After LaFesta... The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!

No matter which, it's over... come to weigh in this week.  At today's meeting, we had folks who lost weight and were thrilled (some even more than they expected), we had some who stayed the same and were thrilled and we had some who gained (some even less than they expected) and were thrilled to come and weigh in - they said they were happy to end the "old" week and begin with a brand new week.  No matter which scenario is yours, it will not be as horrible as the scale monster is telling you.  You know the scale monster, right?

S/He lives in your head and constantly tells you how awful your next weigh-in is going to be, taunting you, daring you to stay home (or at your desk) and NOT go and weigh in this week.  "Peeshaw"; that's what I say!  Come and weigh-in and prove the scale monster is just that ... a Monster!!!

Without making light of it.  If it truly was awful, if you feel like your eating was out of control and it seems like you totally screwed it up, this is definitely NOT the meeting to skip.  And I don't mean just come and weigh in and leave; stick around for some well-deserved support.  Wasn't it Zig Ziglar who suggested that - and I'm paraphrasing here - "people say that motivation is like bathing, it doesn't last... that's why we recommend it regularly"?

Members who come to meetings and stay are more likely to be successful and the numbers bear it out.  I know we all think we are the exception to the rule - I'll let you into a secret - in 4 years of doing this job, I have only ever met ONE member; who lost significant weight, following the program at home - without the weekly meeting support - and countless others who have shared with me that they tried and tried, but until they "caved" and acknowledged the fact that the meetings make all the difference, weight loss was sporadic at best and more likely to be a Yo-yo effort.

This doesn't have to be a December of DOWNWARD spiral. Truly.  My crew and I are here for you every step of the way.

This week - in the meeting - I am going to share a preview of one of the changes that are coming to PointsPlus 2012; so don't miss that.  Then THE FOLLOWING week is the week of the program's enhancements.  Just a few changes that are going to make the program EVEN easier to follow - no stressing out --- FRUIT is still FREE!

EXCITING NEWS FROM WEIGHT WATCHERS:
Coming Soon: A Smarter, Faster, Better eTools Website:
new features launching December 2.

If you love eTools now, wait till you see the incredible improvements coming in December! As part of the site redesign, you'll be able to enjoy the following user-friendly features.

Easier Navigation and Smarter Tools to Enhance the Plan Experience:

• New Homepage - an improved search function to help you find the articles, recipes, and tips you’re looking for faster
• Key Tools Access from anywhere on the site
• Checklists for various stages of the Plan, down to the specific week
• Accessible Recipe Collections - browsable for dishes from savory to sweet.

------------------------------------------------

Did you know that there is a website dedicated to assisting you to find your favorite Weight Watchers products?

Everything from Chocolate Candy to Deli Salads...

http://www.wwproductlocator.com/

ONE FINAL THING:

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try"

~ unknown

Come on back to the blog on Wednesday for a "December to Remember" recipe!

See you in person in your meeting this week - can't wait :)

Twice Baked Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes

PointsPlus Value   3 per serving
Servings  6
Cooking Time   2 hours (15 minutes "active" time)


INGREDIENTS
3 medium (7oz) sweet potatoes - I like the white ones, but use your favorite
4 or 6 sprays olive oil spray
1/2 cup very finely sliced leeks, white part only
1/2 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
2 TBSP maple syrup
1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
salt and pepper to your taste
2 TBSP packed brown sugar & 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon - mixed together to make cinnamon sugar


INSTRUCTIONS

~~  Prick the potatoes and bake (on a foil lined baking sheet) in a 400 deg oven until soft, about 60 minutes.  Remove from the oven and set aside for about 20 minutes to cool to handle-able temp.  Carefully cut them in half lengthwise and remove the flesh from the skin without tearing the skins.  Re-line your baking sheet with new aluminum foil (spray with OO spray) or parchment paper (no OO spray necessary) ready to place the filled 1/2s of potato skins for re-baking.  Turn the oven down to 325 deg.

~~  Heat a skillet to medium high spray with OO spray and saute the leeks till soft, but not colored (turn the heat down and add a little water if needed to finish the cooking).  Remove from the heat and add in the potato flesh, the yogurt, maple syrup, nutmeg and salt and pepper.  Mix it together without over working the mixture (it'll get gluey if you do).  

~~  Re-fill the skins with the potato mixture, spooning it evenly so all the servings are the same size, and place the 1/2s on the prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 30 minutes at 325 deg.  Remove them from the oven, change the setting to broil - sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over the top of the potatoes and place under the broiler till the sugar bubbles - but doesn't burn.  


Serve immediately.


(P.S - you can make this into a casserole instead of individual servings - spoon into a pre-sprayed casserole dish and bake as directed)

See you after .... 

Thanksgiving; Parties & Food, Food, Food!

Parties, family gatherings, gifts, and food, food, food; what a special time of year this is! 
To help you through the season, (and this NEXT WEEK) I wanted to bring you some tips directly from the experts at Weight Watchers:

#1 Don’t starve
Arriving at the party famished could lead to overdoing it, so eat a healthy meal or snack beforehand, leaving just enough room (and PointsPlus values) for a few small treats.

#2 Drink!
But make it water or other low-calorie beverage – you’ll slow down your eating and help fill yourself up. And limit your alcohol intake – it’s not only a major source of calories and POINTS values, it can weaken your ability to stick to your eating plan.

#3 Know what you eat
Just because it’s the holidays, don’t forget all the weight management skills you’ve acquired. Even if you choose to indulge, keep journaling. By writing down what you’re eating you’re less apt to eat mindlessly.

#4 Don’t deprive yourself
But do limit your portions. By eating small portions of only things you really want you’ll enjoy the specialties while staying on track.

#5 Set priorities
Rate each dish on the buffet from 1 to10, with “10” being the best choices for you and “1” being foods you know you should limit or avoid. Fill your plate with the high numbers and only try a minimal amount (or none!) of the others.

#6 Move!
Reduce sedentary behavior like surfing the net and gradually work up to 60 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. It will help in your weight-loss efforts or allow you to eat a bit more without guilt.  (Editor's note:  for folks like me who go "Arrggghhhh" when we see that; remember that doing SOME is far better than doing NONE!)

#7 Be realistic
Losing weight during the holiday season might not be the most practical objective for you right now. Allow your goal during the holidays to be maintaining your weight, not weight loss. Then, once the holidays are over you can get right back to losing.

(and one from me)  #8 Don't go it alone
Whether your buddy is right there at the dinner table with you or across the country have an accountability partner and act as a role model - you'll be thrilled with the difference that will make to your choices!


Sticking with the theme of Holidays: In the meeting room this week we are going to try and de-stress.   (Or even better, avoid it happening at all).
Weight Watchers and I have tools for you; come and find out more...
Research shows that members who keep on attending their meetings through the holidays are far less likely to gain so much weight that it derails their long term efforts.  Going it alone, on the other hand, is like walking the tightrope without a safety net!  Time and resources are always stretched for these last few weeks of the year - spend some of them on yourself and be proud that you're taking care of the most important person you know!


Newsy Stuff:
You asked for them and they're comin' ...

This is how it was described upon launch a few months ago: 

Get produce passionate with our 175 delicious recipes!
Finally! A go-to glossary of 50 fruits and vegetables to keep you satisfied.
“Lettuce” introduce you to more eating variety with  Fruits & Veggies A-Z, featuring everything you need to know—including nutritional highlights, buying tips, and garden-fresh insider information—about 50 mouthwatering fruits and vegetables. Spice up your ho-hum meal routine while exploring delicious new ingredients like jicama, kale, and pomegranates. You’ll also get the skinny on all-time favorites like apples, oranges, cucumbers, asparagus, and strawberries. Plus, we’ll help you “beet” the blahs with our bonus chapter featuring scrumptious Super Salads.

Priced at $9.95 - look out for it as a wonderful Holiday gift for your favorite Weight Watcher!

Finally - as we move into the "Silly Season"  I wanted to highlight a success story from the Weight Watchers Website.
Meet Susan:
I'm an Inspiration!

Name:  Susan
Age:  48
Height:  5'7"
Was:  198.2 lbs
Lost 41.6 lbs
Weight:  51.6 lbs
As of: 4/16/2008
"Daily movement is the key to maintaining weight loss, but it's no longer my excuse to eat anything I want."
Susan lost weight with a prior Weight Watchers program

Susan used to read Weight Watchers success stories online and think of the women as everyday heroes. Now she's one, too!

When I hit my 30s and 40s, I was frustrated with the fluctuations in my weight. I spent a small fortune on different diets and eating plans, and every single New Year's resolution I made was to lose weight. Finally, at 45 years old, I said, "It's now or never!" I wanted to spend the second half of my life healthy and fit.

Daily diligence
When I joined Weight Watchers meetings and started following the POINTS® Weight-Loss System, I never let myself feel "safe" when I lost weight because of my history with losing and gaining. I kept a journal every day and really stuck to the plan. Before Weight Watchers, I would exercise a little and use that as my excuse to dine out several times a week. Now I just choose healthier restaurants and watch my portions.

And even though I had always been a walker, I knew I needed to add something to my fitness routine. Now a YMCA member, I attend Body Sculpting class three times a week for the weights, push-ups and stomach crunches, which really help define my body. Daily movement is the key to maintaining weight loss, but it's no longer my excuse to eat anything I want.

I deserve it! 
I have always enjoyed WeightWatchers.com, especially for the Success Stories. My heroes tend to be ordinary people who have done extraordinary things; so many of them can be found on the site. When I was asked to do a photo shoot in New York City, I screamed! I felt so pampered and special at the shoot. Afterwards we went to Little Italy for dinner and walked through the city.
A shining moment
I have done so many things in my life that I'm proud of — getting married, having my son, earning bachelor's and master's degrees — but one of my proudest achievements was receiving my Weight Watchers gold key for Lifetime Membership. That is a moment that I will never forget!

Susan's Tips:

• Make a point of doing "mini" workouts throughout the day — stretching, parking far away from the store, taking the stairs, lifting grocery bags, etc.
• If you really want something, enjoy it in moderation. Don't feel guilty and beat yourself up about it. After all, if you really want that piece of chocolate cake, baby carrots are just not going to cut it!
• If you go completely off the plan for a day, a week, or even a month, don't give up. Attend a meeting, weigh in (no matter how bad it might be) and start over!
• Set small goals and think of little gifts to give yourself. A book, item of clothing or piece of jewelry can go a long way in keeping you motivated.
• Nights are difficult for me but if I brush and floss my teeth, I am less likely to eat and spoil that nice clean feeling!
• Buy yourself a special notebook. Write down everything you eat, what you did for exercise, how you feel. Think of it as a personal journey journal

Come back to the blog on Wednesday for my weekly recipe 

Have a WONDERFUL TURKEY DAY.

Wild Mushroom Soup & Very Easy Cranberry Relish

Wild Mushroom Soup 
8 servings
2 PPV per serving

2 teaspoons butter 

2 teaspoons vegetable or sunflower oil 

½ cup finely chopped celery 

¼ cup finely chopped scallions - green and white part

½ cup finely chopped carrot 

1 or 2 cloves garlic, crushed

6-8 sprays olive oil cooking spray 

2 cups thinly sliced button or baby Bella mushrooms (or a mixture of both.  Don't wash the mushrooms, wipe them with a moist piece of kitchen paper) 

4 cups thinly sliced Shiitake caps or oyster mushrooms (or a mixture of both)

2 TBSP Dijon mustard

48 oz low-sodium vegetable broth

Salt and Pepper to taste
¼ cup dry sherry or white wine
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

4 teaspoons chopped fresh sage

Heat the butter and oil together in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat.   Add the mirepoix of vegetables (the aromatics); celery, scallions, carrots and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes or until lightly browned (the browning will help color the soup, so don't be shy about allowing color to develop). Set them aside in a Pyrex or earthenware dish – place a plate on top to keep them warm.

Next, you're going to soften and brown the mushrooms keep them separated by type. Spray the skillet with 3 or 4 sprays of olive oil cooking spray   Add first batch of mushrooms (button) sauté in the pan for about 3 or 4 minutes, moving them around the pan with a wooden or silicon spoon until lightly browned.  Set these aside in the Pyrex bowl with the other vegetables.  Then, re-coat pan with cooking spray and do the same to the other mushroom types.

Place the veggies (with all the mushrooms) in large saucepan add the broth and the mustard and a little salt and pepper.   Bring it to boil over medium heat.  Reduce the heat and skim off any scum that rises to the top, then cover the pan and allow the soup to simmer 30 minutes. Stir in sherry (or wine) and herbs to the pan and simmer, uncovered, for a 5 more minutes, taste for seasoning and adjust to your taste.  Serve in pre-warmed bowls - piping hot!

A really easy Cranberry Relish to make for Turkey day...
Take a pack of fresh cranberries, wash them and empty the bag into a thick bottomed saucepan.  Open a 14oz can of crushed pineapple in its own juice - discard the juice and add the pineapple to the pan.  If you want to add a little extra zip - add about a tsp of orange zest.  Put the pan on the heat and bring to the boil.  As soon as the cranberries pop open, remove from the heat and add 1/2 tsp of Vanilla extract.

I put this though the recipe builder - if you use a TBSP or two as a condiment, you can count it as "free".  If you get fewer than 12 servings from it count 1 PPV or so.  If you eat it by the 1/2 cup-full (as a dessert - believe me I have done that) then you should count it as 3 PPV per serving.

Some of my members add Splenda to this ... I do not!

Enjoy...
Come on back on Sunday for the next post on the blog - see you soon  :)