What Happened This Week?
Having a support system in place is so important. So is thanking them for their help! Whether it's your friends and family or virtual members at the WW website, having someone to lean on can make the journey easier.
Celebrations this week included a five pound star for Darcy, a fifteen pound star for Linda, and a 25 pound star for Nylene. Thanks to all of you who came out to the Memorial Day walk at Mission Bay - you will get your 5K charm this week if you haven't already received it.
So What's Coming Up?
Another Walk-It Opportunity! Meet this Sunday (6/5) at 6pm at the Visitor Information Center at Mission Bay (right at the foot of Clairemont Drive) and another group of Weight Watcher members is going to gather and get their walk on!
Are you paying attention? You are if you're tracking. But tracking can take many forms, and the things you track certainly aren't limited to what you're eating and drinking. Self-awareness can lead to more optimal weight loss results!
Thought for the Week
More people will die from hit-or-miss eating than from hit-and-run driving. - Duncan Hines, food critic (no seriously, he was!)
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Weekly Recipe: Fuji Apples with Saigon Cinnamon
A fellow Weight Watchers leader shared this simple snack idea, and I thought you might enjoy. Here's what he has to say:
I've gotten rave reviews over my simple Fuji apples and Saigon cinnamon habit. I started eating apples and cinnamon well before the new PP program, but since the new program, it's really come into its own. Members rave about how it helps them, so I routinely bring my bag of apples and cinnamon into the meeting room, and let people marvel at how good they smell and taste.
The approach is simple: I cut up about 4 Fuji apples into eighths and put them in a freezer size zip lock bag. In the morning I pull them from the fridge and sprinkle some Saigon cinnamon on them.
The apples become this delicious treat that accompanies me the whole day. Everywhere I go, people comment on how good they smell each time I open the bag. I carry them in my car and the whole car smells wonderful. As the day progresses and the apples get a little warm, they taste even better.
A few months back, I randomly commented about my apples in front of the meeting room and everyone wanted to know about them. I shared my approach and members immediately began imitating me, bringing back wonderful stories about how the apples and cinnamon helped them.
Now, I have fun with it, I always bring my bag of apples and often comment on them. I joke with members who become members of my "Fuji apples and cinnamon cult" -- everyone laughs, and members who use it, rave about it.
Zero points plus.....oh yeah.
So. Where do you get Saigon cinnamon? I wouldn't be surprised if locally you might find it at Whole Foods, maybe in Henry's bulk spice section, or at specialty kitchen shops like Great News. But definitely you can order it online at Penzey's or The Spice House. I have ordered from Penzeys before and can 100% vouch for their quality and service. Let me know if you try it!
I've gotten rave reviews over my simple Fuji apples and Saigon cinnamon habit. I started eating apples and cinnamon well before the new PP program, but since the new program, it's really come into its own. Members rave about how it helps them, so I routinely bring my bag of apples and cinnamon into the meeting room, and let people marvel at how good they smell and taste.
The approach is simple: I cut up about 4 Fuji apples into eighths and put them in a freezer size zip lock bag. In the morning I pull them from the fridge and sprinkle some Saigon cinnamon on them.
The apples become this delicious treat that accompanies me the whole day. Everywhere I go, people comment on how good they smell each time I open the bag. I carry them in my car and the whole car smells wonderful. As the day progresses and the apples get a little warm, they taste even better.
A few months back, I randomly commented about my apples in front of the meeting room and everyone wanted to know about them. I shared my approach and members immediately began imitating me, bringing back wonderful stories about how the apples and cinnamon helped them.
Now, I have fun with it, I always bring my bag of apples and often comment on them. I joke with members who become members of my "Fuji apples and cinnamon cult" -- everyone laughs, and members who use it, rave about it.
Zero points plus.....oh yeah.
So. Where do you get Saigon cinnamon? I wouldn't be surprised if locally you might find it at Whole Foods, maybe in Henry's bulk spice section, or at specialty kitchen shops like Great News. But definitely you can order it online at Penzey's or The Spice House. I have ordered from Penzeys before and can 100% vouch for their quality and service. Let me know if you try it!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Roundup, week of May 29th
What Happened Last Week?
Exercise is a well-known recipe for good health. But sometimes we still find reasons not to do it. If you contemplate how good it feels after, does that help you take the first step? Remember, activities you enjoy are your best bet. But just getting up out of the chair is important. The less you sit, the better off you'll be!
We awarded first five pound stars to Kim, Taryn and Alicia, and gave a 10 pound star to Laurie. David reached 30 pounds lost, and Mark hit the 50 pound mark. Kim hit her 5% target, and Melissa received the 16 week Stay and Succeed award. Georgetta, Robin and Maria all received a 5K charm for their participation in the Walk-It Day 5K this weekend!
Speaking of the Walk-It Day 5K...
Mark your calendars for Monday at 8am! Yes, this Monday, Memorial Day, we will meet at De Anza Cove down at Mission Bay at 8:00 in the morning. Show up and you'll be able to start your day with a walk along with some other Weight Watchers members. This will qualify you to receive a 5K charm! You can walk as slow or as fast as you like. You're also not obligated to walk 5K - you could go more OR less. This is an informal gathering, so you're welcome to walk as you please. Bring guests, that's OK too.
So What's Coming Up?
MONDAY - remember that your meetings will be closed. You can join me on Sunday in El Cajon if you like (11am weigh-in and 11:30 meeting), or you can find another meeting during the week. If neither of those options works and you can't attend a meeting, that's OK too. We don't hold it against you when WE close for the holiday.
For those of you who WILL be at this week's meeting (and hopefully that is all of you!) we'll be talking about the people who make our journeys that much easier. Be thinking about your support network and who it is that lends you a helping hand. If you don't come up with many, don't forget our meeting rooms are here to support you!
Thought for the Week
Who I am really keeps surprising me. - Poet Nikki Giovanni
Exercise is a well-known recipe for good health. But sometimes we still find reasons not to do it. If you contemplate how good it feels after, does that help you take the first step? Remember, activities you enjoy are your best bet. But just getting up out of the chair is important. The less you sit, the better off you'll be!
We awarded first five pound stars to Kim, Taryn and Alicia, and gave a 10 pound star to Laurie. David reached 30 pounds lost, and Mark hit the 50 pound mark. Kim hit her 5% target, and Melissa received the 16 week Stay and Succeed award. Georgetta, Robin and Maria all received a 5K charm for their participation in the Walk-It Day 5K this weekend!
Speaking of the Walk-It Day 5K...
Mark your calendars for Monday at 8am! Yes, this Monday, Memorial Day, we will meet at De Anza Cove down at Mission Bay at 8:00 in the morning. Show up and you'll be able to start your day with a walk along with some other Weight Watchers members. This will qualify you to receive a 5K charm! You can walk as slow or as fast as you like. You're also not obligated to walk 5K - you could go more OR less. This is an informal gathering, so you're welcome to walk as you please. Bring guests, that's OK too.
So What's Coming Up?
MONDAY - remember that your meetings will be closed. You can join me on Sunday in El Cajon if you like (11am weigh-in and 11:30 meeting), or you can find another meeting during the week. If neither of those options works and you can't attend a meeting, that's OK too. We don't hold it against you when WE close for the holiday.
For those of you who WILL be at this week's meeting (and hopefully that is all of you!) we'll be talking about the people who make our journeys that much easier. Be thinking about your support network and who it is that lends you a helping hand. If you don't come up with many, don't forget our meeting rooms are here to support you!
Thought for the Week
Who I am really keeps surprising me. - Poet Nikki Giovanni
Weekly Recipe: Memorial Day Spread
Eating Well is definitely one of my go-to sources when I want something that's healthy but a little more on the "gourmet" side. In honor of the holiday weekend that quickly approaches (yay!) they've featured quite a few healthy Memorial Day type recipes. You may want to fire up your grill because there are recipes featuring chicken, flank steak, even a grilled pizza!
Happy holiday weekend!
Happy holiday weekend!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Roundup, week of May 22nd
What Happened Last Week?
We talked breakfast! It sounds like most of you are already eating it, which is great. It sets the tone for a healthy day, provides fuel and energy, and keeps you from getting too hungry and doing silly things.
We had some great celebrations this week including a five pound star for Jan and Mike, a ten pound star for Roz, a 15 pound star for Anne, a 35 pound star for Karla, and a 60 pound star for Susie. We also awarded 5% celebrations to Norma and Matthew, and gave 10% keychains to Teresita, Melissa and Sherry.
So What's Coming Up?
Most of you know the benefits of activity. Yet there are any number of reasons why you still might not exercise. We'll help you identify those obstacles and explore strategies for getting past them.
Thought for the Week
Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first. ~ Frederick Wilcox
We talked breakfast! It sounds like most of you are already eating it, which is great. It sets the tone for a healthy day, provides fuel and energy, and keeps you from getting too hungry and doing silly things.
We had some great celebrations this week including a five pound star for Jan and Mike, a ten pound star for Roz, a 15 pound star for Anne, a 35 pound star for Karla, and a 60 pound star for Susie. We also awarded 5% celebrations to Norma and Matthew, and gave 10% keychains to Teresita, Melissa and Sherry.
So What's Coming Up?
Most of you know the benefits of activity. Yet there are any number of reasons why you still might not exercise. We'll help you identify those obstacles and explore strategies for getting past them.
Thought for the Week
Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first. ~ Frederick Wilcox
Weekly Recipe: My Quinoa Recipe inspired by Mark Bittman
Did you know that you can now share recipes in a Community Recipe Swap on eTools? There has always been a community recipe swap feature, but now the PointsPlus values are actually verified! So in theory the quality of the recipes and the accuracy of their values should be improved.
Go to the Recipe Builder and build a recipe as you normally would. When you save your recipe, you'll have the option to share it with the community. That's what I did with this week's recipe:
Orangey Quinoa from Mark Bittman
Go to the Recipe Builder and build a recipe as you normally would. When you save your recipe, you'll have the option to share it with the community. That's what I did with this week's recipe:
Orangey Quinoa from Mark Bittman
California Baking Company
This is a post based on a discussion that occurred this morning in Clairemont at my 6:30am meeting. So if it seems random to you, that's why.
California Baking Company is a bakery located in Chula Vista that sells French style rolls. Their products are carried at local Smart and Final stores. Susie brought in their package this morning and a great discussion came out of it.
The product in question is an approximately 4 ounce French roll (yes, we got out the scale and weighed it in the meeting room) that according to the package label contains only 90 calories. Using all of the nutrition information and a PointsPlus calculator, this roll apparently calculates out to ONE PointsPlus.
Before you run out and snatch the entire supply off the shelf, this would be a time to employ some common sense. Does it sound too good to be true? According to our very own Pocket Guide, a high fiber dinner roll clocks in at 4 PointsPlus for a 2 ounce roll. The folks at CalorieKing say a generic French roll that weighs 4 ounces would contain over 300 calories...far higher than 90!
I googled the company, and they have no web presence. There are several yellow page websites that list their business information (address and phone number). I found a three year old blog entry by a guy who raves about how these low-calorie rolls are helping him have a healthy lunch. I find it easy to believe that a company that can't be bothered to have a web presence (Facebook! A blog! Twitter! Anything!) in this day and age might end up with erroneous nutrition information on their food packages.
I cannot prove that 90 calories for one of their rolls is correct OR incorrect. But having held them in my own hands this morning, I do not feel comfortable eating one and assigning it 1 PointsPlus value. Something just doesn't seem right here.
Who knows if we'll ever get to the real truth here. But this is a cautionary tale - nutrition labels can be incorrect. Right Pirate's Booty? If you feel like something is too good to be true, it just might be.
California Baking Company is a bakery located in Chula Vista that sells French style rolls. Their products are carried at local Smart and Final stores. Susie brought in their package this morning and a great discussion came out of it.
The product in question is an approximately 4 ounce French roll (yes, we got out the scale and weighed it in the meeting room) that according to the package label contains only 90 calories. Using all of the nutrition information and a PointsPlus calculator, this roll apparently calculates out to ONE PointsPlus.
Before you run out and snatch the entire supply off the shelf, this would be a time to employ some common sense. Does it sound too good to be true? According to our very own Pocket Guide, a high fiber dinner roll clocks in at 4 PointsPlus for a 2 ounce roll. The folks at CalorieKing say a generic French roll that weighs 4 ounces would contain over 300 calories...far higher than 90!
I googled the company, and they have no web presence. There are several yellow page websites that list their business information (address and phone number). I found a three year old blog entry by a guy who raves about how these low-calorie rolls are helping him have a healthy lunch. I find it easy to believe that a company that can't be bothered to have a web presence (Facebook! A blog! Twitter! Anything!) in this day and age might end up with erroneous nutrition information on their food packages.
I cannot prove that 90 calories for one of their rolls is correct OR incorrect. But having held them in my own hands this morning, I do not feel comfortable eating one and assigning it 1 PointsPlus value. Something just doesn't seem right here.
Who knows if we'll ever get to the real truth here. But this is a cautionary tale - nutrition labels can be incorrect. Right Pirate's Booty? If you feel like something is too good to be true, it just might be.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Roundup, week of May 15th
What Happened Last Week?
When we change, the people around us may or may not always be receptive. We discussed some strategies to get the support we need to be successful.
Celebrations this week included a 10 pound star for Norma, 5% awards for Vicki and Jennett, and a 10% keychain for David.
So What's Coming Up?
Are you hungry first thing in the morning? Does what you eat first thing set the tone for the rest of the day? This week we'll explore the importance of starting the day with a healthy, satisfying meal.
Thought for the Week
A healthy body is a guest-chamber for the soul; a sick body is a prison. - Francis Bacon
When we change, the people around us may or may not always be receptive. We discussed some strategies to get the support we need to be successful.
Celebrations this week included a 10 pound star for Norma, 5% awards for Vicki and Jennett, and a 10% keychain for David.
So What's Coming Up?
Are you hungry first thing in the morning? Does what you eat first thing set the tone for the rest of the day? This week we'll explore the importance of starting the day with a healthy, satisfying meal.
Thought for the Week
A healthy body is a guest-chamber for the soul; a sick body is a prison. - Francis Bacon
Weekly Recipe: Two Butternut Squash Options
This week's recipes are recommendations from Richard. Here's what he has to say:
I tried the butternut squash fries and butternut squash soup (the one with 12 1pt servings) and they were both super good. We used the neck of the squash for the fries and the bulb part for a half-recipe of the soup.
Butternut Squash Fries
Butternut Squash Soup
I tried the butternut squash fries and butternut squash soup (the one with 12 1pt servings) and they were both super good. We used the neck of the squash for the fries and the bulb part for a half-recipe of the soup.
Butternut Squash Fries
Butternut Squash Soup
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Roundup, week of May 8th
What Happened Last Week?
We talked about the strategies and challenges related to dining out. I think you all shared some great tips, and I hope you took plenty more from your Weight Watchers Weekly. Hey, by the way, if you weren't at a meeting this past week, you didn't get a copy - and I AM IN IT! If you're lucky, I might have saved a few (ahem, for my "files" or something like that).
We had lots to celebrate this week, including a five pound star for Noel and Janeille, a ten pound star for Stephanie, a 15 pound celebration for Melissa and Sherry, and a 30 pound star for Karla. We also gave out 16 week Stay and Succeed charms to Tiffany, Pat and Erin, and a 10% keychain to Krystal.
So What's Coming Up?
You don't live or lose weight in a bubble. The people around you can have an impact (good or bad) on your weight loss efforts. We'll explore those relationships and some things we can do to minimize sabotage and maximize support.
Thought for the Week
Good habits are as easy to form as bad ones. ~ Tim McCarver
We talked about the strategies and challenges related to dining out. I think you all shared some great tips, and I hope you took plenty more from your Weight Watchers Weekly. Hey, by the way, if you weren't at a meeting this past week, you didn't get a copy - and I AM IN IT! If you're lucky, I might have saved a few (ahem, for my "files" or something like that).
We had lots to celebrate this week, including a five pound star for Noel and Janeille, a ten pound star for Stephanie, a 15 pound celebration for Melissa and Sherry, and a 30 pound star for Karla. We also gave out 16 week Stay and Succeed charms to Tiffany, Pat and Erin, and a 10% keychain to Krystal.
So What's Coming Up?
You don't live or lose weight in a bubble. The people around you can have an impact (good or bad) on your weight loss efforts. We'll explore those relationships and some things we can do to minimize sabotage and maximize support.
Thought for the Week
Good habits are as easy to form as bad ones. ~ Tim McCarver
Weekly Recipe: Creamy Quinoa with Dried Cranberries
I discovered this recipe, which is sort of a twist on the typical oatmeal for breakfast thing. As is, the recipe figures out to 10 PointsPlus values - and that's just about the high end of what I personally would find acceptable given a 29 PointsPlus day.
I fiddled around with the recipe a little bit and discovered that if you drop the quantity of the pecans and dried cranberries from one half cup to one third cup each, that will drop the PointsPlus value of each serving to 9. I considered doing without the soymilk, but I think that would take away the creamy factor, so I didn't bother to run the numbers on it. I think the dish would still taste good made solely with water, but it becomes a different recipe entirely.
I fiddled around with the recipe a little bit and discovered that if you drop the quantity of the pecans and dried cranberries from one half cup to one third cup each, that will drop the PointsPlus value of each serving to 9. I considered doing without the soymilk, but I think that would take away the creamy factor, so I didn't bother to run the numbers on it. I think the dish would still taste good made solely with water, but it becomes a different recipe entirely.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Roundup, week of May 1st
What Happened Last Week?
You all got to brainstorm about new ways to prepare and serve "old" foods. I hope you enjoyed hearing everyone's ideas, and maybe now you've got something new to try. Getting bored with your food is dangerous, so try it!
Awards this week include five pound stars for Norma, Francine and Roz. Penny got her 10 pound star, and Larry got his 20 pound star. Robin reached 40 pounds lost, and Mary got her 45 pound star. We celebrated Karla's 10% target, and Maria is our newest Lifetime member! That's a great mix of celebrations that range from beginning to end, isn't it?
So What's Coming Up?
I am really excited about this week. Make sure you grab a Weekly and read it when you're in the meeting room - this one is not to be missed! You're going to find great tips for dining out in it, which is what we'll cover during the meeting. It's one of our biggest challenges, and there are lots of approaches we can take to be successful.
Spotted on the Shelves!
We are testing out some new products, and they've arrived in the meeting rooms!
These Popped Barbeque Potato Crisps are dead ringers for Pop Chips, don't you think? Each box contains 5 packets of 2 PointsPlus worth.
These Popped Cinnamon Swirl Crisps don't look as much like Pop Chips to me, but almost look like those mini rice cake crisps that Quaker and some other folks make. These also have 5 packages in the box and are 2 PointsPlus per serving. Both sell for $4.50 a box.
These products are so brand new, I haven't even tried them! Not all locations are getting both flavors, since we're testing them out. I saw the Cinnamon Swirl at Lemon Grove on Monday night, and this morning in Clairemont we actually had both flavors. I'm not sure what El Cajon will have until I see it for myself Sunday morning. If these sound good, you'd better buy them while supplies last!
Thought for the Week
The big secret in life is that there is no secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you are willing to work. It is called massive action. Action is the gas in the tank. Without you, the car will not run. ~ Marcy Blochowiak
You all got to brainstorm about new ways to prepare and serve "old" foods. I hope you enjoyed hearing everyone's ideas, and maybe now you've got something new to try. Getting bored with your food is dangerous, so try it!
Awards this week include five pound stars for Norma, Francine and Roz. Penny got her 10 pound star, and Larry got his 20 pound star. Robin reached 40 pounds lost, and Mary got her 45 pound star. We celebrated Karla's 10% target, and Maria is our newest Lifetime member! That's a great mix of celebrations that range from beginning to end, isn't it?
So What's Coming Up?
I am really excited about this week. Make sure you grab a Weekly and read it when you're in the meeting room - this one is not to be missed! You're going to find great tips for dining out in it, which is what we'll cover during the meeting. It's one of our biggest challenges, and there are lots of approaches we can take to be successful.
Spotted on the Shelves!
We are testing out some new products, and they've arrived in the meeting rooms!
These Popped Barbeque Potato Crisps are dead ringers for Pop Chips, don't you think? Each box contains 5 packets of 2 PointsPlus worth.
These Popped Cinnamon Swirl Crisps don't look as much like Pop Chips to me, but almost look like those mini rice cake crisps that Quaker and some other folks make. These also have 5 packages in the box and are 2 PointsPlus per serving. Both sell for $4.50 a box.
These products are so brand new, I haven't even tried them! Not all locations are getting both flavors, since we're testing them out. I saw the Cinnamon Swirl at Lemon Grove on Monday night, and this morning in Clairemont we actually had both flavors. I'm not sure what El Cajon will have until I see it for myself Sunday morning. If these sound good, you'd better buy them while supplies last!
Thought for the Week
The big secret in life is that there is no secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you are willing to work. It is called massive action. Action is the gas in the tank. Without you, the car will not run. ~ Marcy Blochowiak
Weekly Recipe: Halibut Kebabs with Spicy Pepper Sauce
I sat down to compose this entry, and not having a surefire recipe I needed to share, I decided to take a look at my inventory. Looking through the tags I use for my entries, I saw that out of all the entries tagged as recipes (over 200!), only 16 were tagged as seafood.
That doesn't surprise me in the slightest, since I've never been a huge fan of seafood, and I've spent various times of my life (including now) as a vegetarian. I typically post what sounds GOOD to me. So I've left you on your own when it comes to fish.
Halibut Kebabs with Spicy Pepper Sauce
Clearly you know I haven't tried this recipe. But did you know that the WW recipe search allows you to refine options by rating? This recipe is rated 5 stars, so while it's not a personal recommendation, I have faith that you'll enjoy it if you make it!
That doesn't surprise me in the slightest, since I've never been a huge fan of seafood, and I've spent various times of my life (including now) as a vegetarian. I typically post what sounds GOOD to me. So I've left you on your own when it comes to fish.
Halibut Kebabs with Spicy Pepper Sauce
Clearly you know I haven't tried this recipe. But did you know that the WW recipe search allows you to refine options by rating? This recipe is rated 5 stars, so while it's not a personal recommendation, I have faith that you'll enjoy it if you make it!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Friend Makin' Monday: Today I....
I don't do a lot of personal blogging around here, but every once in awhile I post something that's a little bit more personal. Tonight via Facebook I stumbled across someone who is wonderfully inspiring. All The Weigh has lost over 100 pounds and is a woman on a mission. Reading her story actually got me a little misty-eyed.
So to pass along a blog you all might enjoy, I'm going to participate in her "Friend Makin' Monday" entry and post a little something about me:
FMM: Today I....
Today I felt...like I could have used another day off!
Today I saw...someone celebrate becoming a Lifetime Member at Weight Watchers. That never fails to be inspiring.
Today I ate...strawberry and cucumber salad - it's a recipe I posted here a few weeks ago.
Today I kissed...my husband, who I have been married to for 2 years and 364 days.
Today I bought...nothing. The plane tickets to Italy that we bought yesterday took up everything we had!
Today I heard...one of my current favorite songs on the drive to work - Keane's "My Shadow."
Today I lost...track of time and ended up taking a little bit too long of a lunch break.
Today I decided...that I really didn't make too many decisions today!
Today I need...to focus on how I will achieve some of the small goals that have been elusive lately.
Today I wish...that everyone reading this knew how proud I am of them. Changing your lifestyle isn't easy, and you're some of the few brave enough to give it a shot.
So to pass along a blog you all might enjoy, I'm going to participate in her "Friend Makin' Monday" entry and post a little something about me:
FMM: Today I....
Today I felt...like I could have used another day off!
Today I saw...someone celebrate becoming a Lifetime Member at Weight Watchers. That never fails to be inspiring.
Today I ate...strawberry and cucumber salad - it's a recipe I posted here a few weeks ago.
Today I kissed...my husband, who I have been married to for 2 years and 364 days.
Today I bought...nothing. The plane tickets to Italy that we bought yesterday took up everything we had!
Today I heard...one of my current favorite songs on the drive to work - Keane's "My Shadow."
Today I lost...track of time and ended up taking a little bit too long of a lunch break.
Today I decided...that I really didn't make too many decisions today!
Today I need...to focus on how I will achieve some of the small goals that have been elusive lately.
Today I wish...that everyone reading this knew how proud I am of them. Changing your lifestyle isn't easy, and you're some of the few brave enough to give it a shot.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
A Day in the Life
It's a rare day when Weight Watchers is closed. We pretty much stick to our schedule but for a few holidays each year, and Easter is one of them. Since I work a Sunday meeting (as many of you know), this is pretty much my only guaranteed Sunday off, unless Christmas or New Year's Day happens to fall the right way.
Being with my Weight Watcher peeps is actually one of the highlights of my life, but I'm not gonna lie - it's nice to have a day off once in awhile! But since we didn't hang out today, I thought it might be fun to share with you some things I did to make good use of my time.
I started the morning down at Mission Beach for an early run. I met up with a couple of friends after that to walk up and down the boardwalk. There were plenty of surfers, a few beach Easter services, and more than a few people out for a nice stroll.
When all was said and done, I covered about 12 miles. Which worked up an appetite. This dish is called "Nirvana" and it's from Isabel's Cantina. I highly recommend their breakfast and lunch menus if you're ever in the area.
The rest of the afternoon was spent cooking (I made the couscous with chickpeas and oranges from our latest cookbook...among other things) and lamenting the state of Padres baseball.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Being with my Weight Watcher peeps is actually one of the highlights of my life, but I'm not gonna lie - it's nice to have a day off once in awhile! But since we didn't hang out today, I thought it might be fun to share with you some things I did to make good use of my time.
I started the morning down at Mission Beach for an early run. I met up with a couple of friends after that to walk up and down the boardwalk. There were plenty of surfers, a few beach Easter services, and more than a few people out for a nice stroll.
When all was said and done, I covered about 12 miles. Which worked up an appetite. This dish is called "Nirvana" and it's from Isabel's Cantina. I highly recommend their breakfast and lunch menus if you're ever in the area.
The rest of the afternoon was spent cooking (I made the couscous with chickpeas and oranges from our latest cookbook...among other things) and lamenting the state of Padres baseball.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Roundup, week of April 24th
What Happened Last Week?
Tracking is notoriously a secret of successful members. But often it's the thing we don't enjoy doing. Hopefully you thought of some new methods to track, or some more compelling reasons to keep it up. It'll work!
Sunday members: as you know I was not there to work this past week. I was in a classroom all day learning about different fitness assessment methods. So I don't have the usual list of celebrations from you. But I definitely was thinking about you!
Monday and Wednesday members saw celebrations for Pamela and Jennett, who each got their first five pound stars. Mary received her 10 pound award, and Helen reached 15 pounds lost. David got his 25 pound awards, and Theresa celebrated her 5% award.
So What's Coming Up?
SUNDAY NOTE: it's Easter this Sunday, and that's an official Weight Watchers holiday, so all of our locations will be closed all day.
I'm hoping that with the recipes I post here, and all of the resources you have at the Weight Watchers website, you're not getting bored with your food intake. But if so, we'll talk about how you can ensure this doesn't happen. Because let me tell you, when you're bored with the food you have, you'll definitely go looking for something else!
Thought for the Week
The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the process of getting to the top. ~ Dr. Joyce Brothers
Tracking is notoriously a secret of successful members. But often it's the thing we don't enjoy doing. Hopefully you thought of some new methods to track, or some more compelling reasons to keep it up. It'll work!
Sunday members: as you know I was not there to work this past week. I was in a classroom all day learning about different fitness assessment methods. So I don't have the usual list of celebrations from you. But I definitely was thinking about you!
Monday and Wednesday members saw celebrations for Pamela and Jennett, who each got their first five pound stars. Mary received her 10 pound award, and Helen reached 15 pounds lost. David got his 25 pound awards, and Theresa celebrated her 5% award.
So What's Coming Up?
SUNDAY NOTE: it's Easter this Sunday, and that's an official Weight Watchers holiday, so all of our locations will be closed all day.
I'm hoping that with the recipes I post here, and all of the resources you have at the Weight Watchers website, you're not getting bored with your food intake. But if so, we'll talk about how you can ensure this doesn't happen. Because let me tell you, when you're bored with the food you have, you'll definitely go looking for something else!
Thought for the Week
The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the process of getting to the top. ~ Dr. Joyce Brothers
Weekly Recipe: Egg and Herb Salad
Since Easter is this weekend, it's entirely possible that you'll end up with a surplus of hard-boiled eggs. If that's the case, you're going to need to do something with them.
I apologize in advance for this one - the recipe I'm linking doesn't have any nutrition information available. You can easily calculate the PointsPlus value of it by using the Recipe Builder in eTools, or by using Simple Recipe Math - look up the PPV of each ingredient, and tally it all up. Either method is fine, though the recipe builder of course will be more accurate.
But back to the leftover eggs. This egg and herb salad is a fresh twist on your typical egg salad. Enjoy!
I apologize in advance for this one - the recipe I'm linking doesn't have any nutrition information available. You can easily calculate the PointsPlus value of it by using the Recipe Builder in eTools, or by using Simple Recipe Math - look up the PPV of each ingredient, and tally it all up. Either method is fine, though the recipe builder of course will be more accurate.
But back to the leftover eggs. This egg and herb salad is a fresh twist on your typical egg salad. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Roundup, week of April 17th
What Happened Last Week?
It's all about ME! Err...YOU! Taking time to care for yourself is so crucial. You can't help others or be productive if you're not happy and healthy. It's not selfish and horrible to spend some time doing things that are good for YOU.
We gave a five pound star to Pam this week, and celebrated Anne's 16 week Stay and Succeed award. Twenty pound stars went to Jody, Paula and Tammy, and Maria has now lost 25 pounds! Three people reached their 5% targets this week: Debbie, Danielle and Julie.
So What's Coming Up?
When we celebrated this past week, lots of our big losers attributed at least part of their success to tracking. We know it's a valuable tool - but do we always do it? If we track this consistently and accurately, there's no way we won't succeed!
Thought for the Week
The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those, which fail. ~ Napoleon Hill
It's all about ME! Err...YOU! Taking time to care for yourself is so crucial. You can't help others or be productive if you're not happy and healthy. It's not selfish and horrible to spend some time doing things that are good for YOU.
We gave a five pound star to Pam this week, and celebrated Anne's 16 week Stay and Succeed award. Twenty pound stars went to Jody, Paula and Tammy, and Maria has now lost 25 pounds! Three people reached their 5% targets this week: Debbie, Danielle and Julie.
So What's Coming Up?
When we celebrated this past week, lots of our big losers attributed at least part of their success to tracking. We know it's a valuable tool - but do we always do it? If we track this consistently and accurately, there's no way we won't succeed!
Thought for the Week
The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those, which fail. ~ Napoleon Hill
Weekly Recipe: Wheat Berry Minestrone
I feel like I go in waves when it comes to what my favorite whole grain is. (Which, by the way, that probably makes me a complete Healthy Eating Nerd - who on this planet has a "favorite whole grain" for goodness sake?) Just last week I was looking for some recipes that use wheat berries. If you've never had them, they are about the same size as barley, or a really fat grain of rice. They're dark brown, and have a wonderful, chewy texture.
So yesterday, as I download the new WW Mobile Beta for Android, what should pop up as a featured recipe, but a soup with wheat berries! Perfect timing. And this one uses the crock pot, which is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. So here goes:
Slow Cooker Wheat Berry Minestrone
So yesterday, as I download the new WW Mobile Beta for Android, what should pop up as a featured recipe, but a soup with wheat berries! Perfect timing. And this one uses the crock pot, which is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. So here goes:
Slow Cooker Wheat Berry Minestrone
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Roundup, week of April 10th
What Happened Last Week?
We launched our 3rd annual Walk-It Challenge! What better way for you to set a goal and create steps to achieve it - sign up to show up and you've got the accountability factor working in your favor. Links and further information on the challenge will be forthcoming. I'll post them here and also on my Brand New Shiny Facebook Page Outsmart the Fat. Become a fan!
Celebrations this past week included five pound stars for Samantha (5 pounds), Kathy, Stephanie, Sherry, Krystal and Melissa (10 pounds), and Mary (35 pounds). This seemed to be the week to reach 5% and 10% targets, because we shared those with Carol, Anne, Kathy, Melissa, Andrea, Gina, Linda, Stephanie and Krystal!
So What's Coming Up?
Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in the to-dos of life that we forget we have our own needs. Maybe it's been eons since you've been able to make yourself a priority. This week we'll discuss solutions to that - if you don't take care of yourself...who will?
Thought for the Week
Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all. ~ Norman Vincent Peale
We launched our 3rd annual Walk-It Challenge! What better way for you to set a goal and create steps to achieve it - sign up to show up and you've got the accountability factor working in your favor. Links and further information on the challenge will be forthcoming. I'll post them here and also on my Brand New Shiny Facebook Page Outsmart the Fat. Become a fan!
Celebrations this past week included five pound stars for Samantha (5 pounds), Kathy, Stephanie, Sherry, Krystal and Melissa (10 pounds), and Mary (35 pounds). This seemed to be the week to reach 5% and 10% targets, because we shared those with Carol, Anne, Kathy, Melissa, Andrea, Gina, Linda, Stephanie and Krystal!
So What's Coming Up?
Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in the to-dos of life that we forget we have our own needs. Maybe it's been eons since you've been able to make yourself a priority. This week we'll discuss solutions to that - if you don't take care of yourself...who will?
Thought for the Week
Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all. ~ Norman Vincent Peale
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