What Happened Last Week?
Grocery shopping can be a valuable factor in your success. Buying healthy food is the first step in eating it! But beware the tricks of their trade, and for heaven's sake, don't go hungry!
We also kicked off the Lose for Good campaign this past week. Until October 15th, your weight loss goes toward calculating a monetary donation to Share our Strength and Action Against Hunger. You can also help locally by bringing in food donations. Your generosity is critical to helping someone in need.
So What's Coming Up?
Summer (in spirit) is technically over, so many of you will be "back to the grind" when it comes to Weight Watchers. We'll recharge your weight loss efforts so you can have a successful fall.
My Succeed All Summer challenge is just about over this week! Because we will be closed on Monday for the holiday and Sunday is still technically a holiday weekend, we will not be doing the drawings for those meetings this week. So Sunday, if you're in attendance you'll have one last chance to collect a star! Wednesday group - your prize drawing will be held next week so be sure you're there! Email club members: remember you'll get a second entry into the drawing just for being a member.
Labor Day Walk!
Join us on Monday at 8am to kick off the holiday on a healthy foot. Come to Balboa Park, park in the zoo parking lot, and be ready to meet us at the carousel for a 5K (3.1 mile) walk. All speeds, all abilities, all welcome. Bring your friends and family.
Thought for the Week
I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it. - Thomas Jefferson
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Weekly Recipe: Cucumber Pomegranate Salad
It's just about Labor Day weekend, and maybe you have a barbecue or get-together on your calendar. If you've got to bring a dish, this one could definitely be a winner.
Cucumber Pomegranate Salad
That recipe just screams summer salad to me. Cool, fresh and colorful. Enjoy!
Cucumber Pomegranate Salad
That recipe just screams summer salad to me. Cool, fresh and colorful. Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Roundup, week of August 28th
What Happened Last Week?
Plateaus - you've been there, you know them, you hate them. Remember that 90% of them are preventable by making sure you continue those healthy habits you were practicing on day one.
Celebrations this week include five pound stars for Jennifer and Scarlett, a 55 pound star for Karla, and a 70 pound star for Yolanda! We also celebrated 5% awards with Ashley and Denise, and gave Marlene her 16 week Stay and Succeed award.
So What's Coming Up?
The supermarket can be a minefield of potential pitfalls: aisle after aisle of tempting foods and beverages! We'll create a game plan and learn to take advantage of the resources available to make shopping a smart trip, not a disaster.
Special for Labor Day!
Join us at Balboa Park near the carousel on Monday, September 5th at 8am. We'll be walking/running/blading/whatevering a 5K course just like we did back on Memorial Day. Mark your calendars and bring your family and friends!
Thought for the Week
You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated. ~ Maya Angelou
Plateaus - you've been there, you know them, you hate them. Remember that 90% of them are preventable by making sure you continue those healthy habits you were practicing on day one.
Celebrations this week include five pound stars for Jennifer and Scarlett, a 55 pound star for Karla, and a 70 pound star for Yolanda! We also celebrated 5% awards with Ashley and Denise, and gave Marlene her 16 week Stay and Succeed award.
So What's Coming Up?
The supermarket can be a minefield of potential pitfalls: aisle after aisle of tempting foods and beverages! We'll create a game plan and learn to take advantage of the resources available to make shopping a smart trip, not a disaster.
Special for Labor Day!
Join us at Balboa Park near the carousel on Monday, September 5th at 8am. We'll be walking/running/blading/whatevering a 5K course just like we did back on Memorial Day. Mark your calendars and bring your family and friends!
Thought for the Week
You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated. ~ Maya Angelou
Weekly Recipe: Eggplant and Tomato Tagine
In the discussion of meatless meals recently, I had a request for a recipe for eggplant. Eggplant is a GREAT vegetable that can serve in a meatless dish, because it has heft and flavor. Here's a recipe from Cooking Light that I think will be delicious. And this kind of recipe usually is better the next day, so if you have leftovers, don't worry. The flavors will blend and intensify!
Eggplant and Tomato Tagine
Eggplant and Tomato Tagine
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Roundup, week of August 21st
What Happened Last Week?
We explored the world of meatless meals. Even if you're a die-hard carnivore, you've probably had a meal that didn't contain meat. As you're expanding your healthy eating repertoire, this is just another option for you. Let us know if you try anything new!
Celebrations this week included ten pound stars for Denise and Darcy, and a 15 pound star for Taryn. Monday - I'm sorry I wasn't able to celebrate with you this week!
So What's Coming Up?
Do you get frustrated when your weight loss stalls, especially if you believe you've been doing everything right? Of course you do! This week we'll talk about steps you can take to jump-start your weight loss. No one wants a plateau, but it's a typical part of our weight loss journey. Having the tools to deal with it is extraordinarily important!
Thought for the Week
We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once. - Calvin Coolidge
We explored the world of meatless meals. Even if you're a die-hard carnivore, you've probably had a meal that didn't contain meat. As you're expanding your healthy eating repertoire, this is just another option for you. Let us know if you try anything new!
Celebrations this week included ten pound stars for Denise and Darcy, and a 15 pound star for Taryn. Monday - I'm sorry I wasn't able to celebrate with you this week!
So What's Coming Up?
Do you get frustrated when your weight loss stalls, especially if you believe you've been doing everything right? Of course you do! This week we'll talk about steps you can take to jump-start your weight loss. No one wants a plateau, but it's a typical part of our weight loss journey. Having the tools to deal with it is extraordinarily important!
Thought for the Week
We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once. - Calvin Coolidge
Weekly Recipe: Beautiful Barbecue
Okay, so after a week of talking meatless, I'll indulge you with some barbecue recipes from the website.
Weight Watchers Goes Barbecuing
Hilariously enough, the first recipe linked in the article is for tempeh - which is of course a meatless source of protein. You just can't get away from those vegetarians! :)
Weight Watchers Goes Barbecuing
Hilariously enough, the first recipe linked in the article is for tempeh - which is of course a meatless source of protein. You just can't get away from those vegetarians! :)
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Return of I Cook So You Don't Have To! Avocado Berry Smoothie
If you were in this week's meeting (and you were, weren't you?!?) you may recall that there was an idea in this week's Weight Watchers Weekly to make an avocado smoothie. Now, I love avocados, so I'm just crazy enough to decide that was a good idea. Here's what the suggestion said:
"Blend flesh of 1 avocado with 1 cup nonfat milk, 1/2 cup ice cubes, and 1 cup fresh berries. Sweeten to taste."
Now, using simple recipe math, I figured this was going to be a PointsPlus loaded smoothie, what with a full avocado and all. But I also figured that with a cup of berries, a cup of milk and a whole avocado, this would blend up into a very large smoothie, and could easily be two servings. And so I decided this would be a Saturday morning treat for my husband and I.
Here are the nutritionals for what I made. I went out of my way to find a rather small avocado, and according to the scale, there was 3.4 ounces of flesh. I used a combination of raspberries and strawberries - mostly because the raspberries I bought for this ended up being fuzzier than I could tell when I bought the package, and I happened to have some strawberries on hand. But I think this would probably also work with blueberries.
Surprisingly this smoothie didn't turn out green, like I expected. The berry color is obviously the dominant one here. I could taste the avocado, but I'd say I tasted the berries more. It was tremendously smooth and creamy (I'm sure making it in my Vitamix probably helped). By using a small avocado, this was definitely not the calorie bomb that I anticipated.
So try it. You might like it!
"Blend flesh of 1 avocado with 1 cup nonfat milk, 1/2 cup ice cubes, and 1 cup fresh berries. Sweeten to taste."
Now, using simple recipe math, I figured this was going to be a PointsPlus loaded smoothie, what with a full avocado and all. But I also figured that with a cup of berries, a cup of milk and a whole avocado, this would blend up into a very large smoothie, and could easily be two servings. And so I decided this would be a Saturday morning treat for my husband and I.
Here are the nutritionals for what I made. I went out of my way to find a rather small avocado, and according to the scale, there was 3.4 ounces of flesh. I used a combination of raspberries and strawberries - mostly because the raspberries I bought for this ended up being fuzzier than I could tell when I bought the package, and I happened to have some strawberries on hand. But I think this would probably also work with blueberries.
Surprisingly this smoothie didn't turn out green, like I expected. The berry color is obviously the dominant one here. I could taste the avocado, but I'd say I tasted the berries more. It was tremendously smooth and creamy (I'm sure making it in my Vitamix probably helped). By using a small avocado, this was definitely not the calorie bomb that I anticipated.
So try it. You might like it!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Roundup, week of August 14th
What Happened Last Week?
The basics of a healthy meal plan can easily be satisfied by eating Power Foods and following the Good Health Guidelines. If you learned something new this week, I hope you'll apply it with good results!
Congratulations go out this week to Shelia for reaching her first five pounds lost, Richard for reaching 10 pounds, Lynne and Pat for hitting 15 pounds lost, Jan for getting to 20 pounds, and Nylene for hitting 30 pounds lost! We also celebrated with Nancy for hitting her 5% target, and gave 10% keychains to Jan and Caroline.
So What's Coming Up?
It seems like everywhere you turn these days, there's talk about going meatless. Vegetarian this, vegan that! It's the hot topic for a bunch of reasons. If you're new to meals without meat, we'll discuss how to make a meal that doesn't feel like a let-down, like a collection of vegetable side dishes. As a vegetarian myself, I'm happy to provide some of my own experience. If you're veggie too, let me know! You'll be our expert!
Thought for the Week
No matter how small, acknowledge the achievement. ~ Greg Henry Quinn
The basics of a healthy meal plan can easily be satisfied by eating Power Foods and following the Good Health Guidelines. If you learned something new this week, I hope you'll apply it with good results!
Congratulations go out this week to Shelia for reaching her first five pounds lost, Richard for reaching 10 pounds, Lynne and Pat for hitting 15 pounds lost, Jan for getting to 20 pounds, and Nylene for hitting 30 pounds lost! We also celebrated with Nancy for hitting her 5% target, and gave 10% keychains to Jan and Caroline.
So What's Coming Up?
It seems like everywhere you turn these days, there's talk about going meatless. Vegetarian this, vegan that! It's the hot topic for a bunch of reasons. If you're new to meals without meat, we'll discuss how to make a meal that doesn't feel like a let-down, like a collection of vegetable side dishes. As a vegetarian myself, I'm happy to provide some of my own experience. If you're veggie too, let me know! You'll be our expert!
Thought for the Week
No matter how small, acknowledge the achievement. ~ Greg Henry Quinn
Weekly Recipe: Go Meatless!
In honor of this week's topic, I'm going to share a few links to meatless recipes that I use on a regular basis:
Vegetarian Times - this magazine's website has a searchable recipe database. Not everything's going to be light, but I've found plenty to make, or at least lighten up a bit. Full nutrition information is provided.
Fat-Free Vegan Kitchen - not all of these recipes seem to have nutrition information, but many do. Susan's recipes are definitely Weight Watchers friendly. BEWARE: some of her recipes do have "Points" calculated, and they refer to the old program, not the PointsPlus program! Be sure to do your own calculations.
Post Punk Kitchen - Vegan with an attitude! Once again, not all the recipes she posts are light. But I do own her Appetite for Reduction cookbook, and that is full of a boatload of delicious recipes that easily fit into your daily targets. I got that one for Christmas and early this year was a flurry of cooking from that collection.
Vegetarian Times - this magazine's website has a searchable recipe database. Not everything's going to be light, but I've found plenty to make, or at least lighten up a bit. Full nutrition information is provided.
Fat-Free Vegan Kitchen - not all of these recipes seem to have nutrition information, but many do. Susan's recipes are definitely Weight Watchers friendly. BEWARE: some of her recipes do have "Points" calculated, and they refer to the old program, not the PointsPlus program! Be sure to do your own calculations.
Post Punk Kitchen - Vegan with an attitude! Once again, not all the recipes she posts are light. But I do own her Appetite for Reduction cookbook, and that is full of a boatload of delicious recipes that easily fit into your daily targets. I got that one for Christmas and early this year was a flurry of cooking from that collection.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Roundup, week of August 7th
What Happened Last Week?
We explored the benefits of snacking. From managing hunger to cravings, if you make the right choices, snacking won't ruin your weight loss plans. Thanks to all of you for sharing your favorite snack ideas.
Weight loss awards this week went to Carolyn (5 pounds), Elizabeth (15 pounds), Erin (20 pounds), and Karla (50 pounds). The folks reaching their 5% targets included Lynne, Pat, Candi, Cindy and Debbie. We gave Norma her 16 week Stay and Succeed Award, and Marlene and Kathy reached their 10% targets. That's a great week!
So What's Coming Up?
What does your food day look like? We'll discuss how to put together a healthy day, how the new MyPlate from the USDA can help, and OF COURSE our Good Health Guidelines! Be prepared to share your healthy habits and to pick up some new ones.
Baked Snack Sale Alert! Starting Sunday, all of our baked snacks (pretzels, twists, crackers, popped snacks) will be on sale for $3.50!
Thought for the Week
Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them ... every day begin the task anew. ~ Saint Francis de Sales
We explored the benefits of snacking. From managing hunger to cravings, if you make the right choices, snacking won't ruin your weight loss plans. Thanks to all of you for sharing your favorite snack ideas.
Weight loss awards this week went to Carolyn (5 pounds), Elizabeth (15 pounds), Erin (20 pounds), and Karla (50 pounds). The folks reaching their 5% targets included Lynne, Pat, Candi, Cindy and Debbie. We gave Norma her 16 week Stay and Succeed Award, and Marlene and Kathy reached their 10% targets. That's a great week!
So What's Coming Up?
What does your food day look like? We'll discuss how to put together a healthy day, how the new MyPlate from the USDA can help, and OF COURSE our Good Health Guidelines! Be prepared to share your healthy habits and to pick up some new ones.
Baked Snack Sale Alert! Starting Sunday, all of our baked snacks (pretzels, twists, crackers, popped snacks) will be on sale for $3.50!
Thought for the Week
Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them ... every day begin the task anew. ~ Saint Francis de Sales
Weekly Recipe: Tomato and Olive Dip
If you liked the look of the dip on the cover of this week's edition of Weight Watchers Weekly, you will be happy to know that I'm saving you the trouble of having to search for it on the website. As a bonus, the recipe is part of an article all about snacking, so there are a few bonus recipes as well.
Easy as 1,2,3! PointsPlus Value Snacks
Easy as 1,2,3! PointsPlus Value Snacks
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