Thursday, September 30, 2010

Dieting myths~~~~

Dieting Myths ... Busted: Skinny Genes?

If you think your genes determine your weight and there's no way to change it, think again.
While genes do play a role (say, inheriting your mom's body type), for most people, the most important factor when it comes to weight is how many calories you consume and how much exercise you regularly get.

Even if your parents were both heavy, there are things you can do to avoid the same fate: Plenty of activity and strength training can both help you boost your metabolism and build muscle. And the more muscle you have, the more calories you'll burn even when you're not active making it easier to stay slim regardless of your family's weight issues!

Save your money trying to have a Dr. tell you you are genetically "fat".........spend it on exercise or vegetables!!! GET REAL!!!















Curried Butternut Squash Soup






POINTS® Value: 0
Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 60 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Works with Simply Filling

This velvety soup is simple enough for a weekday meal, but sophisticated enough for a special occasion.




Ingredients

1 portion(s) butternut squash, peeled, de-seeded and diced into 1 inch cubes
2 medium onion(s), quartered
2 portion stock cube, vegetable, make up to 2 pints with hot water
1 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1 pinch salt, to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper, to taste
2 portion spring onions, thinly sliced, to garnish

Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F. Place squash and onion in a large roasting pan or baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, until squash is tender. Don't worry if some of the pieces get a bit browned - this will add to the roasted flavour of the soup.


Remove from oven. Tip into saucepan and add stock. Bring up to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Let cool about 15 minutes - do not pour hot soup directly into food processor, or you risk it exploding. Purée in batches in blender or food processor.


Toast curry powder in a small frying pan over low heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes - be careful not to burn it. Stir into puréed soup. Season to taste and divide between six bowls. Garnish with spring onions and serve.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

congrats on another month!

Congrats on another month of weight loss! Reward yourself with a nonfood item. You have worked hard. Even if the scale doesn't show it....you know if you have done your best or not.
Maybe buy yourself a little gift. You deserve it. But....continue to strive for more. Don't you love the way you're feeling?
Don't you love your compliments?
Don't you love feeling successful? I would buy just a little something....sometimes from 3 to 5 dollars...just something for "me"
I know I do...:)
Continue to exercise.....mix up your routine.... Don't let your body get used to what you're doing everyday, don't let yourself get too used to what you're doing everyday!! You will get bored! Your body will adjust....just keep it mixed up....I guess you can say "fool" your own body!
Set a new goal for October~~ September~ I decided I would really strive to exercise 5 out of 7 days. I have done that. I feel good!
What will you decide for a goal for this month?




Delightfully Baked Apples



These baked apples are topped with oats, cinnamon and brown sugar. Like little individual apple crisps without all the added fuss of cutting and peeling the apples. A simple, healthy dessert for a cool autumn evening, serve this a la mode for an extra special treat!

Delightfully Baked Apples
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 1/2 apple with topping • Points: 3 pts
Calories: 152.8 • Fat: 6.3 g • Protein: 1.1 g • Carb: 26.4 g • Fiber: 3.4 g

2 large apples, cut in half
2 tbsp butter, melted
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp flour
4 tbsp quick oats
pinch of cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350º. Cut apples in half and remove core and seeds with a small pairing knife or spoon.

In a small bowl combine butter, brown sugar, flour, oats and cinnamon. Spoon on top of the apple halves and sprinkle with cinnamon. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Serve warm with fat free whipped cream or low fat ice cream.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

you always have a choice.....

You always have a choice to do things differently.... choose wisely! If it doesn't feel right....don't do it! Do the plan right...It will work for you! We all have that little voice that's always egging us on to do wrong....... just ignore it.....your butt will thank you...:)

The Weight Watchers diet plan will teach you how to make the right choices while staying within your points range to lose weight in a healthy way.



1
Attend meetings. When I went to local Weight Watchers meetings it really surprised me that many members would weigh in and leave before the meeting even started. The meetings are really important for support as well as menu ideas, cooking and exercise tips.

If you are enrolled in the Weight Watchers Diet online program take advantage of all the interactive tools and be sure to frequent the forums for online support from other Weight Watchers members.

2
Plan ahead. When you are following the Weight Watchers diet plan or any other diet plan you will find that lack of planning will be your downfall. It is really hard to stay motivated when you haven't taken the time to go grocery shopping and resort to ordering high fat take out.

3
Eat plenty of low point foods. The great thing about the Weight Watchers diet is there are no forbidden foods. However, if you choose to eat high fat, calorie dense foods that are high in points you wont be able to eat much. While high calorie foods such as pizza is fine if you plan for it, plan most of your menus around plenty of low point foods.

4
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Most vegetables on the Weight Watchers plan are considered free foods because they are 0 points! Fruit is just 1 point per serving. Combine this with low fat or fat free dairy, lean sources of protein, healthy whole grains and small amounts of healthy fats and you will be eating a decent amount of food each day.

5
Serve Weight Watchers friendly foods to your family. Don't stress yourself out by cooking two meals every night. Even if your family doesn't need to lose weight they will still benefit by eating the healthy foods that you eat. The only difference is you will be watching your portions by counting points.

6
Use all your points. The Weight Watchers diet plan gives you extra points each week to use as you like. You can spread these points out through the week or use them for a special occasion. For example if you enjoy going out to dinner on Saturdays you can use your extra points and splurge a little. Make sure you use these points. Some members think they will lose weight faster by eating fewer points but instead end up feeling hungry, frustrated and deprived.

7
Keep a journal. Writing down everything that you eat is a great way to stay on track. It is also a nice way to get meal ideas. If you ever get in a rut just look through your old journals for meal ideas.

8
Exercise. Get in a some exercise each day to help boost weight loss and even earn extra points. Try getting 10,000 steps into each day, which is equivalent to walking about 5 miles
.


Pumpkin Muffins Recipe
- 1 18oz box of spice cake mix
- 1 15oz can of pure pumpkin
- ½ cup applesauce
- ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Spoon into muffin tins, either lightly sprayed or lined with muffin cups. You’ll use about 1/4 cup of batter per cup. Bake as directed on cake box.

Entire recipe makes 24 muffins
Serving size is 1 muffin
Each serving = 3 Point Total

Friday, September 24, 2010

Who is your role model?????

Model your behavior after this person.
True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have and those who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people. To advocate for ourselves and our goals and take leadership on the issues that we believe in. We often don't recognize our true role models until we have noticed our own personal growth and progress . . .

Are you a role model?....well it is never too late.

Everyone has someone who looks up to you weather you know it or not. Always try to possess a great attitude, work hard at being yourself, but always be your best! Someone is always watching!
My role model is not just one person . It is all who continue the fight ...through thick & thin! The ones who sometimes wants to quit, but they don't. My hat is off to you. Thank-you for setting great examples for all of us! Thank-you for your strength!







Sweet Potato Soup Crock Pot Recipe:
- 2 cups fat-free chicken broth
- 4 medium sized sweet potatoes
- 1 1/2 cups fat-free half-and-half
- 2 packets Splenda or Truvia
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dry mustard

OPTIONAL: I topped mine with a tablespoon of non-fat sour cream for additional flavor and 0 points

NOTE: To make this into a vegetarian recipe, just use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth

Directions:
Peel and slice the sweet potatoes. Place them with the chicken broth in your slow cooker. Cover and cook on medium for about 3 hours (or until the potatoes are tender).
Using an immersion blender (or putting the sweet potatoes and broth into a food processor), blend until smooth. Put the soup back into the crock pot. Add the half-and-half, Splenda, salt, dry mustard and allspice. Cover and cook on medium for about 1-3 hours.

Entire recipe makes 6 servings
Each serving = 2 Point Total

Nutritional Stats:
Calories: 112
Total fat: 1g
Sodium: 298mg
Total carbohydrates: 23.1g
Dietary fiber: 2.6

Thursday, September 23, 2010

What if I wouldn't have...........




I had a different blog topic this morning to share, then I visited a friend. Isn't it amazing how just a simple word or two can change your day? She is ....wow, I don't know how to word this.......remembering her friend as he fights a final battle with brain tumor complications. She said to me today....What if I wouldn't of met David?...What if he wouldn't of come into my life?
He has changed her....... AMAZINGLY!!!!!!! He has touched so many of us.....even though we don't know him personally.....he just is that kind of artist!
http://www.davidmbailey.com/



Well, that got me to thinking, what if.....what two strong words those are........... tie it into ANY area of your life~~~ we all can.



*What if I hadn't of got to see my granddaughter the day before she died?



*What if we hadn't of been delayed one day....then saw an accident where we would of been minutes later?



*What if I wouldn't of had that moment of heart rate so high...... it made me take care of myself!



*What if I wouldn't of got up to exercise this morning?



*What if I wouldn't of joined weight watchers?



*What if I wouldn't of met all these VERY Strong women at weight watchers?



*What if I wouldn't of met Julie? :(



What if people......what if..........don't lose the moment......don't ever say I don't have time......


LOVE ~LIVE~ DANCE~SING~CRY~


Don't look at the things you haven't done........love what you have! Cherish what we have learned from each other....every person is brought to you for a reason.......embrace them!








This is a quick low point breakfast, perfect to use up your leftover broccoli and a great way to get veggies into your breakfast. I just discovered Weight Watchers Swiss Cheese, only 1 point.

Broccoli and Cheese Omelet
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 1 serving • Time: 5 minutes • Points: 3 ww points

1 egg
2 egg whites
1 tbsp skim milk
salt and fresh pepper
oil spray
broccoli, cooked
1 slice Swiss cheese (WW reduced fat 1 pt Swiss)
In a small bowl beat egg, egg whites, milk, salt and pepper. In a medium non-stick skillet heat on medium, spray the pan lightly with oil. When skillet is warm add the eggs rotating pan to completely cover. Reduce heat to low flame.



Lay the cheese down in the center of eggs and top with broccoli. When the eggs are set, flip the sides over to the center to create your omelet

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Isolate a behavior.......

Isolate a behavior.......that keeps you from reaching your goal. Is there that one thing...ok maybe more than one thing that keeps you from losing weight? I'm sure all of us can think of a few. Mine is 100 cal pks........yeah, those things I love to praise. Well, when my mind is in the right area.....they work....when its not.....they don't. It is something I really ...ok it is something I definitely don't need around!. Face it they are usually empty calories!! There is usually just about O nutrition....& they are NOT a filling food!

What is your behavior.......


A big part of any weight loss plan is changing your bad habits. Bad habits like snacking on junk food, avoiding exercise and not drinking enough water are all to blame for excess weight gain. So obviously, if you want to shed the extra pounds, you have to shed the bad habits too. But these types of behavior have been second nature to many people for so long, and as such it can be a real chore to modify your behavior to incorporate good routines into your life.

A bad habit is defined as something we do regularly that negatively impacts on our life. The first step in getting rid of your bad habits is to identify them. Write down the things you do regularly that are impacting on your health and well being. Are you a smoker? Do you snack on junk? Do you turn to food when you are having a bad day or when you are celebrating? Every one's bad habits will be different, make a list of yours and keep it to hand so you know what you have to stamp out.

Next, accept that it's going to be a long journey. You didn't put your weight on overnight and it's not going to magically disappear overnight either. Accept that you're in this for the long haul and you will be more successful. Don't look on changing your habits as a diet - look on it as a lifestyle plan. The word 'diet' puts a lot of people off straight away but the term 'lifestyle plan' will stick and sounds much more positive.

The next step is to take baby steps. Take each bad habit one at a time and stamp them out individually, in little pieces. Let's imagine that your first bad habit is snacking on junk food during the day. Write down the times you eat junk. If you eat a candy bar at 11am every day, spend your first week replacing that with something healthy, like a piece of fruit. Then the next week, cut out those extra cookies in the evening. Taking things slowly will ensure you are successful.

Reward yourself each time you break one of your bad habits - but not with food! A shopping trip, a spa day, a relaxing bath or some time spent by yourself reading are all great rewards. They will give you something to aim for and help keep you on the right track to success.


This is an amazingly delicious Weight Watchers Mushroom Pizza Recipe that I found that is SO good, no one will ever know that it’s low calorie, and actually quite a healthy pizza recipe. It’s a great low calorie pizza recipe to serve as a main dish, or to serve as an appetizer! They look and taste delicious and are really quite easy to make. And you can easily substitute the mushrooms and shallots for just about any veggie of choice. Try it with onions, olives, green peppers, eggplant, basil, tomatoes, spinach, or even squash! This Weight Watchers pizza recipe is a must try!











Weight Watchers Grilled Mushroom Pizza Recipe
Ingredients:
8 oz fresh shiitake mushroom, stems removed, caps wiped clean with a damp towel, quartered
6 medium shallot(s), peeled, quartered and chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp table salt
1 spray(s) cooking spray
1/2 cup(s) pizza sauce, or tomato sauce
4 medium whole wheat tortilla(s)
1 tsp dried oregano
1/8 pound(s) provolone cheese, about 4 thin slices
4 tsp grated Parmesan cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano recommended

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450ºF. In a large bowl, toss together mushrooms, shallots, oil and salt; spread on a sheet pan in a single layer and lightly coat with cooking spray. Roast until vegetables are crispy, about 12 to 15 minutes; remove from oven and set aside. (Or grill the vegetables in a grilling basket.) Heat an outdoor grill or a grill pan over medium-high heat. To make pizzas, spread 2 tablespoons of sauce on each tortilla; sprinkle each with 1/4 teaspoon of oregano. Top each with 1 slice of cheese that has been torn into pieces, 1 teaspoon of Parmesan and 1/4 of vegetable mixture. Place pizzas on grill or grill pan (you may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your grill pan), and cook until edges begin to brown, about 3 to 4 minutes; rotate pizza. Continue cooking until cheese is bubbly, about 2 to 3 minutes more.

Serving Size = 1 Pizza
Each Serving = 5 Weight Watchers Points



Tuesday, September 21, 2010



Listen to your body. Is it time to eat?...is it time to stop eating?...Time to move?...Time for a (((hug)))
There are times when your body is telling you.....what to do. If & when you are exercising~If it really doesn't feel right. Quit. If you need a hug. Get one. Have a moment, it is ok, we all deserve them. The most important thing....BE KIND TO YOURSELF!!!!!! it is ok to have an off day. We all have them. The important thing is to get back up....brush yourself off...& GO! Tell yourself you are wonderful...you are special!!! YOU ARE... Let me tell you if no one else does.....YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!! I love you all....you make my day! Thank-you!

If Only Your Body Could Talk
An essential part of losing weight and keeping it off is learning how to listen to your body. We all wish it could just say what it wants. Although your body doesn't have an oral language, it does communicate. Certainly, you know when your body hurts because you feel pain. You know when it needs rest because you get the unmistakable cues of nodding off, yawns, and sleepiness. But are you able to clearly hear your body communicate when it is time for you to eat and when it is time to stop eating?

Infants know these signals well. So do animals that live in the wilderness. Most adult humans don't remember the language of hunger and satiation. Infants cry to signal that they need a feeding. Infants know how they are doing by how they feel. If they feel good, everything is fine in their world. If they don't feel good, if something hurts or irritates them, they let mama know right away. By observing an infant cry for food, you can tell that hunger is an actual discomfort. It is felt in the stomach. Learning to listen to your body is essential for getting back to your routine. If what you're doing doesn't feel right for any reason, give yourself permission to end your workout early...just don't forget a light cool down if needed.



Ww Taco Soup

Ingredients:Serves: 4 -5 ,
Servings:
Servings Size

1 large onion, diced
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies
1 (11 ounce) canned corn mixed with chopped peppers (red and green)
1 (15 1/2 ounce) refried beans or 1 (15 1/2 ounce) can fat free refried black beans
3 1/2 cups water
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix (dry)
fat free vegetable oil cooking spray



Directions:Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
1 Saute onion with vegetable oil cooking spray. 2 When softened, combine all other ingredients. 3 Cook until heated through. 4 Serve immediately.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Kati Anderson...Woo hoo 25lbs....gone!


Congrats Kati. I'm so proud of you. You have really worked hard to get this weight off. You always make me smile. Your comments are a fun spin on things. I never know quite what you re going to say! I love it! She is a great asset to the weight loss group. She told us today, she doesn't even remember how she look 25 lbs ago. She saw pictures of herself.....she couldn't believe the difference. Well, neither can I. She is our FACEBOOK friend also, we have a few of us that are social networking also through the FACEBOOK. She is a riot. Thanks for the fun & tips KATI!!!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

try something new~~~~


What is something new you can try today to revitalize your weight loss.

You're doing everything right. Counting calories and lifting weights and doing massive amounts of cardio. One day, you realize that you've stopped burning fat. No longer can you fit into smaller and smaller clothes; the scale is unchanged for days, perhaps weeks. How frustrating. You've hit a weight-loss plateau that can easily be broken.
Trick your body. Change up your routine. If you're hitting the exercise bike or the elliptical, do something different. If you are doing the same exercises over and over again, your body "knows" what to expect. It's called "specificity of training". If you work out at a gym, change your cardio routine by jumping on a stair-climber, a treadmill, or a rowing machine. Try ten minutes of intense cardio work on a machine and jump on another and repeat. Mix up your routine so it's not a routine.


Eating something different will also help you. Try something new, your body will adjust to what it is eating , just like in you exercise routine!

Eating a variety of foods is one of the keys to being healthy. Let the rainbow guide your recipe planning and meal preparation: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and white. The more vibrant and colorful your plate - the better. Fruits and vegetables are crucial to your health so be sure you are eating plenty of them!

Now on to carbohydrates. Carbohydrates have gotten a bad rap in recent press, but it is carbohydrates that gives our body energy to get through the day. However, not all carbohydrates are created equal. When choosing breads, pasta, crackers and cereal be sure it says whole wheat or whole grain on the ingredient list. If the first, second, or third ingredient says "whole wheat" or "whole grain" then you've got a winner. Some products may trick you by putting "multi-grain" on the package, fooling the shopper into thinking it's just as good as whole wheat. Multi-grain can be made with any grain and most of the time it will be made by using mostly white flour rather than whole wheat. Looking at the nutrition label is the best way to ensure you are eating what you think you're eating.

Go for lean meats and protein sources. Choose hamburger that is 95 percent lean and look for the words "loin" and "round" when choosing cuts of red meat. One hundred percent white turkey breast, skinless chicken breasts, fish and low-fat dairy are other lean protein options.



Chicken Taco Chili
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 10 servings • Size: 10 oz Prep Time: 5 minutes • Points: 4 ww points

1 onion, chopped
1 16-oz can black beans
1 16-oz can kidney beans
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
1 package frozen corn kernels
2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes w/chilies
1 packet taco seasoning
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder

24 0z. (3) boneless skinless chicken breasts
chili peppers, chopped (optional)

chopped fresh cilantro
Combine beans, onion, chili peppers, corn, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder and taco seasoning in a slow cooker. Place chicken on top and cover. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in. Top with fresh cilantro. Also try it with low fat cheese and sour cream (extra points).

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Be patient .......



be patient with yourself....good things come to those who persist!!!
Of all the obstacles to losing weight, impatience is the worst.

We get on the scales and discover we're 10 pounds heavier! OR...
We go shopping and discover we're a size bigger than we thought! OR...
We catch sight of a new bulge in our stomach.

How do we react?

Do we calmly assess the situation?
Do we carefully consider our options?
Do we make plans to solve the problem?
- Avoid junk.
- Eat more 'natural' foods.
- Go easy on the butter and mayo.
- Boil or grill, instead of frying.
- Stop eating packet snacks: eat more fruit.
- Eat little and often.None of These Things Are "Difficult" !!!

"Difficult" is looking for a size 24 bikini.
"Difficult" is understanding a menu when you can't read.
"Difficult" is carrying an extra 145 pounds around on your body, each day
Being cool means FIXING the problem, instead of frothing about it.
Getting impatient, venting about how overweight you are and then trying to lose weight FAST is the exact opposite.
But I'm sure that in your heart-of-hearts, you know this already.


Peanut Butter Cookies (12 BIG Cookies)

Weight Watchers POINTS® value 2*


2 Tablespoons Flax
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup granular Splenda®
1 teaspoon. Baking soda
1 large egg
Mix together and place small balls on greased cookie sheets. Delicious and healthy. These cookies make great low carb snacks!
Bake at 350º for 10 minutes


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Above all else.....be honest with yourself!






"Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise."

Being honest with yourself requires a couple of basic skills, both of which can be deliberately coaxed along and developed as a function of self motivation.
*The first is that we must look into two mirrors, one on the wall and the other in our mind's eye and try hard to see ourselves as we really are. We will never see ourselves precisely as others do because each set of eyes perceives everything in a subjective fashion, but starting with an honest self assessment is a good place to begin.
*The second requires the courage to ask others who we feel close to how they see and experience us. This can be a rather awkward process for many people but is of the essence if developing a fuller and more honest picture of yourself. Listening and soaking the feedback of others in can be one of the most difficult things we ever do - But, it is not a negotiable requirement.


You know what I'm saying.....be honest.......write down all BLTs (bites licks tastes!)~ be honest....man up to say, No, I can't work out today....but that is OK! ~Be honest....uh yeah , those pants are getting a little tight! ~Just be honest! Our clothes don't....um....forget! :) It is OK....& I feel really ok to every once in a while~~~ go backwards. But just learn from it! This helps me get back on track. It helps me know I CAN get back on track. How many many many times have we NOT?!!!! Tooo many to count! So to me it is empowering to see me ~ well, fall & brush myself off & go again! YES! I CAN DO IT!!!! Just because I have lost the weight do not mean the battle is won....I will fight this fight everyday!

I really am having a time with enjoying exercise. Sometimes I really enjoy it. I USUALLY feel better after~~~~ But, right now....not so much! But at least today, unlike last week I actually felt better when I worked out.! kind of......I have had a nasty cold ...or sinus...or allergy crap(probably a combo of all) Anywho~~~Taylor & I walked 2 miles today! She loves the outdoors!












Potato skins for breakfast? Why not! Potato skins stuffed with scrambled eggs, ham, pepper, onion and topped with reduced fat cheddar cheese, it's a perfect breakfast combination.

Western Omelet Potato Skins
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 2 • Serving Size: 2 skins • Points: 6 pts
Calories: 305.1 • Fat: 7.6 g • Protein: 17.5 g • Carb: 54.7 g • Fiber: 2.7 g

2 medium russet potatoes
olive oil spray
2 large eggs
3 egg whites
2 tbsp fat free milk
2 thin slices lean ham, chopped
2 tbsp chopped onion
1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
salt and fresh pepper
4 tbsp reduced fat cheddar cheese

Pierce potato with a fork a few times all around. Place in microwave and cook about 5 minutes per potato. When finished, allow to cool enough to handle. Cut potatoes in half horizontally. Scoop out potatoes leaving about 1/4 inch thick wall. (Skins weigh 2.5 oz after scooped)




In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Add onion, pepper and ham and mix well. Spray a medium nonstick skillet with olive oil spray and cook the eggs, mixing often.



Heat oven to 450°. Lightly spray potato skins on both sides with oil. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Fill with eggs and top each one with 1 tbsp cheese. Place on a baking sheet and bake 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Emily...wow what a great example



Emily Nordstrom wow what a great example!!!! She is an energetic teen . Improving herself through Weight Watchers. She is in our weight watcher class. Today she achieved a milestone 25 lbs gone....not lost~~~ gone FOREVER!!!!!! yea girl!!!!!! I love this girl. She is so sweet....REALLY sweet. Genuine this girl. I love how excited she is to be at class. I love when she really is glad to see you! Considering I'm sure we are all at least double her age she does a great job tolerating us "old gals!!!" She just glows! :) Her mom should be so proud! They have actually done this together. They are in a somewhat competition......It is so cute! I think it would be so neat to have someone at home to do this with. It's great when we come to class every week to be accountable, well these two have it everyday.... I also love the youthful approach Emily adds to weight watchers......Congrats Emily!!!!~~~ way to go honey!!! Keep up the great work!








These low fat Rice Krispy treats will satisfy your sweet tooth, and your kids will enjoy them too! I replaced the butter with Smart Balance Light and used half of the required amount. I'm not a big fan of making sticky things, and I'm not sure if it gets stickier than melting marshmallows and combining them with puffed rice, but it's so worth the getting your fingers sticky for this low fat, low point dessert. No baking required!
Skinny Rice Krispies Treats
Servings: 16 • Serving Size: 1 piece • Points: 2 ptsCalories: 84.4 • Fat: 0.7 g • Protein: 0.8 g • Carb: 54.7 g • Fiber: 0.0 g
2 tbsp light butter spread (I used Smart Balance Light)
4 cups or 10 oz mini marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies
cooking spray Spray a 9x12-inch pan with cooking spray and set aside. Heat a large saucepan on low heat. Melt butter spread being sure to coat the bottom of the pot to prevent sticking. Add marshmallows and melt on low flame. Stir until completely melted, then remove from heat.Add Rice Krispies to the melted marshmallows, and stir until completely combined (this is the hardest part, do this quick before the marshmallows cool). Press into the buttered pan with wax paper

Friday, September 10, 2010

Are you planning for those tailgate parties? Do you have healthy snacks to grab?


Are you ready to go tailgating? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Well why wait?~ get going.

Tailgate parties have combined food, friends and football in stadium parking lots for many years. The upside of this is all the fun and camaraderie. The downside? The artery-clogging, waist-expanding foods that are typically served in large quantities at tailgate parties.
Providing healthy food for these parties is not impossible.

Many people throw tail-gate parties several times during the football season. It is important to find healthy alternatives to all the fried foods, greasy burgers, and calorie-laden desserts that tend to be the norm at these popular events.

Apple pie and baseball symbolize traditional American culture. So, there’s no surprise that our love of sport and food go hand-in-hand. Whether you’re traveling to the ballpark or nestling in your comfy sofa for the big game, chances are your favorite finger food is in tow or at least in arm’s reach.

This “sport-food” phenomenon is probably best characterized by the food frenzied fans that congregate just before kick-off or the first pitch. The tailgate party where friends and fans alike join to root for the home team and enjoy stadium favorites is just as important as the game itself.

While getting pumped up for the big game, it’s also important to make sure you have an offensive and defensive nutrition game plan to block the fat and intercept the added calories often found in traditional party foods. Weight Watchers offers two strategies—either plan to use some or all of your extra weekly points.
Weight Watchers suggests you choose lower-fat versions of popular staples like hamburgers and hot dogs, a tuna sandwich topped with ripe tomatoes and fresh lettuce, or grilled chicken breasts flavored with calorie-free seasoning or a low-fat dressing of your choice. For snacking during tailgating, consider a hot pretzel with mustard, salsa and low-fat or fat free chips and fresh veggies with low-fat yogurt dip. In addition, make sure to keep yourself hydrated with plenty of water and never head out to the stadium on an empty stomach.

To help make your game day celebration a big hit, Weight Watchers offers a spicy version of Buffalo Wings, the consummate sport fan fare. This special low fat, low-cal recipe calls for skinning and marinating the wings prior to broiling as opposed to the original frying method. Nachos Grande is another great recipe that’s sure to be a fan favorite finger food, before, during and after the game. Lastly Weight Watchers recommends an easy-to-prepare, light recipe for Grilled Green Shrimp.




Weight Watchers recipes reflect the food values inherent to Weight Watchers philosophy that eating should be satisfying as well as healthful. In fact, learning and sharing innovative ideas about healthy cooking and eating is part of the experience at weekly Weight Watchers meetings where members teach and support each other.




Healthy Tailgate Recipes from Weight Watchers

Buffalo Wings
MAKES 6 SERVINGS

3 pounds (12-14) chicken wings, skinned
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/4-cup plain fat-free yogurt
1-tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise
6 celery stalks, trimmed

1. Wash and pat the wings dry with paper towels; cut off the tips and reserve for another use. Halve the wings at the joint.
2. Combine the vinegar, broth, oil, and pepper sauce in a large zip-close plastic bag; add the chicken. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag; turn the bag to coat the chicken. Refrigerate, turning the bag occasionally, 30 minutes. Drain and discard any remaining marinade.
3. Spray the broiler rack with nonstick spray; preheat the broiler.
4. Broil the chicken 5 inches from the heat, turning once, until golden and cooked through, about 10 minutes per side.
5. Meanwhile, combine the blue cheese, yogurt, and mayonnaise in a small bowl. Serve with the chicken wings and celery.


Per serving (4 wing halves with 1 1/2 tablespoons dip and 1 celery stick): POINTS value 4, 156 Cal, 8 g Fat, 3 g Sat Fat, 47 mg Chol, 182 mg Sod, 3 g Carb, 1 g Fib, 18 g Prot, 76 mg Calc.

Recipe from Weight Watchers Greatest Hits: 250 Classic Recipes from the Sixties to Today. © 2002 Weight Watchers International, Inc.




Nachos Grande
MAKES 8 SERVINGS

1-teaspoon canola oil
1 cup cooked or rinsed drained
canned red kidney beans
1/4-pound lean ground turkey breast
1 small onion, chopped
1 (14-ounce) can diced green tomatoes with green chilies
2 teaspoons Mexican seasoning mix
1/4-teaspoon salt
6 ounces reduced-fat restaurant-style tortilla chips
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
12 pitted small black olives, sliced
1/4 cup sliced pickled jalapeno peppers, drained
1/2-cup fat-free sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 425ºF. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl in the oil, then stir in the beans, turkey, and onion. Cook, stirring to break up the meat, 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, Mexican seasoning, and salt; cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
3. Spread the tortilla chips on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with the cheese, olives, and jalapeno peppers. Bake until the cheese just melts, about 5 minutes. Transfer the nachos to a serving platter. Top with the turkey mixture and sour cream and serve at once.


Per serving (1 1/4 cups): POINTS value 4, 204 Cal, 4 g Fat, 2 g Sat Fat, 17 mg Chol, 483 mg Sod, 29 g Carb, 4 g Fib, 13 g Prot, 141 mg Calc.

Recipe from Weight Watchers Greatest Hits: 250 Classic Recipes from the Sixties to Today. © 2002 Weight Watchers International, Inc.




Grilled Green Shrimp
MAKES 4 SERVINGS

1/3 cup chopped parsley
1/3 cup chopped basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4-teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1. To prepare the marinade, combine the parsley, basil, garlic, oil, salt, and pepper in a zip-close plastic bag; add the shrimp. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag; turn to coat the shrimp. Refrigerate, turning the bag occasionally, 1hour or overnight.
2. Spray a nonstick-ridged grill pan with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Working in batches, if necessary, grill the shrimp until they are just opaque in the center and lightly browned on the outside, 2-3 minutes on each side.


Per serving (about 9 shrimp): POINTS value 3, 125 Cal, 3 g Fat, 1 g Sat Fat, 202 mg Chol, 451 mg Sod, 1 g Carb, 0 g Fib, 22 g Prot, 48 mg Calc.

Recipe from Weight Watchers Take 5: 150 five-ingredient recipes. © 2003 Weight Watchers International, Inc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The small snack size bags are perfect for those snack items. Carrots......baked chips....raisins ....grapes.....almonds.......count it....& enjoy it! How simple is that. A little effort ( like 2 minutes people)will make you feel AMAZING in the long run! Have a great game!!!!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Keep moving....in the right direction.






We all wake up or feel some days like........well crap. That's me today. BUT, instead of ....I'm too tired....I'm not in a good mood....I don't have time....... I just moved! It may have not been as far as usual, but it is in the right direction! Yea Ellen! Usually I even feel better~energised after a work out. Well, frankly this time, I don't but that's OK! Or it will be. One of my Moms best sayings~~"this too shall pass" It will ~I( will feel better....be better soon. )Is it hormones? the weather? someone I saw? What makes you feel the way you do?.......you do. Deal with what is handed to you......wisely! I don't care if you walk in the bathroom alone & cry or YELL!!! just handle it. Each situation needs to be dealt with, or it WILL fester inside you! It will effect you life & your weight. HANDLE IT NOW!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~How does my body handle stress? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your body has a built-in response to handle stress. When something stressful happens, you may experience sweaty palms, dry mouth, or knots in your stomach. This is totally normal and means that your body is working exactly as it should. Other signs of stress include emotional signs (such as feeling sad or worried), behavioral signs (such as crying), and mental signs (such as not being able to concentrate or focus).






Weight Watchers Crock Pot Recipes are my favorite recipes to make…they are SO easy and taste SO amazingly good. And they are low in Weight Watchers Points, so it helps keep me on track to reach my weight loss goals. This fabulously yummy Canadian Bacon and Potato Chowder Slow Cooker Recipe is a perfect addition to any Weight Watcher Meal Plan. With just 3 Points per serving and tons of fiber and protein, it’s very filling, so you won’t be so hungry a few hours later. What I like to do with these crock pot recipes is separate out the individual portions and freeze them, that way, when I need a meal really fast and am too lazy to make anything, I can easily reheat one of these servings for a quick and tasty meal. This particular dish tastes really good reheated because the flavor of the bacon just oozes into the creamy broth…mmmmm!! This Potato and Bacon Stew Recipe is really so delicious that the whole family will love it — and they’ll have no idea it’s a Weight Watchers Recipe! Enjoy.

Potato and Bacon Chowder Slow Cooker Recipe
Ingredients:-
2 cups potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes-
1 large carrot, diced-
1 cup leeks, chopped, white part only-
1 medium garlic clove, minced-
4 cups fat-free chicken broth-
1/2 cup uncooked barley-
1 bay leaf-
1/4 tsp dried thyme, crushed-
1/4 tsp black pepper-
4 oz Canadian-style bacon,
cut into 1/4-inch pieces-
1/2 cup(s) fat-free evaporated milk-
2 oz fat-free half-and-half
Directions:In a slow cooker, combine potatoes, carrots, leek, garlic, broth, barley, bay leaf, thyme, pepper and bacon; cover and cook on low for 6 hours.Stir in evaporated milk and half-and-half; heat through, uncovered, about 10 minutes.
Serving size is 1 2/3 cupEach serving = 3 Weight Watchers Points

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

pay yourself a compliment today.....place real value on the power of self ~ talk.

It is so easy to get down on yourself. But when was the last time you said...
"wow you did a great job!!"
I'm sure you probably don't remember. I make it a daily chore to find a good/ or even O.K. thing to say about myself!
~~~"Give yourself a compliment today. Stop waiting on someone else to do it."~~~
Make your compliment specific.
“That necklace looks really good on you” makes a bigger impact compared to “you look really good today”. The more specific the better.

" your butt looks small in that pair of jeans"!!!! I love that one!

Back up your compliment.
Don’t just stop at “that necklace looks really good on you”. Your compliment becomes stronger when you say why you think so; “that necklace looks really good on you because it matches your eyes”.
You are you're best friend!!!! You really are. Treat yourself good. When you feel better you know your life falls together better. Everything just feels better when were happy!



Although I'm sad summer is coming to an end, I do look forward to making homemade soups and stews. Black bean soup is a very hearty soup, super high in fiber, and so inexpensive to make. It's perfect topped with low fat sour cream and fresh chopped herbs such as chives, cilantro or scallions. Cooking the vegetables on the side, and adding it to the soup rather than cooking them all together, really adds to the flavor of this soup.


Black Bean Soup
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 8 • Serving Size: about 1-1/2 cups • Points: 4 pts
Calories: 234.4 • Fat: 2.6 g • Protein: 13.6 g • Carb: 10.1 g • Fiber: 19.6 g

For the beans:
• 1 lb dry black beans
• 1 small bell red pepper
• 1 small onion, quartered
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 bay leaves

For the soup:
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, minced
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 1 red pepper, minced
• 2 medium carrots, shredded
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/4 (2 oz) cup white wine
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 chicken bullion (vegans use vegetable bullion)
• salt and black pepper

Rinse beans and place in a large pot with about 8 cups of water. Cover and bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let the beans sit, covered for one hour. (Or you can let them soak overnight in cold water)

Drain the water, then add 8-10 cups of cold water when ready to cook.

Add bell pepper, garlic, onion and bay leaves to the beans. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about an hour, or until tender, stirring occasionally. (Add water if necessary)

Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat oil on low. Add chopped vegetables (onion, parsley, carrots, pepper, garlic) season with salt and pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until soft.

Add the vegetables to the soup, then add wine, vinegar, cumin, oregano, bullion, salt and pepper and adjust water if too needed. Cover and simmer on low about 15 - 20 minutes. Remove bay leaves, then using an immersion blender, partially blend the soup for about 10 seconds to thicken. If you don't have an immersion blender, put about 3 cups of the soup in a blender, then add it back to the pot. Adjust salt, pepper and cumin to taste and ladle about 1 1/2 cups into each bowl. Top with sour cream (extra points), chopped onions, scallions, chives or/or cilantro and enjoy

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Never eat directly out of a box or a bag!

Once upon a time.. I used to kill the bag. Destroy the box. I could barely sit down before I tore into it… whatever the “it” was for the day.

I’m talkin’ about snackin’. Although, for me, it was never really a snack. Not in the traditional sense – it wasn’t simply a little bit to hold me over. It was a LOT to hold me over unnecessarily… and on a regular basis.

I remember one day, coming home from the grocery and getting ready to start putting everything away… and the first bag I opened had a bag of cookies inside. Guilty pleasure, yes they were. It felt like for every item I put in the fridge, I was tossing a cookie in my mouth. I don’t even know if I consciously realized what I was doing at that time.. but I was just eatin’ for the sake of eatin’.

Now… it’s all funny and jokes until I think about the fact that by the time I had finished putting the groceries away, I had finished the entire bag of cookies. There’s what – 24 cookies in a bag, right? If one serving size of 3 cookies is 140 calories… 24 divided by 3 equals 8 servings in a bag… so if I ate 140 calories 8 times… that’s over a thousand calories in one fell swoop.

I realized this was a habit for me. If I ate some goldfish crackers, I’d just get them directly out of the box. Pour them from my hand directly into my mouth – that way I never had to face how much of them I was eating. Not like I didn’t care, but… I didn’t care.

If I ate some ice cream? I’d get a spoonful from the pint, sometimes leave the spoon on top of the ice cream and go back to what I was doing. Cheez-its? Pfft, don’t even. My hand would go from box to mouth.

But then, I started reading the nutrition labels. I could never gauge – and if I did, I’d underestimate – just how much of something I was eating. It was getting in the way of my calorie counting. Of knowing what I was really putting in my body. So… I had to figure out a plan. A way to get a better grasp on how much food I was scarfing down mindlessly.

I bought myself a bag of blue corn chips. They taste a little heavier than your typical tortilla chips, but there’s this rich-and-almost-velvety taste to them that totally rocks. I turned the bag over, and took note of the serving size. 1 serving is equal to 15 chips. I then promptly grabbed a box of ziploc bags, and got to work.
This is huge to me. I love the snack size bags! They are just the perfect size for a couple ounces. Perfect for me. Chicken, raisins, grapes,crax....the list goes on & on.

Everyone knows that some foods are better snacking choices than others. What's not so easy in real life is putting all the stuff we know about healthy snacking into practice. In other words, it's tough to balance those "oops, I know I should only have a little bit of this but I just ate the whole bag" munchies with the healthy foods we know we should be eating.






I got a scale this week at W.W. a real scale. I had one from 100 years ago. I love it I have weighed everything but the dog this week. I have found I was cheating myself....and not this week. A real eye opener.








Weight Watchers Buffalo Chicken Bites
This came out very tasty and was very filling.

1lb ground chicken

1lb ground beaf

2 tsp of paprika

1 tsp cayenne pepper

4 cloves of garlic

1/2 parsley

1 cup onion finely chopped

1 cup buffalo wing sauce

16 tbsp of Smart Balance Buttery Spread

Directions:

Mix ground chicken and ground turkey
Add the onion, garlic, parsley and paprika
Add the Mrs Dash and a dash of black pepper
Form mixture into 18 meatballs
Bake at 375 for 30 minutes until cook.
In a separate pan meal melt the butter and hot sauce
When meat balls are done cover with sauce

Weight Watchers Buffalo Chicken Bites-12 points for 3 of them

I had it for lunch with celery and it was yummy

If you try this recipe please leave a comment, I would love to hear from you!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Weight watchers meeting success!

Done without any surgery, supplements or personal trainers. With willpower and sweat alone !!!!



50 plus pounds gone.....check, .......life time member...check, one hot mama....check!!! yeah Mina! so proud!

~Yeah Julie for another great success story! We are where we are because of her!


Mina is the most AMAZING person. Great perseverance , this took her a long time but ohhhhhh how the hard work & tears paid off!! As I have blogged before. She has learned this program in & out!!! Any question you have, she knows! She just got it in her head she was going to do this . As many of us do....she has wanted to quit many times....she didn't....did you hear me?....she didn't! She increased her work outs, got her head in the right place. YOU AMAZE ME MINA!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Never say that you don't have enough time for exercise. You'd be surprised how far little things go, like taking the steps instead of the elevator or marching for 20 minutes while watching television. And, if you have a lot to lose, set your goals in 10-pound increments. It's much easier to get discouraged if you set large goals.

The payoff: Being able to look in the mirror and say, "I like you." It's a great feeling!
Make yourself a priority, stay committed to losing weight and focus on working out and eating right.

~~~Eating cooked cauliflower can get very boring, very fast. But using this sauce and topping will change everything, turning the plain old boring cauliflower into a real treat!

Weight Watchers Cauliflower Casserole
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients
1 large cauliflower, cut into florets
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup flour
6 tablespoons butter
2 cups milk
1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt

Preparation
1. Cook the cauliflower in boiling water for about 6 minutes (until crisp tender).
2. Drain and transfer the cauliflower to a lightly buttered 1 1/2 quart baking dish.
3. In a small saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and whisk in the flour and salt.
4. Stir until bubbly, then gradually add the milk, stirring constantly for about 3 minutes (until thick and smooth).
5. Stir in the mustard and pour the sauce over the cauliflower in the baking dish.
6. Melt the remaining butter, add the breadcrumbs and toss to coat.
7. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the casserole, then top with the buttered bread crumbs.
8. Bake at 375° F for about 20 minutes (or until bubbly and brown).

WW POINTS per serving: 5
Nutritional information per serving: 239 calories, 16.2g fat, 3.9g fiber

Friday, September 3, 2010

You're still at it....thats all that matters!



Yes you are...BE PROUD!!! Remember our challenge......where will you be by Labor Day?....shhhh its here! Yeah!! I'm happy. I wanted to get into a pair of jeans I liked. I could get them up just not zipped........I've got them on this morning! Oh yeah! Toning~weight training pays off!!!
~~~~ I have heard from some of you I am so proud!! You did it! Aren't you happy. Well, If you still need to work on your goal....lets get going! Maybe time setting is not for you, that's OK. Just take a day...hell, an hour at a time!


You can never, ever, use weight loss to solve problems that are not related to your weight. At your goal weight or not, you still have to live with yourself and deal with your problems. You will still have the same husband, the same job, the same kids, and the same life. Losing weight is not a cure for life.


"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another" - and certainly perseverance and courage will facilitate and sustain your motivation to lose weight.

And where will you find the courage and perseverance - because you will need it!


The answer, is probably, in whatever works for you -
We need some simple guidelines to help restore our sanity in this ever present whirlwind pressure of dieting and weight management. We need to step back, pause, slow down and re-think some of our emotions and the motivation that sees us munching celery and carrot sticks indefinitely.

So, slow down and reflect on these stepping stones to promote realistic motivation for dieting.

REFLECT - slowly, purposefully and consciously on why you want to lose weight. Your motivation should be to promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle with increased energy levels - that's it! You are doing this for yourself - so you can be the best you can be... for life - pretty good motivation right there wouldn't you say?

LIVE IN THE MOMENT - stop thinking about how far you still have to go. Remember to concentrate on one short race at a time - that's one bite, one meal and one day at a time. Each of those potential obstacles overcome, are huge victories. And lots of little victories culminate in, not only a battle - but in fact a war won and an unhealthy lifestyle vanquished and defeated!

DON'T BELIEVE ALL YOUR THOUGHTS - negative thoughts have a recurring and obstinate tendency to pop into your head - pretty much most of the time. They are thoughts and perceptions only - they are not facts! But they can do a great deal of damage. So banish them one at a time and day-by-day and start to replace them with positive affirmations. Keep it simple - "I can, I will, I'm gonna!" You don't need Psychology 101 to see why this is so important for motivation for dieting.

REMOVE YOUR SHACKLES - we have all created our own shackles that are holding us back as we strive towards a more healthy lifestyle. They are specific to us, created by us and they can very often be self-fulfilling limitations. Now, this is the hard part. Take a long hard look at the shackles that you have created and unchain yourself from them - yip - you got it - one by one and a race at a time.

SET BOUNDARIES - decide the path that you are going to follow to achieve a healthy lifestyle and then set boundaries to help you stay on track. The boundaries can be relatively simple things like mainly buying healthy food, exercising three days a week and spending less time with people who may be undermining your courage and perseverance in trying to achieve your goals.

BE HONEST AND REALISTIC - be honest about the changes that you need to make to lose weight, but at the same time be realistic. Unrealistic goals cannot be attained and they will sabotage your courageous endeavors - so don't be tempted to fall into this trap. Remember to focus on your battle strategy - one race at a time - and you'll get there!

DON'T DO IT ALONE - your courage and perseverance will increase a hundred-fold if you have a little help from your friends - whoever and wherever they may be. Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people - it's infectious!

YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY WHAT YOU WEIGH - LET IT GO - everyone is worthy in their own right, in spite or despite their size or the numbers reflected on a scale. Hold true to that reality - guard it jealously, tenaciously...always!

Light and delicious, this Homemade Tomato and Basil sauce Recipe is the perfect summer dish! Use it to top low calorie pasta or grilled chicken breasts for a tasty, weight watchers friendly meal. And with a 0 Point Total per serving, you can enjoy this Italian sauce recipe without worrying about using up too many Weight Watchers Points. It’s super easy to make and tastes wonderfully fresh! If you are looking for an easy, no-cook sauce recipe that the whole family will enjoy, this one will definitely take the cake. Enjoy!


Homemade Tomato and Basil Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 cups Roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
In a large glass mixing bowl, combine all ingredients; let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.

Entire Recipe makes 8 servings
Serving size is ½ cup
Each serving = 0 Point Total

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Concentrate on accomplishments...not excuses






It is so easy to make excuses. ~~~~

I'm too tired, its too hot, its too cold, I'm not in the mood.....the list can go on & on. You can make the choice to live that life....or you can live the flip side......
Your accomplishments are great! Whether they are big or small they are great! Don't let anyone tell you any different. An example could be you might decide to walk a mile~or~ change from regular iceberg lettuce to leafy greens~ or decide you will journal better, or train & run a marathon. These are all great accomplishments.
Brag on them -be proud you have worked for this!!....E-mail me
mailto:bobelhiemstra@yahoo.com)~~~ I will brag you up, because I know how hard this is EVERYDAY!!!!!
Don't you just love the awards W.W. gives us? I do~~ I display them proudly!!!!

You must be clear about your destination before you start your journey - otherwise you may cover thousands of miles, thinking you're moving fast and creating success, only to end up in a place that can never satisfy you. And that's when you'll realize that your long journey was full of empty accomplishments - and that, perhaps, everything you'd ever dreamed of had been right around the corner.



Think strongly, live purposefully, attempt fearlessly, and accomplish masterfully!





I really have always had a hard time saying anything good about myself. Or hearing from people...you did well.



A deeper trap, though, is not so much that other people don’t recognize and acknowledge our achievements, but that we ourselves don’t. I’m someone who likes instant results; I’m not patient . Because of this, I’ve started consciously recording and celebrating my achievements, so that I realize that my hard work is paying off and that I am making progress


Another benefit that I found through the tougher early months was that writing down my achievements at the end of each month helped me to focus on the areas where I was improving and getting somewhere. Sometimes I had to scrape a bit for things to record, but it helped me get through some difficult months


I have a small leather-bound notebook, in which I devote a page a month to my achievements list. This suits me well; it doesn’t take much time, but it provides a permanent record which I intend to keep adding to over the next decade (the notebook has plenty of pages!)

Something I’m considering for the future, though, is also having a scrapbook or folder for achievements. This might be a good form of record if your achievements are in the form of news clippings or printed magazine pieces, pieces of artwork, or photographs.

You don’t necessarily have to use words in your record. If you’re tracking your progress towards a fitter, healthier body, for instance, your achievements record could take the form of monthly photographs and measurements.

Don’t Forget to Celebrate:
Pick Some Rewards~~
Something which I intend to start doing more is to pick rewards for reaching milestones. I find that this is both an encouragement to work hard towards a goal, and also a way to acknowledge that I really have achieved something of significance. It’s so easy to treat our achievements lightly, or to feel that they don’t matter because they wouldn’t be “big” in the eyes of the world.



Taco Chicken Chili


■Servings: 8

■Calories: 200

■Fat: 4

■WW Points: 4 weight watcher points
Ingredients

1 onion - chop/cut it up
1 can black beans (16 ounces)
1 can kidney beans (16 ounces)
1 can tomato sauce (8 ounces)
1 package corn kernels
2 cans diced tomatoes w/chilies (14 ounces)
1 packet of spicy or mild taco seasoning
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
24 0z. boned and skinned chicken breasts
chili peppers, chopped (if you want spicy)
Diced up cilantro

Instructions

1.Combine most of the ingredients (the beans, onion, chili peppers, corn, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder and taco seasoning) in a crock pot
2.Set the skinned and boned chicken on top & cover it.
3.Cook on low heat for 10 hours, also you could do it quicker on high heat for 6 hours.
4.30 minutes before serving, remove the chicken and rip it up. Then put the chicken back into the slow cooker and mix in. Top the chili with fresh cilantro. Feel free to utilize low fat cheese and sour cream as a topping.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

A new month brings new opportunities.....



A new month...new opportunities... Today is a new month..wipe the slate clean start over if you need to.What is your weight loss goal for September? One of my problems is baking. I love it!!!! I don't really eat a lot of what I make because I'm not a real sweet eater....but if it is in front of me....well now..... Fall just makes me want to bake/cook in general! So I will strive to continue to do great staying away from these tempting treats!
I just ask myself.....as blogged before...HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS???!! so simple people but so true! I am important...my family is important & I WILL be healthier & happier for them as well as me.
What goals are you setting for your weight loss and health? The setting of goals can really help you achieve weight loss or become healthier and fitter. Knowing how to set these goals is the first step in the process.

Goals which are set effectively are more likely to be achieved. The process of setting the goal plays a very important part. The reason many people don't achieve their goals is often due to how they set them.



What are well set goals? One method is known as setting SMART goals. SMART stands for:

S Specific

M Measurable

A Achievable

R Realistic

T Time-bound

Specific - Ensure the goal you set is very specific, clear and easy. Instead of setting a goal to lose weight or be healthier, set a specific goal to lose 2cm off your waistline or to walk 5 miles at an aerobically challenging pace.

Keep the goal simple so it's easy to understand what you want to achieve. The goal needs to be important to you and exciting enough to prompt you to do what's necessary to achieve it. If the goal isn't important to you, I encourage you to drop it because you're not likely to achieve it and often end up feeling as if you've failed.

There are many goals you can set. Just choose one you really want to have as the end result.

Measurable - The goal needs to have a specific, quantifiable result or else it ends up just as "wishing". For instance, it isn't measurable to say you want to be healthier or feel fitter.

But it is measurable to say you want to be fit enough to swim 20 lengths of the swimming pool.

Achievable - Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won't commit to doing. Although you may start with the best of intentions, the knowledge that it's too much for you means your subconscious will keep reminding you of this fact and will stop you from even giving it your best.

A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you. For instance, if you aim to lose 20lbs in one week, we all know that isn't achievable. But setting a goal to loose 1lb and when you've achieved that, aiming to lose a further 1lb, will keep it achievable for you.

The feeling of success which this brings helps you to remain motivated.

Realistic - Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal realistic. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment. A goal of never again eating sweets, cakes, crisps and chocolate may not be realistic for someone who really enjoys these foods.

For instance, it may be more realistic to set a goal of eating a piece of fruit each day instead of one sweet item. You can then choose to work towards reducing the amount of sweet products gradually as and when this feels realistic for you.

Time-bound - The goal should have a set time. If you don't set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there's no urgency to start taking action now.

Set goals with a definite time limit. For instance, aim to build up to 3 sessions of exercising a week, by the end of next month.

I encourage you to pick up a pen and a piece of paper and jot down the goals you want to reach on your journey to weight loss and health. Look at each goal and evaluate it. Make any changes necessary to ensure it meets the criteria for a SMART goal.

What I want is for you to set goals which work for you and are achievable.









Weight Watchers Baked Sweet Potato Chips Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 large sweet potatoes, peeled
- Non-fat Olive Oil Cooking Spray
- 1/8 tsp Kosher salt, or to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400ºF. Spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
Thinly slice potatoes in a food processor or by hand; they should be no more than 1/8-inch thick. The thinner the better (it gives you more chips for the same amount of Weight Watchers Points!!!)
Arrange slices on baking sheets so they don’t overlap. Spray with a bit more oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake chips until they begin to lightly brown, about 15 minutes. Cool on a rack and serve. Recipe makes 4 servings.

*TIP: If leftover chips become soggy, put them back in a hot oven for a few minutes to crisp them up.

Serving size is 1/4th of recipe
Each serving = 1 Weight Watchers Point