Programming Note: there will be no update next week. I'll be busy, okay?
Last Week
If you make excuses to blow off activity, chances are you aren't burning as many calories as you'd like. Recognize those excuses and bust through them!
Special note to Monday peeps: Thank you so very much for getting a card (and a gift card!) together for me this week. Your generosity is extremely touching, and it is one of the reasons that I am lucky to share an hour each week with you. You guys are the best!
This Week
Have you ever felt bombarded by offers of unwanted food? This week we'll discuss how we can get the other folks in our lives on board with our healthy eating habits - either by converting them to our way, or at least getting them to stop with the food pushing!
Kudos
Dora and Bernadette both got their first 5 pound stars, Nicole reached 10 pounds lost, Bill & Joyce both reached 20 pounds, and Nikki got her 35 pound star. We also got to give 10% keychains to Heidi (who also reached 25 pounds lost), Joyce and Elise. And if that weren't enough, both Elise and Vicki reached goal! What a bunch of losers you are....
WW Product of the Week
WW Cookbooks! If you want to get your family or roommates on board with healthy eating, what better way to do it than to start cooking great tasting food for them? Our cookbooks have great stuff for the novice cook and the more experienced chef. I own them all, so ask me about my favorites in each!
Weekly Potpourri
If you'd like to enjoy the wonderful weather we have and maybe get some activity in (remember, we stopped making excuses!) you might think about heading to one of the county's many parks. The County's website has a listing of all the parks, as well as activities, events, sports leagues and other fun things that happen there. Who knows, you might find something neat to join.
Recipe of the Week
Tuscan Casserole
Serves 8
2 Points
15.5oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
10oz chopped frozen spinach, thawed
3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup egg substitute
1 1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium garlic cloves, chopped
8oz mushrooms, sliced (I'm going to use zucchini, since I'm not a 'shroom fan)
3 slices reduced-calorie bread, torn into small pieces
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Heat oven to 350. Line 9x9 pan with aluminum foil. In bowl combine beans, spinach, ricotta, egg substitute, salt and pepper.
In nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add onion, garlic and mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms are almost dry and begin to brown, 10 minutes. Add to bean mixture. Spoon into pan and even out top.
Sprinkle bread over mixture; top with cheese. Bake until bread is toasted and spinach is warmed through, 25 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
-- courtesy of eTools
What's Hot at WW.com
In our discussions about triggers these last few weeks, it has come up that evenings, right before dinner, is a challenging time for many of us. Here is an article with some tips. Bonus - some of these tips are from the community messageboards. Even if you don't have a Monthly Pass that comes with eTools, you can still read and post to the boards. That's a great way to get new ideas and support when it's not your regular meeting time.
Quote of the Week
Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he
could only do a little. - Edmund Burke
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Newsletter, week of April 13th
Last Week
Our final installment in the Trigger Series, we discussed cleaning up our environment. Get all the right stuff in, move all the wrong stuff out!
This Week
Are you making excuses for not exercising? We'll challenge those this week and see if we can't get you Moving More.
Kudos
Bernadette, Victoria and Dora survived their first week on program! Pamela got her 5 pound star; Fran, Jill and Myra received their 10 pound stars; Janedra and Sandee celebrated 15 pounds lost; Joyce reached 20 pounds and Jessica has now lost over 35 pounds!
WW Product of the Week
All of our exercise gear! Check out our pedometer, which can tell you how far you've walked and calculate activity points. We now have TWO exercise DVDs to choose from. And don't forget our walking kit! No excuses - we've got the tools for you!
Weekly Potpourri
No trip to Target is complete without some sort of impulse purchase. This morning I stumbled across Ice Breakers Restore Pomegranate Lemon-Aid Mints. Oh man are these delicious. Three mints have only five calories. I'm trying not to shove all of them in my mouth at once....
Recipe of the Week
Mexican Lasagna
Serves 6
6 Points
10oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
16oz can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
6 (5 inch) corn tortillas
Cooking spray
2 cups refrigerated fresh salsa
1 (8oz) block 50% reduced-fat cheddar cheese with jalapeno peppers, shredded
Preheat oven to 425. Combine spinach and ricotta cheese in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, combine beans.
Cut 3 corn tortillas into pieces, and arrange in a solid layer to cover bottom of an 8" square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with half each of beans, salsa, spinach mixture, and cheese. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.
Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
What's Hot at WW.com
Bored with broccoli and carrots? This article on spring greens may give you a few new choices to add to the rotation.
Quote of the Week
Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. ~Plato
Our final installment in the Trigger Series, we discussed cleaning up our environment. Get all the right stuff in, move all the wrong stuff out!
This Week
Are you making excuses for not exercising? We'll challenge those this week and see if we can't get you Moving More.
Kudos
Bernadette, Victoria and Dora survived their first week on program! Pamela got her 5 pound star; Fran, Jill and Myra received their 10 pound stars; Janedra and Sandee celebrated 15 pounds lost; Joyce reached 20 pounds and Jessica has now lost over 35 pounds!
WW Product of the Week
All of our exercise gear! Check out our pedometer, which can tell you how far you've walked and calculate activity points. We now have TWO exercise DVDs to choose from. And don't forget our walking kit! No excuses - we've got the tools for you!
Weekly Potpourri
No trip to Target is complete without some sort of impulse purchase. This morning I stumbled across Ice Breakers Restore Pomegranate Lemon-Aid Mints. Oh man are these delicious. Three mints have only five calories. I'm trying not to shove all of them in my mouth at once....
Recipe of the Week
Mexican Lasagna
Serves 6
6 Points
10oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
16oz can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
6 (5 inch) corn tortillas
Cooking spray
2 cups refrigerated fresh salsa
1 (8oz) block 50% reduced-fat cheddar cheese with jalapeno peppers, shredded
Preheat oven to 425. Combine spinach and ricotta cheese in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, combine beans.
Cut 3 corn tortillas into pieces, and arrange in a solid layer to cover bottom of an 8" square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with half each of beans, salsa, spinach mixture, and cheese. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.
Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
What's Hot at WW.com
Bored with broccoli and carrots? This article on spring greens may give you a few new choices to add to the rotation.
Quote of the Week
Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. ~Plato
Friday, April 04, 2008
Newsletter, week of April 6th
Last Week
Emotions can trigger unplanned eating. But if we figure out other ways to deal with our emotions (that don't involve food!) we don't have to let that sabotage our efforts.
This Week
This is our last trigger topic. This week we'll focus on cleaning up our environment. When the areas around us help support our weight loss efforts, it makes it much easier to stay on program.
Kudos
This week we gave first 5 pound awards to Kathleen and Willis, 10 pound awards to Val, Steve and Trina, a 20 pound award to Christina, a 25 pound award to Crystal, a 30 pound award to Virginia, and Nadia received her 16 week Stay and Succeed award.
WW Product of the Week
Points Calculator - if you don't know the Points value of your foods, how will you know if you're staying within your budget? This little calculator is a great tool to throw in your bag. Use it at the grocery store, and know the value of something BEFORE you take it home and put it in your cabinet.
Weekly Potpourri
Fiber is a good thing, right? Well, every once in a while someone will ask about those fiber powders (Benefiber is one of them) because they've read somewhere it can lower the Points value of foods. Here is Hungry Girl's take on it. My personal opinion is that if you are adding a fiber supplement to a food merely to lower its Points value, you are not practicing a healthy habit. If you feel you need fiber in your diet that's great, but nutrients are generally better received by eating them in their "natural state". And no, sprinkling Benefiber on your ice cream does NOT lower its Points value. Sorry, Charlie!
Recipe of the Week
Mediterranean Couscous and Lentil Salad
Serves 10
5 Points
1 cup dry lentils
14 oz fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cup uncooked couscous
1 cup sweet red peppers, diced
1 cup mint leaves, chopped
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1/2 cup scallions, chopped
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Place lentils in a large saucepan; cover with water 2 inches above lentils. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer 25 to 30 minutes or until tender. Drain well; cool.
Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan; gradually stir in couscous. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
Combine lentils, couscous, bell pepper and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; stir gently. Combine lemon juice and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Pour lemon juice mixture over couscous mixture; stir gently. Stir in cheese.
--courtesy of eTools
What's Hot at WW.com
For the men in the group, have you looked at our weight range chart and cringed? Do you wonder why we have the same chart for men and women? The folks at Weight Watchers explain it all. Having said that, remember that you can always set your own goal outside of our ranges by providing us with a doctor's note.
Quote of the Week
The EPA says to help protect the environment, "Reduce/Reuse/Recycle" - to help manage your trigger environment, "Recognize/Remove/Replace!"
Emotions can trigger unplanned eating. But if we figure out other ways to deal with our emotions (that don't involve food!) we don't have to let that sabotage our efforts.
This Week
This is our last trigger topic. This week we'll focus on cleaning up our environment. When the areas around us help support our weight loss efforts, it makes it much easier to stay on program.
Kudos
This week we gave first 5 pound awards to Kathleen and Willis, 10 pound awards to Val, Steve and Trina, a 20 pound award to Christina, a 25 pound award to Crystal, a 30 pound award to Virginia, and Nadia received her 16 week Stay and Succeed award.
WW Product of the Week
Points Calculator - if you don't know the Points value of your foods, how will you know if you're staying within your budget? This little calculator is a great tool to throw in your bag. Use it at the grocery store, and know the value of something BEFORE you take it home and put it in your cabinet.
Weekly Potpourri
Fiber is a good thing, right? Well, every once in a while someone will ask about those fiber powders (Benefiber is one of them) because they've read somewhere it can lower the Points value of foods. Here is Hungry Girl's take on it. My personal opinion is that if you are adding a fiber supplement to a food merely to lower its Points value, you are not practicing a healthy habit. If you feel you need fiber in your diet that's great, but nutrients are generally better received by eating them in their "natural state". And no, sprinkling Benefiber on your ice cream does NOT lower its Points value. Sorry, Charlie!
Recipe of the Week
Mediterranean Couscous and Lentil Salad
Serves 10
5 Points
1 cup dry lentils
14 oz fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cup uncooked couscous
1 cup sweet red peppers, diced
1 cup mint leaves, chopped
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1/2 cup scallions, chopped
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Place lentils in a large saucepan; cover with water 2 inches above lentils. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer 25 to 30 minutes or until tender. Drain well; cool.
Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan; gradually stir in couscous. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
Combine lentils, couscous, bell pepper and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; stir gently. Combine lemon juice and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Pour lemon juice mixture over couscous mixture; stir gently. Stir in cheese.
--courtesy of eTools
What's Hot at WW.com
For the men in the group, have you looked at our weight range chart and cringed? Do you wonder why we have the same chart for men and women? The folks at Weight Watchers explain it all. Having said that, remember that you can always set your own goal outside of our ranges by providing us with a doctor's note.
Quote of the Week
The EPA says to help protect the environment, "Reduce/Reuse/Recycle" - to help manage your trigger environment, "Recognize/Remove/Replace!"
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