 1 POINT
amount of water your cereal calls for
a pinch of salt
---Microwave for 2-4 min (depending on how mushy you like it :) Put a little plain or brown sugar splenda on it and ENJOY! (2.5 teaspoons of Splenda Brown Sugar is 1 POINT) This is a very filling and yummy breakfast. I love it!

Weight Management: What a Bargain!

I hope ya'll are having a great weekend!

I have a few moments, so I thought I'd send you a note on time (well, a little early) this week.

Sometimes we think that it is too costly to pay our membership fees and buy the healthy foods we need, but hey- what is the real cost of healthy living? The real costs come from UN-healthy living. Come to meeting this week and join in our discussion of the many great ways that living healthfully saves us money now, and in the future!

See you soon! Remember that each opportunity we have to choose healthy living is there for the taking. Make one more good choice today- make another tomorrow, and before you know it, your life will be strewn with healthy habits you didn't even know you had :)

"Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell."
~anonymous

Better Late Than NEVER :)

Hi friends!

I am so sorry my email is late this week :(. Life has been a little "fuller" than normal and I am just catching my breath :) I hope all is well with all of you!

This weeks meeting topic is HOT!! How many times do we head out for dinner or order in take-out because the clock just hit 6:30 and everyone is going to STARVE??? This weeks we will be discussing strategies for overcoming the "what's for dinner?- and I mean NOW!" syndrome. With a few tricks up your sleeve, and a little planning, this "problem area" can see some major improvements- PDQ.

Now- last week I told you about a devil of a fantastic cake that was 8 POINTS per slice. I worked it down to about 3 POINTS per slice! Yes- bravo to me! It is posted on my blog, along with the black bean brownies. There is also a new link to all of the recipes that have been posted to the blog on the top right.

Have a fantastic week and see you in the meetings!!!

Back by Popular Demand!

Black Bean Brownies Kayleen Howard
1 box- family size brownies (9x13 size)
2 egg whites
¼ C water
1- 15 oz can black beans
2 t baking soda
In the blender, puree the black beans (DO NOT DRAIN) and ¼ C water. In a mixing bowl add brownie mix and 2 t baking powder, mix well. Then add the pureed beans and water and the eggs. Mix with a wooden spoon until just mixed. DO NOT OVER MIX. Bake in a greased, 9x13 glass baking dish at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Do not under bake. When the brownies are done they will pull away from the sides of the pan. Let cool for about 10 min and them cover tightly with plastic wrap and let finish cooling. Cut them 4x5 to make 20,- 2 point brownies. YUMMY!!!

To DIE For Cherry Brownies
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. Bake in a large 9x13 (10¼ x 15¼), greased baking dish, for 40 min, 375 degrees, and 10 min with the oven off. Cut into 32 squares (4x8). 3 POINTS per brownie ( vs. 5 POINTS w/o modifications)

German Chocolate Upsidedown Cake

Ingredients
1 package German chocolate pudding-type cake dry mix
3 items egg white(s)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
8 oz fat-free cream cheese
1 cup Splenda
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup powdered sugar
Place parchment paper in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with the coconut and pecans. Mix the German Chocolate cake mix with the applesauce, 3 egg whites, and water from the box instructions. Beat well and pour over the coconut and pecans. In a mixer, mix, cream cheese, sour cream, splenda and powdered sugar. Beat really well. Dollop the cream cheese mixture over the entire cake, 1 Tablespoon at a time. Bake at 350 for about 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely. Cover and let set overnight on the counter. It tastes a TON better the next day :) Cut and serve- turning over the cake, so the bottom is on top. 24 servings, 3 Points each. (The original is by Sharla Webb and DROP DEAD DIVINE at 8 POINTS per slice :) *note from the chef- "lower the oven to 320 and bake for 20 min, then raise to 335 to finish, it takes a little longer, but the cream cheese mixture has time to sink to the bottom. Otherwise, it sometimes doesn’t go all the way through (depending on the oven)."

Mango Peach Vinaigrette

1/2 C Mango Peach Salsa of choice (from Costco)
1-2 T balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
0 POINTS
This is so great over any green salad. Add some grilled chicken (3 POINTS) to make it a meal :)

Would you like fruit with that?

Hi Everybody!

The bulbs are blooming, the grass is greening, and the air is WARMING!! Yeah! Spring is finally here! (right?)

Now with all of the beautiful weather, we are all getting ready for the fruits of summer! What a perfect time to look at ways to help those around us, help us, to keep on track with our healthier life styles. This weeks meeting topic is all about how to covertly or maybe not-so-covertly get those around us on board. Lets face it, if we are going to make changes to our lives, those with whom we share our lives, really need to be a support to us. These shifts in our relationships can be a little rocky, but with some tools and helpful habits, we can make some huge strides in getting our co-workers and loved ones, extending the support we need.

Now, I do have a recipe for you, Upside-Down German Chocolate Cake, but it is the "DEVIL" right now- about a million points per slice. My sister-in-laws, sister-in-law, made it for us over the weekend in Denver and I am going to fiddle with it to come up with a "lower-POINT" version. I apologize for the teaser- but hey... when it is ready, it's gonna knock your socks OFF!

As for last week's meeting topic, how are those excuses to avoid activity going? Did you blast any of them out of the water, per my meeting challenge last week? I sure hope so. Remember- what and how much you eat is EVERYTHING- but activity is the magic that keeps it all together. Plain and simple.

Mike Huckabee said: "When people ask, "How do you find time to exercise?" I respond, "I don't find the time, I make the time! If you wait until you find time, you will never--hear me--never find it. You must make time for taking care of your body just as you would make time to go to work, to shower, to eat, or to take in a movie."

Spring Break has arrived and I just realized- I'd better send ya'll a note real quick before I disappear into the beautiful sunshine!!

This weeks meeting topic is so timely- it is nice and beautiful outside, and time to get going. We have all made every excuse to skip the exercise, but is that really going to do anything for us? Please come to the meeting this week where we will dissolve some of our standard excuses and reasons for not moving more. We'll look at ways to regain some motivation to move more and reap the benefits!

Have a great spring break and I'll see you OUTSIDE!!!- Don't forget to take the new poll and any old ones you may have missed!

Here is my new favorite quote- it just plain made me laugh!

"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."
~Robin Williams

Muffins!

by: Michelle Bingham

Spice Muffins
1 C. canned Pumpkin
1 box Spice cake mix
1 C. no sugar added applesauce
Preheat oven to 400'. Mix pumpkin, dry cake mix and applesauce. Put in paper lined cupcake pans. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 21 muffins, 7 servings, 3 muffins=1 point

Chocolate Banana Muffins
1 box Choc cake mix
1 can chocolate Slim Fast
3 Bananas
1/3 C water
Mix all ingredients together. Divide into 24 muffin tins. Cook at 350' for 20 minutes. Good for Chocolate cravings. Makes 24 muffins, 1 muffin=2points.

Choco-Pumpkin Muffins
1 Chocolate Cake Mix
1 reg. can pumpkin
Mix two together well and divide into 12 muffin tins. Bake 350' for 19-22 mins. Makes 12 muffins, 1 muffin=2 points.

Cooks.com has some good looking muffin ideas:
http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,low_calorie_muffins,FF.html

Lighten Up!!!

One of the my favorite things about Weight Watchers is that with a little modifications, most all of my own recipes can be tweaked to have lower POINT values. Now just so you know- there are some things that I have found ARE NOT WORTH changing. But in most instances, I have found that there are very good options that end up with a lower POINT value that we all can be happy with.

In baked goods (muffins, brownies and cakes) applesauce or pureed beans, can be swapped for all or most of the oil. The 98% fat free Cream of Mushroom and Chicken soups are nigh undetectable. In most recipes, light or fat free Sour Cream are also hard to tell from their full fat counterparts. In every instance, the Light cream cheese can be swapped for it's full fat brother, and in many recipes the fat free cream cheese works just as well. Corn tortillas are much lower in POINTS than flour tortillas.

Be sure to ask in meetings for specific substitutions you are looking for. All Weight Watcher members become quite resourceful in the kitchen to lower their favorite foods POINT values.

We are in this together- we are all looking for the most food for the lowest POINT values! Keep the ideas coming and bring them to meetings with you!

"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?"
~George Eliot

French Toast

2 Slices of your favorite 1 POINT bread (2 POINTS)
-OR-
2 Slices of Sara Lee Delightful (1 POINT)
1/4 C egg substitute or 3 egg whites (1 POINT)
2 T Skim or 1% milk
dash of Cinnamon (optional)
dash of nutmeg (optional)
1 t of splenda (optional)
Mix the liquid ingredients well. Dip bread. Cook in a pan sprayed with Pam. Top with yogurt, syrup or jam of choice. (The sugar free versions will have the lowest or no-est points :)

High Fiber French Toast with Yogurt Topping

By Dave Larsen
POINTS® value 6.5 Servings 1
Ingredients
3 tsp canola oil, Pour into frying pan (3.5 POINTS)
1 slice high-fiber bread (1 POINT)
1/3 cup light artificially sweetened yogurt (1 POINT)
1/3 cup fat-free egg substitute (1.5 POINTS)
Instructions
Soak bread in liquid egg substitute. Fry in pre-heated pan with canola oil added. Carefully turn toast to fry evenly. Serve toast topped with artificially, fat free, fruit flavored yogurt. Add fruit as desired.

Dining OUT!

For most all of us, dining out is a regular part of our lives. We do it for convenience and mostly for fun! This article on WW.com had some great pointers about eating out! Enjoy!!!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=45171

Episode III- Trigger Environments

What a great weekend! Nice weather! Yoo- Hoo!

I hope ya'll were able to make it to a meeting this week! What a phenomenal topic... the ever infamous Trigger Feelings! I hope you all took away some helpful strategies to begin to put a dent in emotional eating. We sure have a myriad of emotions that drive us to the pantry! Be sure to do your homework and really use the Reframing Worksheet you started in meeting. It is all about having an arsenal of ideas ready for use, at a moments notice. Be sure to let us all know how it went for you this week.

Now- this week is the third installment of our Trigger Trilogy. We will be taking a look at our environments. Are they healthy and supportive of your goals or do they need a bit of Detox? The places that we spend our time, need to be safe and friendly to our healthy lifestyles (NO SNICKERS ALLOWED :). Do we need to call in the Hazmat team, or maybe some teen aged boys, to eat up all of our leftover cookies? Maybe Extreme Home Makeover? Whatever hot spots we find ourselves in, either at work or home, this week in meeting, we will be looking at ways to make our environments as "Green" as possible. (You know, "Green", like environmentally friendly and "Green", as in green light foods- whoa, am I clever ;)

Be sure to have a fabulous weekend and a great week! See you soon!

People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.
~Norman Vincent Peale

EBTKS Salad

By: David Larsen
POINTS® value 6 -Servings 2
Ingredients
1/4 cup canned yellow corn
1/3 cup canned black beans
1/2 cup cooked wild rice
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 cup romaine lettuce
1/2 cup tomato(es)
4 tsp olive oil
3 tsp ground basil
18 items Nabisco Wheat Thins Baked snack crackers - tomato and basil
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
Instructions
lightly crumble crackers, hold out the tomatoes, add other ingredients and mix. Garnish with tomatoes and add some parsley.

Mrs. Field's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip... Sort-of :)

1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup margarine (2 cubes)
5 cup uncooked old fashioned oatmeal
3/4 cup water
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
4-5 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup SPLENDA
4 eggs
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup packed Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
Instructions:
Cream margarine, sugars and water. Add eggs. Then add oatmeal, soda's, vanilla and salt. Then add the flour and chocolate. Makes 70-80 cookies, 2 T per cookie. Bake on a greased cookie sheet for about 11 min at 425 degrees. 2 POINTS per cookie. (The original are 4 to 5 points per cookie.) These are definitely not the same, but a very good substitute!

Trigger Feelings!

Hi Everyone!
What a great day! I know it snowed and it is a bit nippy- but I see some blue skies over yonder!!

Hey hey hey- How is it going with identifying and dealing with your trigger foods? Be sure to use your Helpful Habits with this one, especially, Prepare Yourself and Learning from the Past. If you haven't cracked your Week 3 materials, Think First, this week it the time for you to take the habit profile and pick one or two, to start developing. These 8 habits were identified to have the greatest effect on helping you, to not only lose the weight- but maintain the loss.

This week we are moving on to part two of our Trigger Trilogy- THE EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS!!! ba-na!!! Trigger feelings and emotions are those feelings that drive us to the pantry (or where ever the goodies are kept). Learning to understand these reactions to our feelings and deal with the feelings in a "non-food" way is key to our success. This week, in meeting, we will be delving into this quandary of emotional eating and how to begin to manage it. We will be looking to the helpful habits for help and learning (or relearning) an amazing Tool For Living, Reframing. Be sure to hit your meeting this week for the help you need in this area or the help you may be able to offer another member!

Please have a great week!

Here is some FABULOUS wisdom from Zig Ziglar-
"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing-that's why we recommend it daily."

BE sure to come to your meeting this week to get the Motivation you need for the week!!!

BLT's Beware!!!

B.L.T three simple letters they be,
but beware for all who may not see,
the traps, the lies, they truly are.
BLTs have stopped me so far.

Bite Lick and Taste is what it means
and why I don't fit my favorite jeans.
Oh BLT you must be aware
because I choose to end our affair.

No longer will I BLT my days away,
no munching, no tasting, I'm wasting away.

Grilled cheese crust,
truly not a must.
A little tiny bite,
the urge I will fight.
Leftover french fry
such a thing I shant try.
Frosting on a spoon,
the pounds will follow soon.
Just a taste is all I ask,
remembering not to, will be a task.

But today I say to you my BLTs
the choice is mine, its all about me.
Size 8 is calling me louder I plead,
No more BLTs is my new creed.

By Corrine Simonsen (My FAB sister)

Not a Cook? No Problem!

90% of the problems we face with getting dinner on the table, is "no time" and just "what to fix?" We get bored, and sometimes don't realize how easy it can be to throw together a quick and nutritious meal. Cooking does not need to be complicated and time consuming to be filling and healthy for the whole family.

I found these articles on WW.com and they have some great ideas for quick, "no cook" meals! We'll have you "cooking" in no time flat!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?art_id=1031&tabnum=5&subnav=FOOD+&+RECIPE

Second article on Shortcuts!
http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=27761

Food Triggers!

What beautiful weather we are having! I sure love the nice days of Spring!

Hey- be sure to check out the yummy recipes below! They are super good and perfect for the Springtime! That salad makes enough for 1,000,000 people. I quadrupled it for Easter and we are going to be eating it for the next little while. Good thing it is super yummy!

This weeks meeting hot topic is our ever infamous "Food Triggers." These bad boys can really cause us some grief when we come in contact with any of them. These are the foods that we have no self control around. Once we start, we just cant stop, until we are literally sick or they are gone. Come and join us for a three part discussion of our Triggers- this week is food, next week is emotional triggers and the next week is Environmental Triggers.

Have a great week and keep up the good work!!!

Chicken & Wild Rice Salad

2- 6oz boxes of Uncle Ben's Wild Rice, cooked to pkg directions and cooled (omit the butter or oil)
5 BS chicken breasts or thighs, grilled, cooled and cubed
1 large bunch red or green grapes, cut in half
1 bunch chopped celery
2 bunched green onions, chopped
2 cans sliced water chestnuts, chopped
Dressing:
1 c reduced fat mayo
1/4 C canola oil
1/4 c vinegar
1/4 C lemon juice
Mix well and pour over salad. Store in an airtight container. SUPER YUMMY!! 3 POINTS per cup. This is best made the night before.

Black Beans and Chicken

1 lbs B.S. chicken breasts
2 cans black beans
1/2 C uncooked brown rice
16 oz jar of salsa
Place in crock pot and cook all day on low. Makes 6 servings at 5 POINTS per serving. (A Core recipe)

Thank you to Lynda for this goodie! I am making it tomorrow night for my family!

To Write or Not to Write!

Hi Everyone!

What a beautiful day it is! I sure love the sun!!! I hope everyone is having a great St. Patrick's day!

There have been an few members who have asked me about alcohol and POINT values. While I have pretty much no practical advice, accept, be sure to track your POINT values, I did run across this article at WeightWatchers.com that might be helpful. http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=47521

Now this weeks meeting is great (as usual :). We are going to learn about monitoring ourselves. It is a great time to recommit ourselves to tracking or all other types of monitoring that we need to be doing. The Helpful Habit of Monitoring Yourself is a really valuable tool that will help you in every aspect our our quest to a healthy weight!

Please have a great week and see you in the meeting!!!

Easter Pork Tenderloin

POINTS® Value: 4 Servings: 8 Preparation Time: 20 min Cooking Time: 12 min

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup reduced-calorie pancake syrup
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp table salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• 2 1/2 pound lean pork tenderloin, use two 1 1/4-pound pieces

Instructions

• In a large zip-close plastic bag, combine syrup, dry mustard, cloves, ginger, salt, cinnamon and pepper. Trim pork of all visible fat and cut each tenderloin in half widthwise. Add tenderloins to plastic bag, squeeze out air and seal bag; turn to coat tenderloins. Place bag on a plate and refrigerate on bottom shelf, turning bag occasionally, at least 2 hours or overnight.
  
• Preheat broiler. Place tenderloins in a roasting pan and pour marinade over them. Broil 5 inches from heat until pork reaches an internal temperature of 160°F, about 6 minutes per side. Let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before slicing. Yields about 4 ounces of meat per serving. (This is a CORE food)

BLT's- Great Sandwich- BAD Habit!

I have probably confessed this before, but BLT's are going to be the DEATH of me! For those of you new to WW (or just new to me, for that matter), BLT's are the Bites, Licks and Tastes that litter our days and plague our weight loss. I easily consume 5-10 POINTS of BLT's every day. It is a really NASTY habit that I have got to put an end to.

I made a poster for my wall, it states:
Skinny People...
DON'T BLT!!!!

Alright- so "skinny" isn't the most PC way of stating my goals, but "skinny" really speaks to my psyche :)
So, I started this morning, and really did pretty well- only 2 POINTS of BLT's today. I am really going to have to watch myself. I nibble on EVERYTHING without even realizing it.

Hey- if any of you out there have successfully beaten this Bad Boy of a habit- I'd love to hear from you!!! I am really going to hit this one hard for the next 30 days and see it I can give it the boot!

Oranger Orange Dream Smoothie

1 C frozen fresh oranges
1 C raw carrots
1 C Skim milk
1 WW Vanilla Smoothie Pkt
2 T flax seed oil
6 POINTS, 2 oils, 2 dairy, 4 fruits and Veggies. This one tastes virtually identical to the "Orange Dream Smoothie." (A Core Food)

Spinach Manicotti

12 Manicotti noodles, cooked and drained
1- 1/2 C low fat ricotta
2 eggs
1/2 C reduced fat Parmesan Cheese
3 oz fresh spinach, chopped well
1 C fat free mozzarella
1/2 jar of your favorite fat free spaghetti sauce
salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together, except the spaghetti sauce and noodles. Stuff noodles with the white sauce. Arrange in a baking dish. Cover with spaghetti sauce. Cover and bake at 350 for about 30 min. 3 POINTS per Manicotti, 5.5 for 2! Enjoy!!! (To make this Core, use whole wheat pasta and fat free Ricotta (or blended ff cottage cheese) and FF Parmesan cheese)

Alrighty-
I hope all of you are enjoying our non-freezing temperatures! It is so nice to see the 40's and even an occasional 50 again!

This weeks meeting is one for the books! We are talking about what to do with the little road blocks we come up against on our weight loss journey. We all hit snags, whether it be a plateau or just plain boredom. This weeks meeting will really help us gather the tools we need to get back on track ASAP!! Not another moment to waste!

Be sure to take the surveys on my blog. I the information they show is of course non-scientific, but very interesting. The latest one is on the top of the page and the rest are down lower. If you haven't taken them yet, be sure to do it if you have a moment!

We'll see you around! (Outside :)

Day Three- More Green Smoothies

2 stocks Celery
2 C Spinach
1/2" Fresh Ginger
2 t Flax Seed Oil
1 Orange
1 small Banana
1 C baby Carrots
1 C Skim Milk
1 WW Vanilla Smoothie
Some water and ice, if desired.
Blend well. 8 Fruits and Veggies, 2 oils and 2 dairy. 7 POINTS. Makes 4 Cups.

Orange Smoothie

(this is NOT the ORANGE DREAM Smoothie, see below)
1/2 orange, frozen (.5 POINT)
1/2 apple, frozen (.5 POINT)
1 C pineapple (1 POINT)
1 small banana, frozen (1 POINT)
good handful of baby carrots
about 1/2 can of diet lemon lime soda
blend well. It makes about 4 C of smoothie and has only 3 points. YUMMY! (8 servings of fruits and veggies!)

Green Smoothie-- Day 2

OK- so this morning I tried a new Green Smoothie Combo-

1 WW vanilla smoothie pkt (1 POINT)
1 C skim milk (2 POINTS)
1/2 Apple, cored w/peel (.5 POINTS)
1/2 Orange, peeled (.5 POINTS)
1 small banana (1 POINT)
1/4 Cucumber w/peel
2 C spinach
1/2 C fresh parsley
2 t flax seed oil (2 POINTS)
1" of fresh ginger root, peeled
1 T lemon juice

Now this is 7 POINTS as is, BUT... It is 7-8 servings of Veggies and Fruit, 2 dairy and 2 oils. It also made 3 Cups. The ginger was a little strong, so I will use less next time. I also froze the other half of the orange and apple and a new banana for tomorrow.

I ATE it!---a GREEN Smoothie PPV Updated

Happy days are here again! Yes- March has arrived and I am very happy- needless to say! I know she snowed on us Saturday night- but hey, the sun is shining today! Oh- I sure love spring!!

Alright- this weeks meeting is so great! We are going to be going through the Good Health Guidelines. Now some of you may not have embraced these 8 miracles of health (ok- maybe they aren't quite miracles... but you catch my drift). The whole point of Weight Watchers is to help you to get to a healthy weight and then learn to maintain that loss- FOR LIFE. Our Good Health Guidelines are here to help you on your way. We have all learned on the Flex Plan, that we can have 1 chicken breast for 3 POINTS or we can have a Twinkie for 3 POINTS. Here's the deal- we can eat either, and so long as you are within your points budget, you are going to lose. Now here is the kicker- you are going to be far more satisfied and HEALTHY with the chicken breast. You will actually feel better. By incorporating and following the Good Health Guidelines, you will be more satisfied and healthier. Most of us have found ourselves overweight and unhealthy, by making poor food choices, too often. By adding the Good Health Guidelines to our daily eating habits, we will go a long way to attaining an maintaining a healthy weight.

Please come to meeting this week with your favorite ways to include the Good Health Guidelines into your daily life.

Now for the news flash of the year!- I made a Green Smoothie and actually liked it. The one I made had spinach, parsley, cucumber, flax seed oil, banana, an orange and pineapple. I ended up with 9 servings of fruits and veggies, 2 t healthy oils, and about 5 cups of smoothie. There are TONS of stories about how healthy they are for you- I don't know about that, but I will let you now if I notice a huge difference in my energy, etc :)

Here is Lynda's recipe for the Green Smoothie from Dr. Oz. Mine is an rendition of this one.

Green Drink

1 orange

1/2 cucumber

2 handfuls spinach

1 TB fresh ginger

1 TB lemon juice

1/2 c fresh parsley

1/4 c water
Blend with a few ice cubes

Now for the more conservative of the bunch- here is my favorite smoothie yet:

ORANGE DREAM SMOOTHIE
1 pt vanilla smoothie mix
1 frozen orange, in sections
1/2 C skim milk
3/4 C water
Blend until smooth. Super yummy- 3 PPV , 2 fruits, 1-1/2 dairy. If you add your oil- it makes it five and WOO HOO, you got your oil in!

Have a great week!

Sweet Success!!!

Hola!
How is it going? There has actually been little blue patches of sky down here in Payson! Yippee!!

This week we continue with our "10 Steps to Success." Come and see the rest of the 10 steps and find ways to really plug in and boost your weight loss success! Remember, the only difference between those who succeed and those who don't... the ones who succeed, try one more time!

Be sure to participate in all of the polls on the blog. Scroll down to see them all.

Have a great week and the next time I send and email--- it will be MARCH!!! Woo Hoo!

It's Dinner and there's no POINTS to eat!

Alright, we've all been there- it's time for dinner and there are little or no POINTS left to eat! What do you do? Cry and BLT yourself into eating 25 more POINTS than you would have, had you actually fixed a creative POINT-less meal?

So, here is what I did tonight on a very empty stomach and a slim POINT budget of 1.5 POINTS left for dinner. (Now how I got here is another story, for another day). What I did was, take some whole grain thin spaghetti, broke it up into about 1-2" pieces and browned it in a frying pan (no oil). I tossed this in the rice cooker with brown rice (Uncle Ben's) and the proper amount of H2O and bullion. Then I abandon my children, and headed out to the store for all of my favorite veggies; napa cabbage, snow peas, celery, carrots, broccoli, onions, green onions, water chestnuts, mushrooms, etc. I took these bad boys home and cut like a mad woman. I put a little canola and sesame seed oil in the pan and stir fried these guys to tender crisp. I seasoned them with garlic, ginger and soy sauce. I dished myself a half cup of the rice pilaf and then PILED on the veggies. It was so good and the family liked it too. I am EXTREMELY satisfied and very happy to have stuck to my POINTS target for today!

The great thing about this meal is that you can purchase Stir Fry Vegetables in the freezer section of the store to have on hand for a POINTS emergency. The rice can also be made in advance and frozen in smaller amounts for an instant meal. (If you have NO points, you can just eat the veggies :)

The main trick to surviving a "NO or low POINT" dinner is a little creativity and not panicking. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you can just "fast" until the next day, you will pick and snack until you have consumed more POINTS than you would have, had you just made something that was low POINTS and filling.

Hang in there! Be sure to send me your favorite ways to survive those POINT-deficient evenings!

Warning- ANTS!!!

Wow!
The sun is shining and only 10 days left of Freezing Feb! Ok- I am sorry to all the ski lovers out there, but I am running out of nice thing to say about these teen temps! My "Polly Anna" is getting serious frostbite!

Alright this weeks meeting SPEAKS to me! I am going to hit a meeting in Provo this week for sure. Along with Jack Canfields 10 steps to success, we are discussing how our attitude and thoughts can make all of the difference. We really are unkind to ourselves at times and don't give ourselves credit for all of the wonderful things we ARE good at! Come this week and learn how to defeat the ANTS in our lives! (you have to come and see what ANTs are)

OK- there are links below to, two of the BEST articles I have read in a long while. Please click the links and take the time to read them. They are both quite short and full of wonderful insight!!!

This is a FANTASTIC article on "The Twilight Zone"- a real help with Plateaus!
http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=44241

A VERY excellent article on "ZERO Point Foods" and the REAL rules about them!
http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=40701

Have a great week and don't forget to vote on the latest survey and check out the results of the past ones. Very interesting stuff!

See you in the Meetings!!

Clever & Funny Activity Quotes

-Practice, which some regard as a chore, should be approached as just about the most pleasant recreation ever devised, besides being a necessary part of golf. ~Babe Didrickson

-It's not enough just to swing at the ball. You've got to loosen your girdle and let 'er fly. ~Babe Didrickson

-If it weren't for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn't get any exercise at all. ~Joey Adams

-The word aerobics came about when the gym instructors got together and said, "If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it jumping up and down." ~Rita Rudner

-I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. ~Marsha Doble

-I really don't think I need buns of steel. I'd be happy with buns of cinnamon. ~Ellen DeGeneres

-Aerobics: a series of strenuous exercises which help convert fats, sugars, and starches into aches, pains, and cramps. ~Author Unknown

-Exercise is a dirty word. Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate. ~Author Unknown

-An hour of basketball feels like 15 minutes. An hour on a treadmill feels like a weekend in traffic school. ~David Walters

-I consider exercise vulgar. It makes people smell. ~Alec Yuill Thornton

-If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise. ~Author Unknown

-I am pushing sixty. That is enough exercise for me. ~Mark Twain

-Exercise is the yuppie version of bulimia. ~Barbara Ehrenreich

-Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down until the feeling passes. ~Robert M. Hutchins

Fun Fun Fun!!!

Hi Everyone!
10 days down- 19 to go (yes, I am counting down the days until the end of February :)

Hey, I hope you all have a great Valentine's Day. If you don't have a Honey, or yours is a little unromantic- treat yourself to something you love, a bouquet of beautiful flowers for your table, a pedicure, a ski trip, a massage or a long bubble bath! Live it up a bit!

This week we are talking about what we used to do for fun as kids. I loved to go for long bike rides and just run around the neighborhood. We all NEED to be active, but can we find ways to take hints from our past and get moving doing some things that we LOVE to do, rather than HAVE to do? Come and join us and share some of your old time favorite ways to have fun and new ways to more more!

Be sure to checkout the below recipes! They look FANTASTIC!! Oh, and I am going to leave the survey's open to see ongoing results. If you have not been able to vote before, please visit the blog and vote. It looks like the "I mostly stick to my points target" is in the lead.

Have a great week and see you soon!

Marion

Meat Loaf By- Jodi
1 lbs Ground Turkey breast
¼ C dry bread crumbs
¼ C egg beaters
¼ C chopped onion
1 t Salt
½ t sage
Dash pepper
Sauce-
3 t Splenda brown sugar
¼ C ketchup
¼ t nutmeg
1 t dry mustard
Mix all ingredients together (except sauce). Form into a loaf. Spray loaf pan with Pam. Spread with sauce and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Serves 6- 3 POINTS per serving.

Grilled Chicken Tostadas By Lynda Broadbent
Marinade-
½ C lime juice
¼ C soy sauce
1 T honey
2 t minced garlic
1 ½ t chili powder
Tostadas-
6 BS chicken thighs or breasts
8 small corn tortillas
1 ½ C shredded lettuce
Optional toppings- Cheese, guacamole, sour cream, olives, cilantro, green onions
Instructions:
Place the chicken thighs in a gallon-size zip-lock bag and add all the marinade ingredients. Press the air out of the bag and seal it. Turn the bag to thoroughly coat the chicken, place it in a bowl, and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight), turning the bag occasionally. Remove the meat from the refrigerator 20 minutes before you want to start grilling. Prepare a charcoal fire or set a gas grill to medium-high, close the lid, and heat until hot -- about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the thighs from the bag and discard the marinade. Grill the chicken until it's no longer pink inside, about 4 to 5 minutes per side on a gas grill. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for about 5 minutes before cutting it into 1/2-inch strips. Spray both sides of the tortillas with vegetable oil spray. Grill them on each side until they turn slightly brown, about 1 minute on a gas grill. Before removing the tortillas from the grill, sprinkle each one with 1 tablespoon of cheese. To serve, layer the tortillas with shredded lettuce, the chicken strips, the remaining cheese, and any additional toppings. Serves 6 (4 pts) to 8 (3 pts) You will need to add points for any of the optional toppings.

Eating in or out.. that is the Question!

Hello!!

Hi everyone! What a winter we are having! I can say, I am truly impressed! You know I was thinking, it's pretty good that February is the shortest month of the year! Hey, and the warmer season has the longest months! COOL! Or should I say... WARM!!

Anyway- this week we are discussing the great adventure of EATING OUT!!! (Say it like "Pigs in Space..." from the Muppet Show) Well, as you all know, eating out has become a standard part of our culture. Even ten years ago, eating out was not as prevalent as it is today. We all are going to be faced with the challenges that it poses. So be sure to hit your meeting this week, and learn and share some secrets to success! Eating can be a part of your life and you CAN lose weight at the same time!

Recipes, recipes- calling for all recipes. This week I want to hear some of your favorite treats. Valentine's Day is coming up and we want to treat our loved ones to something maybe a little lighter that 20 points per slice! Send me your favorites! I added the chocolate kiss and cherry brownies below! If you have not tried them, wow- they ROCK!!!

Hey- the results of the weight loss survey are in and here the are-
70% lose .6 to 1.2 pounds per week
20% lose 0 to .4 pounds per week
10% lose 2+ pounds per week

A new survey is posted, be sure to vote.

See you in Meeting!

Oil- Oil- Oil

I get asked a lot how I get my Healthy Oils in. Here are two of my favorite ways!

I use the 94% ff popcorn. In a microwave dish or on the stove, I put 2 teaspoons of olive oil and 1 pressed clove of garlic and cook until the garlic turns golden brown. I drizzle this over the popcorn. (2 POINTS for the oil and then 1 point for 5 C of the popcorn {4 points if you eat the whole bag}) I will do more oil if I am sharing with a bunch of people. I also like to shake a little parmesan cheese on top too. If you don't get carried away, it does not change the point value. YUMM! :)

Then for my grilled cheese, I just use 2 teaspoons of olive oil instead of butter. (1 tsp on each piece of bread) I like Prairie Grain Company- Whole Wheat Bread (1 POINT per slice. Lots of places carry it) I also like the ham from Costco. It is 2 pieces for 1 point. I use the 2% Swiss slices, 1 point. Anyway- I love this sandwich!

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!!!