Put forth the extra effort~ A Weight Loss Plateau

Weight Watchers Skinny Chicken Gyros
Points: 4 Weight Watchers PointsPlus
Servings: 4
Serving Size: 4 oz of gyro meat
Nutritional Info: 160 calories, 1.7 g of fat, .4 g of carbohydrates, .4 g of fiber, 27 g of protein

Ingredients
1 lb extra lean ground chicken (5-7% fat)
1/4 white onion
1/2 tbsp marjoram
1/2 tbsp ground rosemary
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fresh black ground pepper

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a food processor, pulse together the onion and garlic until they form a paste. Remove from the food processor and press into a paper towel or cheesecloth to remove excess water.

3. Combine the ground chicken, marjoram, rosemary, onion and garlic mixture, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.

4. Form into a small meatloaf and bake on a sheet pan for 50-60 minutes until cooked through. Slice very thinly and enjoy!




A Weight Loss Plateau

If you have ever felt frustrated by a stubborn scale in spite of your efforts to shed extra pounds, you're not alone. Many people who begin a weight loss regimen may see impressive results at first, only to experience a weight loss plateau after a few weeks.

If you feel like your rate of weight loss has slowed despite your sticking to your plan, take a closer look at your eating and exercise routine. The following list may help you to pinpoint where you are a star, and where you may be falling short in your efforts.

•Keep a food diary. Write down everything you eat and drink for one week. Be sure to note what the food was, how much you ate, where you ate, and your level of hunger (on a scale of 1-10). Look for extra snacks, "tiny tastes", and larger than usual portions to see if you may be eating more calories than you think.

Remember that one pound of fat equals 3500 calories. In order to lose weight, you have to make sure that you are burning more calories than you are consuming; put more simply, "calories in" should be less than "calories out". Roughly one pound per week is considered a safe rate of weight loss, as this will promote fat loss rather than water or lean muscle tissue. In order to lose weight, you need to create a caloric deficit of about 500 calories per day. Ideally, you should do this through a combination exercise (about 250 calories) and eating less (about 250 calories).

Use your food diary to ask yourself questions such as "How much food do I actually eat? How often do I eat when I am not hungry? What is my mood when I eat? If you find that you are eating when you are not hungry, or in response to emotions (such as anxiety, boredom or stress), then this may be an area to work on in your eating habits.


•Don't skip meals. Many dieters sabotage their efforts by thinking that if they "save calories" in the morning they will get a jump start on weight loss. That thinking couldn't be farther from the truth. Research shows that breakfast eaters tend to be thinner and have a lower disease risk than those who shun the first meal of the day. Skipping breakfast can set you up to ravenous later on, and you will be much less likely to reach for healthy choices if you are reeling from hunger.

For a winning breakfast, try to have something that's high in whole grains, moderate in protein and low in fat, such as a piece of whole grain toast with a tablespoon of peanut butter and a glass of skim milk, or a low fat yogurt sprinkled with granola and fresh fruit. For those non-conventional risers, a bowl of noodle soup or a turkey pita are also winning starts.


•Check your exercise plan. What's your exercise strategy? A combination of strength training and cardio is the best way to burn calories and boost metabolic rate. Strength training exercise such as weight lifting has been shown to increase lean muscle tissue, which is a great way to keep your metabolism humming as you age.

If you haven't changed your routine in awhile (say, you've been walking about 30 minutes per for 5 years), then it may well be that your body has gotten "used" to using those muscles in that way; try to vary your routine to use other muscles.

•What's your body comp? The scale can be misleading when it comes to weight, because muscle weighs more than fat. So while you many not see any change in the scale, you are still losing fat and building muscle. The good news, though, is that muscle is a much leaner tissue than fat, so that you will still lose inches, you just won't see a dip in the scale. If you belong to a gym, have a fitness professional check your body fat percentage for you, or try to attend a local health fair where they are offering this service.


•Do you really need to lose? If all that stands between you and eternal happiness is "those last 5 pounds", then you may need to reevaluate. From a health standpoint, a difference of 5 pounds or so off of your target weight probably isn't going to make a whole lot of difference. What are your genetics like? Look at your siblings and blood relatives to see what sort of genes you may have. Consider what's the lowest weight you've been able to comfortably maintain, and also consider what's a realistic weight for you at this point. Even if you have managed to drop that last five pounds, but feel cranky and hungry when you get there, it may well be that your body feels better at a slightly higher weight than you would like.

You deserve to lose weight!! You can do this!

We can do this...lets stay positive.

To me it does get hard in the summer to lose weight, stay on track, etc. I don't know if it is the heat ( for which in this heat I really don't give a darn), summer parties,longer days....I don't know I just know I really hate this feeling. The ,I just ....can't....(sigh)...... Well, I can....I will....I must~must be our attitude to succeed! You DO DESERVE IT! Get an extra glass of water, set down , lets talk about it. Just keep in the back of your mind(because I do...DAILY) "where will you be in 3 months???6 weeks.....2 weeks???" More the question~ "where do you WANT to be?" It is never to late to make ME a priority! ME a MUST on my TO DO list!!!!
Until you can change your psychology and shift the way that you think about your health, you'll never be able to really change.

And, for many people, over-eating is an addiction. Perhaps food has become a way of changing a dis empowering state for you, providing comfort or variety when you need it. Yet, as you've probably already discovered for yourself, this pattern is a downward spiral. Even if emotional eating helps you in the moment, it ends up causing you even more pain and frustration in the long-run.

Thus, in order to really lose weight and make the change last, you have to be willing to create a new lifestyle and identity around your physical well-being. You need to change your behaviors, as well as your mindset, at its core. And, you need a conditioning process that will change your behavior long-term.

Embrace a new beginning.
Take back the reins of your life and start to anticipate a whole new way of being and feeling about the world around you. You can do this. You can have the body that you desire. You can experience the freedom and confidence that comes with having a vital and energetic core. You can feel alive again.

You are not your past.

Weight-Watchers-Recipes.

Baked Crab Rangoon
Ingredients:

1/8 tsp garlic salt
1/8 tsp Worcestershire sauce
14 won ton wrappers
1 small green onion
4 oz imitation crab
3 oz cream cheese

Directions:


In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.

Stir in crab and onion.
Place 2 teaspoonfuls in the center of each won ton wrapper.

Moisten edges with water; bring corners to center over filling and press edges together to seal.

Place on a baking sheet coated with non-stick cooking spray.
Lightly spray won tons with nonstick cooking spray.
Bake at 425 °F (210 °C) for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Makes 14 Crab Rangoon (2 Per Serving)

Nutritional Info Per Serving: Calories 94; Total Fat 2.29g; Cholesterol 12mg;
Sodium 147mg; Potassium 40mg; Carbs 12.03g; Fiber 0g; Protein 5.76g

Hot....sweat is our friend!!!!

......again....we could use every excuse in the book. Yes, it is hot....get over it. Think about flippin' January if you have to.
Ok I admit it......I never sweat. Instead, a light film of glistening moisture begins to cover my skin as my workout progresses from the warm-up to a more intense stage......until this morning.........sweatin' is exactly what I was doing as(ok this is gross and graphic) I was walking this morning it was dripping down the middle of the "tatas" and the small of my back! But, I lived through it....I actually liked it! I do sweat from time to time, but I had a mini heat stroke once, that is all it took to ruin me from the heat. I work out very early to USUALLY avoid getting too over heated.
Just get out and work at it....work at exercise, work at a new lifestyle,work at new recipes, work at making YOU a better you! As I have blogged before, you don't want to look back in 1 year and say...."hmmmm where COULD I have been if I would of stuck it out?" hell, 6 months....no....1 month...... the changes in just one month can change your mindset completely! I actually knew with in a couple of weeks of starting W.W. that this was it! I felt empowered....in charge....I liked myself!....I never thought I would say that...I like myself! Wow! Look what a lifestyle change with the help of Weight Watchers has done for me....EVERYTHING!!!
Ok I do understand if you don't want to get out in the heat...I WILL NOT judge you!!!
~Be realistic: Keep yourself motivated by simply giving yourself a break. If you miss a day of exercise, try not to obsess over the missed opportunity to burn calories. Instead, get back out there and sweat after a good day’s rest tomorrow!!!! Do not wait too long though....remember where will you be in.....?????
Love you all who are my readers...had a great day of compliments yesterday! YOU INSPIRE ME!!!!!! You are why I am here! xxoo el

The exact nutritional and Weight Watchers POINTS values will depend on what type of pasta you use ? regular, whole wheat or low carb. I recommend using nutritious whole wheat pasta for the taste and health benefits, though the low carb pastas are delicious and healthy, too.


Penne Pasta Salad

Serves 6 ~ 8 Points plus
1 12-ounce box of low carb or whole wheat penne pasta
1 cup diced tomatoes ? use Roma and/or yellow tomatoes
1 cup of cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
8 ounces mozzarella, diced
1/4 cup of fresh basil, chopped fine
1/2 cup no fat Italian salad dressing


Directions:



Cook penne as directed until the pasta is al dente (firm but cooked through) ? about 13-15 minutes.
Prepare a large bowl or pan with ice water ? enough to cover the cooked pasta.
Drain the pasta and immediately submerge it in the ice water to stop the cooking process. If necessary, change out the water or add more ice to cool down the noodles.
Chop tomatoes, mozzarella and basil and place in a large serving bowl.
Add cooled noodles.
Cover with Italian dressing and toss to coat.
Chill salad in refrigerator until it?s time to serve.
Toss salad once more before serving.

Calories 326
Calories from Fat 80
Total Fat 8.9g
Saturated Fat 4.9g
Cholesterol 21mg
Sodium 498mg
Total Carbohydrates 45.6g
Dietary Fiber 6.7g
Sugars 3.0g
Protein 19.5g
Vitamin A 14%
Vitamin C 11%
Calcium 31%
Iron 17%

how you think affects how you behave.......

....and how you think is completly within your control.

Once you've learned to view yourself compassionately as a priority, it's time to evaluate those things that you truly believe about yourself. It has been said that if you want to know the state of your belief system, just look around you and you'll see that which you believe in. Or, at least it's a start.

*Do I believe I can be successful with losing and then maintaining my ideal healthy weight?
What beliefs do I have about myself when it comes to food, dieting, and my self-care?
*Do I believe that I have the ability and conviction to do what I know in my heart to be true to transform the quality of my life and become the person of my dreams?

Unless you decide to take a look and truly examine your beliefs, you are most likely going to recreate the same old patterns and behaviors in your life. For example, you may believe that sugar has some power over you. You're always giving in to your craving for it, yet you want to change that behavior. How do you think that inner belief about sugar is going to affect your efforts? Doesn't it leave you feeling fairly powerless? Doesn't that belief translate into a long-term relationship with sugar that is less than inspiring? When we believe something, we behave in a way that plays out that belief, even if the belief is something we do not want to experience. You behave based on your beliefs whether you like it or not. So if you want to change a behavior - to transform a relationship with food, exercise, or life - you need to change your belief about it first.

Your beliefs are a window to your world and shape your experience either positively or negatively. They act as a filter for the world around you. Everything is affected either positively or negatively through your beliefs.When it comes to diet programs, you may believe that all weight loss diets are destined to eventually fail you, or that you will eventually fail on the program.

Instead, be open to new beliefs about yourself and your ability to succeed. Your mind and your beliefs about yourself are going to be the difference in your truly experiencing long-term success and life fulfillment.

Think about the fact that if you are doing just a diet and you're not dealing with your belief system, then when you reach your goal of X amount of pounds lost, you still will not have changed your lifestyle and you will not see yourself as someone who has truly created change. Will you experience long-term success, peace, and happiness with this approach? Not a chance. But through weight loss plans, you have the opportunity to transform your body, your mind, and your life - together at once.With a little faith in yourself, together with the a great plan backing you up, you can reshape your mind so that it can take you and your body anywhere you want to go.

Points Plus+ 8 Per Serving
3 Meat Barbecued Burgers

2 tbsp soft bread crumbs
2 tsp refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed
1/4 tsp barbecue seasoning or barbecue spice
8 oz raw ground chicken
1 lb uncooked ground turkey breast
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
6 slices turkey bacon
1/3 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese,
(optional)
6 whole wheat English muffins, split and toasted
2 tbsp bias-sliced green onion

Email Ingredients Email Ingredients To: Send


Directions
1. In a medium size bowl, combine bread crumbs, egg product and barbecue seasoning.
Add chicken; mix well. Shape chicken mixture into six 1/4 inch thick patties.
2. In another medium size bowl, combine turkey, garlic powder and pepper. Shape mixture
into six 1/2 inch thick patties. Place chicken patties on top of turkey patties. Shape the edges of the turkey patties up the sides of the chicken patties, pinching the patties together to seal.
Wrap a bacon slice around each patty and secure with a wooden toothpick.
3. For a charcoal grill; grill patties on lightly greased rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium hot coals for 14 to 18 minutes or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the side of each patty registers 165° F. turning once halfway through grilling.

Drink an extra glass of water today






It's amazing how many benefits of water there are for your health.
But really, it shouldn't really come as a surprise. After all, our bodies are made up of about 70% water.
Water is involved in every single life process that takes place in your body - digestion, circulation, transportation of nutrients, and the elimination of wastes.
Water helps to maintain the acid - alkaline balance in your body. And it supplies your body with the trace elements it needs.
•Drinking a big glass of water whenever you feel hungry and before a meal or snack fills the stomach briefly and makes you feel fuller and stop eating sooner.
•Breaking down body fat and body muscle during weight loss produces wastes that must be eliminated through the kidneys. Drinking enough water is important to keep the kidneys functioning to remove these wastes.
•Replacing water with soda, diet soda, coffee, tea, or alcohol won't work as well - especially if the beverage produces a diuretic effect. (alcohol actually, produces dehydration). If you don't like the taste of plain water, try putting lemon, lime or an orange slice in your glass.
•It cleanses the insides of your body.
•It can help to lessen the pain and burning of heartburn.
•It can help you maintain a healthy weight.
•It can help you to feel more energetic.
•One of the major benefits of water is that it can help relieve constipation. Try drinking two glasses of warm water first thing in the morning. That will help to clean out your colon and promote a bowel movement.
•Drinking enough water can also help to protect you against colon and bladder cancers.


Did you know that your body can only live for about 3 days without water?

It's puzzling to me that even though water drinking is so important, most people only get enough water just to survive, but not to thrive and reach optimum health!

If you don't drink enough water every single day, you may be in a state of chronic dehydration without even realizing it! You are missing out on the benefits of water.

Not getting enough water puts a lot of unnecessary stress on your body. It also plays a role in the development of many serious health problems:
If you don't drink enough water, your body will be forced to get rid of its wastes in a much more concentrated form. This may leave you with some unwanted symptoms such as body odor, strong smelling dark-colored urine, and bad breath. Not very pleasant!
You may start to experience headaches, and fainting spells.
You may find yourself always feeling exhausted and worn out.
If your body does not get enough water, your blood will thicken. This can increase your chances of having a stroke. It can also damage your heart.
Chronic dehydration speeds up the aging process. Think about what happens to a grape when the water is removed. It turns into a wrinkled up raisin.
Raisins may be yummy and good for you, but I'm sure you don't want your skin looking like that!

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries (Weight Watchers)

2 lbs large sweet potatoes, scrubbed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Change Measurements: US Metric

Directions:
Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 40 mins
1 Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2 Half the potatoes, then cut into 1/2 inch wedges.
3 Toss with oil, salt and pepper in medium bowl.
4 Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on a nonstick baking sheet.
5 Bake, turning once, until browned and crisp, about 35 minutes.


Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/crispy-sweet-potato-fries-weight-watchers-215655#ixzz1SHqFCAwI

said it....done it too!!

Yes, I am guilty!! It's too hot, too cold, I am tired and depressed, and this week....there was no electricity!!!!!

All I have to say....B.S.....:) I mean that with all the love in my heart. Yes, we have had a rough week in our little corner of the world. Winds that took out trees, roofs, crops,fences....the list goes on....but what was really rough, is the lack of electricity! "Holy crap, I cant diet when the lights aren't on".....really, yes I caught myself even feeling "sorry" for myself, "yeah, I probably could eat that, I have been working extra hard".... really????WTH....????? This is a take charge time! Challenge yourself in you journey in weight loss.... challenge your "lack of electricity" to what can you do to take this moment, this week, by the horns and say..."BRING IT ON" Lots of veg's don't need to be cooked, ham sandwiches.....salad with shredded cheese.....how many fruits really need to be cooked???do you get it??? hello, you still have your grill!!!......We do not need candy bars, chips all that crap. Those empty calorie foods that leave you feeling like crap. Something you really don't need right know.....(the depression I was saying earlier)

Tropical Cucumber Salad




1 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest,
plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 medium English cucumber, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1 avocado, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1 mango, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

Whisk lime zest, lime juice, oil, brown sugar, vinegar and crushed red pepper in a large bowl until combined. Add cucumber, avocado, mango and cilantro; gently toss to coat. Serve garnished with lime zest, if desired.

Divide into 4 servings. (Serving size 1 Cup)

Nutritional Info Per Serving: 169 calories; 11 g fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 18 g carbs; 3 g protein;
5 g fiber; 178 mg sodium
Points Plus+ 5 Per Serving
Add some protein if you would like (chicken breast) just add points accordingly

Plan for a GREAT week!!!

Get your kitchen, your activity clothing, ....YOURSELF ready!!! If we keep things "handy" I feel, we are more apt to do/use them.

Keep your measuring cups handy.....and use them...:) DO NOT keep foods in your kitchen that are trigger foods. If you have a family and they just HAVE to have these items...keep these items in a cupboard where only they are allowed....promise yourself you wont go there, and don't! I keep a picture of my "gals" from Weight Watchers on my refrigerator...they remind me what I want most!

Simple little reminders are sometimes just enough to be that little inspiration for you....and me.















THANK-YOU ladies!! xxooo






Keep your work-out clothing and equipment(if you can) OUT! Keep them handy. I have the total gym...in my living room....all the time. Yes, we could put it away, for it is easily folded up and can go under a bed...(no I don't work for them, I sound like an infomercial..:)) I also keep the tread mill out, the exercise ball, the bike, the exercise band, weights...yes they are all right where I can get to them ...easily. I would NEVER use them if I had them tucked away neatly for no one to see. Who cares????? Me !!!!!, I care, the equipment does not make my house look messy. It is my house, and my life! This is how I roll.....lazy maybe, but I feel just human!

Lastly, but definitely not least. Get yourself ready. Make YOU a priority! This is key...to any success, especially weight loss! Get up that extra 1/2 hr. early, go ahead work out, I dare you to see how great you feel.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~










Food wise, some of the biggest obstacles to weight loss include highly refined foods, such as sugar, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, processed flour products, packaged foods and snacks like chips and pretzels. These "foods" and I use that word loosely here, are jamming with excess and non nutritious calories. They are unhealthy choices and will cause your blood sugar levels to skyrocket up, thus stimulating craving more and more of these harmful, processed, yucky foods. This is what is called a vivacious cycle, and it will viciously try to steal your thunder.
Sprinkle sprinkle, flax seeds curb hunger and promotes healthy digestion.





Zucchini Parmesan

Ingredients:
1. 3 cups zucchini — thinly sliced
2.2 Tbsp butter or marj.


3. 1/2 tsp salt
4. dash of pepper
5. 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
1. Place zucchini, margarine, salt and pepper in skillet.
2. Cover and cook slowly 5 minutes.
3. Uncover and cook, turning slices, 5 minutes more.
4. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
5. Enjoy.
Nutritional value (per serving, serves 4)– 50 calories, 3.4 g fat, 3.2 g carbs, 2.1 g protein.

1 Points plus.


July 4, 2011 Written by learningwithliz

Support~ Yeah, I got it!!

You Are Not Alone Anymore
Welcome to My Weight Loss Team!




This was a little note from my friend Judy at Weight Watchers. She has no idea that this little note, well I keep with me....always. I keep it in my notebook that is always with me....my bible I call it. I have laminated this note so nothing EVER happens to it.
Something so little can make a huge difference in someones day....someones life!

Accountability – If you need someone who is going to hold your feet to the fire, and who you don’t want to let down, then recruit a friend to join you in your exercise routine or ask them to ask you about how you are doing with your eating habits. You are much less likely to bail if you know your friend will be waiting for you to workout at 6am. If you share your journey electronically, make sure to ask friends to specifically comment on your tweets or posts, so you know someone is listening to and encouraging you.

Advocacy – If it’s too hard or exhausting to keep defending your reasons for not taking a second helping at a party, or if you’re tired of asking the restaurant server about ingredients and preparation, let a friend take over. An advocate wants your goal for you as much as you do and will speak up on your behalf when it’s not always easy. Any unwanted, unopened non-perishables can be shared with a food kitchen or food bank.

Kitchen Makeover – If your fridge or pantry is full of foods not on your diet, but are tempting nonetheless, ask a friend to remove those things so you aren’t tempted to eat them rather than throw them away. Then, go shopping for healthy pantry basics to ensure you can make nutritious meals on a whim.


5. Encouragement – Another way to go beyond accountability is to ask a friend to periodically direct words of encouragement to you. Make sure you tell them what is encouraging to you. I find my weekly weight watchers meetings a must. I have missed a couple of meetings....I do not do this often,I really don't like this ...."empty feeling"

THIS TO ME IS THE UTMOST OF IMPORTANCE! I hope and pray I do this for others!!!!

Healthy Chocolate Chip- Oatmeal Cookies
This recipe has been featured in a post on The Recipe Girl
Ingredients:
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup finely chopped, pitted dates
3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets (or line w/ parchment or silpat mats).

2. Place butter in a medium, microwave-safe bowl. Melt in microwave, just until completely melted. Remove from microwave and add brown sugar. Stir until smooth.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, flours, baking soda & salt. Stir into butter sugar mixture along with egg, vanilla and dates. Fold in chopped chocolate and mix well.

4. Drop Tablespoonfuls of the cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until they appear to be set and not gooey in the middles.

Tips:
*FYI- I *hate* dates, and I loved these cookies. If the dates are chopped finely, you really can't detect them in the cookies at all. You'll sometimes find them in containers in the produce section but they're also available in the dried fruits section and are packaged just like dried cranberries.
*There's a good reason for using chopped chocolate over chocolate chips in this recipe. If you use chopped chocolate, the little shards of chocolate get more spread out in the cookies and therefore get more of a chocolate flavor in each cookie. You can certainly sub chocolate chips, but I'd recommend using the mini chocolate chips to get the same spread-out chocolate effect.

Nutritional Information per serving:
Serving size: 1 cookie
Calories per serving: 99
Fat per serving: 2g
Fiber per serving: 1.25g
Protein per serving: 1.5g
Cholesterol per serving: 13mg
Carbohydrates per serving: 16.5g

WW POINTS per serving:
Points Plus Program: 2

Old Points Program: 2.5

Healthy Chocolate Chip- Oatmeal Cookies
Yield: 30 cookies
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 12 min
Why deny yourself sweet treats when you can have a cookie as good as this... guilt-free?

It's not what you've done....it's what you do next?

What is your next step?

Who here is in a rut? It could be with your fitness workout or diet or maybe something in your personal life just as a relationship or job. What about your general appearance such as your hair style, your clothes, or how you do your make up? Maybe unfortunately you are like me, and you are in a rut pretty much across the board. I am making myself a commitment that over the next two months all of this is going to change.

I am also going to make a complete list of things I would like to change or do. This is going to be everything from my hair, clothes, make-up, a fitness routine, projects around the house, places I’d like to see, things to do this summer, EVERYTHING. I am one of those people that if I don’t write it down the odds of it happening are slim to none.

How about you? What would you like to change or do? When I am done with my list I will post it here. Putting in writing increases the odds that I will do what is on my list, posting it here will almost guarantee that I will accomplish them. Maybe it would help you to do the same too?
Ok so lets get to it! Lets take control!

REMEMBER~~~!!!! It's not what you've done....it's what you do next?



This is a great taco casserole recipe for the new Weight Watchers Points Plus program the whole family will love.

Source: Weight Watchers Points Plus Recipes

Weight Watchers Points Plus Taco Casserole

1 lb ground skinless chicken breast
1/2 c onions, chopped
1/2 c bell peppers, chopped
1 clove garlic
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
8 ozs taco sauce
1 c fat-free sour cream
1 c fat-free cottage cheese
1 c low-fat tortilla chips, whole or broken up
1 c low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
3/4 c salsa

Directions:

Heat oven to 400. Spray cooking spray on bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish; set aside. In a skillet,
cook chicken, onion, peppers, and garlic clove until tender. Add seasoning mix and taco sauce;
set aside. In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese; set aside. Place half the
broken chips in the bottom of casserole dish. Add meat mixture to cover the chips, then cover the
meat with sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining crushed chips. Bake,
uncovered, for 30 minutes or until cheese has melted. Top with 3/4 cup salsa if desired.

Makes 8 (1 Cup Servings)

Nutritional Info Per Serving:
287 Calories; 4g Fat; 25g Protein; 34g Carbs; 43mg Cholesterol; 2g Fiber;

Points Plus+ 7 .